Studying abroad is a dream for many students including one from English Studies Program UGM, Benedicta Angie. Since childhood, she had been curious about how people live their lives abroad. As a result, she had been actively searching for an opportunity to study abroad. Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards (IISMA), a program that is funded by the government that gives both vocational and undergraduate students a chance to study abroad in great universities across the world for one semester, was the perfect opportunity for Angie to make her dream come true. After a long selection process, Angie was successfully enrolled in IISMA fully funded program at Korea University, Republic of Korea (South Korea). 

During her stay in Korea University, Angie was enrolled in four courses: Media and Popular Culture in Korea, Criminology, Beginner’s Korean II, and Introduction to Applied Linguistics. One of the most interesting things she spotted while studying in Korea was the Korean students’ competitiveness. Angie realised this difference when she compared her learning experience in Criminology class, which is dominated by Korean students, with other classes that are mostly taken by international students. 

 

“In class, the local students were not very active in asking and answering questions, they are rather very quiet. But after going through the midterm exam, you can feel how serious they had been studying,” she stated, “Our professor curved our final grades, and must I be honest with you, it was very hard to keep up with them. The contrast is very visible to me, because in other courses, where most students are international students, the class dynamics and competitiveness are not different from the one that I have here in UGM.”

Overall, Angie enjoyed her academic journey in Korea. The classes were fun albeit challenging, and the professors were very helpful. She was a little bit disappointed because she was unable to join any clubs due to her short visiting period. However, she was still able to socialise and made friends through project groups and the buddy association gatherings. 

Besides in-class activity, Angie did many activities to immerse herself in South Korean culture. She visited many palaces, museums, art galleries, and festivals. Most of those places were free of charge, especially on Chuseok (Korean thanksgiving). The people were also very welcoming. Despite the language barrier, they tried their best to understand the foreign students. 

From the exchange, aside from academics and multicultural insights, Angie learned to be patient to herself. This is a valuable insight that she would not have gained if she had not studied abroad in Korea. She stated, “Being in my comfort zone in Indonesia has made me forget that everyday is my first day of living. Sometimes I forget that as a human, I will make mistakes, there will be discomfort, and that life is not perfect. I learned so much that if I want to move forward, I must be patient with myself and enjoy the process.” 

After finishing the exchange program, Angie planned to finish her studies in time and enroll herself for a master’s degree abroad. In the meantime, she was eager to help friends who hope to go abroad by giving them advice that can help them with the preparation process. Aside from that, she also planned to use the knowledge she gained from the exchange program, especially Korean language, to fulfil her dream as a translator.

One of the English Studies Program students, Azizah Putri Chandra Kusuma, spent a whole semester at Siena, Italy as an IISMA awardee. IISMA is a study abroad exchange program held by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek), which offers students to study in highly reputable universities from all around the world for one semester. 

Azizah was eager to participate in this program because going abroad has been her dream since she was young. Due to financial reasons, she never had been able to take it into action. Upon discovering IISMA, Azizah thought that this would be the perfect opportunity to accomplish her dreams due to the great range of expenses the program offers. After going through a rigorous selection process, Azizah was finally declared as one of the awardees.

Azizah was very enthusiastic about the opportunity of studying abroad in Italy. She said, “Studying in Siena, Italy, as an IISMA awardee has been nothing short of transformative. Being in Italy means that the experience will be beyond just attending classes. It’s about immersing myself in a completely different academic environment and embracing the beauty of Italian cultures.”

During her academic journey in Italy, Azizah had an opportunity to collaborate with many other international students. This opportunity broadened her perspective and improved her communication skills. Besides the opportunity to study with many students from all over the world, Azizah also found the education system in Italy particularly interesting. In Italy, students have to take an oral exam in addition to the typical written exam. The oral exam is a one-on-one session with the professors discussing what students have learned during the class.

Beyond academics, Azizah also spent her time immersed with Italian culture. Siena was full of charming medieval streets and architecture rich in history. Azizah was particularly fond of Piazza del Campo. She used to sit in its front yard to have discussions with friends while enjoying local cuisines, such as pizza or gelato. Azizah noted that Siena differs in atmosphere from other big cities in Italy—it offers warmer and more intimate ambiance. The locals were friendly and welcoming towards Azizah, despite her struggles at communicating with the Italian language.

