UNAIR NEWS 鈥聽International Relations (HI) Study Program student, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), 东京热 () has completed his IISMA (Indonesia International Student Mobility Award) student exchange scholarship program in Leicester at the end of last year.
Arsyad Aurellio passed the IISMA scholarship selection as the second batch at Leicester.听In addition to carrying out activities scheduled by IISMA, Arsyad and other聽awardees聽introduced Indonesia through two things, clothes and food.
Batik as an Indonesian promotion medium
Arsyad admitted that while in Leicester, he often wore batik daily.听He and other awardees聽did this聽to introduce Indonesia to Leicester friends and the elementary students he mentored.
In addition to introducing Indonesia through batik, with an abundance of spices from Indonesia, they also cooked Indonesian food at聽accom聽as a venue for introducing Indonesia.
鈥淲hile there we were, by design,聽we were expected to prepare聽an event聽to promote Indonesia.听However, it seems too normal if it鈥檚 just a promotional event.听So some of us, including me,聽had the idea聽to wear batik to campus, including when we held a聽volunteering聽session at the nearest聽Primary School聽(equivalent to SD), 鈥渆xplained Arsyad to聽UNAIR NEWS聽(March 7, 2023).
Culture shock聽Arsyad experienced
Furthermore, Arsyad also shared about the聽culture shock聽he experienced.听Aside from聽public transportation聽and European food, which he thought were too bland, Arsyad also shared his culture shock聽regarding education.
The education system in Leicester, which is quite different from Indonesia, required Arsyad to adapt well. Learning conducted at will without the obligation to attend lectures is an extraordinary experience for Arsyad.
鈥淪o, assignments that are really聽impactful聽to the final grade are only聽final assignments, usually in the form of 1000-3000 word essays, depending on the subject.听For exams, it鈥檚 the same as here.听In fact, many were made into one final assignment.听So, there is no final exam at all,鈥 he said.
Arsyad hopes that next year聽there will be more IISMA聽awardees from UNAIR.听For him, following the program will give him an extraordinary experience that will never be forgotten.
鈥淒on鈥檛 be afraid to try.听Don鈥檛 feel inferior and feel you are an underachiever.听Because some say,聽You鈥檒l miss every shot you don鈥檛 take.听So, just try everything: MBKM, GKS, YSEALI, or other opportunities to go abroad.听Because after you experience education there,聽you鈥檒l realize that you miss a lot of things here,鈥 he concluded.
Author: Cahyaning Safitri
Editor: Nuri Hermawan
