SIT Study Abroad: Indonesia: Arts, Religion, & Social Change

SIT Indonesia will have you taking planes, trains, automobiles, and boats around some (though certainly not all) of Indonesia's 17000 islands. You will have lectures outside, visit renowned universities and take classes from their professors, and meet students from colleges in both Bali and Java. Most of the learning, though, happens outside of the classroom. SIT is incredibly experience-driven. Meaning, you will learn about Indonesian culture, language, and history by going to dance performances, hiking to the tops of volcanoes, and wandering the streets on "drop-off" style scavenger hunts. That is not to say you will be overwhelmed or out of your depth; you will be supported by the (amazing!) staff and spend most of your time living with a host family in a Balinese village. This program is best for those who are motivated to step outside, meet new people, and connect with every person they meet and site they visit. Over my semester with SIT, I learned to be adaptable to any situation, to build connections quickly, and to engage anyone and everyone in conversation --- be it academic, ethnographic, or personal. It was incredibly worthwhile and genuinely the best part of my college experience

Indonesia was absolutely amazing. The experience of learning the language and living with a host family were probably my favorite parts. Aside from that, the staff is wonderful and makes sure to really focus on experiential learning and be there for any questions or concerns you might have throughout your time. It is also a great program to undergo any type of study that you might want to. The independent part of the program is very open and you truly have the opportunity to learn about whatever you would like. People in Indonesia are also extremely welcoming and friendly and I really felt like I got to be a part of local life there.

My time in Indonesia was incredibly memorable, and a period a significant personal growth. This was my first time being completely on my own in a different country, so meeting a new group of people in an environment that was unfamiliar to me was an unexplored territory. Even so, my time there was amazing. SIT values experiential learning, which was probably the element that left such a lasting impression on me. Not only did we learn about Javanese dance and Balinese gamelan, for instance, but we actually had to opportunity to lean how to perform these different art forms. We were able to explore a number of ancient temples, practice purification ceremonies, meet with traditional artisans to watch them create their crafts, and build relationships with our homestay families. My experiences in Indonesia will forever be memories that I cherish, along with the friendships that were built along the way.

The staff in Indonesia are incredible. They are very involved with the students and the community and will do anything to help you. The fast paced and intensive language program is very beneficial for speaking to host families and locals. The lectures in combination with the many field trips will enhance your overall knowledge and immersion into Indonesian life and culture. Added bonus: the program center has amazing food! Living Situation: Living with host families in both Bali and Jogjakarta was very beneficial for my education on Islam and Hinduism.