For Azizah, IISMA was a life-changing experience that had taught her valuable lessons inside and outside of the classroom. “Studying in Siena with classes that are mostly beyond my study field in English Literature has given me numerous insights that taught me to analyze topics from multiple perspectives and engage in discussion with confidence,” Azizah stated, “I also learned to appreciate cultural differences and embrace diverse environments, which also taught me the importance of cultural sensitivity or understanding that what is normal in one culture may be different in another.”

Azizah also noted that the exchange experience had increased her independence and resourcefulness. She also realised that her stay in Italy has also helped her improve her proficiency in Italian. Azizah was grateful to be participating in IISMA, which had become a journey of self-discovery as a learner with a mission to be an ambassador of Indonesian culture.

After completing IISMA, Azizah planned to apply what she had learned during her exchange program in her academic and professional journey. For short-term planning, Azizah was excited to help fellow students who also want to study abroad but unable to afford preparation courses by being an IELTS mentor without charging a fee. For long-term planning, Azizah hoped to enrol in a master degree program abroad in order to further broaden her horizons. She mentioned, “Ultimately, this exchange has given me the motivation to pursue bigger goals, and I am excited to know where this experience will lead me next.”

A year prior to his enrolment to IISMA, Elkholy was already certain that he wanted to participate in this program. In order to succeed, this English Literature student of Batch 2021 had prepared himself by doing various preparations. Elkholy participated in ATF 2023, ISKA 2023 and some other organisations to gain more experiences in order to increase his chances of passing the first stage of selection. After passing the preliminary stage, Elkholy continued to prepare for the interview session by doing mock-up interviews. His efforts paid off because he was accepted as an IISMA Awardee at University of Leeds.

After going through a preparatory stage encompassing academic, financial, social, and technical aspects called IISMA Pre-Departure Series, Elkholy departed to University of Leeds on 16th of September. Upon arriving first at Manchester airport, Elkholy was warmly welcomed by a representative from University of Leeds. Prior to his departure, Elkholy had already received so many emails and newsletters from the university—which really proved to be a great source of information to help him settle in during his first weeks in Leeds. In addition to that, the university also gave two weeks of orientation filled with welcoming activities which really prepared Elkholy to start his academic lectures when week three came.

During his study period at Leeds, Elkholy was enrolled in four different modules. This was in accordance with the arrangement done by IISMA and the Study Abroad Team. These modules were Introduction to Psychology, Psychology in the Media, Challenges in Transport and Mobility and Natural Hazards. Elkholy intentionally chose modules that are not directly related to English Literature or one specific field, because he wanted to learn something entirely new. The efficacious teaching methods and well-structured assessments boosted Elkholy’s academic journey experience. Overall, Elkholy felt that he has been well enlightened of academic life at the world-renowned University of Leeds—an opportunity he would forever cherish.

Apart from academic obligations, Elkholy also experienced new cultural exposure during his stay.  It was easy to spot many castles and historical landmarks, which were still well preserved. Every city Elkholy visited had an art gallery and a museum housing their own individual contribution to the country’s history. Elkholy did not only learn new cultures from visiting historical sites or museums. For him, even the mundane activities of grocery shopping or interaction with locals in public transport were the greatest contributors to him learning new cultures. 

Elkholy was a little bit reluctant to bid farewell to the city that had left such great impressions on him. During his journey back home, he reflected how this IISMA journey has been nothing but extraordinarily worthwhile. It gave Elkholy the chance to study outside his major in a globally renowned university, exposed him to new cultures and people, enlightened his view upon the outside world, and shed light on possible future prospects of my study. There might be difficulties along the way, but they were easily paid-off with the vast amount of new academic and global experience he gained.

(Photo credit: Elkholy)

Ayfa Hurin Ien, a student from English Studies Program, is currently participating in a Lithuanian Language and Culture Winter Course. This is a month-long program designed for international students to learn Lithuanian at various level while also exploring Lithuania’s cultural and historical aspects. The program includes language classes, cultural lectures, interactive workshops, excursions, and practical language use in real-life settings. It is hosted by Vytautas Magnus University in Vilnius, Lithuania, and attended by participants from various countries.

An Extraordinary Learning Opportunity

Ayfa was drawn to participate in this program due to her genuine interest in linguistics, cultural studies, and international exchanges. She expressed her eagerness to learn a new language, especially Lithuanian. “Lithuanian is one of the oldest living Indo-European languages, and its phonetics and structure make it a fascinating subject of study. And honestly–the Lithuanian language just sounds so cool! When I first heard it, I was struck by how it sounded somewhat like High Valyrian out of the Game of Thrones series.”

