RUILI

LOMBOK - Mataram

In-Country Program

2018

RUILI: Lombok 2018

IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT .................................................................................................. 2

ABOUT THE PROGRAM ..................................................................................................................................... 1

WHAT IS RUILI? ............................................................................................................................................................. 1

OUR LOCAL PROVIDERS .................................................................................................................................................. 1

DETAILS OF THE IN-COUNTRY PROGRAM ........................................................................................................ 2

STAFF AND CONTACTS ..................................................................................................................................... 3

IMPORTANT CONTACT DETAILS ......................................................................................................................................... 3

DR UNTUNG WALUYO .................................................................................................................................................... 4

DR ZIFIRDAUS ADNAN .................................................................................................................................................... 4

INDRAWATI ZIFIRDAUS (INDRA), M.ED ............................................................................................................................. 5

DR RICHARD CURTIS ...................................................................................................................................................... 6

LOMBOK/MATARAM MAPS ............................................................................................................................. 7

PREPARING TO LEAVE AUSTRALIA ................................................................................................................... 9

VISA AND PASSPORT ...................................................................................................................................................... 9

IMPORTANT PREPARATION ............................................................................................................................................10

WHAT TO PACK ............................................................................................................................................................10

ARRIVING IN INDONESIA ............................................................................................................................... 12

SETTLING IN .................................................................................................................................................... 12

FINDING A PLACE TO LIVE ..............................................................................................................................................13

Kos.......................................................................................................................................................... 14

Losmens & hotels ................................................................................................................................... 14

Villas ....................................................................................................................................................... 15

STUDYING AT AN INDONESIAN INSTITUTION ................................................................................................. 16

WHAT TO EXPECT .........................................................................................................................................................16

WHAT TO WEAR ...........................................................................................................................................................19

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR STUDY.........................................................................................................................19

GETTING AROUND TOWN .............................................................................................................................. 20

MAKING FRIENDS .........................................................................................................................................................23

A note on friendships with the opposite sex ........................................................................................ 24

FOOD AND DRINK ......................................................................................................................................... 25

HOW TO ORDER FOOD IN A RESTAURANT .......................................................................................................................25

EATING & DRINKING TO STAY HEALTHY ...........................................................................................................................26

RUILI: Lombok 2018

ALCOHOL....................................................................................................................................................................27

STAYING HEALTHY ......................................................................................................................................... 27

MOSQUITO-BORNE AND OTHER ILLNESSES ......................................................................................................................27

INFECTIONS AND HYGIENE .............................................................................................................................................29

SHOPPING ..................................................................................................................................................... 30

WHERE TO BUY THE ESSENTIALS .......................................................................................................................................30

BUYING PHONE CREDIT .................................................................................................................................................30

DOING LAUNDRY .........................................................................................................................................................31

ETIQUETTE AND BEHAVIOUR .......................................................................................................................... 32

PUSHING YOUR VALUES AND EXPRESSING POLITICAL VIEWS ..............................................................................................32

BREAKING THE LAW ......................................................................................................................................................33

CONVERSATIONAL INDONESIAN .................................................................................................................. 35

USEFUL WORDS AND PHRASES FOR YOUR KOS HUNT ......................................................................................................37

STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES ................................................................................................................... 38

WEB PAGES IN THIS BOOKLET ........................................................................................................................ 39

Important notes about this document

It is important that you read the information contained in this pre-departure guide carefully

before you leave to study in Lombok. It will help you avoid mistakes and confusion about what

to do and what to expect during your study in-country. Most of you will not have been to

Lombok before, and will need some information about your destination, as well as the program

you will be taking part in.

All images used in this document have been reused under CC0 Creative Commons (free for

commercial use, no attribution required) unless otherwise attributed.

Title Page Image: Volcan Rinjani en 2010 by Don-vip (CC BY-SA 3.0)

1

RUILI: Lombok 2018

About the Program

What is RUILI?

The Regional Universities Indonesian Language Initiative (RUILI) was established to promote

collaboration in Indonesian teaching between four regional universities: Charles Darwin

University (CDU), the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC), the University of New England (UNE)

and the University of Tasmania (UTAS). A central part of its work has been developing this

intensive Indonesian program in partnership with local institutions in Lombok (Mataram Lingua

Franca Institute (MLFI)) and Kupang (Universitas Nusa Cendana (Undana)). RUILI also works

with a number of other institutions to help students from all over Australia experience intensive

in-country study. The RUILI program is now the largest of its sort, and in our humble opinion, the

best. This booklet is developed for our Lombok Program.

Our local providers

The 2018 program is to be carried out by Mataram Lingua Franca Institute. MLFI specialises in

the teaching of Indonesian to international students of all ages from beginners to advanced

language speakers. The institute is staffed by highly qualified and enthusiastic teachers to

ensure that the learning process is meaningful as well as fun. Currently it has 17 permanent

teaching staff, two with a PhD degree and ten with a Masters degree, some of whom

graduated from Australian universities. MLFI is located in the centre of the Mataram city at

Jalan Amir Hamzah 106, Karang Sukun, Mataram.

2

RUILI: Lombok 2018

Details of the In-country Program

Program Indonesian Language for Foreign Speakers - Bahasa Indonesia untuk

Penutur Asing (BIPA).

Where Mataram Lingua Franca Institute (MLFI) Compound at Jl. Amir

Hamzah no. 106, Mataram, Lombok, Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB).

Term 1 dates Wednesday 3 January to Tuesday 23 January 2018

Term 2 dates Thursday 25 January to Wednesday 14 February 2018

Class times Monday to Thursday - 8:30 am to 12:10 pm and Friday – 8:00 am to

11:40 am

Out of class

activities

Times and days vary from level to level. Activities that form part of

an assessment are compulsory, others are optional. Please check

with your teachers.

Participation All classes are compulsory. Students who fail to attend all classes

without a valid reason might not be permitted to sit the exam.

Opening

ceremony

and

orientation

Tuesday, 2 January 2018, 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm at the MLFI

Compound at Jl. Amir Hamzah no. 106.

All participants must attend this ceremony as essential information

will be given by the Resident Director and MLFI Staff.

You will be requested to sign the Statement of Responsibilities (see

page 38).

3

RUILI: Lombok 2018

Staff and Contacts

Important contact details

Position Name Contact

Program Director Pak Untung 08214421

uwaluyo@gmail.com

Deputy Program Director Ibu Henny 08190740

Program Secretary Pak Made 08123754

mdenasujana@gmail.com

Program Coordinator Ibu Eka 08123754

mataramlfi@gmail.com

Resident Director Term 1 Pak Zi Contact in Indonesia: +62 812 9714 0801

zadnan@une.edu.au

Ass. Resident Director Term 1 Bu Indra Contact in Indonesia: +62 812 1056 0265

izifirda@une.edu.au

Resident Director Term 2 Pak Richard rcurtis@usc.edu.au

Australian Emergency Contact

(UNE, as administration Hub)

Joy Kirby

Gill Willis

02 6773 2494

02 6773 2023

artsadmin@une.edu.au

General Practitioner in Lombok Dr Dewi Suryani 082139223981

4

RUILI: Lombok 2018

Dr Untung Waluyo

Director Mataram Lingua Franca Institute

Untung obtained a masters degree from Ohio State University (the

United States of America) and a PhD from University of Sunshine

Coast (Australia). In 1996, he established the Indonesian in-country

program at the University of Mataram together with Doris Jedamski

and Beth Foster of Northern Territory University. This collaboration

continued for several years before Dr Richard Curtis and other colleagues from USC, UNE and

UTAS established the RUILI consortium in 2007. In addition to MLFI, Untung also teaches in the

Department of Languages and Arts at the Faculty of Education, University of Mataram, NTB,

Indonesia. He is actively involved in the community literacy development program in West

Lombok Region. Untung has taught/worked at the Department of Southeast Asian Studies,

Ohio University (the USA), Charles Darwin University, and University of the Sunshine Coast.

