Yohanes Sidi, International Marketing AIMS Exchange at Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia (Aug 2013 – Jan 2014)

I knew that I wanted to study abroad since my freshmen year. After a few semesters studying in BINUS, I heard about a scholarship given by the Indonesian Government. I decided to apply for it and it was an honor to be chosen as one of scholarship recipients for AIMS Student Exchange Program to USM.
During my exchange period, I had a chance to meet a lot of new friends from all over the world, such as Malaysia, Germany, Japan, Thailand, France, Canada, USA, and many more. Being an exchange student automatically made you the ambassador of your country. Therefore I had to participate in international events in order to introduce Indonesia to the world, such as performing the traditional Tor-Tor Dance during the Indonesia Cultural Night and during USM International Week.
Adapting to local culture is an interesting experience. Eating Banana Leaf Cuisine with my hands and using “lah” in the end of sentences were parts of the vibrant culture I felt in Malaysia. Living in a new place gave me a chance to travel and discover cool places. I traveled around Malaysia almost every weekend and explored Penang Botanical Garden, Penang Hill and George Town, which is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. I also celebrated Christmas in Kuala Lumpur and spent New Year’s Countdown in Gurney Plaza. One of the things you shouldn’t miss in Penang is the Culinary Tourism, because Penang is known for its various delicious foods.
In the end, I’m truly thankful for the opportunity BINUS gave me. I got to experience a lot of things. It was hard to say goodbye to Penang. I will definitely miss the study abroad experience, the variety of food, the friendly environment and mostly my friends. So if you are passionate about learning new things and want to feel a cross cultural experience, what are you waiting for? Join the Student Exchange program! The world is waiting for you to explore!