Student Perspectives

Tips and tricks

Exploring the archipelago

Bringing the family

The Year of Living...

Most of the students studying in Indonesia with ACICIS send emails home to their friends and relatives. Often they also send a copy to the ACICIS Resident Directors in Yogyakarta. Helene and Gerry van Klinken were the RDs between 2000 and 2002, and Helene privately published a book of these emails in 2002. It is called " The Year of Living...... Australian students in Indonesia". Most of the emails below are taken from this book.

Letter from an ACICIS student

"Here are some photos of my time in Indonesia. I have to say, doing ACICIS was the best thing I ever did! It really helped me to develop academically, and socially, and just gave me that extra boost in finding myself. I had a fantastic time and will definitely be back there some day. I already miss Jogja and I've only been gone a month!"

On being a mature age student with ACICIS

The main differences for me I think are that I am over the party, party thing so you have to find other forms of entertainment. There is always lots of theatre and cultural events to keep you entertained. If you're over 25, still single and have no children you have to continually explain the different approach to marriage and child rearing in Australia, ie it's still possible after the age of 25!! I have found a lot of my friends are younger than me as there are not many mature age students at campus and those people with time to spare are usually younger. But if you enjoy the company of younger people this is not a problem. There are also plenty of NGOs that are always looking for volunteers and this is a good way to meet people already in the workforce and a bit more mature. I am really enjoying the lifestyle here not having to work is a joy, I can concentrate on studying and playing. Oh make sure you find a kos that is bebas no jam malam, at 33 it still irks me that my male guests have to be out by 10pm but at least I have the freedom to come and go as I please. It may suit some to get a Kontrak house for their time here as that offers a lot more freedom.

Jessica Douglas, UNSW

On getting your motorbike licence

We (Rachel Diprose, Sally McDonald and Rebecca Wells) are now officially known as a Bikie Girls! Call us eccentric, call us crazy, call us the 3 fat ladies if you like...it has all been said before. We finally hired motorbykes all of our own, and are speeding around with the best of them in the Indonesian traffic. Basically the only rules are, that if you have an accident, the bigger vehicle on the road is held responsible! So don't be scared girls, as they are just as aware of you as you are of them!

Picture it, unruly, anglo, females, wreaking havoc in the Indonesian traffic, wearing a bright green raincoats and sunglasses - what do you think? We even did a road trip up into the villages on the weekend, and had only been riding for a day. It was pretty challenging to find yourself on an almost vertical dirt road, going up a mountain, in the slush and all!! Oh dear. The parents are now on the case to find us bikes at home. It really is an addiction. So we say Join the Bikie Girl club, you won't regret it!

Rachel Diprose, UNSW

Mantra

One day not long ago, while climbing Gunung Api in Central Java, I met a holy man. This dukun of Diare introduced me to some of the inner teachings of Javanese mysticism. In particular, he taught me a holy mantra, which he said represented the meaning of life, and also cured depression, flatulence and other illnesses. He may be right, because I told my aunty about it and she swore it cured her lumbago. It took me a long time to realise that the sounds were not random, but actually were words that make up a sentance. The mantra is (drum roll please, maestro…...) "Kuku kaki koki kakekku kaku kok"

A Wizeman, Universitas Sipandai

On General Field Study

One thing I would like to say now is I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT HERE!

In my opinon, you don't have to be at honours level to do this study option. Not by any means, do I think it's not at honours level, it's just that I am still only into my 3rd year, so initially it seemed quite daunting that I would be with honour students here in Malang! But, because I am at a different stage, it is important not too expect too much. (My piece of advice to other students who are not at honours level).

My studies also took me into various villages for a month and THAT'S WHAT I FULLY RECCOMMEND TO ANYONE WHO IS THINKING ABOUT GOING INTO A VILLAGE, DO IT. Why, you may ask?

Well, having spent time in Yogya and now Malang, to gain another perspective of Indonesia, it is vitally important to spend time with villagers! I truely now feel that I have been to Indonesia, in fact if I do return here (one can only hope), that's where I would like to live! I am sure people won't understand what I mean, but they will if they allow themselves the chance to experience it.

Carolyn Wight, Curtin University of Technology

Disclaimer: Student feedback is provided to reflect a range of views and advice which may prove interesting or useful for future students. This does not necessarily reflect the opinions or advice of ACICIS as an organisation and ACICIS may not be held accountable.