‘Halo, para mahasiswa program Bahasa Indonesia In-country. Nama saya Untung Waluyo.

Saya bekerja sebagai direktur lembaga bahasa Mataram Lingua Franca Institute. Saya

senang bisa bertemu dengan anda semua di program ini. Selamat bergabung di lembaga

kami. Saya berharap para instruktur di lembaga kami dapat melayani kebutuhan belajar

anda dengan sebaik-baiknya. Kepuasan anda adalah komitmen kami’.

Dr Zifirdaus Adnan

Resident Director (Term 1)

University of New England

Dr Zifirdaus Adnan is a qualified person to talk about issues in

Applied Linguistics or language teaching generally. He completed

his undergraduate S1 degree in EFL at IKIP Padang in 1984. He

gained his Master of Arts in the same field from Melbourne

University, and then his PhD from Curtin University in Perth, in both Applied Linguistics and

5

RUILI: Lombok 2018

Language Education. He also holds a BA Honours degree from Griffith University (Brisbane

Australia) in Asian Studies (Socio-political studies of Asia focusing on Indonesia). He is also a

highly experienced teacher of language, English and Indonesian, both face-to-face and

online (distance education) at two top distant learning institutions in Australia (Murdoch

University and University of New England) in the last 21 years. Previously, he had taught at the

prestigious Adabiah High School in Padang, the Galang Refugee Camp employed by the

Save the Children and Experiment in International Living, the Australian RAAF School of

Languages (now Australian Defence School of Languages), and Melbourne University. He is

also an academic supervisor (currently supervising 3 PhD students, 2 from Indonesia), a

researcher and an author of two books and many articles and book chapters. He has also

presented papers at conferences in various countries around the world including in Australia,

New Zealand, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, the USA, and of course Indonesia. Currently

he is the Head (Convener) of Indonesian Language and Culture Studies at the oldest regional

university in Australia, the University of New England. He has won an ‘Excellence in teaching’

award from this university.

Indrawati Zifirdaus (Indra), M.Ed

Assistant Resident Director (Term 1)

University of New England

Indra is an experienced teacher of Indonesian and English language

and culture with over 33 years of teaching experience since she

graduated from Satya Wacana University, Salatiga Indonesia in 1982.

She held an appointment at Galang Island Indochinese Refugees

Camp in 1982 and has participated in the production of Teaching Indonesian as a Foreign

Language Project, Commonwealth of Australia (1994). She has been active in many

translation/interpreting works, including the play “Bali: adat” (Graham Sheil, 1991, Currency

Press).

6

RUILI: Lombok 2018

Dr Richard Curtis

Resident Director (Term 2)

University of the Sunshine Coast

I am Richard Curtis, Indonesian Lecturer at the University of the

Sunshine Coast (USC) where I teach Indonesian from beginners

through to advanced. I helped establish our two intensive in-

country programs in Lombok and Kupang, and the UniBRIDGE

Project. UniBRIDGE facilitates friendly online language and cultural learning exchanges

between native speaker peers in Indonesia and Australia. Great for authentic listening and

speaking practice, and making Indonesian friends in preparation for your in-country sojourn.

Like many of you will also experience, my interest in Indonesia(n) has snowballed: I switched

from taking Indonesian as a first year elective to an eight course major in an Asian Studies

degree at Curtin University, after attending an inspiring six-week in-country study program in

Salatiga, Central Java between my first and second undergraduate years. After graduating,

I undertook the 12-month Indonesian Government Dharmasiswa scholarship program, still

available, studying Indonesian language and literature at Universitas Sebelas Maret in Solo,

Central Java. There, I also studied the wayang kulit shadow play, and met my future wife, Bu

Endah. My interest in the performing arts informed my honours (Macquarie University) and PhD

(Curtin University) research topics. My PhD research was on the punakwan clown scene in

wayang mbeling, modern theatre in Tegal, and the dissident street poetry and social activism

of Wiji Thukul in Solo. The award winning 2016 film on Wiji Thukul is called Istirahatlah Kata-kata.

My thesis is available online if you are interested.

See you all in Lombok!

7

RUILI: Lombok 2018

Lombok/Mataram Maps

So

urc

e: b

alis

igh

tse

ein

gs.

co

m

8

RUILI: Lombok 2018

Ma

tara

m L

ing

ua

Fra

nc

a I

nst

itu

te

Ma

p o

f M

ata

ram

/Ma

LFI.

Im

ag

ery

: M

ap

da

ta ©

20

17 G

oo

gle

9

RUILI: Lombok 2018

Preparing to Leave Australia

Visa and Passport

All travellers to Indonesia must be in possession of a passport that is valid for at least six (6)

months from the date of arrival, and have proof (tickets) of onward or return passage

(www.indonesiatravel.com).

Visa options:

Free 30-Day Visa for all students doing

just one RUILI term and staying in

Indonesia for up to 30 days only. If you

have any intention to stay longer than 30

days, DO NOT take this visa because you

CANNOT extend it in the country. Take

Option 2 below.

Visa On Arrival* for all students studying for two terms and staying in Indonesia for up to

60 days. This can be extended at the local Lombok immigration office. MLFI Staff can

support your application for an extension. The extension needs to be applied for 7 days

before the expiry date of the original visa. An extension will cost a further US$35.

Social Cultural Visas (Sosbud Visas) must be applied for well before your departure to

Indonesia. They are valid for 60 days and can be extended for a another 30 days twice,

allowing for a total of 120 days.

*Note: Visa on arrival will cost US$35. Visa on arrival is granted for a period of 30 days with the

following conditions:

Can be extended for another 30 days. Please be advised that intention for extension

shall be made at least 7 days before the first 30 days expires.

Cannot be converted into other immigration permits. See Konsulat Jenderal Republik

Indonesia for further details.

10

RUILI: Lombok 2018

A fine of Rp. 200,000 (AUD$20) will be imposed for every day you overstay your visa, which

you will be forced to pay by immigration at the airport upon departure.

Important Preparation

You should be tying up loose ends at home. Many of us get so wrapped up in the idea of

heading abroad that we forget we have responsibilities at home so remember, before you

head off on a big trip overseas there are a few things you need to do.

Ensure your passport is valid with an expiry date beyond 6 months from your arrival date in

Indonesia.

Finalise your enrolment at your home university.

Send your travel itinerary to your home university.

Confirm your insurance cover.

Inform your bank about your travel plans.

Inform Centrelink about your travel plans if relevant.

Be aware of the proposed itinerary for your first few days.

Register with DFAT Smart Traveller (essential).

When you make your way to the airport in Australia be sure to carry a few things with you.

Passport (with at least six months left before expiry).

Printed flight itineraries for all your flights.

Details of your insurance policy in both

your wallet and passport.

What to pack

Most material items can be purchased in

Indonesia, but passports/bankcards/licences

can only be obtained at home.

11

RUILI: Lombok 2018

Essential

Passport.

Bank cards, driver’s licence or other ID card, insurance details.

Clothes.

Stationery: writing pad/book, pens, 2 or 3 USBs (in case they get viruses).

Swimming gear.

Camera with SD cards and recharger/batteries.

Electrical adaptors (round with two small round holes; though these are relatively cheap

and easy to find in Indonesia from department stores).