The distinction between this program and other winter courses in an opportunity to to learn a language, which is not typically offered by other universities. Ayfa claimed that the language class offered in this program matches perfectly with her academic aspirations. For her, learning Lithuanian—which is dissimilar from her own language—is simultaneously daunting and exciting. “As the saying goes, ‘Language is a gateway to experiencing any culture.’ I am particularly looking forward to experiencing Lithuanian culture firsthand. I believe that stepping out of my comfort zone and immersing myself in a new environment will not only broaden my horizons but also deepen my understanding of how different cultures shape our world.”

Ayfa had to go through a rigorous selection process to be accepted in this program The selection process involved submitting an application, writing a motivation letter, and securing a recommendation letter from the academic supervisor. One of the challenges she encountered was ensuring that her application clearly demonstrated her motivation to join the course and how this program aligns with her academic and personal goals. Ayfa’s hard work paid off when she was announced to be one of the participants that will spend a month in Lithuania to study.

The Winter Course Experience

The winter course, which began on 4 January 2025, has given many treasured memories for Ayfa. Her daily A1 level Lithuanian language classes has simultaneously been challenging and rewarding, with the professors’ genuine enthusiasm and passion making the sociocultural lectures equally engaging. One of the highlights of her learning experience is composing a Lithuanian haiku for her language class. She added, “What makes this experience even more meaningful is that I’m studying in Vilnius – once a UNESCO City of Literature—which perfectly aligns with my studies.”

Beyond the language learning in the classroom environment, Ayfa has been deeply immersed in the Lithuanian culture. The university has gone above and beyond to provide authentic cultural experiences, such as a trip to Kaunas for watching a basketball match—a sport deeply embedded in Lithuanian identity. The students also enjoyed authentic Lithuanian dinners, explored the historical castles and Presidential Palace, visited to the ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as performed Lithuanian traditional folk dance together. 

Looking Back and Moving Forward

As the winter course concludes this Sunday, 2 February 2025, Ayfa reflected on the of learning process and growth she has experienced in Lithuania. She shared her gratitude for the memories she had experienced and the knowledge she had learned during this program, “Between visiting fascinating museums, historical sites, and practicing Lithuanian, I’ve learned more than I ever expected. The connections I’ve made with fellow students have added such richness to this experience.”

Ayfa has made significant progress in learning basic Lithuanian grammar and vocabulary, which allows her to introduce herself, navigate the city, and engage in simple conversations. However, the course has offered much more than just language skills. “Beyond the language itself, I’ve gained a deep appreciation for Lithuanian history and traditions,” she explained. “Navigating daily life in a new country has really pushed me out of my comfort zone, helping me become more adaptable and improve my cross-cultural communication skills.”

After the course, Ayfa planned to continue her Lithuanian studies independently by using online resources and language exchanges. She also hoped to apply the knowledge she had gained to her academic pursuits in linguistics and cultural studies. She mentioned, “This experience has reinforced my interest in international programs, and I would love to pursue more opportunities for studying or working abroad in the future.”

Waking up in a room with a view of yellowing and reddening trees would have been my wildest dream until a year ago. Every new thing that I have experienced from last year’s September until December is the result of sleepless nights and staring at my laptop for four months. IISMA truly gave me the chance to taste my childhood wish, and I could never be more grateful than I am today. As this is one of my biggest milestones, I cherish every second that I spend in Dublin, Ireland, and make sure to engrave all passing moments in my mind–probably in my phone’s gallery as well. I am Konan, and here is a glimpse of my life as an IISMA awardee in University College Dublin.

A brief introduction is a must before I start. Born by the name Qonita Risqi Setya Ananda, I am currently a third year student in the English Department of Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta. Not a very fun fact, I can’t drive, so no wonder I enjoy my time in Dublin too much because of the pedestrian-friendly public facilities. During my four-month stay in Dublin, I am taking four courses under Arts and Humanities. Along with nine other students from different home universities, I began my study abroad journey on September 2 as we flew from Indonesia to Ireland. Now, here is the real thing, I promise you.

