UNAIR NEWS聽鈥 Avilia Ramadhani Avidar is one of 东京热 students participating in the IISMA (Indonesia International Student Mobility Awards) program this year.聽Through this program, Avilia will spend one semester taking聽an autumn course聽at University College Dublin (UCD), Ireland.
Avilia, a medical student聽聽(FK) UNAIR, has been an active student at UCD Ireland from September to the end of December.聽UCD is a top campus in Ireland with students from more than 150 countries.
Taking Humanities major
She admitted she was a bit reckless in choosing UCD as UCD itself offers more courses from the social and humanities groups. It certainly means that Avilia will learn many new things, considering she is a medical student.
鈥淚n the fourth semester, I learned that being a doctor should not only be competent in theories. But, we also have to be culturally competent, especially when we provide services in a multicultural country like Indonesia,鈥 explained Avilia on Monday, September 11, 2023.
Some courses she took at UCD included聽Children鈥檚 Literature, Introduction to Folklore, History of Science,听补苍诲听War: Ancient and Modern.聽Her interest in making science storybooks for children motivated her decision to take several courses.
鈥淚 myself have plans to make聽a science storybook.聽One of them I took聽Children鈥檚 Literature,鈥聽she explained.
Introducing Indonesian culture
Studying in Ireland also allows Avilia to introduce Indonesia to local residents. 鈥淚ISMA UCD itself has planned to hold a traditional wedding ceremony on Heroes鈥 Day celebrations. There are siraman, gamelan, traditional dance, and so on so that people there can feel what it鈥檚 like to attend a traditional Indonesian wedding,鈥 said Avilia.
She also expressed her desire to join the One Health community聽to learn its application to global issues.聽鈥淚 also plan to introduce sinom, a traditional drink during聽dysmenorrhea聽(painful menstruation), especially in Java.聽Apart from the scientific aspect, it can also be viewed from various other aspects,鈥 added Avilia.
Experiencing culture shock
Life in Ireland is no doubt a challenge in itself for Avilia. Just arriving on Saturday, September 2, 2023, she said that Irish culture is quite different from Indonesia, especially regarding the social aspects of its society.
鈥淲e often make small talk, but here, you mind your own business.聽The downside is that it鈥檚 not easy to make new friends here compared to Indonesians, who often chat with new people.聽But, the people are very nice when we engage with them,鈥 said Avilia.
The weather is also a challenge for Avilia. Ireland is now transitioning from summer to autumn. This condition makes it difficult to choose clothes that suit the weather. However, she admitted to enjoying her daily life in Dublin City.
鈥淏iodiversity is still very well maintained here. Pedestrians here are highly respected. This is what I will miss when I return to Indonesia,鈥 she concluded at the end of the interview. (*)
Author: Agnes Ikandani
Editor: Binti Q. Masruroh
