Lionel Sun is a participant in the 2019 Creative Arts and Design Professional Practicum from the University of New South Wales. Lionel is studying a Bachelor of Media Arts majoring in Digital Media. Lionel received a $3,000 New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant to support his participation in this program.
Q: Why did you decide to undertake ACICIS’ Creative Arts & Design Professional Practicum?
I was looking for practical and professional experience and being able to experience a new culture while doing so was an added bonus.
Q: Did you receive a New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant? If so, how did this contribute to your experience in Indonesia?
Yes, I received a $3000 grant which helped immensely. I would not have been able to afford the trip to Indonesia if it wasn’t for the grant.
Q: How will the Creative Arts & Design Professional Practicum benefit or influence your future career?
I’ve been able to experience a culturally different setting which I can leverage when working in a new career environment. I’ll also happily consider working in Indonesia if presented with another opportunity.
Q: Which organisation did you intern with? What were your roles and responsibilities?
I interned at Yayasan Cipta Mandiri (YCM) which is a school for underprivileged kids. There I taught multimedia such as film and photography alongside other youth leaders. When multimedia classes are on, I oversee the students working on their given task and help them when needed. While I was there we made a short horror film and recorded the students’ storytelling about their time at YCM.
Q: How is the work culture of your host organisation different to work experience you have had in Australia?
The work culture is very laid back, informal and unstructured which is a huge contrast to what I’ve experienced while working in Australia. Given that it is an informal school, I had to get used to the changes very fast. The timetable is created on the day which students and staff must find out from the noticeboard. This is basically unheard of in Australia but it somehow works for YCM.
Q: Would you like to return to work in Indonesia again in future?
Most definitely. The culture, the people and the food (and cost of living) is something I’d gladly experience again. I’d love to visit YCM again too.
Q: What do you like to do in your spare time in Indonesia?
I only had spare time on the weekends which involved meeting up with the friends I’ve made from ACICIS and exploring places around town and eating together!
Q: Favourite place to eat and favourite Indonesian food?
Favourite place to eat would be B’steak in Bogor for the fusion food that they offer. The best traditional Indonesian food would have to be sate ayam (especially from the warung next to Taman Kencana in Bogor) because you can’t go wrong with tasty chicken skewers.
Q: Favourite Indonesian word/phrase?
Keluarga. It means family which I know is very cheesy but it really means a lot to me as my host organisation became my second family.
Q. What places in Indonesia have you visited during your practicum so far?
Various galleries in Jakarta (Museum Macan is a must for the interior design alone!), Bogor and Yogyakarta. In Bogor I explored the Botanical Gardens and a traditional gong workshop. I also hiked up a mountain to see a waterfall. In Jogja, I went to Borobudur temple, Prambanan temple and the Chicken Church. If you need a place to eat afterwards, the Mediterranea Restaurant is great place to chill.