In our previous blog post we introduced Benjamin to you. He is a student originally from Texas, majoring in finance at PVAMU. He was participating in our Winter 2024 Bali Beyond Borders program. We shared his view on the program, as well as some thoughts regarding the local culture, accommodation and the BBB program in general. For this blog post we have gathered some more of his experiences and tips, which will help you to make the most of your stay in Bali.
How to Get Around in Bali
Benjamin can absolutely confirm the cliche: Scooters are the best option when it comes to transportation in Bali. He went to school by scooter every morning. While others had to leave earlier to use public transportation to get there, he could sleep longer. With the scooter and he was flexible and spontaneous. Being able to sleep a bit longer in the mornings was a nice bonus as well, he was always well rested.
After the school days and excursions, he also went home with his rented scooter. Benjamin loves the freedom that the scooter gave him; he could just go anywhere he wanted. Usually, he went on another scooter ride to round off the night. He felt like it was the best way to get around Bali and see many places. As a chill and relaxed guy, it was the right decision to rent a scooter for the time on Bali.
Staying Off the Touristy Paths & Connecting with Nature
During the last few years Bali has become very popular amongst tourists. The offer of spots and activities specifically for tourists is almost endless. However, Benjamin recommends to not only go for the “Instagram spots” but rather exploring by oneself and finding some hidden gems. He really enjoyed connecting with nature and taking in the plants that they have there. Some of them he had never seen before, some reminded him of home because he for example saw a plant there that his grandpa used to have.
Besides from nature, also the architecture was different than in his home country. One small detail that he noticed was that sometimes the sidewalk was made from tiles. The same kind of tiles like the ones that you might have in your kitchen or bathroom at home, something that Benjamin had never seen in use as a sidewalk. It didn’t really seem like the most practical thing, as some of them were pretty slippery. However, it was very unique and interesting.
The Chance to Combine Education with Travel
When Benjamin received the acceptance confirmation for his place in the BBB program, he was extremely happy. It felt scary to travel this far, especially since he has never left the US before. He felt more than ready for it. His commitment was supported by his family and peers who encouraged him to definitely take this unique opportunity to study in Bali.
“It was meant to be and it made me feel alive” – Benjamin
As soon as possible he began to apply for scholarships to raise money for the flights, since that was naturally one of the biggest expenses when travelling around half of the world. Because of his dedication he succeeded at getting the flights funded. Now everything was set and he was ready to go.
“Not gonna let anything hold me back” – Benjamin
Of course, another challenge had to pop up. Only two days before departure his flight ticket got cancelled. Even though there wasn’t much time to get a new ticket, he somehow managed to do it last minute. Saying goodbye to his family at the airport wasn’t. Once he was on the plane the nervousness started kicking in. However, in the end everything turned out fine and Benjamin is more than happy to have taken part in the BBB program.
“This is exactly what I needed” – Benjamin
Benjamin’s everyday life in Texas is super busy. His days are often very long and his schedule is packed. Staying on track with all of his courses and after school activities is challenging. During his time in Bali, he was inspired by Balinese people. He took a bit of a time off, for example from answering all the emails that he receives. This way he could also fully focus on the BBB program and all the new impressions there. As much as the Balinese people inspired him to incorporate more peace into his daily life, he also gathered a lot of motivation to make the world a better place.
Giving something back
The number one thing that shocked Benjamin in Bali was the lack of regulations, such as copyright regulations. Someone in a small village might make something handmade, while someone else steals the idea and mass-produces it.
During the program duration the group went to multiple big markets. One of the was so huge, that he came alone another time, because he felt like he didn’t have enough time there. Benjamin was able to try a lot of fruits there, some of which he had never seen before. When Benjamin went back to the big market, he bought a bunch of hairclips, bags, etc. He took them with him to America and is planning to sell them at school markets. He’s estimating to be able to sell them for about five times as much money as he bought them for. Once he has sold them, he wants to send the money back to Bali, giving it to people who need it more than him. He wants to spread the wealth.
Banjar Means Neighborhood
The main focus of the Bali Beyond Borders program is to dive into the Balinese culture. The classes mainly revolved around topics such as the social organization in Bali as well as the Balinese business environment. Benjamin learned about how Balinese people name their children. The have different temples for different occasions, for example Village Temple and Temple of the Dead.
Another thing that he learned is what a Banjar is. Banjar means neighborhood and is the smallest form on local government in Bali. It acts as a village council and works independently from the police. Their main job is to ensure that things in the village are running smoothly and to create a strong sense of community. If there is tension between some residents it is the Banjar’s responsibility to mitigate the problematic situation.
Building Friendships & Impact on His life
Benjamin got along with all of the other participants. They had a great time together. On the last day they took a lot of pictures together to capture the memories. Benjamin really enjoyed the exchange with others about their lifes. Because it was such a diverse and international group, naturally they had some cultural differences and were living quite different lifes in their home countries. One thing that Benjamin for example noticed is that Lassi (a student from Finland) was very book-focused. At Benjamin’s home university PVAMU they focus more on talking, like having discussions with each other.
One connection that especially stayed in mind for Benjamin is the one with Jaidaa. During the BBB program they were preparing a presentation together and got to know each other pretty well. Jaidaa is originally from Egypt, but lives and studies in UAE now. Benjamin describes her as very cheerful and talkative. They are still in contact and definitely want to stay friends.
Benjamin is very grateful that he was able to broaden his horizon in such a way and being able to exchange about culture and academics with other people from all over the world. Academically the program challenged him and he was fully able to focus on it, because he didn’t have all the same distractions as he does in his daily life back in Texas. The time in Bali had a huge impact on his life, it inspired and motivated him to try even harder to change the world. Benjamin is now the Chair of Innovation at his university PVAMU. He applied for the position during his stay in Bali and aims to make an impact and develop the people around him.
Ready to Embark on Your Own Study Abroad Adventure on a Tropical Island?
Sign up for the Spring edition of Bali Beyond Borders (01.05.2025 – 13.05.2025)! You still have time to apply until April 1st, 2025. Get more details here, or explore other study abroad programs in Bali offered by Asia Exchange here.
The post Bali Beyond Borders: How to Get the Most of Your Stay in Bali appeared first on Asia Exchange.
Article source: https://asiaexchange.org/blogs/bali-beyond-borders-how-to-get-the-most-of-your-stay-in-bali/
