If you’re looking for a change of pace and perspective, an internship abroad might provide the transformational adventure you’re seeking! Dylan Welsh shares insight into his Civil Engineering Internship in Bali, to express how the internship abroad provided a solution to his ambition for both travel and career development. Read on to learn what the internship involved, what it was like to experience diverse cultural immersion, and more.
Hi Dylan! What was it like starting an internship in Bali?
I chose this program because I was looking for a change of pace and as I always wanted to do something of this sort abroad, I figured this would be perfect to satisfy both my desire to travel and learn more about my chosen field abroad.
I went into this with an open mind and very flexible expectations. In the beginning, I anticipated that I would be more nervous and that I would have a harder time settling into work and life here than what transpired. The role was quite similar to what I was doing at my last internship, so it made the transition relatively seamless.
What did your Engineering internship involve?
The majority of my tasks were related to using SketchUp, AutoCAD, and Autodesk Revit. For example, drafting building designs, construction drawings, and materials and specifications. I assisted with preparing concept drawings, drafts, and three-dimensional renders to present to clients.
This internship served to solidify my computer drafting skills. A long-term goal of mine was to become fluent with various computer drafting softwares and this internship helped me along that route. For example, I had not previously used SketchUp before this internship. Although the work I’m doing here is still design work, compared to my last internship, the focus is very different.
The skills required to draft up plans for resorts and villas was unlike anything I’d done before, but it was still enjoyable and a great learning experience.
How did you experience multiculturalism and language barriers in Bali?
Not everyone in the company spoke English, and many of them only knew select words. While most people at the company I interned with are Javanese, there are also some Balinese, Sundanese, and Batak people. My Sundanese coworker walked me through some of the cultural and linguistic differences between Sundanese and Javanese, and then Indonesia as a whole. We had a pact, where they taught me some Bahasa Indonesia day by day and - while I didn’t expect to reach fluency - it was nice to deepen my understanding.
To ensure that communication was effective, especially with a language barrier, Google Translate is reliable enough to have a conversation through. I’ve had conversations with some of my coworkers with Translate and it’s quite an interesting but also entertaining experience. Another thing I do that seems helpful is simplifying my English so that it can be understood by others who do not speak it well. My proudest accomplishment during the program was being able to bridge a language barrier with a mutual love for engineering.
The advice I would give to someone about to begin in an internship position within a culturally diverse setting is to be open-minded to new things and respectful of any differences that come up. To me, the last thing I would want to do is make someone feel weird about their own culture or make them feel inferior. As such, going into a position with a nonjudgmental and accepting view is ideal.
What was a problem you experienced and how did you overcome it?
In my home country the pace of life in society is far faster than in Bali. In Bali, I found that my Internship Supervisor worked and managed his time at a slower rate than I do. Although I felt frustrated at times, I thought it was important to keep my calm over this. Typically, I politely asked my Supervisor for more to do when I needed it.
Compared to my last internship, it seems everyone in the office works leisurely and at their own pace instead of juggling deadlines and attempting to do more than they are capable of. While the pressure to maintain this pace can feel overwhelming, a benefit of it is that if you are able to find the right routine, it can feel rewarding. All this being said, the biggest challenge I encountered during my internship in Bali was that I either had too much work or too little work - and most weeks fell either way with very little in between.
Generally speaking, I have experienced this before - at my last internship, as well as at my university with homework. So I’ve come to the conclusion that it can be typical to have issues with workload balance, regardless of circumstances. It can make me feel a little overwhelmed when the workload is too heavy… or I can feel bored when it’s the opposite! The strategies I have devised to overcome this and try to create some balance are to space out my work in a way where I can have a relatively consistent level, while still meeting my deadlines.
What were some of the cultural differences that you experienced?
An experience that comes to mind is when I went out to lunch with some coworkers and I handed one of my coworkers a utensil set, and he said he does not need it and ate with his hands. It was quite surprising as I would not consider rice, vegetables, and various sauces something I would use my hands to eat, but according to him, it is the more traditional way to eat. It impacted my perceptions as, although I do not see it as weird or unsanitary, it is different and something I would not do myself. This was not the greatest culture shock I experienced, but it’s definitely “up there” as it was very interesting to see.
Authority towards superiors or elders is taken far more seriously in Balinese and Indonesian culture, at least far more than America. So much so, the Balinese have 4 different levels of politeness in their language and generally in Indonesia, some Indonesians will greet their elders with a special greeting meant to show the utmost respect.
To become more culturally appropriate within my Bali host community, I adapted my behaviors to be very respectful and polite. I also refrained from using my left hand to greet someone or accept something from someone. I’ve tried using a spoon as my primary utensil in my dominant hand over a fork, like the locals do, but that took some getting used to.
What were some unexpected aspects of the experience?
I was very pleased to discover how friendly and responsive most locals are. I tend to think most Americans are the same way, so it gives me a sense of familiarity and comfort.
Where stereotypes are concerned, I was under the false impression that I would see Australians on holiday all over the island, but it is rather nice to see mostly local people around instead of tourists everywhere. Although I was a tourist myself, I did enjoy seeing what life is normally like for the Balinese.
Also, while the traffic is far lighter than what I am used to in New York, I still did not expect that I would have to plan when to leave according to the traffic.
If I were to give advice to others, it would be that you should expect the unexpected and be open to everything that comes your way.
What was your favorite memory from the internship in Bali?
This is a tough question to answer because there were plenty of moments that I look fondly back on. If I had to choose one, it would be when my Indonesian coworkers were mispronouncing the American city of Chicago and I could not understand what they meant until they typed it into Google and showed me. We all found it so funny and that actually turned into their nickname for me! When they would refer to me as their pronunciation of “Chicago” it would make me laugh and I would recall that same hilarious memory every time.
What are some of the lasting impacts of this experience for you?
Because Indonesia was quite different to what I was used to, it helped me feel more appreciative and grateful of all the little things in life, especially the ones I did not have access to in Indonesia. For example, the biggest thing I became appreciative of by far is free potable water. Before this internship program, I would never think twice about the water in the pipes and it was just a normal part of my life but now, I see it as a privilege that I should be very grateful for.
I feel more empowered to be successful in my field as an internship in Indonesia is an amazing thing to have under my belt. It’s something that sets me apart from other candidates and can make possible employers feel curious and wish to meet with me. I would like to get my masters degree after I graduate in May of next year. From there, I want to land a job that I am happy at. And hopefully it pays me well enough so that I can come back to Bali and re-experience it all again! On a personal note, I want to keep in contact with everyone I met from around the world as having friends overseas can be very convenient on top of the fact that they were some amazing people!
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