Any prescription drugs you need with the prescription from your doctor (this includes

the contraception pill).

Sunscreen (this is just about the only thing that is more expensive in Indonesia!).

Sunglasses (the cheap ones you pick up in Indonesia do more harm than good!).

Tampons – can be difficult to find in Indonesia.

Shoes and thongs/sandals

Alternative emails other than Yahoo and Hotmail

as the IP address from Indonesia can be blocked

because the email companies think your

account is being hacked overseas.

Recommended

Laptop, iPad or other tablet – can help with written assessments.

Mobile phone (unlocked) – buying an Indonesian SIM card is cheap and easy.

Simpati usually has the best coverage, but most service providers are fine. Try to memorise your

new number or record it somewhere convenient.

Optional

English language books: hard to find in Lombok!

Snorkelling gear: rentals are available, but if you are serious about your diving bring your

own mask.

12

RUILI: Lombok 2018

Surf wax: supplies are unreliable.

Travel diary. Photos of family back home: locals love to see this!

Oleh-oleh (souvenirs): if you end up staying in a kos, or homestay, or meeting a study

buddy, or visiting a cultural/education centre, these can be great icebreakers and the

beginning of great friendships or as a gesture of appreciation when you leave.

Leave at home!

Too many clothes! Laundry there is cheap and quick,or do it yourself with some washing

powder, water, a bucket, and a scrubbing brush.

Large amounts of cash – carrying cash with you just increases your risk of losing it.

ATMs are reliable, just look for the same symbols on your card, e.g. Maestro, Cirrus, or

VISA.

This is by no means an exhaustive list – those of you who have travelled before know what to

take and leave. For first timers, if you ever think ‘maybe I will need this?’, then leave it at home.

If you truly do need it, you can buy it over there or make do without it.

Arriving in Indonesia

For some of you, this will be your first trip overseas. Please read the signs carefully as you

approach the immigration desk as the procedure for you to follow will depend on your type of

visa. If you need to obtain a Visa on Arrival or a Free 30 Day Visa for Short Visit and you cannot

see signs directing you to the appropriate counters then ask for assistance. If you have a Social

Cultural Visa (Sosbud Visa) you should be able to proceed to the Immigration desk but again

check the signs.

Settling In

Your first few days in a new place are always a bit confusing. For that reason, we strongly

recommend that you book into a place to stay - a losmen, homestay (kos) or a hotel - for the

first few days. This will give you a chance to drop your bags, adjust to the new climate and

wander about the town and start to get inspired to learn some Indonesian.

13

RUILI: Lombok 2018

Living conditions between Indonesia and Australia often seem to be worlds apart. Say

goodbye to quarter acre blocks, nature strips and hot water and say hello to busy streets,

footpaths that double as markets or motorbike lanes and common mati lampu (blackouts).

These are some of the reasons that inspire many of us to travel – to experience different ways

of making a life on this earth. Keep that in mind, because at times your expectations may not

be met. For all the differences however, life in Indonesia is centred on the same pillars as it is in

Australia; family, friendship and fun. Keep an open mind, wear a smile, and take it easy - you’re

here to have a good time too!

Sometimes it can be problematic accessing Hotmail and Yahoo email accounts in Indonesia

as the IP address or location of access sends a signal to the email server that the account is

being hacked. Generally student email accounts or gmail accounts do not encounter these

issues.

Finding a place to live

First things first – don’t stress! Finding a place to call

home during the program need not be difficult or

cause you worry and in fact it can be quite a fun few

days, and great for your language development.

Many of you have an idea about where you would

like to live and may have already organised this

yourself. If you have not, read through the information below and talk to us, your teachers and

your friends to better understand the options. From there, we can point you in the right direction

(often literally) to finding a place to stay. Options for places to stay will be included in the

orientation session, and afterwards there will be people on hand to accompany you to find a

homestay (kos) or hotel. Many students in the past have stayed at places within 5 -10 minutes

walking distance of MLFI. We recommend you find a suitable place for living and studying as

soon as possible to minimise disruption to your learning in Lombok.

Wherever you stay please emphasise that you are there to study and practice your Indonesian

language. Just tell everyone you meet who wants to practise their English with you that: ‘Saya

14

RUILI: Lombok 2018

seorang mahasiswa yang datang ke pulau Lombok untuk belajar bahasa Indonesia. Tolong

pakai bahasa Indonesia dengan saya, terima kasih’.

Further information can be found in the Accommodation section on the RUILI website.

Below are the types you should consider.

Kos

Almost all Indonesian students and young people who do not live at home will be living in what

is called a kos. We don’t really have an equivalent in Australia. It is somewhere between a

boarding house, an apartment complex and a homestay. It is arguably the most authentic

way to experience student life in Indonesia and is often one of the most lasting memories of

your time in Indonesia.

Kos come in all shapes and sizes; boys only, girls only, mixed, kos for people of a particular faith,

with curfews (jam malam), without curfews, some do not allow friends of the opposite sex in

your room but others may be more flexible as long as you do not engage in illegal activities or

disturb the peace. You need to keep all this in mind when you are looking for a kos. We have

details of a number of kos on record which have a history of our students staying there and are

all brilliant places to stay. If you want to go out and look for your own, ask one of the staff,

teachers or your friends for some tips before you hit the streets in search of a home. People will

be available to help after the orientation session.

Losmens & hotels

Due to the short nature of the program (some of you are here for three weeks), staying in a

hotel is an option that many people choose. There are a number of hotels close to the

Mataram Lingua Franca Institute and most, if not all, will offer significant discounts to people

staying for longer periods – bargain hard! Staying in a hotel can be a comfortable option, and

you will undoubtedly form some good relationships with the staff there too. The drawback with

hotels can be that they limit your interaction with Indonesians and hotel staff will want to

practise their English with you. Again, there are many hotels in the area so have a look online,

and be sure to contact them directly to ask about a discount.

15

RUILI: Lombok 2018

Villas

Some of you will be toying with the idea of living in a beachside or mountain top villa. There

are many reasonably priced villas in Sengiggi and the surrounding areas which have housed

students in the past. Details of these places change constantly, so you will need to search this

out independently.

Perhaps the most important thing to remember if you are living in a villa or hotel away from

Mataram is that you need to make sure you make it to school each and every day. Getting

caught in traffic on the way from Senggigi is not an excuse for missing class - you will need to

be ready to leave at least 30 minutes earlier than the class start time. Going back home can

often take 15 minutes longer. If you are riding a bike, make sure you have a motorcycle licence,

an Australian certified helmet, a good protective jacket and the skills and experience to ride in

the wet – these are peak rain times, and when it rains in Lombok, it pours.

It is worth noting also that living in a villa with fellow bule (Westerner) can also drastically eat

into the time you spend with Indonesians, so you may need to make a concerted effort to

engage with the community to make up for it. However, many villas will have attentive staff

who are usually more than happy to become your make-shift tutors while you are at home.

Locations students stayed at last year are below. Their details are usually available on the

internet.

Andi Homestay Lombok Guesthouse

Aston Inn Mataram Lombok Raya

Gading Guesthouse Luminas Hotel

Host Family Nalaya Homestay

Hotel Hart Puji Homestay

Hotel Kubuku Sumeton, Batu Layar

Jl. Reong no. 10 Villa Loco Senggigi

Kos Martapura Villa Marley Shay

Lombok Garden Hotel Werdhi House

16

RUILI: Lombok 2018

The most popular places were the Gading Guesthouse, Lombok Raya, Hotel Kubuku, Griya

Asri, and Aston Hotel. The Lombok Garden, Idoop, and Luminas hotels were more popular at

the beginning of the program, but many students left because they were too noisy, not good

for study, or not comfortable for long periods of stay.