The academic year in Ireland starts in autumn, which takes place in September. Just like what we commonly have in universities in Indonesia, here they provide two weeks of various orientation events, such as welcoming ceremony, freshers week where you can sign up for clubs and societies, info sessions for various purposes, for instance the immigration session held for non-EU international students, and many more. In the following week, the classes start for level two or intermediate courses, while beginner courses have to wait for another week. Classes are divided into two types, lecture and tutorial or seminar, which is a new thing for me as we don’t have them back in my home major. Lecture is a big class dedicated to delivering materials, while the tutorial only consists of 15-20 students solely for group discussion and in-depth review on the materials from the lecture. 

Being an international student in UCD certainly has its own perks, and one of them being the eligible participants of the Cultural Programme. The said programme is dedicated for us to enjoy the most of our stay here by holding events and offering trips for free. We have gone to some stunning places in Ireland, such as Kilkenny with its castle and mediaeval town, surfing in Sligo, cycling on a 32-kilometre track in Westport, and enjoying the majestic Dún Aonghasa in Inishmore, Galway. I am really grateful for the opportunities given by UCD for such a short stay, and here I say it, it is all worth it!

Even though living abroad gets you really excited, you are lying if you say you don’t miss those little things from home. Of course I miss seblak, nasi Padang, and the convenient online transportation. I’d love to give an honourable mention to my friends from PPI Irlandia who kindly hold various Indonesian-themed events for Indonesian students in Ireland, which feels like bringing us back home. We got the precious chance to have a warm gathering with other IISMA awardees in Ireland and master’s and doctoral students on October 21, and even met the Ambassador of Indonesia for the United Kingdom, Dr. Desra Percaya. Fun fact, he is a remarkable saxophone player, and we were lucky to be able to watch his performance of Terima Kasih Cinta by Afgan on that sunny afternoon.

That particular gathering event was very memorable for me. The previous president of PPI Irlandia, Zain, shared a bit how Ireland feels merrier when the IISMA awardees are there. The number of Indonesian students in Ireland is significantly lower than in the United Kingdom, our nearest neighbour, and events like these almost feel like a family reunion. Compared to the students, there are more Indonesian diaspora than what I had imagined. They are also the people who continue to help us during our stay, and I’d really love to reciprocate the gesture someday, fingers crossed, when I get the opportunity to travel to Ireland again.

Aside from the fellow Indonesians we met here, I have always dreamt about having friends from across the globe who will actually keep in touch, not as a one-time thing only. Solely for this reason, I would like to thank my international friends that have introduced me to new celebrations that definitely made me feel so at home. One of these celebrations is Friendsgiving, that is celebrating Thanksgiving but with your friends instead. Jette, the event planner, suggested that we all bring a dish from our respective country to enjoy together, and that way, we actually exchange new culture in a fun way. Since the feeling is mutual, I didn’t hesitate to give them heartfelt souvenirs from home–one of them being a tote bag I designed myself–as a memento for the moment I have shared with them.

Ireland has been a place for me to try out many things for the first time for the last four months. My dream of walking along meadows, looking at sheep and cows like what I read in my childhood stories, strolling down the city, and taking a breather at city parks–all of them have been achieved here. Last but not least, the network and memories I have made here are priceless and could never be traded with anything in this world. Shall I have the chance to visit for a longer period of time here, I won’t hesitate to fly right away. Thank you to my support system back home–my family and friends–and my new family here, you are a part of my life now. Of course to the IISMA program, my deepest gratitude would never cease.

 

 

 

Interested to expand your knowledge about culture? We are pleased to offer English Department students to be a part of “Cross Cultural Exchange Program” with National University Of Singapore. The best six students will be selected to join the program. Enroll now!

At the end of 2023, “Harmony in Diversity: A Journey from Jogja to Singapore, and Back” emerged as an inspiring collaborative work between the lecturers and students of the English Department, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM and National University of Singapore (NUS). Along the program, the participants gained a lot of new knowledge regarding cross-cultural interaction; a valuable experience that highlights the importance of celebrating diversity and eliminating the barriers that may hinder the unity among cultures. 

This book is divided into several chapters, written by two lecturers of the English Department (Alvanita, S.S., M.Ed., dan Rahmawan Jatmiko, S.S., M.A.) and ten students of English Department: Maulita Shinta, Misma Ro Daud, Jesse Puspita, Leni Cahya, Mellyana Nungki, Anisa Sofiana, Aulia Muchtarom, Gabriella Novianti, Anis Daika, dan Nur Aini. Those chapters offer fresh perspectives on multiculturalism in Singapore and Indonesia, broadening readers’ awareness of cross-cultural interaction. 

