A new semester means new faces on campus, and this time, one of them has come all the way from Myanmar to join the IUP Psychology program! Her name is Julia and she is here to explore a new country, meet new people, and experience student life in Indonesia.
Julia chose Indonesia because of its rich diversity, filled with culture and traditions. She mentioned that the people here are friendly and some of our customs such as the way we show respect to elders, holding our hands in front of our chest as a form of greeting or showing gratitude reminds her of Myanmar.
While she’s excited for this new adventure, she’s also preparing for a few big changes. Language will be a new challenge for her as Bahasa Indonesia has a totally different pattern of language compared to her mother tongue. Food will also be another adventure as Burmese dishes are hard to find. In fact, she already has one item at the top of her list, enjoying a plate of nasi goreng as soon as she arrives in Indonesia!
In getting ready for her trip, Julia discovered some fascinating facts about her host country. Indonesia is home to over 360 or more ethnic groups, a fact she finds to be quite surprising. She’s also preparing herself to face the heavy rain, knowing she’ll probably need to wear a raincoat more often than she ever did back home. She’s also eager to share a bit of Myanmar with us. Thanakha, a traditional cosmetic, was mentioned as a must-try for visitors as it can protect the skin from sunlight and also helps keep it cool. And then there’s the Thingyan Festival, known as the water festival, where people splash water on each other to wash away the dirt and impurities from the previous year and welcome the new year with a fresh body and mind.
Her goal is to use her studies in psychology to guide students in reaching their full potential, particularly through academic advising. Helping high school graduates choose their majors and careers is something she’s passionate about, and she hopes to open doors for more students in Myanmar to access international education.
As she starts her journey here, we’re excited to see her grow, learn, and share her culture with our community. Selamat datang di Indonesia Julia!
Writer: Luh Ayu Ken Kellyndra Ary Putri