My Second Day; An Unforgettable Day of Learning and Discovery as an Exchange Student in Indonesia

  

  •••

   As exchange students in Indonesia, every day presents new experiences and adventures. Our second day was a perfect example of how stepping outside of our comfort zone can lead to memorable encounters, new friendships, and an incredible learning journey. From attending our first class to visiting one of the most advanced laboratories at IPB University, this day was filled with excitement, surprises, and knowledge.

—-We woke up early, eager to attend our first official class, but ended up entering late because we weren’t sure of the exact location. We wandered around the Gedung Gada Kandang building, searching for our lecture room. Eventually, we found a room near the aquaculture area, knocked on the door, and saw a class already in session. Unsure if it was the right one (since we didn’t know our classmates yet), we closed the door and waited outside, hoping someone would guide us.

   After a few minutes, a student opened the door and invited us in — it turned out to be the correct class! The lecturer warmly welcomed us, allowing us to introduce ourselves and the subject course, Aquaculture: Larvae Maintenance Technique. He explained that classes strictly start at 7:00 AM, but he understood our situation as new students adjusting to the environment. He then discussed the importance of water quality and its impact on the life cycles and interactions of fish and other aquatic organisms.

   Following the lecture, we had a practicum session until 11:00 AM. We helped clean the tubs in preparation for the arrival of fish larvae in the afternoon. The task was enjoyable — the moss in the pond was easy to scrub off using “Scotch-Brite” pads, and our classmates were very supportive. I even climbed inside the tub to clean it thoroughly, and they helped me climb back out using monoblock chairs, as the tub was quite high.

   During the practicum, we met many classmates. One student approached me and asked how long we had been in Indonesia. He shared his experience of participating in a dog contest in the Philippines. I mentioned that Bernice, my fellow exchange student, also loves dogs, and they instantly connected, exchanging stories about their pets.

   After the practicum, our classmates generously invited us to lunch at a local restaurant called Malabar. We rode bicycles to get there, adding more fun to the day. They introduced us to Nasi Padang, a traditional Indonesian meal. Over lunch, we engaged in informative conversations, getting to know each other better.

   After eating, we returned to campus. As a token of appreciation, we gave them Filipino treats such as mango otap and butterscotch. Bernice booked a Grab ride, and we went home to change clothes because we were invited to join them for a visit to the main campus at Dramaga.

   Four of us took a Grab ride to the Dramaga campus. Upon arrival, Miss Dian warmly welcomed us and gave us a tour of the Advanced Research Laboratory (ARLab). She translated the laboratory technologist’s explanations into English to ensure we fully understood the information and could recognize the equipment and their uses.

We visited six (6) impressive laboratory rooms:

• Laboratorium Metabolomik – where we saw the refractometer, used to measure the refractive index of substances, commonly to determine sugar content, salinity, or concentration in liquids.
• Also in this lab, we saw the Direct Analysis in Real Time-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (DART-TOF-MS), a technology used for rapid, direct chemical analysis of samples without the need for complex preparation.

The other laboratories included:

• Laboratorium Nano Imaging (The Laboratorium Nano Imaging is a laboratory focused on studying and visualizing structures at the nanoscale using advanced imaging technologies like electron microscopy.)
• Laboratorium Sains Molekuler (The Laboratorium Sains Molekuler is a laboratory dedicated to studying molecular structures, functions, and interactions using advanced techniques in molecular biology and chemistry.)
• Laboratorium Pengendalian Lingkungan Mikro (The Laboratorium Pengendalian Lingkungan Mikro is a laboratory focused on monitoring, managing, and controlling micro-environmental conditions to support research in fields like agriculture, aquaculture, and biotechnology.)
• Laboratorium Robotik (Which they invented technology as part of their thesis study which they used to compete and to help monitor pest, cucumber and to count numbers of leaves and fruits to state how the production of cucumber going) 
• Laboratorium High-Performance Computing (HPC) (The Laboratorium High-Performance Computing (HPC) is a laboratory that provides powerful computing systems for processing large and complex data sets, supporting advanced research in science, engineering, and technology.) 

   I was amazed at the high-end equipment available to the students, giving them powerful tools to innovate and discover new solutions, especially in agriculture. I asked Ma’am Dian whether the university had purchased all these instruments, considering their cost in the millions of pesos. She explained that the equipment was sponsored by Japanese corporations, through partnerships focused on economic development.

   The experience was truly mind-blowing. After the tour, we took a group photo with the professionals in front of the ARLab building to document this incredible moment. Miss Dian and her assistant kindly drove us back to Sekolah Vokasi in their car, probably feeling shy to let us ride a Grab given the long distance between Dramaga and our campus. On the way, we exchanged interesting conversations about the differences between our countries.

   When we finally reached Sekolah Vokasi, we booked a Grab to return to our boarding house, exhausted but extremely grateful for the day filled with so much learning and unforgettable experiences.

—-Our second day in Indonesia turned out to be one of the most enriching and exciting experiences of our exchange journey. From overcoming small challenges, building new friendships, discovering Indonesian culture, to witnessing cutting-edge technology at IPB University, every moment was a valuable lesson. This day reminded us that true learning happens not just in classrooms but also through the people we meet and the opportunities we embrace along the way.