Studying at an Indonesian Institution

What to expect

The experience of studying in a different cultural environment is an experience that far too few

get to enjoy. It is a fun, exciting and often frustrating experience that will be a time of great

personal growth for you all. It is also something that will serve you in the future – cross-cultural

experiences like these look great on your resume!

Refer to the timetable on page 2 for class times. You will have a chance to have a break and

get something to eat during the day, and yes – the classrooms are air-conditioned.

Study Routine and Habits:

It is important to develop an effective study plan and good study habits during your time in

Lombok. Everyone has different lifestyles, but while in Lombok you only need to focus on one

subject, so make it priority number one! Make the most of the opportunity while you are not

distracted by work, multiple university subjects, and family commitments (well hopefully less

so). Your study is already going to be intense, and often crammed, so we recommend that

you try to spread your study load thorough the day and thorough the week. Feedback from

exit surveys in the past has indicated that on average students spent between 2 to 4 hours

each day on study outside the classroom. For this reason we suggest that you do 30 minutes

to an hour before class in the morning; one to two hours after lunch, and one to two hours in

the evening. Of course, if you are not a morning person, you may prefer to study later in the

evening and at night. You are all adults and will inevitability develop your own system, but two

guides are offered here to help you prepare for study in Lombok.

17

RUILI: Lombok 2018

1. Jadwal orang yang suka bangun pagi-pagi (morning person):

Jam 6:30 pagi – Bangun, mandi, berpakian, makan pagi

Jam 7:00 pagi – Belajar bahasa Indonesia, mengerjakan PR dan tugas kuliah

Jam 8:00 pagi – Berjalan kaki ke MLFI

Jam 8:30 pagi-12:10 siang – Menghadiri kelas di MLFI

Jam 12:10 siang – Makan siang, pulang, dan lain-lain (dll)

Jam 1:30 siang – belajar bahasa Indonesia, mengerjakan PR dan tugas kuliah

Jam 3:00 sore - Istirahat, jalan-jalan, dll

Jam 6:30 petang – makan malam

Jam 8:00 malam – Belajar bahasa Indonesia, mengerjakan PR dan tugas kuliah

Jam 10:00 (lewat) malam – Tidur

2. Jadwal orang yang suka bangun kesiangan (person who likes to sleep in):

Jam 7:45 pagi – Bangun, mandi, berpakian, makan pagi

Jam 8:15 pagi – Naik taksi ke MLFI

Jam 8:30 pagi – 12:10 siang – Menghadiri kelas di MLFI

Jam 12:10 siang – Makan siang, pulang, dan lain-lain (dll)

Jam 1:30 siang – belajar bahasa Indonesia, mengerjakan PR dan tugas kuliah

Jam 3:00 sore - Istirahat, jalan-jalan, dll

Jam 5:30 sore – belajar bahasa Indonesia, mengerjakan PR dan tugas kuliah

Jam 6:30 petang – makan malam

Jam 8:00 malam – Belajar bahasa Indonesia, mengerjakan PR dan tugas kuliah

Jam 11:00 (lewat) malam – Tidur

You are literally cramming one semester of study into three weeks, so one school day in-

country is the equivalent to one week at your home university. That said, the in-country

program is a cultural immersion experience and supposed to be fun and for you to enjoy the

place and the people, so we do not want you to be cooped up in your hotel or kos all the

time. That is why you have the entire afternoon and evening, as well as the weekends, to

yourselves. Be creative with your learning; an hour of talking to locals is an hour of study. And,

a two-hour excursion is probably worth two hours of study. So don’t be too harsh on yourself.

18

RUILI: Lombok 2018

Be practical about when you study, if it is raining or really hot then it is a great time to study. If

you are feeling sick or tired, then have a rest or nap. Leave the late nights or long tiring travel

for the weekend.

All students have had different language learning experiences, so don’t always compare

yourself to others. Some people are good at speaking and although it might seem that their

Indonesian is fluent, they might have terrible formal Indonesian, can’t spell well, use incorrect

grammar, or haven’t even memorised the MeN- prefix table. Rather than comparing yourself

to other students, a better barometer is whether you can keep up with the study material and

how well you perform in assessment items. Be realistic about your grades, a ‘credit’, 7 out of

10 or 70%, is a good mark.

Finally, the program is not about the content, but rather the language, where topics and

content are part of the methodology of learning the language. Put simply, the course is about

developing language competency, and not about knowing everything about Indonesia.

Be mindful of the following:

Punctuality. Being late and missing classes unnecessarily stresses your teacher more than

anything else as they have to try get you up to speed with what you have missed. Remember

your failure is their failure, and teachers will have to explain this to the Resident Director and

their superiors at MLFI.

Try to avoid interrupting the class frequently or excessively at length to express opinions, ask

irrelevant questions, or debate something unnecessarily. Basically, if your question or discussion

does not add value and is not really related to the topic, then outside class is a more

appropriate time for such questions and discussion.

Do not swear in class, around the MLFI complex, or around your teachers and buddies either

on-campus or off-campus, on excursions and during other outings. While not necessarily

directed at anyone, swearing is highly offensive in Indonesian culture, and could be

misunderstood by teachers and Indonesians generally as directed at them. You will rarely, if

ever, hear an Indonesian swear in Indonesian or English.

19

RUILI: Lombok 2018

What to wear

Indonesians consider attending a higher

education institution a great privilege and

rightly so. There are more than 250 million

people in Indonesia and as many as 50% live on

a few dollars a day; higher education for such

people is not even a dream. Accordingly,

students acknowledge their privilege by

dressing respectfully on campus – you will never

see an Indonesian student enter a classroom in shorts, sandals and a singlet. (Likewise, the

teaching and admin staff also expect students to be neatly dressed). As students studying at

university level, you should follow their lead and dress in such a way that pays respect to the

people who are not in a position to attend university.

For males – long pants, some sort of collared shirt and shoes will see you fit in well with

those around you.

For females – pants or long skirts/dresses to the knee, and whatever combination of

fabrics it takes to cover your shoulders and chest is appropriate.

Men and women should preferably wear closed shoes, neat sandals are acceptable, but no

thongs.

It’s worth noting that this is not a form of modesty as dictated by any interpretation of any

religion, but rather a simple expression of culture and modesty– students in Jakarta, Bali, Flores

and all over the country dress the same. Take note of what the students around you are

wearing and follow suit.

Getting the most out of your study

Your classroom work, while important, makes up only part of your learning experience in

Mataram. What you do outside of the classroom is just as important, and in some ways more

so, to getting the most out of your time on Lombok.

Photo Credit: Melwinsy CC

20

RUILI: Lombok 2018

Whatever your ability you should be trying to make conversation with people every day – with

students on campus, taxi drivers, people at the warung,

the guy that sells those delicious juicy rambutan, the

cool kids on street corners after dark, your ibu or bapak

kos and just about anyone else. Put yourself in a variety

of situations and really test your skills– you may make a

fool of yourself at times, but you will go back to Australia

with a fluency you never thought possible.

One great tip for taking your language to the next level is to ‘find your thing’ in Lombok; a

hobby, a passion, a club or group or anything else that might define your time while you are

here. In the past we have had people get obsessed with working out at Hercules Gym, people

who have volunteered at local NGOs, avid surfers, FIFA aficionados, textile lovers, local

dancing and music and just about everything else; all of them going home with a unique

(often colourful) vocabulary and a deep understanding of a certain topic. Not only is this a

great way to improve your language, but it also give some structure to your life outside class

and is a great way to make lasting friendships.

