Phase 1 - Preparation and anticipation
A semester abroad is an obligatory part of the module catalog in my International Tourism Management degree program. Looking back, this was also a decisive reason for me to complete my Master's degree at the HSZG after my Bachelor's degree in Görlitz. I already knew from other matriculants before me that the majority of them always opt for a stay in Bali and only have good things to say about it. After I had taken a closer look at the study programs that were available, it was also clear to me - it would be Bali!
Like some of my predecessors, I opted for the IBSN (International Business Studies Network) study program run by Prof. Dr. Stephan Passon (Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts) and Udayana University Denpasar, based in Jimbaran. Those responsible for the program help prospective students to be optimally prepared for their upcoming stay right from the start and always take care of all possible concerns promptly. But of course you also have to take care of some things yourself, because no one else can do it for you. This includes, for example, checking your vaccination record. It is highly advisable to attend a vaccination consultation at the public health department. The doctors and nurses know exactly which vaccinations are recommended for a stay in Indonesia and can also administer them during the public vaccination consultation. Among other things, tetanus and hepatitis A and B vaccinations are recommended for a stay abroad in Bali. There are also a lot of street dogs in Bali, which can transmit rabies as well as other diseases. A rabies vaccination is therefore advisable, as well as one each against typhoid and Japanese encephalitis. Passports must also be checked at the latest when applying for a visa, as they must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry. The visa application itself is not too complicated. The IBSN provides the necessary documents.
Once all the bureaucracy has been sorted out, you can get on with the finer things. For me, that meant looking for a room. I had heard from fellow students beforehand that it is easy and above all much cheaper to look for a room or villa locally. However, I couldn't get used to the idea of living in a hostel for the first (indefinite) time. IBSN also offers help with finding accommodation. They have contact with a placement agency, which is also run by an alumnus of the program. The prices are absolutely reasonable and I had a really nice room that was only a 10-minute walk from the university. So it was also suitable for non-scooter riders.
Phase 2 - Enjoying the Bali vibes
I arrived in Bali at night, but I immediately realized that it rarely gets really quiet here. When I took a cab along the roads to Jimbaran, there were still people everywhere. Even though Jimbaran is a rather quiet area. Before my lecture period started, I had seven days to get to know the island and my new temporary home a little better. As it is up to each student to decide when to arrive, you can create a buffer for traveling before and of course after. I already enjoyed a few beaches and the wonderful weather before getting on with my student life. On my first day at university, I was overwhelmed by the size of the auditorium and the mass of people on the Udayana University campus. It was really nothing like the environment I was used to in Görlitz. But that's exactly what my stay abroad was supposed to enable me to do - broaden my horizons. Udayana University is a state university in Bali and is divided into three campuses with a total of around 18,000 students. As I was enrolled in the Faculty of Business, my focus was also on the campus in Jimbaran.
I had 16 weeks of lectures ahead of me, which were divided into different blocks. Unlike my fellow students, whom I met on the Udayana campus, I was lucky that the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences recognized all modules and I was therefore able to receive the full ECTS points without having to take modules in Germany afterwards. This was a very decisive factor for me personally. As the IBSN study program is not designed purely for tourism, but focuses on the economic component, I had a broad cross-section of modules, which gave me a lot of scope to expand my knowledge.
I took a total of six modules. From business economics in emerging countries to tourism marketing, almost everything was included - including the national language Bahasa Indonesia and intercultural management. Even though most of the students on the program come from Germany and we were therefore able to communicate with each other in German, all courses are of course held in English. If you are also thinking about studying abroad and are worried that your language skills are not sufficient, then remember that the professors and lecturers in Bali are also not native speakers and have only studied abroad in part. So there are hardly any language barriers at university.
A typical unit day for me started at half past eight in the morning. I then took part in three blocks, which were of course separated by breaks. From Monday to Wednesday I had traditional lectures, and on Wednesday afternoon there was always a guest lecture organized by our empowerment team. The division into these teams took place when I applied to IBSN and was based on the individual interests of each person. I, for example, was part of the Marketing Excursion Team. My task during the semester was to organize an excursion with a marketing-specific background for my class every Thursday, which was also a course-free day. These empowerment teams also help to get into conversation with the other students. In our particular case, the entire Görlitz student body was in Bali, which also gave us the opportunity to break up existing groups and thus facilitate an exchange. The excursions also gave us the opportunity to get to know the island better and see some of the highlights. Attendance is compulsory for all events and excursions. All students need 75% in order to be admitted to the final examinations.
Even though it may seem at first glance that the days are packed full, there is plenty of free time. Discovering new adventures and the culture of the country is definitely another opportunity and, in my opinion, also the point of the semester abroad. There is also a two-week break during the semester. I also used these to travel around the island and see lots of beautiful places. For example, I spent a long time in the cultural center of Bali and visited many temples and took part in yoga practices. I also visited Bali's only national park and was able to see the endangered Bali starling. I also tried my hand at surfing.
After the vacations, it was back to the regular semester routine before the final exams. However, we hardly had any exams in the traditional sense. In most of the modules, we carried out group projects, as is usual in Master's degree courses, which were presented to the group and written up as a term paper as part of the examination. This meant that we often had the opportunity to organize our time flexibly.
Phase 3 - Remembering the unique time
Like everything in life, the wonderful time in Bali came to an end and my flight back to Germany was imminent. Initially, I was full of anticipation to be able to embrace my loved ones back home after a long time. But a few days before my departure, I was gripped by the melancholy of returning home, which persisted for a while back at home. I'm sure it had something to do with the drastic change in weather that you experience when you get on the plane in tropical temperatures and sunshine and get off again in a wintry 2 degrees and snowfall.
A few weeks have now passed and I have slowly processed all my impressions and arrived back home. Looking back, the semester abroad in Bali was one of the best decisions I made during my studies. Not only did I get to know another country and its culture, but I was also able to make new friends. Above all, I was able to further develop my social and intercultural skills during my time at Udayana. I can only agree with anyone who is considering going to Bali.
Take this opportunity, you will probably only have it once in your life!