Why Australia, when I am an American, you may ask? Well, I am a little over halfway through an MA in International Development Studies at Murdoch University in Perth, Australia. Last year I attended classes on campus, studying globalisation, politics, gender, and basic development theory, as well as research methods. As part of an 8 point internship, I will spend six weeks in Indonesia, as part of the Development Studies Professional Practicum. The first two weeks will be in Jakarta, taking language classes in the morning and attending lectures in the afternoon at Atma Jaya University. Then I will fly to Makassar in South Sulawesi to work with Oxfam GB for four weeks. Needless to say, I am so excited for this opportunity. This will be the first time I get to travel with an actual purpose other than exploration.
So, what can one do in preparation for such a venture? Fortunately, I am quite familiar with Oxfam and their work, as I volunteered and participated in over a dozen events with them while in Perth last year. I listened to 10 lessons of Indonesian and have been reading some articles. I feel though that I could have done more, but the learning curve after I arrive will be steep. And I have already been to Indonesia, to Bali and the Gili Islands for nine days last year, so I feel like I kind of know what to expect. I spent a year in East Asia and travelled to cities of over 10 million people, but I am sure Jakarta will be quite a shock. The heat, the smells, the masses of traffic and people...I am a country girl from a Northern climate, so I know the first few days will be a sweaty, two-showers-a-day hell. But I'll adjust.
So this blog is for family, friends, randoms, and future ACICIS participants. I am not too good at keeping blogs but I will do my best with this one. Here we go....
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