Getting around town

Mataram is a small, quiet city by Indonesian standards and if you are staying near the MLFI

campus, you can easily get around by foot. Indonesians, however, are not known for their love

of walking. It is much more common to get around on two or four wheels, and in Lombok many

get around by horse and carriage, locally named ‘Cidomo’!

Getting around by taxi is popular with students and they are especially good if you are in a

group. Taxis are cheap by Australian standards and are also comfortably air-conditioned and

safe. The most reputable brand across the country is Bluebird. Some taxi drivers may try to

bargain a price, but if you are uncomfortable with this you can simply ask them to use the

meter (often called an ‘argo’) or you can use use another taxi. Some taxis may charge a

minimum price of Rp25 000, especially if you have telephoned for one. If you have flagged

one down in the street, you should be charged whatever the meter (argo) reads, but this may

depend on the taxi company. You can also download the Bluebird Taxi mobile app, which is

21

RUILI: Lombok 2018

convenient and indicates the location of your taxi, how many minutes they are from you, and

the estimated cost if you know your destination.

Bemo mini vans travel across the city and further afield on set routes. They are one of the most

popular forms of travel in Indonesia, and for good reason; they are cheap, consistent and

social. Most trips cost about Rp5000, though remember they go along major thoroughfares

and routes and will not drop you off at your door. Prices of course vary with the length of a trip

and the further afield you travel, the more likely your fellow passengers will include chickens,

goats and other animals and goods. They are also great places to strike up a conversation

and practise your Indonesian.

Ojek are the motorcycle taxis that get around town. These are good options if you want to be

dropped at your door. These can be found at pos ojek, ‘Ojek posts’, which are a bit like taxi

ranks. If you find an ojek driver you trust, get their phone number and you can call on them

directly. Prices generally start at Rp10 000 for a quick trip, but you need to negotiate the price

yourself. We should warn you, however, that you cannot trust everyone. Registered ojek drivers

wear a vest with a number on it and will always have a helmet for you, and will drive carefully.

In March 2017, Lombok introduced Gojek, which is an ojek ordering service using the Gojek

app. Like the Bluebird taxi app, it is convenient and indicates the location of your Gojek, how

many minutes they are from you, and the estimated cost. Please note, your insurance may not

cover you if you have an accident on an ojek of Gojek.

Sepeda or bicycle is perhaps the best way to get around Mataram; it is fun, social and good

for your health and the environment. Second-hand bikes can be bought at many pasar or

markets in Mataram, the big markets in Cakranegara being your best chance. They should set

you back somewhere between Rp500 thousand – Rp1.5 million. Helmets are advised, as are

closed in-shoes – losing a toenail is sadly a common occurrence for cyclists in Indonesia! So

too are skin burns from motorbike exhaust pipes; just look at the mark on the right calf muscle

of many Indonesia men – long pants are advised! Remember to get on and off using the left

side to avoid the exhaust pipe, which gets very hot very quickly.

22

RUILI: Lombok 2018

Finally, some of you may like to get around by renting and riding your own motor or

motorcycle. There are a few different types; automatics (bebek), step-through scooters

(motor) and standard motorcycles. If you’re involved in an accident, your Australian insurance

company might look into whether or not you have

followed the driving regulations. According to the

Australian Automobile Association, you are required to

hold an International Driver’s Permit to operate a vehicle

in Indonesia. These cost approximately AUD $39 and you

can apply via the NRMA or RACQ. Goinsurance provide

a comprehensive guide on the risks, regulations and

licensing requirements for riding a motorcycle in Indonesia

which you should read – the basics are below.

“To legally ride a motorcycle in Bali, you will need an

International Drivers Permit (IDP). This will entitle you to use

the road in the same manner that you can at home. If you

only have a car licence in Australia, an IDP will entitle you

to drive a car and also a motorcycle of 50cc or less (provided your car licence was issued in

Queensland, Northern Territory, South Australia or Western Australia). Once you have an IDP,

you also need to carry your Australian licence with you to ensure it is valid.If you do not obtain

an IDP prior to leaving Australia and want to ride a motorcycle, you will need to visit a local

police station, sit the test and pay the fee (usually US$30) to obtain a licence .Once you are

licensed, you need to carry your IDP and Australian car licence (or local bike licence) on you

and also wear a helmet (which fastens under the chin).Unless you have an Australian

motorcycle licence, do not ride a motorcycle with an engine capacity of more than 50cc. To

legally ride a scooter or motorcycle with an engine capacity of more than 50cc (at home or

overseas), you need a motorcycle licence.”

Riding a motorcycle can be dangerous and this is even more so in Indonesia. If someone tries

to tell you that the hectic traffic conditions in Asia ‘just work’ they are wrong, wrong, wrong

and wrong; a tragically high number of people die in horrific accidents on Indonesian roads

each and every year. If you do not already know how to ride a motorbike, then do not try to

learn here. In the past some students have taken this approach and ended up in hospital with

What not to do! Photo Credit: Michel Alexandre Salim CC BY 2.0

23

RUILI: Lombok 2018

broken bones – you do not need to be going fast (or even moving at all) to hurt yourself on a

motorbike.

It is up to you to know whether your insurance will cover you if you crash a bike in Indonesia.

Even with an international motorcycle licence many will not. And if you cause injury to another

person be prepared to spend time in an Indonesian prison. If such an event occurs we will do

our best to support you, but please be aware that we are not able to help resolve insurance

problems if you are not licensed, not wearing a helmet, or otherwise breaking the law.

You will need a helmet. Most rental places will provide you with a helmet, but be critical of it.

If you feel that it won’t protect you in a fall, source your own helmet. Full face helmets can

mean the difference between having a chin and not having a chin should you fall off. You will

also need to wear protective clothing – closed-toe shoes and long pants at an absolute

minimum; you can easily lose skin or toenails simply by using the kickstand in thongs, and

burning your legs on the exhaust pipe is one of the most common injuries – wearing pants will

prevent that to a degree. Gloves should be considered – your hands will be the first thing to

hit the ground should you fall off. If you have plans to go diving, surfing or just laying around

on the beach those plans may go out the window if you fall off, even at low speed, while

wearing shorts, thongs and a T-shirt; infection takes hold quickly and it can mean weeks of

discomfort, to say the least.

Should you decide to ride a motorbike, it will do you a world of good to ask some local

Indonesians for tips on navigating the roads – even with bike-handling skills, it takes a level-

head and experience to make your way around town safely. The Study Buddies may be able

to help you with this.

Making friends

Making friends in your mother tongue can be difficult enough, but in a second language it

can seem like a daunting prospect. This doesn’t need to be the case, however, as the locals

are usually friendly and keen to talk.

Smile and say hello – nobody starts a friendship with the person frowning at the ground.

24

RUILI: Lombok 2018

Learn some phrases that will help you introduce yourself and explain your Indonesian

abilities.

Ask questions; just like us, Indonesians love to talk about themselves and their family.

Don’t just answer their questions, but initiate your own. Knowing personal information

about each other is how Indonesians develop a genuine friendship.

If you feel comfortable with your new friends, accept their invitation to dinner, attend a

wedding or visit their hometown.

You are always able to say no when someone says ‘main ke rumah, yuk!’ (‘Come over to my

house!). But please, whatever you do, don’t listen to those people at home who try to warn

you that everyone is out to rob you, kidnap you or worse. For every less than genuine friend

you will make in Lombok, there are a million more who could be your new best friend. You are

advised, though, to go with a friend or a local from the MLFI (Study Buddies).