“Harmony in Diversity: A Journey from Jogja to Singapore, and Back”  is a valuable contribution in the topic of multiculturalism and cross-cultural exchange. The writers bring the readers on a journey to reflect how vital communication and cross-cultural awareness are. This collaboration is expected to inspire other cross-cultural exchange programs and academic partnerships in the future, promoting the celebration of harmony in diversity.

Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) is further solidifying its reputation as a World-Class University. This commitment is evident through its ongoing cross-cultural exchange program, operating under the U-to-U scheme, between Universitas Gadjah Mada and the National University of Singapore (NUS). This exchange is divided into three main parts: online sessions via Zoom Meeting Room, offline activities in Yogyakarta, and offline engagements in Singapore. This exchange program began in early June and concluded in mid-October 2023.

This year, 24 participants participated in this exchange, including 10 English Department students from UGM and 14 students from NUS enrolled in various study programs. The participants from UGM are Anisa Sofiana, Anis Daika, Aulia Muchtarom, Gabriella Herma, Jesse Puspita, Leni Cahya, Maulita Shinta, Mellyana Nugky, Misma Daud, and Nur Aini Putri. This exchange program is an integral part of Universitas Gadjah Mada’s Independent Learning Program (MBKM), coordinated by the English Department within the Faculty of Cultural Sciences. On the NUS side, it is managed by the Impact Experience (IEx) program. The supervisors assigned to this program are Alvanita, M.Ed., and Rahmawan Jatmiko, M.A., at UGM, while Miguel Escobar, Ph.D., oversees the NUS side of the exchange.

This exchange program aims to enrich students’ knowledge, particularly those enrolled in the “Introduction to Multiculturalism through Folklore and Mythology” course. Throughout the program, students not only learn how to foster intercultural dialogue but also gain insights into art and environmental issues. A primary objective is the creation of a digital archive for the art and environmental communities. Participants in this exchange also collaborate with two local communities, Balai Budaya Minomartani and Tactic Plastic, working closely together from September 24th to 29th, 2023, following extensive discussions during the online sessions.

Furthermore, during their time in Singapore (8-11 October 2023), participants had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the fast-paced and multicultural environment of Singapore. They attended classes led by several distinguished lecturers, including Dr. Priza Mahendraputra, Erica Soh, Miguel Escobar, Ph.D., and Dr. Kiven Strohm. In addition, Dr. Daniel Ps Goh, Vice Dean of NUS College, warmly welcomed the participants during their visit, expressing his hope that this exchange would continue to bring mutual benefits to both universities.

It’s worth mentioning that this exchange program has been running for around a decade, beginning as part of the Multiculturalism and Interculturalism classes at UGM and NUS, respectively. However, the COVID-19 epidemic has prompted a three-year shift to virtual exchanges. This year marks a return to in-person exchange. Moreover, this year’s program takes on a new form as an integral part of the MBKM and IEX initiatives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Written by: Alvanita

Credit photo:

@thwhoai (Nguyen Thu Hoai)

@nuscollege

Misma Ro Daud, Anis Daika, Rahmawan Jatmiko

UGM X NUS

On Monday, September 12, UGM hosted its day one virtual exchange meeting with NUS students in 2022. This is the eighth year since the commencement of this exchange program. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, both institutions had to conduct the events virtually for the past three years. Participating in this exchange program were UGM students enrolled in the course “Introduction to Multiculturalism: Folklore & Mythology” and NUS students enrolled in the course “Reinventing Intercultural Exchange.” Before the event began, Mr. Adi Sutrisno, as the head of the English Studies Program, gave a welcoming speech to all the participating students. The event continued with Mr. Miguel Escobar Varela, Bapak Rahmawan Jatmiko, and Ibu Alvanita explaining the program and the basic culture of Indonesia and Singapore in order to offer the participants a better understanding of both countries. This virtual dialog focused on addressing the city, lifestyle, and arts from multiple views since the theme of this program is “The Stories of Our Cities.”

Under the supervision of Mr. Miguel Escobar Varela, Mr. Rahmawan Jatmiko, and Mrs. Alvanita, these students will meet virtually one month in advance. This online interaction aims to promote multicultural understanding, particularly between Indonesia and Singapore. In addition, students are expected to find nuanced ways to talk about cultural differences and similarities. Students will therefore participate in group discussions to share their experiences, knowledge, and anecdotes. Each individual has the opportunity to present their selected topic, with the other providing feedback.

