Working with various organizations in fields like wildlife conservation, maternal health, and tourism, was one of the most rewarding times of my life. We traveled everywhere from cities, to suburbs, to completely remote jungle. As someone who is looking to go into wildlife biology, I was immediately hooked by this program when I saw that there would be a partner where we’d track orangutans, and another time where we’d work with a marine biologist. They were exactly what I was hoping for! I loved every moment of working with them, and I’ll treasure those memories for the rest of my life!

This was a good gap semester. Though it’s very structured and you aren’t really able to go off on your own or with some group members to do something. I just wish it was more chill- there’s obviously some things that cannot happen since they’re reliable for us, but it’s just frustrating. Surfing and scuba in Bali is also only 3 days, even though Fiji has such good spots. This program taught me a lot and I had a lot of fun with everything we did. It gave me a lot of opportunities that I wouldn’t have otherwise had.

I really enjoyed this trip a lot and I recommend it for anyone who is interested in Sumatran, Balinese, or Fijian culture. The food was great everywhere we went and the people were incredibly kind at all of our home-stays. You get a good taste of everything across the trip and learn about a wide variety of things. I also really liked my instructors and I thought they did a very good job leading the program. Overall it was so much fun and if you’re thinking about doing a gap year and want to travel to this area I very highly recommend this.

Great gap program. A highlight from this trip was SCUBA diving and surfing. I definitely learned a lot of new things and skills. Very structured program similar to travels I’ve done with my high school in structure. Another highlight was the local partners. Throughout the entire trip we had amazing guides who curated activities and days for us in which we learned so much and saw so much of the places we were in as well as being great friends to us. They made sure we got the most out of each destination.

Lots of fun activities, seeing cool places/things, meeting cool people. I loved the people at Yes Sumatra, that was the highlight of my trip. Housing can be very rustic, but you’re never any one place for more than a few weeks. Showers can be hit or miss. Laundry can be hit or miss. Definitely pack plenty of underwear and wet wipes, please for the love of god take your hygiene seriously on this trip. The constant monitoring and rules can be frustrating, sometimes there’s not enough down time for my preference.

Taking a gap semester in Bali and Fiji was honestly one of the best decisions I’ve made. It gave me a rare chance to step away from the constant pressure of school and focus on experiences that felt meaningful, exciting, and actually beneficial for my personal growth. Instead of rushing straight into the next academic step, I was able to slow down, reset, and gain a new perspective on what I want for my future. The balance between travel, personal development, and simply enjoying everyday life made the entire experience feel both productive and refreshing at the same time.

This program was so fantastic!! It’s hard to summarize and pick my favorite moments. I absolutely loved the jungle trek in Sumatra. The terrain was rugged but Jay and Eric and Febroni (our local guides) seemed to magically appear whenever we needed a hand. I felt like I lost a few pounds through sweat so I was thankful for the afternoon swim in the river next to camp after the trek. We saw SO MANY orangutans (more than our guides had ever seen before), and it was so incredible to see them in real life. I was using the squat toilet one time at camp and look up to see a mama and baby orangutan watching me. Also I got pooped on by one…

Our home stays were so nice, and I gained a lot of knowledge about communicating with people who don’t speak English. It was difficult at some points, like when we were served two full cups of coffee after dinner and didn’t know how to refuse (delicious but the caffeine was a lot for post-dinner), but the generosity of the locals came through in everything they did.

I’d never swam in the ocean before this trip and wouldn’t consider myself a strong swimmer, but all the water-based activities were super great and within my skill level. I saw an octopus snorkeling and the scuba diving was INCREDIBLE. I even caught a few waves surfing!

One of my favorite moments was our first night on one of the treks we did. The whole group was staying in one big tent and it was storming so hard. There was no electricity so the only thing lighting the room was the frequent cracks of lightning. It was pouring rain and so windy and the floor flooded. It was such a bonding moment and when we finally got to sleep anytime I’d roll over I’d be face to face with my travel mates.

My glasses were stolen off my face and broken by a monkey so if you can’t see without your glasses bring an extra pair. Please, please wear sunscreen - the UV actually broke the scale on the weather app once and I got burned bad a couple times even from just 20 minutes or so. Pack light - you’ll be moving every couple days.

From drinking kava in Fiji (slightly better than mud water haha) to helping clean white tigers’ cages, to crying in an ice bath, this trip opened my eyes to so many new things. I would highly recommend this trip, thought it’s not for those who aren’t very outdoorsy. The hiking can be hard and everything you bring will get wet at some point, and can stay damp for a long time. The people you’ll meet and the sights and animals you’ll get to see so outweigh any negatives for those considering this program. My program instructors were so amazing and struck the perfect match between friend and mentor - I couldn’t have asked for better leaders.

I went into this program with absolutely zero knowledge of the places I would go, or the people I would meet on this trip. Over 2 months time (it goes by quick) I gained so much in social skills, confidence, my knowledge of traditions & culture, and my ability to feel comfortable in uncomfortable situations. Not to mention all the things you would not be able to do without ARCC like hiking to a colossal secret waterfall in the jungle, staying at 200y/o+ Batak houses and working at a zoo. Also shout out to my instructors (Ari&Ingrid) they really make the trip.