A note on friendships with the opposite sex

One of the key cultural differences you will experience is the relationship between friends of

the opposite sex.

Though friendships between men and women are entirely normal, expressing that friendship is

often very different from how we do it in Australia. Spending one-on-one time together may

be construed differently by your friend or by observers and you need to be aware of this when

navigating friendship.

If you become romantically, or indeed physically, involved you need to be aware that sex

before marriage is still an overwhelmingly frowned upon thing. Though it does happen, it

certainly is not discussed openly like it is in Australia. If you become intimate with someone,

there may be the expectation that you will be around for some time. Caution should be

observed in regard to walking alone with your companion of the opposite sex. For males, if

your Indonesian partner becomes pregnant there will be an expectation that you will marry

her and raise that child together - especially since Indonesia has no child maintenance or

state welfare to help single parents. Remember that you are in a different cultural context than

you might otherwise be used to, so keep that in mind during your time in Lombok.

25

RUILI: Lombok 2018

Food and drink

How to order food in a restaurant

Eating and drinking have likely featured

heavily in your studies at home. You likely know

the difference between mie goreng and nasi

goreng, and that the mango season is just

winding up as you read this (sorry - but

thankfully rambutan will be plentiful!). What

you probably do not know is what to do when

you walk into a warung (convenient/corner

eatery), resto (restaurant) or any other tempat

makan in Indonesia.

Unless you are eating in a ‘fancy’ restaurant or cafe, you start off your dining experience in a

warung by stating whether you would like to eat in (Saya mau makan di sini) or take-away

(minta dibungkus; literally ‘please wrap it’), or just go in and take a seat at a table. You will

then make your order – either from a set menu or by making selections from the food on

display. Try to resist the urge to say ‘boleh saya minta nasi goreng?’ (Translation: May I have

some fried rice) and instead just say what you would like to eat, followed by the amount you

would like; ‘nasi goreng, satu... sama es teh (one nasi goreng with iced tea).’ It may sound

rude to you at first, but done with a smile it is perfectly polite. As always, tune your ear into

what the locals are saying and you can mimic that. Adding ‘terima kasih’ can help too.

Indonesians, unless using their fingers, tend to use a spoon and a fork to eat their meals – knives

are very seldom required. It’s not at all uncommon for students to return home from their studies

in Lombok having forgotten how to use a knife!

26

RUILI: Lombok 2018

Eating & drinking to stay healthy

Sometimes it feels like everything you eat in Indonesia is goreng. But Indonesian food is diverse

and there are many healthy and delicious options which will ensure you maintain a balanced

diet. You can make smart choices by opting for lots of vegetables over lots of chicken/meats

at Masakan Padang restaurants, or go for delicious staples like gado-gado and nasi pecel.

Lombok is also famous for its local delicacy ayam taliwang (spicy grilled chicken) and ikan

taliwang (spicy grilled fish), which are relatively healthy. Fruits are available quite readily –

either at markets or on the roadside and there is a beautiful traditional market not far from

MLFI. One of the most common regrets of

students is that they did not eat enough

tropical fruits or coconuts during their stay –

so make the most of the amazing, and

cheap, food on offer while you can.

Remember to wash fruit and raw vegetables

which you have bought at the markets

before eating.

In terms of cleanliness, making choices around food is relatively simple. If you see other people

eating there, it is likely to be safe. Try not to eat at a warung or at rumah makan Padang while

the stocks of food are low – this means they have been there for a while. Rather, return after

the new food has been brought to the front. Sometime this doesn’t happen. To be safe, try to

eat hot food such as soup, or order mi goreng or nasi

goreng as they are made on request.

Most cases of the dreaded ‘Bali Belly’ you hear about

are contributed to by poor personal hygiene, excessive

drinking and lack of rest. One other cause of Bali Belly is

from handling money. Avoid touching your face and

eating with your hands after handling money. Most

eating places have hand-washing facilities. If you are

drinking alcohol, remember you need to stay hydrated

and also get plenty of rest. For water, restrict yourself to

27

RUILI: Lombok 2018

drinking only bottled mineral water. Avoid ice unless you are certain that it has been made

from bottled water.

Alcohol

As adults, you are able to legally consume alcohol in Indonesia. You should make your choices

around alcohol carefully – ensure that you are in an appropriate place if you are drinking, that

you are not disturbing others, and that the alcohol you are drinking is safe for human

consumption. By confining your drinking to respected brands in official establishments, you

can safely enjoy a casual drink in Indonesia.

We would encourage you to keep the intensive nature of the course in mind – mid-week

drinking will have an impact on how well you perform in class and on your health. It is also

worth noting that supplying alcohol to young Indonesians, even of legal age, will not be

welcomed by the community at large, so keep this in mind if you are hosting a gathering with

Indonesians at your house.

Staying healthy

Your health should be a concern at any time, but being in an unusual environment presents

new challenges. These challenges are easily surmounted with common sense and basic

hygiene (for example, keep a bottle of hand wash with you, keep hydrated, and have plenty

of rest). The RUILI Program has its own doctor, and we recommend that you talk to the Resident

Director or Assistant Resident Director about any

health concerns you might have, and to follow

their advice.

Mosquito-borne and other Illnesses

Mosquitoes are more prevalent in Indonesia than

they are in most of Australia. They can also carry

some serious diseases. In Mataram, Malaria is not

prevalent though you should still take precautions. Dengue Fever is more common in the rainy

season which occurs between October and April so includes the time that you will be in

28

RUILI: Lombok 2018

Indonesia. It is spread by a species of mosquito that is active during the daytime. It is therefore

important to endeavour to reduce the number of mosquito bites you get at any time of day

to a minimum. You are strongly encouraged to apply insect repellent on any exposed skin

especially when you go out in the afternoon and evening. Insect repellent can be purchased

at supermarkets or grocery stores. A variety Warung might sell such items as well. Just ask for

‘obat nymuk’ (mosquito medicine). It is a good idea to purchase an electric mosquito

repellent for your room – they are inexpensive and odourless

Treatment of both diseases is generally straightforward, although to experience either is

unpleasant to say the least. It is important that you let us know as soon as you feel suspicious

symptoms (especially headaches, fevers, lethargy).

We encourage you to consider taking prophylaxis against malaria where necessary, ensure

your accommodation is mosquito proof and take measures to avoid insect bites, including

using an insect repellent at all times and wearing long, loose fitting, light-coloured clothing.

Other mosquito-borne and other insect-borne illnesses are common throughout the year.

Please be aware of the following risks as per smartraveller.gov.au (24 October 2017):

Malaria (including chloroquine-resistant strains) is prevalent throughout rural areas, but

is uncommon in Jakarta.

Zika virus: Indonesia is experiencing sporadic transmission of the mosquito-borne Zika

virus. Protect yourself from mosquito bites. The Australian Department of Health advises

pregnant women to discuss any travel plans with their doctor and consider deferring

non-essential travel to affected areas.

Dengue fever occurs throughout Indonesia, including in Bali and the major cities, and is

particularly common during the rainy season. In recent years Australian Health

authorities have observed an increase in the number of dengue virus infections in

travellers returning from Bali. There is no vaccination or specific treatment available for

dengue.

Japanese encephalitis and filariasis are present, especially in rural agricultural areas.

Japanese encephalitis has been detected in Australian travellers returning from

Indonesia, including Bali.

29

RUILI: Lombok 2018

Rabies: Rabies is a risk throughout Indonesia,

especially in Bali and nearby islands and Nias (off

the coast of Sumatra). Avoid direct contact with

dogs and other animals, including monkeys. If bitten

or scratched, immediately use soap and water and

wash the wound thoroughly. Seek urgent medical

attention.