 

 

 

About TF-NUS LEaRN 

TF-NUS LEaRN is a three-week summer program sponsored by Temasek Foundation at National University of Singapore aiming to nurture the next generation of Asian Leaders by providing opportunities for cultural exchange, networking, and leadership enhancement. TF-NUS LEaRN 2022 focuses on Holistic Resilience, Entrepreneurship, Technology and Innovation. We learned about the registration for this program from our beloved and supporting lecturer, Mba Alva <3. Even so, the information could actually be found on the OIA UGM Website. 

Our Experiences

• Experiencing Offline School for The First Time

As we all know, the Covid-19 pandemic has hit the world for over two years. Since the English Department has not conducted offline classes effectively, this program allowed us to experience offline school for the first time after a while. Initially, we doubted our ability to survive the offline classes, especially in NUS. But thanks to our willingness to challenge ourselves, we managed to pass this program satisfactorily by always being active in the classes and group discussions.

• Playing “Kotak Pos” with ASEAN Buddies

In the first week of the program, we had the opportunity to group up according to our nationality. On that day, we (Indonesians) were trying to explain the history of Indonesia from independence day until now. After that, we all gave other countries sticky notes of our hope for their countries. After the sessions were done, we all gathered in a circle to play one of Indonesian traditional games, “Kotak Pos.” At first, everyone who played was only Indonesian, but because we made quite a big noise when we played Kotak Pos, some of the nearest participants started to join us. There, we had fun introducing Kotak Pos to our ASEAN friends, which they found pretty fun too.

• Celebrating Hari Raya Haji with ASEAN Buddies 

Luckily we could spend our first Hari Raya Haji in Singapore during this program, which turned out to be celebrated a bit differently from the one in Indonesia. In the morning, we went to pray at Tentera di Raja Mosque, which is quite near PGPR. Before that day, we had to book a place first on the MUIS website. Otherwise, we might not have been allowed to enter the mosque. Also, most Singaporeans don’t conduct slaughter in their own country, yet they celebrate it like Indonesians celebrate Lebaran Day: full of food and family visits! And our Singaporean buddies, Sayyid and Husna, were so open-handed that they invited us to celebrate Hari Raya Haji in their houses! Sayyid’s family served us scrumptious Indian cuisines. There was Naan Bread with Butter Chicken, Roti Jala/Kirai with Mutton Curry, Sayyid Mom’s tasty Fried Chicken, and Chana Masala. Meanwhile, Husna (assisted by another buddy Nafla) cooked Malay cuisines, which were Ketupat, Sambal Goreng Pengantin, Begedil Ball, Vege Tomato Soup, Serondeng, Sambal and Ikan Keeping. We also made Ondeh-ondeh together in her house! Fyi, Ondeh-ondeh in Singapore is the same as Klepon in Indonesia.

• Dragon Boating and Frisbee with Hompimpa😃 

There are some fun activities that we did outside the program, one of which was dragon boating. On Buddy Day, a day scheduled for us to spend our time with our own buddy, We and Rahh’s buddy, Nafla, went to Wayne’s house (Raihan’s buddy) to spend our morning till afternoon there before going dragon boating. There we played Monopoly and Uno. After that, at 3 pm, we went to the Kallang Water Sports Center near the Singapore National Stadium. There, we went dragon boating with most of the ASEAN buddies for 2 hours straight. It was also our first time doing dragon boating, so we knew nothing about that. Thankfully there was an instructor that helped us to learn the movement. In dragon boating, synchronized teamwork is essential to make the boat move, and after the instructor told us that we should count synchronously, we were able to slowly move the boat. 

We also played frisbee the day before we went dragon boating. It was also our first experience playing frisbee. The funny yet exciting time was when we tried to divide the group into two; no one had any idea what we should do. Suddenly the Indonesians said, “Let’s just do hompimpa!” and we did exactly that. We have fun while also introducing some Indonesian games. It was an enjoyable and exciting moment with everyone.

