Garbi Lam is a participant in the 2019 Sustainable Tourism Professional Practicum from Curtin University. Garbi is studying a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Tourism and Hospitality, and Marketing.
Q: Why did you decide to undertake this ACICIS Professional Practicum?
I love travelling and exploring new cultures and religions from different countries. I believe that learning in a new country would help me to gain professional development, step out of my comfort zone as well as connect with new people.
Q: How will the Professional Practicum benefit or influence your future career?
The experience I gained from learning in a different country definitely will benefit the career path that I would like to follow in the future. The Sustainable Tourism Professional Practicum has given me a deeper understanding of different working cultures and practices which will help me to decide where I would like to work after graduating.
Q: Which organisation are you interning with? What are your roles and responsibilities?
I was lucky enough to work at the Bhuwana Ubud Hotel in their Marketing Department. During the internship, my friend Sarah and I were assigned to develop Bhuwana’s social media platform including their Facebook page and Instagram site. We also organized several staff training sessions with the aim of improving the staff’s English skills within the service industry.
Q: How have you found the work culture of your host organisation? How is it different to work experience in Australia?
It took me roughly around one week to completely get used to the new environment and the different working style of my organisation, especially compared to an Australian company. For example, meetings were often casual catch-ups over a coffee with work colleagues. I thoroughly enjoyed working in Bhuwana Ubud Hotel since my supervisor as well as the staff was so friendly and supportive in helping me during my internship.
Q: Would you like to return to work in Indonesia again in future?
If I was given a chance in the future, I would definitely love to return back and work in Indonesia.
Q: What do you like to do in your spare time in Indonesia?
Going to the beach with my friends or just walking around my hotel area.
Q: Favourite place to eat? Favourite Indonesian food?
Mie Goreng is definitely the winner for me. I also really enjoyed eating Soto Ayam, Babi Guling and all the tropical fruit juices!
Q: Favourite Indonesian word/phrase?
‘Ya’ – Yes
I found it funny how people added ‘ya’ at the end of a sentence such as “Please wait a moment, ya?”. I thought it was endearing and even started talking like that when I returned back to Australia!
Q: What places in Indonesia have you visited during your practicum so far?
My friends and I did several tours in Bali to Uluwatu Temple to see the sunset, Tegalalang Rice Terraces and the Ubud Palace.