Infections and hygiene

Even small abrasions can get infected in the tropics—so

don't scratch! If you get a cut or abrasion, it is important that

you disinfect and dry out (and keep dry) the area around it.

Fungal infections are also common—so wash regularly, and

dry yourself thoroughly (including between all toes).

30

RUILI: Lombok 2018

Shopping

There are plenty of great souvenir stalls around town, especially alongside the Mataram Mall

and in and around the Cakranegara markets. There is considerably less in the way of shopping

than you might have experienced in Bali or Jakarta, which is great for saving your student

pennies! If you are after something in particular, ask one of your teachers during class and they

can likely point you in the right direction.

Where to buy the essentials

Buying the essentials is easy in modern Indonesia –

Indomaret and Alfamart are national chain stores

and stock just about everything you need in terms

of groceries, toiletries and the like. Tissues, toilet

paper, soap, toothpaste, shampoo etc. can all be

purchased at these places and they are located all

over town. This is also a convenient place to buy

many of the simple medications such as Panadol,

cold/flu tablets and insect repellent, as well as female hygiene products (sorry, no tampons!).

In Mataram Mall, not far from MLFI, there is a supermarket which sells most if not all your basic

needs including clothes, shoes, mobile phones and sim cards, computers and other electronic

accessories. There are chemists dotted all over the city too, including in the mall and a large

one to the north across the road in front of the mall (not the side where the Lombok Raya hotel

is). Epicentrum mall is much newer and also has a wide range of shops, restaurants, a

Starbucks, a cinema, and a chemist.

Buying phone credit

If you want to use a mobile phone in Indonesia and unless you decide to use international

roaming on your phone, you will need to purchase an Indonesian prepaid SIM card. You can

choose Simpati, Telemsel, Mentari or Indosat. They are similar in coverage but the cost varies

so you might want to shop around. The card will have some credit at the time of purchase but

you are advised to top it up by about Rp50, 000 at the time of purchase. Usually you can buy

31

RUILI: Lombok 2018

data and phone credit separately from the same outlet. You will need to show your passport

when buying a SIM card.

This is the one that stumps foreigners when they first arrive – just how on earth do I recharge my

phone credit? Well for starters, it is called pulsa, and you can recharge it just about anywhere

if you have purchased an Indonesian SIM card.

Have a look as you wander down the street and you will begin

to see signs that say isi pulsa or jual pulsa. Go up to the people

manning these stalls, tell them your provider (the name on your

sim card) and they will provide you with a place to write down

your phone number. They will also ask you how much you would

like to purchase, to which they add between Rp1000 – Rp3000,

and they will work their magic and before you know it you will

receive a text message confirming your new credit balance.

Doing laundry

Getting your laundry done requires one of two things – a few hours and some elbow grease,

or a few dollars and some trust in one of the many laundries all over town. Laundries are often

concentrated in and around student areas, such as around campus, and vary in quality. There

are many along Jalan Palapa Dua (Jln Palapa II), which is located east of the Lombok Raya

hotel and south of the Mataram Mall. Find one you like and stick to it. When you have some

clothes to be washed, take them along to the laundry and pass them on to the staff. They will

weigh them, write down the number and type of items, work out how much it will cost you

(usually Rp 5,000 per kilogram) and tell you when

to come back to pick it up, usually two or three

days later. Express washing within 24 hours is

always more expensive (Rp 10,000 per kilogram).

Good places will attach little tags with your name

on them (or often just ‘bule’) so they don’t get

misplaced and they can often be funny little

mementos that you find scratching your skin six

32

RUILI: Lombok 2018

months later at home. To avoid losing your items, write your name on the inside part of the

pocket or inside the edge and remember to keep a count of items sent for washing.

Etiquette and behaviour

You are representing your university and are a guest in

someone else's home. Certain standards of behaviour

are expected: we expect you to be polite, courteous

and sensitive to others at all times.

The students and staff at the local providers are very

friendly and helpful and the same is expected from

you. However, their manners and approaches may

seem at times very different from our more casual behaviour at Australian universities. You will

see many students dressed in quite a conservative manner, for example some women may

choose to wear a headscarf and some men wear a black cap (peci). Please respect both the

outward and inward manifestations of these differences. Try to move past prejudices and

stereotypes. Nobody expects you to wear traditional clothes or dress in Islamic garb, but

respect towards different styles of dress and polite behaviour is very much appreciated and it

will open doors to discussions and friendships with local students. You should treat your time in

Indonesia as an opportunity to broaden your knowledge about a different society as well as

learning its language. You can also make lifelong friends in the process.

Pushing your values and expressing political views

Even though the Indonesian political scene has opened up in recent times, and politics is now

more widely accepted as a topic of public debate, please remember there is still tension

around some political and religious topics just as there is in Australia. Any conversation

regarding these issues should be embarked upon with caution and sensitivity. A good

approach is to ask questions rather than pass judgement.

No matter how tolerant and adaptable you think you are, it is more than likely that you will feel

uncomfortable with some aspects of Indonesian life. In responding to the challenge of such

discomfort please try to suppress any impulse you may feel to act as a cultural missionary, that

33

RUILI: Lombok 2018

is to say you should not actively assert or propagate the values of Australian culture where

these conflict with Indonesian customs. Keep your cool at all times as shouting matches are

never constructive in Indonesia, or Australia for that matter. Please respond promptly and

positively to advice from our hosts at MLFI as we are ultimately responsible for you.

It is possible, perhaps inevitable, that you will have views [for example on East Timor, West

Papua or the death penalty] at odds with those of the Indonesian government, or people you

may meet. If you choose to express such views while you are in Lombok, please be careful

and be aware of your language limitations. It is the strength of people-to-people contacts

between ordinary Indonesians and Australians that will ensure the future stability and positive

development of our relationship. You are playing an important part in that process by being

there and learning about Indonesia.

Observe, interact, participate, think, learn, be curious and courteous, and you will be liked and

enjoy this experience.

Breaking the law

This is plain and simple – just don’t do it. As the above

makes clear we take our reputation in Indonesia very

seriously and will not tolerate those who deliberately

tarnish our record as facilitators of a quality in-country

language program.

Indonesian law and Australian law, for all intents and

purposes, are essentially the same. That means things that

foreigners often do in Indonesia, such as using drugs and

drink driving, are as illegal as they are in Australia. There are extremely severe penalties for drug

offences, including being caught with or using marijuana and magic mushrooms. If you are

caught breaking the law, whether by the police or by the staff, we will be unable to provide

any real support, and will have to terminate your enrolment in the program and ask you to

return home. This will have serious implications for your university record, not only resulting in a

fail for the units you are enrolled in while in Mataram, but also possible further consequences

from your home university, including exclusion from university.

34

RUILI: Lombok 2018

Selamat Belajar!

35

RUILI: Lombok 2018

Conversational Indonesian

For some of you, this will be your first trip to Indonesia. Your classes at home will serve you well

here, preparing you for many of the conversations you are likely to encounter and giving you

a strong framework to build on as you learn more. Indonesians, however, are very creative

with languages – most people around you already speak two or three, if not more. Some of

the more formal Indonesian you have learned at home is seldom used in the street and instead

a colourful spread of conversational language is used in its place. Below are some of the more

common spoken mostly informal words you will hear that you may not yet know.

Aduh Exclamation: Used frequently, such as when you drop something.

Asyik Cool, awesome etc.

Bakal Informal term for 'will', used in the same fashion as 'akan'.

