Program Start and Orientation

Traveling across the world as a group, we land in Medan, Sumatra, and kick off our semester with an in-country orientation to Indonesian culture and basic language. With more than 261 million people, Indonesia is the world’s 4th most populous country and is made up of over 17,000 islands. Indonesia is home to hundreds of different ethnic, linguistic and cultural groups; 52 languages spoken in Sumatra alone. For our first few days in Sumatra, we learn the basic greetings, cultural forms of respect, and acclimatize to our new time zone and home. We also map out our itinerary and set individual and group goals for the program. We introduce our curriculum and brainstorm ideas for our individual Capstone Passion Projects while coming together as a traveling community.

Bukit Lawang, Orangutan Trek and Homestay

Leaving the noise of the city behind we travel into Sumatra’s interior passing by endless palm forests and remote towns. Finally arriving in the small village of Bukit Lawang we settle into our new home situated along the Bohorok River and bordering the expansive Gunung Leuser National Park. Through engaging with our hosts, we learn that this community developed in the 1970s alongside the creation of an orangutan rehabilitation center. During our time here we track the critically endangered orangutan, camp in the pristine and protected forest, tube down the playful rapids of the Bohorok River, and continue to form as a traveling community at our eco-lodge home base.

After acclimatizing to our surroundings, we embark on our first homestay of the semester in the neighboring rice farming community. Welcomed by Dharma, our kind host, we settle into the simple homes of our host families and spend the next few days helping out in the rice fields, assisting in on-going volunteer projects, learning skills such as traditional basket weaving, cooking Sumatran food, and getting a feel for the rural Sumatran lifestyle. Packing smaller bags, we then make our way to the riverside for three nights of camping in rustic river huts. After learning a lot about the conservation efforts taking place around the critically endangered orangutan we lend a hand by planting trees in the developing buffer zone, created to protect the orangutans from potential poachers.

Lake Toba Homestay

Leaving the rainforest behind, we head to the crater of Lake Toba, the largest lake in Southeast Asia and one of the deepest in the world. On Lake Toba we have an opportunity to experience another tribe within Sumatra, the Batak people, and spend a week learning about life in two distinct villages, one in the highlands and one along the lake. In the highlands we learn the art of coffee farming, spending our days harvesting, roasting, and finally tasting Sumatra’s world-renowned coffee. Our second homestay has us learning about the beautiful and unique structures of the Batak homes, assisting in the rice fields, and swimming in the local swimming hole, while immersing deeply into this rural Sumatran community. Whether working in the coffee fields, painting, or harvesting, our days in these remote villages provide an opportunity to see a very different side of Sumatra.

Rounding out our time in Sumatra we kayak on the lake, visit some of Indonesia’s most spectacular waterfalls, pick up last minute souvenirs, and reflect on our experiences thus far as we eagerly anticipate all that awaits us in Bali.

Surf Lessons

Saying farewell to Sumatra, we board our flight to Denpasar, Bali. Settling into our small hotel in Uluwatu in the Southern peninsula, we jump right into our surf lessons on Bali’s famous waves. For the next few days we improve our surf skills, relax along Bali’s white-sand beaches, and note the significant differences between Sumatra and Bali, two unique Indonesian islands.

East Bali Study

On Bali’s Eastern coast we spend a couple weeks learning about the successes and challenges of a local non-profit social enterprise that is dedicated to creating income-earning opportunities for this poverty-stricken rural Balinese community. Whether it’s through job opportunities at the community-run factory, providing youth and adult education classes, or shadowing locals to learn about their sustainable farming methods, we have an opportunity to see first-hand the incredible impact this organization is having in East Bali. We spend our time in East Bali helping out in the cashew factory where we try our hands at peeling and packaging cashews, volunteering in the local pre-school by facilitating basic English lessons, getting our hands dirty building a playground or doing road repair, and participating in an all-day cooking experience starting with a pre-dawn fishing trip and ending with a traditional Balinese feast. When not working, we explore our stunning surroundings through hikes to local waterfalls, impromptu games of volleyball, afternoon beach visits, and through immersion opportunities such as participating in a traditional pig slaughter, joining a Melukat ceremony, and visiting local temples.

