As a student on the "International Tourism Management" Master's degree course, the module catalog includes spending a semester abroad. Ever since I started my Bachelor's degree five years ago, I knew that I wanted to spend it in Bali.
Preparation phase: Why Indonesia in particular?
Many of my predecessors also spent their semester abroad on the most touristy of all Indonesian islands - Bali. And I, too, can only recommend it with full conviction! Of course, everyone must be aware that the study program at UDAYANA University is not convincing because of its theoretical content. To be honest, the focus for me was much more on the fact that I was able to study in a tropical country under palm trees, get to know new cultures and broaden my personal horizons. The university's business campus, where I was enrolled, is not located in the capital Denpasar like most of the university buildings, but in Jimbaran. The town is right by the sea, and it's just under 10 minutes by scooter from the university to the beach. Definitely a plus point! I also planned from the outset to spend another four weeks in Indonesia after my semester abroad at university to get to know and explore the other islands around Bali. With a flight time of 18 hours, I would urge everyone to take the opportunity! Another tip at this point : For all students from Saxony, it's worth taking a look at the flight times from Prague to Denpasar. Major airlines such as Emirates or Qatar Airways also fly from here. With some offers, the flights are even cheaper than from Germany and getting there by car was just as uncomplicated, as the Czech capital's airport has a very good parking guidance system!
Another decision that needs to be made in advance: Do I head out on the spot and look for accommodation or book in advance? For my preparation, the latter was the case and I was really lucky with my small apartment with its own bathroom and shared kitchen. However, there were also fellow students who found very nice accommodation when searching locally. The advantage here is of course that you don't have to pay commission fees to agencies, but can negotiate directly with the landlords in Bali, especially if you want to stay in accommodation for several months. The WhatsApp group with all the German students who would be studying in the same semester as me was also really useful here. As stressful as the exchange of 200 students was at times, the communication eliminated some ambiguities during the preparation phase and, above all, made it possible to make initial contacts and find flatmates for a villa.
Studying in Bali
As already mentioned, we are very spoiled at our university in Germany when it comes to the overall organization of our studies and the content taught. Whether it's the punctuality of the start of lectures, the adherence to the timetable or the structure of the lecturers in the individual seminars - the clocks tick completely differently in Bali! For me, the change was not a problem at all, but some of my fellow students were less good at it. However, I think this is a matter of attitude or a question of expectations at the start of the semester. Here are a few facts about the structure of the IBSN study program in Bali: the semester is divided into 12 weeks, after half of which there is another two-week semester break. The pure lecture time on campus each week was from Monday to Wednesday, from 8.30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the latest. In addition, excursions are organized, which are then limited to Thursday or Friday.
Students are given many opportunities to participate in decision-making, not least because they are divided into different empowerment teams. After completing a questionnaire, each student is assigned to a team consisting of 2-5 people who are then responsible for certain tasks on site, such as organizing excursions, sporting events or charity events. What sounded a bit stressful at first turned out to be very useful. On the one hand, we got to know our fellow students a lot better and on the other, we were able to have a direct influence on the activities. In addition to a Balinese cooking course and a visit to a chocolate factory, the adoption of a baby turtle also took place as part of the excursions. It is perhaps also important to mention that attendance is compulsory at all university events. This must be at least 75% for the final examinations at the end of the semester.
Leisure activities and excursions
In addition to the excursions and university events, there was plenty of time for private excursions and activities with friends. From the beautiful beaches in the south to the jungle in the north of the island, I was able to explore everything during my five-month stay and I couldn't spontaneously say what I liked best! However, the many new experiences that I was able to have deserve special mention. For example, I had my first surf lesson and did yoga for the first time. I was also able to go on a guided trekking tour through the tropical forest with a local and get to know a completely different culture thanks to the lovely and open Balinese people. However, my absolute highlight is and will probably always be the night-time hike up the Batur volcano. I will never forget the moment when I stood at the top after the two-hour climb and watched the beautiful sunrise on Lombok!
Speaking of Lombok: As mentioned earlier, it's also worth visiting Bali's many neighboring islands, either during semester breaks or following final examinations. Compared to Bali, which is very much dominated by tourism, the neighboring islands are all a bit more pristine and therefore, in my opinion, more authentic. I have now been back in Germany for a few weeks and can evaluate my semester abroad with a bit of distance. As much as I was looking forward to returning home after my stay abroad, I am now longing for my time in Indonesia again! I can really recommend every student to take advantage of this opportunity during their studies and spend a semester in Bali. You won't regret it.