Banget Informal term for 'very', used in the same fashion as 'sekali'.

Beres Fixed up, sorted out or similar. E.g. "Tiketnya sudah beres?" = 'Have you

sorted out your ticket yet?'

Biarin ‘Biarin aja' is a commonly used expression meaning 'let it be’, ‘leave it’'.

Bonceng To ride pillion on a motorcycle - the Indonesian version of the Australian

'dink'.

Bete In a bad mood - stems from 'bad temper'.

Cakep Handsome, beautiful, good-looking. Used for male and female.

Cewek Informal term, though used commonly, for girls.

Cowok Informal term, though used commonly, for boys.

Cuma Only, just. Used in the same fashion as 'hanya'. Also: Cuman

Dasar Dasar orang Australia, kan? Selalu kepengen ke pantai' - Typical

Australian, always wanting to go to the beach.

Duit Informal term from money.

Gede Big.

Gitu ‘Like that' - used frequently, a bit like “ya know” in Australian English

36

RUILI: Lombok 2018

Goblok Stupid.

Iseng Doing something for fun without importance, like stacking cards or

doodling on a piece of paper

Jomblo Single, to not yet have a partner.

Kasian To feel sorry for someone, can sometimes be used sarcastically as in 'oh

poor you/him/her'

Kaya An informal version of “seperti” e.g Dia ngomong kaya orang Jawa = He

speaks like a Javanese person. Also: Kayak

Keren Cool, awesome etc.

Kok

Many uses, most commonly heard expressing a mixture of surprise and

curiosity e.g Sudam malam kok belum makan? = It's already late, but

you haven't yet eaten?

Lho Used as an exclamation at the beginning of a sentence, it expresses

surprise.

Makanya

A conjunction which expresses the same meaning as 'no wonder' in

English. E.g. Kamu tidur pakai AC! Makanya jadi sakit dong! = You slept

with the AC on? No wonder you are sick!

Males Lazy.

Masa Similar to how we might say 'come off it' when we think someone is

pulling our leg. Used frequently when bargaining.

Nah

A conjunction used when moving from one part of a narrative or

argument to the next, implying the topic you have previously discussed

is complete.

Ngapain Similar to saying 'Apa yang anda lakukan...?'. E.g Kamu ngapain di sini

bang? = What are you doing here bro?

Nongkrong To sit around and talk, to hang out.

Nyebelin Annoying.

Pakai To use something, ‘with’ as in ‘teh pakai gula’ (tea with sugar), used

colloquially

Sialan Damn it! Shit! F*@k it!

Sip Used for a lot of meanings—a bit like "OK!" in English: "I'm ready", "I

agree", "Let's do it".

Ya iyalah Yes, of course – der! E.g. “Wah, panas di Indonesia bro’ ‘Ya iyalah

dong!’ = ‘It’s hot in Indonesia bro’ ‘Derrr, of course it is’.

Yuk E.g "Ayo, ke rumahku, yuk!' = 'Come on, let's go to my house, let's go!'

37

RUILI: Lombok 2018

Useful Words and Phrases for your Kos Hunt

Kost An alternative to Kos

Ada kos di sini? Is there a kos here?

Kos apa? What kind of kos is it?

Kos put(e)ri Kos for females

Kos putera Kos for males

Kos karyawan Kos for people who are working

Berapa sebulan? How much per month?

Pintu ditutup jam berapa? What time does the gate close?

Ada jam malam? Is there a lock out time?

Ada WC jongkok atau WC

barat? Is there a squat or western toilet?

Termasuk listrik dan air? Is power and water included?

Ada kipas atau AC? Is there a fan or aircon?

Ada meja tulis/lemari? Is there a desk/cupboard?

38

RUILI: Lombok 2018

STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES

Please familiarise yourself with this statement. You will be asked to sign this document at the

orientation ceremony.

STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES FOR STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN THE REGIONAL UNIVERSITIES INDONESIAN LANGUAGE INITIATIVE (RUILI)

IN-COUNTRY STUDY PROGRAM

This statement must be read, understood and signed by all students participating in the RUILI In-Country Study

Program.

1. It is my responsibility to fully discuss my intended in-country study plan with the relevant Course Coordinator at my University. I must ensure that I have met all the enrolment requirements of my University by the time of my departure to Indonesia.

2. I agree to attend and participate actively in all lectures, classes, seminars, and other scheduled activities in order to fulfil both my university requirements and those expected by RUILI and local program providers. I will discuss with the Resident Director or representative thereof should I be unable to attend any component of the program.

3. I understand that I am responsible for my own health and safety while I am overseas. I will ensure that I have adequate insurance to cover health, travel, evacuation, and repatriation by registering through my home university for insurance and purchasing additional insurance for any travel before or after the official overseas study period.

4. I agree to ensure that I have adequate funds available to cover all costs associated with my participation in the in-country study program, including costs for travel, accommodation and living, and unexpected events not covered by insurance.

5. I understand that while I am overseas I am a representative of my home university and I will conduct myself according to the principles and expectations of my university. I understand that I need to follow directions from the Resident Director and Assistant Resident Director. I shall treat all participants in the program and the students and staff of the host institution, as well as RUILI staff with courtesy and respect at all times.

6. I understand that while participating in the RUILI in-country study program, I am obligated to obey all the applicable rules and regulations of my university and also as set out by RUILI and local program providers while overseas, as well as the laws and statutes of Indonesia.

7. I undertake to familiarise myself with the pre-departure information and to behave appropriately in accordance to local customs and culture.

8. I understand that I am subject to the legal system of Indonesia. I recognise that while overseas I am entitled only to the legal due process of the foreign country in which I reside and not the legal due process of Australia. Being an Australian citizen or Permanent Resident does not give immunity from Indonesia’s laws.

9. I agree to check my university email account at least once a week while I am overseas participating in the in-country study program to ensure that I receive important information from the university and can respond in a timely manner.

10. I understand that violation of the above conditions may result in my termination from the in-country study program, being required to return to Australia immediately, forfeiting all study credit, fees and charges, and being asked to pay back any scholarships or loans I have received for this study.

39

RUILI: Lombok 2018

Web Pages in this Booklet

Site Address

Australian Automobile

Association

http://www.aaa.asn.au/international-services/-international-

driving-permit-directory/i/

balisightseeings.com http://balisightseeings.com/map_lombok.php

Creative Commons

Attribution ShareAlike

2.0 Generic Licence

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

CC0 Creative

Commons https://pixabay.com/en/service/terms/#usage

Goinsurance http://www.goinsurance.com.au/riding-a-motorcycle-

overseas/

www.indonesia.travel http://www.indonesia.travel/en/travel-guidance/visa-and-

immigration

Konsulat Jenderal

Republik Iindonesia

https://www.kemlu.go.id/sydney/id/arsip/lembar-

informasi/Pages/visa-on-arrival.aspx

Mataram Lingua

Franca Institute

(facebook)

https://www.facebook.com/MalfiMataram/

NRMA https://www.mynrma.com.au/holidays/travel-insurance-

and-permits/international-driving-permits

RACQ https://www.racq.com.au/travel/holiday-

preparation/international-driving-permits

Richard Curtis: Thesis https://espace.curtin.edu.au/handle/20.500.11937/2098

RUILI website http://ruili.edu.au/

smartraveller.gov.au

(Indonesia)

http://smartraveller.gov.au/Countries/asia/south-

east/pages/indonesia.aspx

‘Travel Doctor’ http://www.traveldoctor.com.au/

UniBRIDGE http://www.universitybridgeproject.org/