 | A C I C I S | |
Field Study in Malang
1. Please describe your reactions to the experience of studying and living in MalangCarolyn: Having done Yogya for a semester, I fully recommend coming to Malang. I enjoyed my time in Yogya, equally as much as Malang. There certainly are obvious differences between the towns, the people and the universities and it is that reason why I recommend coming here. That is, if you are going to spend a year in Indonesia, why limit your experience in just one place? Try to experience all that Indonesia has to offer. Fortunately, my studies also took me into several villages and if you are able to do your studies in villages, DO IT! Experience it all! Alex: Absolutely BRILLIANT! I was a bit nervous about coming to Malang having read some negative comments, but after the first afternoon here soon realised how good the semester was going to be. The weather is perfect, a lot more comfortable than Yogya, the people are so friendly and genuinely happy to meet a foreigner studying their language and culture: and best of all the number of westerners in Malang is very few so your experience of Indonesia is much more "real". I have had a ball here and know that I will always come back to Malang! Olivia: My experience of living in Malang was nothing short of perfect (not to sound too enthusiastic)!! The Malang population are extremely friendly and helpful - I never experienced any harrassment on the street apart from general curiosity. I felt comfortable and safe in Malang and living here immersed in the culture and language has been a "life enriching" experience. I have enjoyed the experience thoroughly and I will be sorry to leave my Malang life and friends. I will definitely return in the future and would recommend spending time here to anyone. 2. Please describe your feelings about your ACICIS study program in MalangCarolyn: Your first four weeks at the university will seem a little confusing. But my advice is, to avoid this confusion: 1. Establish your topic before coming or in the first two weeks. Olivia: The field study program in Malang has been an enormous challenge for me in terms of language, cultural experience and the actual field study itself. There were times when everything seemed to hard, but in the end I would rate it as one of the best experiences in my life. I found the program well organized and the support there, if needed. The only aspect found frustrating was perhaps the lecturer at the beginning of the semester too long. While this was great for language skills and interesting, by the last week I really wanted to concentrate on my field study. 3. Please describe your main extra-curricular activities (groups, clubs, kos, friends, etc)Carolyn: 4. Please describe briefly the main steps you took in carrying out your field studyCarolyn: My Studies took me out of Malang, to an Environmental Education Centre i.e. Pusat Pendidikan Lingkungan Hidup at Seloliman Trawas. The following were the steps I took. (1) Fax an introduction letter, including information such as who you are,
what you need from them and most importantly "HOW YOU CAN HELP THEM"
e.g. teach English to students, help in various departments, etc. Furthermore,
on your fax, ask them to fax you back to confirm that you are able to conduct
your research there and who will be your contact person. 5. Please comment on how much how your study and extra-curricular activities have helped your language skillsCarolyn: My language skills have improved immensely, but not only that, my understanding of the culture and the people as well. Alex: My field study helped develop a certain range of vocab and definitely helped increase my ability to talk to people of different ages, different positions, and different backgrounds. However, the advances I made with general vocabulary and speaking Indonesian more naturally came from hanging out with friends and listening to the way they use the language and then copying it. My speaking, writing, reading, and listening skills have all increased noticeably over the semester (at least to me anyway!) Olivia: In terms of field study my language skills built up on a specific area (i.e. land, law, etc) but I found that general words that I was using in my field report crept into my everyday speaking. I also found that carrying out the field study (i.e. reading, observing, etc) and then writing the report helped with these. Extra-curricular activities helped with my confidence in actually opening my month and trying to make myself understood. (I was the student that sat at the back of class and never said a word, unless forced to!!) Also my listening skills became a little better (although they are quite bad). Also these activities helped with cultural understanding and in which context to use certain words. 6. Malang Living - hints: Please gave 3 or 4 good hints about places to go and things to do in Malang: e.g. a good eating place, haircut, gym, clothes maker, doctor, etcCarolyn: · good eating: Jl. Kawi, heaps of little restaurants, looking for a good cheese and tomato sandwich go to "Amsterdam", or warungs outside "Dieng Plaza" .·Good crème-bath: "Samudera" (near Pak Habib's house), "Salon" near Hotel Helios, Jl. Pattimura) · Tugu: for those times you feel like getting away from it or spoiling yourself. Alex: 7. Accommodation - where did you live, how did you find it, and how much did it cost? Do you recommend it?Carolyn: Heard from a last semester student. It is on Jl. Tidar Selatan No. 4. Great room, family doesn't bother only the occasional mosque calling you (but it's not that bad), great family, felt always like part of the family. Although they are very much into the Christian religion, they do respect you if you are not. The cost was Rp200,000 (this may go up) a month. Alex: Olivia: I stayed at the Hotel Helios, which I loved, no curfew and Antok and Agus lots of fun and extremely helpful. Cheap room (shared mandi) - Rp 450,000 per month, more expensive room with own mandi Rp825,000 per month. Although more expensive than a kos I have had a wonderful time staying at this hotel. I have also had a lot of language practise, as the guests are very friendly. Antok and Agus have been great in testing my language skills and correcting any mistakes. They have become great friends and I will be sorry to leave. 8. How much did the semester cost you?Carolyn: Having no computer and living out of Malang for my field studies as well as spending a couple of weeks in Bali, approximately: $3 - 4000. Alex: After arriving in Indonesia I would have spent about $3,000 - 3,500, which included everything: travel, shopping, books, motorbike, etc… Olivia:Approximately: $2,000, this included buying a motorbike, which was later sold and the money used for travel at the end of the semester. Although living in Malang was generally cheap, travelling around cost more. The $2,000 included treats like tea at the Tugu, cream bath, movies, etc… 9. Any other general comments on your Malang Program, particularly of use in guiding future students?Carolyn: Maybe if students have an opportunity to attend seminars, they should think about doing it. This will benefit them as well as take away any pre-seminars fears. Alex: (Please note that the information
contained in this page is the opinions and suggestions of students regarding
their experiences in Malang. They are in no way meant to officially endorse
any place mentioned and neither ACICIS, nor the students, should be held accountable
for any information contained herein.) |
Field study can seem a daunting option. We asked some of our intrepid Malang
students to give us the benefit of their experience. A
big thanks to the following
students for sharing their thoughts with us.| Copyright © ACICIS 2005 | Email : acicis@murdoch.edu.au |