Prasidhi Artono - Japan

Prasidhi Artono (Dito)

Well, it was a memorable experience on June-August 2013. I was selected as one of the 30 participants in "Latest Advanced Technology in Automobile Engineering", a program held by Nagoya University in Nagoya, Japan. The program aims to spread new perspective about newest automobile development in Japan to students who have high interest and experience in automobiles area. There were approximately 30 participants which all of those are engineering students coming from top worldwide universities, like Michigan University, National Taiwan University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Southern Illinois, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and so on. They were coming from around the world, such as America, Italy, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, and of course Indonesia.

Basically I learned abundant things about automobiles which were well explained by 14 professors from Nagoya University. The materials I learned were kind of Intelligent Transportation System (ITS), Product Development of Automobiles, Car Market & Its Future, Fuel Catalysts, Safety Engineering, Energy Saving Vehicles, Automotive Embedded Computing Systems, and so on. Besides learning in classroom, I had opportunities to visit the head factory and research center of Toyota, Honda, and Nissan. In addition, we had so much fun as well in cultural visit to Kyoto, Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, and Kobe. It was amazing to have an opportunity to learn newest technology from Japan, visit tourism spots, and have crazy times with new friends!

Yes, indeed. At first I was just a 'local' person. It means I did not have a courage to go abroad solely. I was just afraid if I could not speak fluent enough to make foreigners understand. However, in my final year of study, I decided to leverage the opportunity to go abroad as a student.

In this program, we were encouraged to make report and give presentation in English after each lecture. Of course, these things would increase my capabilities in speaking English in front of students, professors, and industry experts. Besides, I was just brave enough to speak English to American students although they usually spoke very quick and I just did not get it. Even they became my hangout friends and always asked me for a 'night party'. Hahaha. Anyway, I became more independent, more brave, and had more willingness to continue go abroad to other countries because of this program. It was totally a life changing experience.

Hmmm, a lot. One of the most memorable moments I think when the first time we were going outside Nagoya taking the bus, and we had a crazy time. Very very crazy. We had old songs karaoke time in the bus, and everyone was kinda drunk and crazy. And we learned each nation's language, like Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indonesian but in inappropriate meanings (you know, right?). We also played 'pijat-pijatan' and did so many crazy things until the bus driver angry to us.

Well, of course there were difficulties live there. Japan is the most expensive country in the world. The scholarship fund was limited and if I was not clever enough to organize my cash flow for 2 months, I could have been starving. I also have to be an independent person, like cooking myself, washing & ironing clothes, buying raw from supermarket, buying Shinkansen or Subway ticket myself, etc. which I was not used to be in Indonesia. I tend to live simple in Japan to survive.

Japanese students always go to the campus by bicycle or public transportation. The weather is clear each day. There are no noisy motorcycles and polluted air occurred. Everything is so conducive to support their daily activities. For instance, after having lunch in campus, they always put the dishes to the washing dishes and clean up the dining table themselves even there are janitors.  I think we can start from small things, like copy them by simply using bicycle to campus, take care our environment, and respect others more to make Indonesia better place to live.

I think Indonesian students are content to their comfort zone in campus. I saw students in Japan more willing to go abroad and take so many opportunities, although their language limited their desires (Japan's Nihongo is opposed to Latin's Alphabet). I could guarantee that Indonesian students are better in speaking English than Japanese are. What we should do is to leverage many opportunities to see the world, learn from it, and make this country better.

Nadia RIzky - Phillipines

Nadia Risky Putri

I had my 6 weeks internship in Philippines and it was totally amazing. I did a project about HIV AIDS and learnt so many things from it. I didnt know much about HIV before this and never met people living with hiv as well. But from this internship i experienced it all.

And also, that was my first time going abroad and interact with people from different nationality. With this chance, now i know a lot about other country even though i havent visited them.

Yes it is. When you go abroad only for vacation, you don't have chance to communicate and understand other's culture. But when you go exchange or something, you will understand other's culture better. And that's really changing my perspective towards people and world.

Yes of course. actually it's all unforgettable. But the most unforgettable one is a late night talk with some of my friends from Australia. That conversation changed my perspective a lot. In a better way i think.

yes of course. People kind of discriminate me at first because i wear veil. but just be who you are. be open minded. that's the only thing that can make you survive :)

Well, im environmental engineering student that's why the first thing i recognise is the environment. First, i think philippines is on the same level with us (in economic way) but they concern about the environment much more than Indonesia do. They dont really use plastic bag they intend to use paper bag rather than plastic bag. And if you want to use plastic bag you have to pay for it.

2nd, i think indonesia and philippines are no different. we have so many amazing tourism spots so do they. But the difference is the government support it a lot. They make so many facilities and promote it alot. and from my little observation, now people choose to go to philippines rather than Bali (Indonesia) because philippines manage it better than us. I think if we promote our country better, we can exceed what philippines has done and it can help our economy stability as well

3rd, philippines speak real good english. Indonesian should have learned more from them. Because english is an important language and soon in 2015 we will have global market which allow us to compete with other people aside from indonesia. There, we surely need good english and open minded if we want to compete with them.

Learning in Indonesia is so comfortable for some people. Interacting in Indonesia and only Indonesian is also comfortable for some people. But don't forget you have to face the world out there. There are so many culture, there are so many thoughts, there are so many perspective that you can not just read it or watch. You have to experience it yourself! Being in comfort zone is surely comfortable, but dont forget there's no success people live in comfort zone. They push themselves to the limit!

