So, where should I start? :) Let’s begin with a professional part. Since I was a small child, I have always heard many issues regarding the Southeast Asian countries. Some of them stimulated me to admire hard work and educational attitudes, some – wonder about all the issues regarding whether these countries pertain to necessities of life or population growth. So, whenever I thought about the SA countries, a very diverse picture came into my mind.
Therefore, last year I was so delighted to find an opportunity to participate in students’ exchange program in South Korea and after that – internship program in Indonesia. I have decided to apply through “Internship Indonesia”, because this organization looked trustworthy and I was sure this internship would strongly enrich my future studies, adjust my settled approach to various problems prevailing at the SA countries and help me in my prospective career choice. Also, I considered this internship as a great opportunity to get in touch with Indonesian culture, traditions, people, and at the same time – get a professional work experience.
My placement lasted for 3 months in a small construction, architecture, interior design services company “Mahesa Company Group”. The individual assignment of the placement was getting to know Mahesa’s services, analyzing the processes inside and outside the company and deliberating the possibilities to expand. During the whole internship period besides the activities within a company related with marketing and accounting I was also writing an internship report which included information about the company, its organizational structure, internal / external analysis, current situation, perspectives and econometric analysis about what influences the construction work projects' profit and answers to a question how to allocate the expenses in order to achieve the maximum profit. The assistance from my supervisor wasn’t very helpful, because he was busy almost all the time, but I appreciate that he encouraged me to show the initiative and become totally involved in a team. And, although, I didn’t learn something completely new in my professional field, I did improved skills and most importantly – a way of thinking.
Furthermore, living in a multicultural environment, mostly surrounded by local Balinese citizens gave me a heavily narrated life experience and was full of challenges. I was given a chance to become totally involved in the community I have lived in: I was staying in a Balinese house, my housemates were only Balinese people, I was working in an office were all the employees except me and my colleague Marlinde were Indonesians, I was eating Indonesian food in local “Warungs” all the time, I was driving a scooter, although from the first moment I learnt that none of the “normal” traffic regulations are working here… And believe me – it was much more I could have asked for! I not only learnt about new and rich culture, traditions, people, their relations, but my palate of experiences, thoughts, emotions, possibilities expanded too.
Moreover, I had free weekends which I mostly spent for travelling and exploring Bali and East Java. Although Bali is only a small Indonesian island, but it is so diverse and full of everything that I cannot easily find words to describe it! Imagine: hot weather and sunshine all the time, friendly and interesting people, beautiful and charming Hindu temples, wonderful beaches with incredibly high waves, rice terraces with mountains in the background, cheap and super-delicious food… Oh, God, I’ve already missed it so much! :)
What would you improve about this program?
Do not think that everything was perfect… To be honest, within 3 months time I had so many various bad accidents that some of them reminded me a horrible nightmare and I was emotionally frustrated… I was robbed, got sick 3 times (I got a tooth’s infection, caught a cold and got sick from Dengue fever), had a scooter accident on the last day, had serious problems with my visa (almost was taken to prison because of it) and so on. But it was like series of challenges for me and I not only survived it, but, for sure, got better to know myself and started to appreciate everything in my life much more, especially health.
So, what’s the point of this feedback? Do I want to scary you? Do I want to persuade you that this program is awesome? No, not at all. I just want to say that it is your choice to decide whether you want to go to Indonesia or not, but if I were you – I would go for it. These 3 months were like a wonderful dream for me! And although I experienced many differences among the cultures, food, lifestyles, had various accidents, but I successfully dealt with most of them. I learned a lot. I became stronger, braver and more self-confident than before. And all of my new friends, impressions, unforgettable memories are priceless…I will never ever forget them, because it’s just impossible!
