But that all changed on Wednesday when kangaroos.com.au paid a special visit to 'Bukit Harapan' (translation: Home on the Hill), a female orphanage housing 52 disadvantaged youths from around the region.
"Bulai, Bulai" (white person) screamed the children. There's no offense meant, it's a sense of endearment and excitement from youngsters, some who've never laid eyes on a Caucasian.
Life is simpler here; computers and televisions are nowhere to be seen - instead the children are independent, waking at 5am to prepare breakfast and clean before heading off to school two hours later.
When school finishes at 2pm there is some free time, and the kids couldn't have been more excited when presented with their very own North Melbourne caps by some special visitors. The smiles were wide, and there was a sense of fascination when the Salvation Army officer explained the significance of the Kangaroo in Australia.
It's a very different place here in Manado. The children are brave, mature beyond their years, even those with very little are proud of their belongings, eager to show off their position in a room that sleeps 20 - it's simply inspiring to see such hope and resilience in what we'd consider very trying circumstances.
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