What do Past Participants Have to Say?
Here are stories from some past participants of Indonesian Internships programs:
Alice Hayes
(Summer Program, 2008)
It's a pretty daunting task to try to sum up my time in Yogya, to condense it into a few 100 words. I had the time of my life, and the enjoyment and amount I learnt is immeasurable. The other interns and I all agreed that by the time we had finished the internship, we had all well and truly fallen in love with the vibrant and bustling city of Yogya , and I know I'm already dying to go back!
Yogya is perhaps not as idyllic and peaceful as the Lonely Planet would have us think. Its loud, everything is ‘under construction', motorbikes zoom by in every direction and the stifling heat and humidity mess with your brain! With over 121 Universities, the streets are full of young people, and absolutely everyone smiles and talks to you.
You will quickly became accustomed to being treated like a celebrity in Yogya; having all eyes on you as you do the shopping, being ushered into the front row of all the ceremonies and generally being the guest of honour everywhere you go. If you speak the language, it is even easier to make friends - the locals are thrilled at even a feeble ‘terima kasih' in the markets.
My internship site, at a television station called ‘Jojga TV' was possibly the best way for me to see the most of what makes news in Indonesia - politics, community affairs and religious ceremonies. My duties involved travelling to news sites and interviewing local people on recent events, before writing up scripts to be read on the news later that evening. Writing in Bahasa Indonesia was definitely a challenge, but I became so apart of the team that they let me anchor the ‘Good Morning Jojga” once!
Life so easy in Yogya; you can live like a king on the bank balance of a uni student. Everything is devastatingly cheap, as Yogya is a student city. My laundry was done weekly for 20c!
The way in which Indonesians go about their daily lives is so refreshing. We had plenty of “only in Indonesia ...” moments, whether it be 3 hour long lunch breaks, awkward moments on the back of a motorbike, or a run in with the infamous Indonesian Police!
Immersing yourself in another culture is always intimidating at first, but the local people will quickly make you feel at home. The city of Yogya is a city of contrasts - rice fields and rich, rural life are situated less than 15 mins out of the city centre, and ancient temples and cross dressers coexist peacefully on the same stretch of road. As Indonesia speeds into the modern world, Yogya splashes (cold) water all over everything you thought you knew about yourself and all of your senses, and leaves you forever wanting more!
Alice Hayes
Michael Costa
(Summer Program, 2007)
I have been in Jogja for 6 weeks now. It's been amazing! The people, the food, the random happenings, in fact life in general has been great. Time is a lot slower over here too, which is a welcomed change from the pace back home. It gives you a chance to actually relax, and to appreciate your surrounds. I have also learnt a lot from my adventures here. So let's explore a few experiences I like to call "Jogja Moments".
Lunch Break at "Work"
Over my time in Jogja I worked with a Silver Manufacturer and Exporter - Borobudur Silver. This involved translating, formulating proposals, rewriting the company history, and conversing with the staff. I was also given a firsthand look into the operations of an exporting firm, the challenges due to terrorism, natural disasters and globalization, the government requirements within the Silver Industry as well as the impact of fierce competition between companies.
Lunchtime however was a little different. A little more relaxed. Often lasting more than an hour or two, lunch consisted of a different selection of Indonesian cuisine every day. Sometimes wine was on offer, and after that maybe a game of chess, some PS2 gaming, a bit of a play on the piano or even karaoke with the director. A happy worker is a productive worker. I was certainly kept motivated.
Advice: Networking is very powerful in Indonesia, socializing is as important as actually working in the business environment. A simple conversation may lead to future employment opportunities.
And we didn't even play.
Ever walked into a stadium full of screaming fans? Sure, if you're going to see a soccer match, it's a given. If you're a professional athlete, it happens all the time. So when a group of Australians walk into a stadium with an Indonesian crowd of 10,000 to watch Jogjakarta (PSS Sleman) take on Surabaya, what do you think happens?
It goes off!!! We'd only walked 10 meters and the crowd were cheering, clapping and chanting like true soccer fans. Bule! Bule! Bule! They cried as we made our way to the other side. Before we knew it we were giving out hi-5s left, right and centre. We absolutely loved it. Talk about celebrity status.
Advice: If you get invited to a soccer match, be sure to wear the home team colours. A helmet might come in handy for those who don't!
Lost in Translation
I love movies. I also like watching movies with foreign subtitles because it turns the entertainment experience into an "infotainment" experience. So when I invited an Indonesian friend to watch the new movie of Shakespeare's classic tale "The Merchant of Venice", I was expecting quite a lot of new vocabulary.
Suffice to say it did not translate well at all. Try to imagine Shakespeare translated into Basic English and then into Indonesian. All of the unique language used was lost in translation. 'Sampai Jumpa' as a substitute for 'I bid thee farewell'???
Advice: Stick to the Hollywood blockbusters or Indonesian flicks when inviting Indonesian friends to a movie.
I could continue in a similar vein for ever, but it's been a week since my last confession, so I must confess my sins..
- I have attended a wedding for the sole purpose of obtaining free food and drinks. Sure I wanted to see a Javanese wedding, but without having met the couple and family before, the food was my arterial motive. (It was delicious by the way)
- I have taken photos ins parts of the Sultans Palace (Kraton) when I have been specifically asked to not do so. Where it has said do not step or sit, I have stepped and sat. I now know what I was doing was wrong, but at the time I was blinded by the chance of the perfect photo.
- I deliberately sought out the gateway to hell as I made my ascent up Mt Merapi. I know the disasters and devastation it has caused in the past by those who flirted with temptation. But her pull was too great; I just had to see her for myself (Got some great pics)!
- I have enjoyed the nightlife every night this week. It has been a cocktail of Indonesian cuisine, beer, 9-ball, billiards, strangers becoming friends, bands, music, dancing and an Indonesian drink known as "lapen" that given the chance, would seep into the depths of any mans soul. (mmm, maybe not that dramatic, but it definitely has a little kick to it)
- I have taken my life for granted on countless occasions, by putting it into the hands of the Indonesians and their road laws...rather, the Indonesians and their lack of road laws.
If was bad enough in a car but on a motorbike, well, I have certainly been given a whole new perspective on the do's, and in particular, the don'ts of driving. (But it was a great experience all the same. Woo Hoo, what a rush! Except of course, when you're behind a bus.it's more like Woo Cough! Hoo Cough! )
Well folks, only a few more days until I return.and just when I'm starting to get comfortable.
• Cosi.
