This summer, I was given a wonderful opportunity to travel to Indonesia through the sponsorship of the US and Indonesian Embassies. I specifically participated in the USINDO Summer Studies Program, where I completed an intensive 10-week language and cultural immersion fellowship based in Yogyakarta and concluded with a week of networking and policy discussion in Jakarta.
My participation in USINDO has pushed me out of my comfort zone in several ways. One of them was that I had to adjust to a society where citizens were expected to have a religious affiliation, most commonly Muslim. Growing up in a not-so-religious household and in a community where religion was never a focal point of conversation, it felt awkward to have a conversation starter asking about my religious beliefs. Furthermore, I was living with a host family whose first language was not mine. Therefore, our first conversations were very limited to “Halo, apa kabar?” (Hello, how are you?). These conversations were always stiff and uncomfortable. However, I grew to learn to be comfortable with the uncomfortable and to want to learn from it. As time went on, I learned more Bahasa Indonesia, and our conversations grew longer, with my hand gestures still there as backup whenever I mispronounced a word. I loved watching my connection with my host family and my Indonesian tutor grow as we exchanged food and shared what we knew about our very different lives. Sometimes we did not fully understand each other’s perspectives. Still, respect and a desire to learn from one another were always present.
USINDO used experiential classrooms to help me understand Indonesian culture through different lenses, from traditional music to the value of religious temple experiences. For example, I learned how Yogyakarta’s community navigates challenges in marine biodiversity conservation, disability empowerment, and the preservation of cultural heritage. I was inspired by how Yogyakarta’s community, from students to NGOs to professionals, takes initiative to resolve these challenges. As for USINDO’s field trips, I got to explore more of Jogja’s culture through religion and tradition. For instance, I wore a kebaya as I learned how to play traditional games such as Jamuran. I visited Borobudur and Prambanan Temples in traditional attire as I learned more about Buddhist and Hindu values. My host family contributed to my immersion and learning, as I was able to observe their values in real time. They shared their experiences, perspectives, and favorite Indonesian cuisines with me.
My experience was further enriched as I learned about the political environment as I conducted my individual project, an article titled “The Rohingya Refugee Crisis Through the Indonesian Lens.” Here, I learned how the Indonesian community believes in a bottom-up approach, especially since reliance on the government is minimal. I saw the Jogja value of community taking initiative on affairs the government does not create systems for, refugee policies being one of them. I read a lot about how the Aceh community dealt with massive waves of Rohingya refugees. Through conversations with professionals from different sectors (NGOs, religious organizations, and government), I was able to draw cross-comparisons with the U.S.’s refugee system, teaching me how we could further improve our own approach. This was my way of staying globally engaged with both my community and Yogyakarta’s. Previously, through taking a course on refugee resettlement policies and volunteering at IRIS, I have always been advocating for refugees. However, this project made me reflect on the resources and challenges refugees impose on the host country, especially if they lack political structure and…
By the end of this program, I was able to gain new insights, connections, and long-lasting memories. I fell in love with the cultural diversity Indonesia has, the beauty of Yogyakarta’s landscapes, and the community I got to be a part of this summer. Coming back to campus, I continue to be a part of the USINDO community as they post webinars throughout the year talking with Indonesian experts in the economic, environmental, and political field. I hope to continue learning about Southeast Asia and expand my understanding of culture, language, and knowledge across all seven continents.
Link to Individual Project: The Rohingya Refugee Crisis Through the Indonesian Lens
Date Posted: 15th August 2026