Ubud Explorations and Student Planned Module

Saying goodbye to our friends in East Bali, we make our way to Ubud, the spiritual center and heart of Bali. Surrounded by terraced rice fields and ancient monuments, we spend the next few days exploring this beautiful city, which may include learning about the various religions practiced here, trying out Balinese yoga, or practicing our bargaining skills in the endless markets. We also take an afternoon to visit an incredible birthing clinic where we learn about Balinese access to healthcare, focused primarily on women’s health, through engaging with this center’s inspiring founder. Halfway through our semester, we also catch up on sleep and put the final touches on our upcoming Student Planned Module.

For the next four days we head off on our Student Planned Module. These days are totally planned by the students, with basic parameters put in place and a budget with which to work. We can’t wait to hear what the group will do!

Travel to Fiji, Nadi Exploration, and Highlands Immersion

Leaving Indonesia behind, we travel by plane to Fiji where we jump right into our Fijian orientation in the coastal city of Nadi. We take a few days to settle into the Fijian way of life by exploring the sleepy city of Nadi, then, basics learned, we say goodbye to the coast for now and head into Fiji’s highlands where we embark on a rural groupstay surrounded by Fiji’s lush rainforest. Sleeping in local homes, we soak up our remote surroundings through day hikes, exploring remote waterfalls, and engaging with our welcoming hosts.

Homestay and English Exchange

Our two weeks on Ovalau are spent in a homestay within a small, welcoming community. We soak up the opportunity to learn about the distinct culture of this island and the history Fiji shares with the island country of Tonga. During the weekdays we pair up with a groupmate and jump into the education theme, where we facilitate lesson plans in English, sports, nutrition, and culture to middle and high school students. In the afternoons and evenings, we settle into the island lifestyle, joining in games of volleyball, rugby, and badminton, exploring our new surroundings, learning local songs, or getting to know our new families. We round out our time on Ovalau in and around the water, snorkeling spectacular reefs, swimming on beautiful white-sand beaches and soaking up endless sunsets.

Coral Reef and Mangrove Rehabilitation

Saying goodbye to our friends on Ovalua, we make our way back to Viti Levu’s mainland and are welcomed by our next hosts in a small village along Fiji’s southern coast. Diving into the conservation theme, we have the opportunity to work alongside passionate local university students and professors who are committed to fighting the significant degradation of Fiji’s coral reefs due to pollution and the warming water temperatures. Joining the grassroots initiative within this small village, we spend our days in Fiji’s warm waters as we shadow and assist our hosts with their on-going work. We also get our hands dirty joining a mangrove restoration project. When our day’s work concludes, we enjoy friendly impromptu matches of Fiji’s favorite sport, rugby, and soak up our tropical surroundings.

SCUBA Certification and Departure

For our last week in Fiji we spend five days exploring the incredible array of multi-colored fish and corals populating Fiji’s world-renowned reefs through our PADI dive certification course. Those new to diving will have the chance to earn their Open Water Diver certifications, while experienced divers can earn their Advanced Diver certifications.

During the evenings, we take in our final Fijian sunsets, present our Capstone Passion Projects and debrief all that we have learned, the many friends that we have made, and the passions we have ignited over the past three months. There is no doubt that our experiences over these three months have prepared us for the steps that await us. As we savor our last week together, we are excited to return home to share our newly-gained insights and knowledge from our myriad experiences in Sumatra, Bali, and Fiji.

(All students wishing to SCUBA dive must pass a thorough diving physical and cannot have used an inhaler or suffered from asthma in the past three years.

*Please note that the order of the countries and of the projects is subject to change depending on your group assignment.

Below you will find several Group Journal excerpts, written by ARCC students during their Gap Year with ARCC: