A Semester of Growth in Kaunas

Rayhan felt the sting of the hot summer sun as he stepped foot in Kaunas, Lithuania, for the first time. His journey to one of the Baltic countries was to study for one semester at Vytautas Magnus University, a renowned university in the heart of Lithuania

An accounting student at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS), Rayhan was the awardee of the 2023 Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards (IISMA) scholarship from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemendikbudristek).

IISMA, initiated by Kemendikbudristek in 2021, allows Indonesian students to study for one semester at a world-class university. There are three registration channels: the regular route, the affirmation route, and the co-funding route.

Rayhan was one of the awardee of the IISMA co-funding s. Unlike the regular and affirmation route, the co-funding route applies a partial financing scheme to the government and students, with the government covering costs such as registration fees to the destination university, tuition fees, flight transportation costs, and emergency expenses.

In early April, Rayhan shared his story with us while studying at one of the top four universities in Lithuania. Rayhan has had aspirations of pursuing his education abroad since high school. He expressed his desire, stating, “I really want to study abroad and actually want to get my undergraduate degree abroad.”

However, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 dashed his plans to study abroad. Undeterred, Rayhan persisted in exploring various opportunities. His perseverance paid off when the government launched the IISMA program in 2021.

“The IISMA program is a fantastic opportunity,” Rayhan remarked. Motivated by this opportunity, he eagerly participated in the IISMA selection process, diligently preparing various requirements, including an SKCK (Police Clearance Certificate), Duolingo English test, and other administrative documents.

“Please, sit down,” Rayhan offered to one of the local Lithuanians on the bus. Instead, the foreigner declined, opting to stand. Rayhan felt a pang of unease at the rejection.

His initial cultural clash in Lithuania remained vivid in his mind. Lithuanians, he noted, held different cultural norms compared to other Europeans. They tended to keep their distance from foreigners, contrasting sharply with the openness he observed in his classmates from Spain, Italy, France, and Ukraine.

“We’re in an international class. Many of our friends are from other European countries like Spain, Italy, France, and Ukraine. They are very open to each other, unlike Lithuanians who keep their distance,” Rayhan reflected.

Rayhan’s second encounter with culture shock came when he observed the attire of students and lecturers in Lithuania. Unlike in Indonesia, where neat clothing like shirts or collared tops was the norm, those in Lithuania preferred more casual attire.

“Even my professor at the time, because it was still summer, he only wore a t-shirt and flip-flops to class,” He added. “Their principle is to be yourself.”

Rayhan’s third culture shock revolved around time. He noted that punctuality was sacrosanct during his studies in Lithuania. Lithuanians adhered rigorously to schedules. If a lecture was slated for 09:00, it began precisely at that hour. Similarly, if a class was scheduled to end at 12:00, it ended at that time.

Despite experiencing culture shock, Rayhan found his adaptation to the environment surprisingly smooth. The camaraderie among fellow Indonesian IISMA awardees in Lithuania was vital in his adjustment.

“There are 49 IISMA Awardees in Lithuania, so if we want to go shopping together, we do it together. It’s more comfortable. The people there also speak English, so communication was no problem,” Rayhan reminisced.

IISMA awardees are allowed to explore courses beyond their majors, and Rayhan fully embraced this opportunity. He enrolled in four courses from various faculties, such as Managerial Decision Making and Leadership from the Faculty of Economics and Management, Social Change from the Faculty of Social Social Sciences, and Media and Popular Culture from the Faculty of Arts.

Rayhan’s course selections were driven by his passions and interests. His enthusiasm for management led him to opt for the Managerial Decision Making and Leadership program.

Rayhan revealed, “I also manage a cafe, so this learning is essential for me.” Aligning his coursework with his real-world experiences made the learning process enjoyable. It allowed him to apply the knowledge to his daily managerial duties.

In addition to his passion for management, Rayhan had a keen interest in media. This led him to enroll in the Media and Popular Culture course, driven by his fascination with movies, comics, and other popular art. He was intrigued by the course’s exploration of how art serves as a platform to express public unrest, protests, and aspirations.

“Moreover, the professor happens to be one of the authors of Marvel Comics.” This revelation further fueled his excitement for studying Media and Popular Culture. Being a fan of Marvel Studios’ productions, Rayhan’s enthusiasm was particularly heightened, especially considering one of his favorite movies is The Avengers Endgame.

Of all the courses Rayhan took, the Leadership course was his favorite due to its engaging learning approach. The course involved playing games to develop leadership, coordination, and group coordination skills.

“We were also given practical examples,” Rayhan explained. For instance, during presentations, a leader should maintain eye contact, avoid putting hands in pockets, and refrain from using cellphones.”

Being an IISMA Awardee opens up a world of valuable experiences. Rayhan learned to value time more because of the punctual culture abroad. Living alone in a foreign country also tested his adaptability.

Rayhan’s one-semester experience broadened his understanding of social culture abroad. For instance, he learned about dining etiquette. “In Indonesia, it’s usually okay for five people to come and take a seat from the next table. Here, it’s not polite to take a chair carelessly,” said Rayhan, sharing his experience.

Rayhan noted that teaching methods from abroad could be applied in Indonesia. For instance, in Lithuania, they emphasize dialogue communication over one-way communication. Lecturers there actively encourage discussions and urge students to ask questions. “If no one speaks up, the lecturer gets annoyed,” Rayhan recalled.

Rayhan is optimistic that incorporating dialogic communication and discussions in classrooms could make teaching and learning more engaging and enjoyable.

Rayhan also gave several tips for students aspiring to join IISMA to enhance their English language skills. He emphasized the significance of English proficiency as a foundation for communication while abroad.

“Ideally, aim for an IELTS score of seven or higher. The higher, the better. Starting to learn English early in school makes things easier later on. It’s handy, from writing essays to understanding the lessons,” he advised.

Writer: Gede Arga Adrian

Editor: Al Habiib Josy Asheva

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid