Linguistic Field Trip is one of the first contacts between SDU and HKU. This program is intended to be a crucial part of SDU’s future in increasing the quality of the university and the relationships between other universities abroad. “A way to become an international university,” Dalan, one of the advisors of this program, said.
Felix Lew, one of the Linguistic Field Trip participants, said that Indonesia, specifically Yogyakarta, was chosen due to its diverse range of languages. He said that the program has succeeded in fulfilling their main goal on their recent study subject.
“The program gives us a better understanding of language varieties,” Felix said. Not only did the program focus on the linguistic aspect of Indonesia, but it also explored the cultural aspect, which the participants have welcomed with enthusiasm. That said, they find it quite difficult for them to face the cultural differences between their country of origin and Indonesia. “It’s a bit hard for some of us to get used to the culture shock,” Felix said. However, the program has succeeded in its main goal, making it a big achievement for SDU.
Dalan Mehuli Perangin Angin S.S., PhD., as the leading director of this event, chose HKU due to his recent study there. Therefore, he saw this as an opportunity to maintain the relationship between both universities. By leading this program, he hopes that SDU will be able to achieve relationships with international universities around the globe, and he hopes that this program will improve the quality of education for SDU’s students as well.
The program was going as planned although there were several hurdles while it was held, such as the tight scheduling and the unpredictable nature of events. However, Dalan was amazed by the SDU students’ dedication to this program by assisting the HKU students’ needs. One of those instances is the eruption of Mt. Merapi. This was problematic, they thought, but it brought another reaction that surprised Dalan. HKU’s students were amazed by the scene of the eruption. They did not leave scared, and they left the place with unforgettable memories.
Dalan wishes that this program will improve the relations between both universities and improve the quality of the investment that the university made since he believes that there will be more exchange student programs in the future.
Journalist: Sultan Mahesadewa, Putu Beryl Putra Widyadhana
Editor: Nanda Pratama Putera Tomasila, Vonna Meisya Saputra (QC)