• Daily Life as Exchange Students in NUS 

During the program, we stayed in Prince George’s Park Residence, one of NUS Housing. This accommodation was already sponsored. Because of the complete cooking utensils in the PGPR’s pantry, we loved to cook our own food, mostly for breakfast and lunch. This was also what reduced our expenses there! To go around, we mostly took public transportation, such as the NUS bus, MRT, and public bus. Fyi, the NUS bus is free for the public! And it’s very helpful because it reaches strategic places such as Kent Ridge MRT Station and nearest Fair Price, where we used to buy our groceries.

As Muslims, we didn’t really find any difficulty living in Singapore, especially because we have quite a lot of Muslim buddies in this program. We learned a lot from them, like where they usually pray, how to choose a food stall that sells halal food, and where we can find halal food easily. We found that if there is no mosque or prayer room nearby, it’s very common for Muslims in Singapore to pray on emergency stairs. However, we had a funny experience about it. In our first week, we still didn’t understand where they usually pray in public places. Thus, we prayed in front of the lift in a convention centre, where many people passed. While we were praying, a little boy passed by and returned only to seriously pay attention to us. Quite a memorable experience for us!

Our Impressions on the Program and Singapore:

Rahh

It was only three weeks, but I already feel that half of my soul is still there in Singapore <3. That is the perfect quote to summarize my impression on this exchange experience. I always felt welcome and appreciated, both by local and international folks I met during this program and both in classes and in everyday life. I admit that I still have a lot to learn from them, but they never made me feel inferior. They always appreciated other people for any good thing they did, even how they dressed. Also, I felt so safe in Singapore that I didn’t need to worry too much about myself and my stuff. Going out very early in the morning or returning to the dorm at almost midnight didn’t make me worry about my safety. 

Raihan

• About the Program

At first, I thought the program would be too exhausting for me since it was in NUS, but it wasn’t. All the participants were very friendly and always willing to listen to what I said. The material that was discussed also opened my mind. The program wasn’t exhausting because they tried to put on engaging sessions or intermezzo after every severe session. For example, we had a well-being activity which was a tote bag painting workshop. In that session, we painted our tote bag by choosing the design given by the instructor and drawing it onto our tote bag. Even though I needed to use my creativity to hide my lousy drawing on my tote bag in the end, I’m still proud of my work, especially since it was my first experience in painting.  

• About NUS

In my view, the NUS area feels quite large, but in real life, each faculty and building were placed relatively close to each other. The thing that makes NUS feel quite large and each building feels a bit far from each other because the campus is located on a hill. Thankfully, there is an NUS bus that I can ride for free from the bus stop around NUS. The downside was the bus driver can get a bit rowdy sometimes, even NUS itself recruiting a mystery rider that will be paid to observe how the bus is being driven. Other than that, NUS campus life is already solid, with the dorm located inside the campus area and the accessibility to public transport from the campus. This is also why I haven’t seen any students driving or riding to the campus in their own vehicles.

• About Singapore

The simplest yet beneficial thing that I learned in Singapore, I call the escalator manner. So, the escalator manner is a manner in which a person who is not in a hurry needs to stay on the left side of the escalator. During the first few days in SG I didn’t know about this, so at the airport and in some other places, like public transport escalators, I stayed on the right the whole time while talking to my friends, which might make some people angry at that time. As time goes by, I’ve implemented this manner already. I even started walking like a Singaporean, which is much faster than most Indonesian people do. The funny thing is when I just came back to Indonesia, these kinds of manners made me a bit angry. On the first day in Jakarta, I went to the mall with Rahh and Jess and while on the escalator, the people there stood anywhere, which was frustrating because the escalator was also way too slow. Even it still happens in the travelator in Soekarno-Hatta Airport, where the signs where people should stand and where people should walk are available. Now, I just wish that this manner can be applied in Indonesia for a good reason. 

Other things that also felt much better in SG were public transportation and pedestrian sidewalk. Transportation in SG is much better because all of the public transport lines are nearly connected, especially MRT lines, and all the MRT stations are reachable from anywhere. The sidewalk also feels comfy because there weren’t any food stalls or carts on it. Because of this, I’m starting to get used to walking a lot and love to use public transportation in those three weeks. From only completing 1.3k steps a day to averaging 12k steps a day, my highest steps a day was 20k. In Indonesia, if we want to go across the road, even at the pedestrian cross, the motor users still try to overtake us and sometimes honk like crazy, but in SG, I feel that every time we want to use the pedestrian cross, the motor users will give us the way first without even need to wave our hand as long as you are near the pedestrian crossing.