Margaret reminisces of Bali days

A teacher requires an education, skills and practice — but being thrust into the role in a country with a different culture and customs also demands adaptability and an open mind.

Just ask Queensland’s Buderim resident, Margaret Barnett. The 72-year-old spent 12 years teaching in Bali, beginning her teaching role at the age of 55.

“I fell in love with Bali’s lovely warm nights and days, the sunshine, colours, the culture and the friendly people,” she said.

“There’s a flip side – people should know if you want to live in Indonesia you also have to learn to roll with the punches.” 

The retiree’s burning desire to live in Bali began after she returned from a vacation. To prepare for the relocation, she immersed herself in Indonesian language lessons and literature. 

The opportunity for Ms Barnett to work on the island presented itself when a homestay student from Indonesia helped organise a position as a hotel manager for six months. 

Running the 60-bedroom hotel was a far cry from standing in front of a class conducting lessons and she felt drawn back to teaching. 

A local hospitality school was seeking an English-speaking teacher and Ms Barnett embraced the chance to return to her ‘calling’. 

“My school was very supportive and I was the first foreign teacher they had,” she said.

“The school grew from 300 when I started to about 4,000 during the period I worked there.

“I loved teaching the children [they were gorgeous] and also where I was living.”

Ms Barnett lived in Sanur on the east coast of Bali and often travelled around the island.

With her background of teaching at a primary school level in Australia she found there were dramatic differences between the two education systems. 

“I had a lack of resources and equipment in Bali. I also had to supply my own paper and equipment with the additional task of navigating my own way around the difficulties.

“In Bali I went the extra mile and made the course up out of my head.”

The enormous impact Ms Barnett had on people’s lives was evident, as one student she mentored rose out of poverty, started her own travel agency and then opened a clothing factory employing young girls in her local village. 

After Ms Barnett returned to Australia, she moved to the Sunshine Coast, where she now resides at Immanuel Gardens Retirement Village.

“I really feel like I’m meant to be here and it’s such a great place to live,” she said.

“I love the warmth, the sunshine, the flowers, the palm trees and the colours.” It almost reminds her of her years in Bali.

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