Jacky Mak - Turkey

Jacky Mak

I spent a summer in Turkey, doing volunteer work under AIESEC programme. I also traveled around some cities in Turkey.

It is definitely a life changing experience for me because under the programme I made a lot of international friends from around 20 different countries. The different cultures of different countries broaden my horizon and my knowledge about the world.

We had been through a lot together. We argued on some issues in our preparation for our duties and we had a lot of fun together. After all, we know that it's only the work that we argued but not our personalities so we are still good friends. There are a lot of jokes arising from different personalities of different people from different countries.

It is not that difficult to live abroad especially when you have local friends. The major problem is the language people use in Turkey. Most of them don't speak English so I sometimes found difficulties when looking for what I want.  I used body languages or found someone that can speak English to express what I want to say.

I guess not everyone in Indonesia can speak English so I think it's really important to share the idea that people should start using English for their normal life.

Rahmad Wandi Putra - China

Rahmad Wandi Putra

I was very nervous at first because it was my first time going abroad and also by myself. I got confused at first because I am going to China and I couldn't speak Chinese. But, after I arrived in Harbin (my destination) I met an AIESECer and he spoke English with me, I was very relieved at that time. He took me to the apartment with the other exchange participant living in it. It was my first time to share the same room with some strangers and they came from different countries. It was hard at first because they didn't care about hygiene of the room. Sometimes I clean the room by myself but in any minutes it came on mess again. Though it was hard to get comfort the hygiene, I was able to communicate and interact more with other people. I found that every country have different problems and they are trying to solve it. I also found a lot of things in China and its culture. Some of them are different from what I heard here, but after I saw it by myself, I finally find the truth. I also learn the local tradition on how to eat, how to communicate with elders there, etc. I've got so many experiences there from skills into cultural experiences.

Yes, it is. Before I went exchange I was a very shy person and very hard to adapt with new environment. It was a very challenging situation for me to have an exchange very far from my family. But after I did my exchange, I can adapt with people more easily now.

The most memorable one is when I do my project and going to a Child Center in Harbin. I saw children that were different than usual kids. They act hyperactively and sometimes their parents were crying seeing their children behavior. It was a very touching moment for me and there were lots of children in that condition there. I decided to help the teacher and parent there even though they can't understand English. But, when I helped them, they were smiling at me and even the parents shaking my hand saying gratitude to me with tears falling down.

I am a Muslim person and I didn't drink any alcohol but my roommates were. I decided to tell them and explain to them about my religion, then they understand it. Sometimes they go out from the room when I did my praying and never disturbed me while I was doing it.

One thing that is most important to everyone here is to become aware of your environment because there are still lots of people suffering around us. Be aware of people around you and try to help them even from the smallest thing.

It's good to "Go Global!" You can get many experiences and it's life-changing ones.

Yes, take China as your destination for exchange!

Milky Way - Turkey

Hello guyss! so here is a story from our dear friend, Milky Way. She had this amazing exchange story that i think will inspire you guys. enjoy! :)

"A few months ago I had a cultural exchange in Eskisehir, Turkey.  My main job was to educate high school students about personal awareness, soft skills, leadership and cultural diversity.  That was also a great chance for me to learn more about Turkish culture through my students, my organization committees and my host family.  Besides, I also worked with 19 other interns from 16 different countries and had unforgettable moments together.

This is more than a life-change experience for me. At home, I used to be shy and hesitated. But everything has changed! My journey began even before I went to Turkey. Everything started from how to prepare my budget, then how to find the right project and get approved, then about my exams and projects, then visa matter. After I managed to beat all of them, I felt more confident in me myself.

Then when my challenge began in Turkey, I felt that everything was easier than I expected. I didn't expect the people here to be so helpful, friendly and hospitable like that. Everywhere I went, I was welcome with big smiles and warm hugs. Together with my beloved host family, I never felt like I was an outsider. As for our project, I was a bit scared at first, but it came and went in waves. Together with other interns and our organization committees, we had two great camps with our beloved students. Through all the ups and downs we'd had during our internship, we're still a big happy family. Then when I saw my talented students shining on the stage, I felt freaking proud of them and of me myself too. Thanks to them, I felt  ike I had the power to change the world.

The forth week I was in Turkey, I still didn't know there were 2 trams in our city and jumped on the wrong one. Then I was afraid that I would take the wrong one back, so I intended to take a taxi. But I couldn't find the taxi button anywhere nearby, so I went back to the tram station. Thanks God that I finally remembered Espark shopping mall so that I had some clue to ask for the right tram back.

At first, it felt fucking scary not to have any clue where I was or how to get home, esp when it was getting dark outside, and freaking cold also. Thanks to those warm strangers that finally I managed to find the way back to the office safe and sound.

I managed not to cry till I got back to the office, back to my friends' arms. Everybody was so scared to hear that I got lost. When I went back to my host family, I found my host parents in the living room on the phone talking with my leader. They were so worried not to see me home and were just about to go out to find me. When they saw me, they almost cried and gave me warm hugs & kisses which made me burst into tears. That was one of the most touching moments for me 'coz I could see how much they cared about me.

Host family is one of the highlights of my experience in Turkey. Through them I learn about cultures and customs. They also make me feel that I'm belonged there. So if you want to have great living experience in a strange country, you have to love it first. And in order to love a country, you have to love its people first.

Life's short, and it can be even shorter than you expect. Don't hesitate to do new things, go to new places, and meet new people.

so dear young people, you should definitely go to Turkey to have life-changing experiences!"