Preparations before your stayExperienceabroad is now an almost obligatory part of studying. For many students, this means finding their way independently in a foreign environment and gaining or exchanging new cultural experiences. My semester abroad was part of the IBSN (International Business Studies Network) study program run by Prof. Dr. Stephan Passon (FH Dortmund) and Udayana University Denpasar. After I had made the decision to study in Bali and sent off my application, I was lucky enough to be accepted. one of the most important things to consider before traveling is to check your vaccination certificate. You can find out about necessary vaccinations on the internet or consult your family doctor. Tetanus and hepatitis A and B vaccinations are recommended for a stay abroad in Bali. If you are planning to travel outside the tourist areas or have close contact with animals, it is also advisable to be vaccinated against typhoid and rabies and to check that your passport has at least six months left to run and extend it if necessary. As a student at Udayana University, you need a special student visa. It is also strongly recommended that you take out international health insurance and apply for an international driving license to be able to travel around Bali on a scooter. Accommodation in Bali is relatively cheap compared to German prices. The type of accommodation ranges from a homestay with a host family to a private apartment or a villa with its own pool. It is advisable to book a hostel for the first few months and look for accommodation locally. Studying in BaliThesemester abroad at Udayana University in Bali offers you the opportunity not only to further your professional education as part of the selected IBSN study program, but also to gain a lot of personal experience that can be useful in your future career. Examples of this are: intercultural competence, working independently and finding your way in a foreign country, networking, flexibility and open-mindedness, improving your English language skills. Udayana University in Denpasar is a state university, was founded in 1962 and has almost 20,000 students. Today, it is one of the top 20 most renowned universities in Indonesia and the faculties are located on three campuses: Jalan Sudirman Campus, Bukit Jimbaran Campus and Jalan Nias Campus. All exchange students were taught in the Faculty of Economics at the new Bukit Jimbaran Campus. The course comprises a full semester. This semester consists of 12 lectures per teaching unit. The study visit comprises a total of 15 weeks, which are distributed according to the following schedule:- 6 weeks of lectures/seminars/excursions- 2 weeks break for individual internships/cultural studies/language- 6 weeks of lectures/seminars/excursions- 1 week of final examsLectures take place 4 days a week. Of these, 3 days are set aside for lectures/seminars and 1 day for lecture-related excursions. These are an integral part of the study program. Attendance of at least 75% is also compulsory. Stay in the host countryTheRepublic of Indonesia consists of over 17,500 islands and, with 240 million inhabitants, is one of the most populous nations in the world. The country is characterized by a variety of cultures, languages and religions. At almost 90 %, Islam is the most widespread religion. In Bali, however, the majority of the population is Hindu. It is a change and it takes some time to get used to Bali, because the standard is not at all comparable to Germany. The best and fastest means of transportation in Bali is the scooter (approx. 35 euros per month). However, the traffic is not exactly safe and you also have to get used to driving on the left. In general, life in Bali is cheaper than in Germany. However, it always depends on how you want to live. It is not uncommon to pay 350 euros or more for a room in a villa with a pool and food is relatively expensive, which is why people tend to go out to eat rather than cook for themselves. The "standard meals" here are, for example, mie goreng (fried noodles) or nasi goreng (fried cooked rice). These are usually accompanied by vegetables and some side dishes, such as tempe (a type of fermented soybean cake), bergedel jagung (corn meatballs), ayam (chicken) or fried tofu. Most of the fruit you can buy in Bali also comes from Bali and is very versatile. Bali's mangoes, bananas and dragon fruit, for example, are very tasty. Sunset on Seminyak beachAs far as leisure activities are concerned, Bali stands out as a paradise for surfers. The waves on Bali's beaches are perfect for surfing. The sea offers almost perfect waves for beginners and pros alike. For beginners, the rather shallow waters at Kuta, Canggu and Semyniak Beach offer good opportunities to get through your first attempts on the board. Otherwise, there are many popular diving and snorkeling areas on the coasts of Bali. North of Nusa Dua, the island's vacation paradise for hotel guests, there are many other water sports activities such as jet skiing, paragliding and water skiing on Benoa Beach in south-east Bali. Kuta and Seminyak, the party centers of Bali, invite you to various parties every day. If you are looking for peace and quiet, you will find it in the north with its beautiful landscapes, where Balinese culture is reflected in all social classes and at all levels of life. The ritual offerings range from flower blossom festivals on main roads to exquisite weddings in Balinese culture and countless temple ceremonies decorated with great attention to detail. The handcrafted works of art are complemented by traditional music and dance - this is what makes Bali so special. My conclusionIam incredibly glad that I took the opportunity to study in Indonesia for a semester. I was impressed by the exotic, vibrant and colorful culture of Bali and the hospitality of the Balinese people. Bali was a valuable experience and a personal challenge. I got to know a foreign culture and also had the opportunity to get to know other parts of Asia, such as Singapore and Vietnam, during the semester. I met wonderful people and was able to learn a lot about the country, its people, culture and religion.