Two of IPIEF Students have Joined Spring Exchange Program to ASIA University, Taiwan
Taiwan – Two students of International Program for Islamic Economics and Finance, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, completed student exchange on the “Spring Exchange” program at ASIA University, Taiwan. This program held on February 18 – June 24, 2019. The students are Aurellia Azh Nindy and Ratu Mengge Ayu, they are IPIEF Students batch 2017.
Interviewed after arriving in Yogyakarta (07/21, Aurel and Ratu said that motivation to join the Spring Exchange program are to get an experience of how to study abroad so that they felt the difference in learning abroad and in Indonesia. In addition, they also want to improve their English skills because studying abroad is a good opportunity to improve their English skills.
In addition, they also said that learning at ASIA University was different from studying at Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta. Every lecture at ASIA University provided a 15-minute break time for students. This is different from UMY where there is no break time in lectures. However, Indonesian students have a higher politeness in the class when compared to other international students. For example, in UMY it was forbidden to eat when the lectures, this was different from ASIA University the students did not hesitate to eat during the lectures.
“It’s very difficult to find halal food in Taiwan,” their obstacles. It because the Muslim community in Taiwan is a minority. Aurel and Ratu feel fortunate because there is a halal restaurant located not far from the Asia University, just takes about 5 minutes by bus to get the restaurant. In addition, cultural factors are also being challenge for them, because culture in Taiwan is very different from Indonesian culture
“Obstacles of language are a problem that we often experience. Taiwanese peoples are not fluent in English, so when they are in trouble, we find it difficult to ask local residents and we only rely on translator applications. We also rarely talk with Taiwanese students because of their not fluent in English. On the other hand, Taiwanese students are typically shy so it is difficult to talk to them intimately, “she added. (Aa)