Hello, my name is Constantine and I am a student from Northeastern University in Boston. My university offers students the opportunity to take 6-month internships while they are completing their degree; for my internship, I decided to come to Sumbawa Besar and work at UTS, the Technological University of Sumbawa. My job is to teach English and paint murals. I have been here for 2 months already and, so far, my experience has been amazing. This is my first trip to Asia and I am very fortunate to be able to spend 6 months in Indonesia so as to really immerse myself into the culture and the environment.

Even though I have only been here for 2 months, I feel very much at home. The culture of the Sumbawanese people is very welcoming and everyone I have met has been very kind to me. I had no difficulty settling in and getting used to the local rhythm of life. My buddies from the UTS staff have all been very supportive and helpful, especially in the first few weeks, showing me around the city and getting me accustomed to the local ways. Now I can get around without a problem and I have a decent grasp on the language that enables me to communicate at a basic level.

The classes I have been teaching have all been enjoyable and interesting. The participants range from beginners to advanced-level English speakers; this diversity creates an interesting atmosphere in the classroom. Regardless of their level, all the participants are eager to speak and learn, which is very inspiring. Due to the conversational nature of the classes, we discuss a wide range of topics and I usually allow the conversations to flow naturally and be directed by the participants. Through these classes, I have not only learnt a lot about the local and national culture, but I have also had the opportunity to get to know and spend time with students and university staff. These relationships are invaluable and I am grateful for the generosity of everyone who has spent time with me so far. Getting to live in this environment, so different from everything I had experienced, and interacting with all these welcoming people, has broadened my perspective and has made me a more open-minded person.

As far as extracurricular activities, in my free time I have been doing a lot of exploring. I have travelled with my buddies from UTS to all sides of the island, and while I have not yet had the chance to venture as far as Bima, I have plans to go in the near future. All the trips I have taken have been amazing. I have seen jungles, endless fields, wild animals and tropical scenes which one cannot find in my home country or Boston. I have gone to remote villages and seen indigenous and traditional ways of life,  I have been to beautiful places and I am constantly looking to find new places to explore.

So, these first months in Sumbawa have been a new and very interesting experience and adventure for me. I have had to overcome someobstacles,but I have also had the pleasure of meeting people, enjoying conversations, discovering places and tastes which I never knew I could have. I am very happy and grateful for the time I have spent here and for the people I have met so far, and it is only with excitement that I look forward to my remaining 4 months here in Indonesia.