Top 9 Reasons to Study Abroad in Indonesia

Dec 18, 2013 5:22:00 PM | American college of healthcare sciences Top 9 Reasons to Study Abroad in Indonesia

What are the benefits to studying abroad in Indonesia? There are too many to list! But here are my top 9 reasons why you should start packing!

aromatic indonesia study abroad

We’re very excited to announce that our Aromatic Indonesia 2014 Study Abroad tour will be casting off on May 12th until the 25th. Interested in joining us on our herbal excursions? I’ve compiled the top 9 reasons why you shouldn’t miss out on the incredible opportunity to study abroad with us in Indonesia:  

1. Networking: You’ll Build Strong Friendships with Others in Your Industry and Different Cultures

I don’t have to tell you about the value of networking—you know it’s essential for both personal and professional development. Because we spend so much time online in our ACHS holistic healthcare programs, it's so exciting to cultivate face-to-face relationships with other students and industry experts. Our program is open to the public as well as ACHS students and graduates, so you can even bring a friend with you! Friendships are built on stories, so what better way to build relationships with people with similar interests than learning and traveling through an exotic country together? Who knows what bonds you’ll build while strolling among aromatic Indonesian herbs. Whether you’re cultivating a friendship with a fellow ACHS traveler or bridging the cultural gap with a local Bali herbalist, gaining a friend that will last a lifetime is our #1 benefit to studying abroad.

2. You’ll Broaden Your Horizons

jamu

Travel writer Miriam Beard once wrote, “Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” Traveling changes you for the better. It expands your worldview and perspective and helps you see life from a different vantage point. When I’m traveling, I always make sure to take a moment—about every three minutes—to turn around and get a 360 degree perspective...just to make sure I am taking it all in! While studying abroad on the Aromatic Indonesia tour, you’ll learn about Jamu, an ancient herbal medicine focused on inner and outer health and beauty. You’ll travel to the Buddhist pilgrimage site of Borobudur, a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist Temple in Magelang and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll experience authentic Indonesian cuisine (no worries, Veggies—there will be vegetarian options!) and cultural traditions, all while gaining incredibly beneficial knowledge about aroma herbalism and herbal medicine.

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3. You’ll Get Pampered!

While you’ll be learning an immense amount about plants, herbs, essential oils, and aromatherapy in Indonesia, the tour will also include numerous spa options. In Jogjakarta, Bali, you can choose to lounge on the white sandy beach or take advantage of a complimentary spa treatment. On the ninth day, we’ll be at Bagus Jati, Bali’s Premier health and well-being spa retreat settled in the mountains of Ubud, where you can enjoy the benefit of a complimentary massage or hair treatment and even a rejuvenating nature walk through the Balinese mountain air. 

4. Hands on Herbal Education

aromatherapy educationAll right, all right. The first three benefits in my list sound like the perfect recipe for a fabulous vacation. But we can’t forget that the key word in “study abroad” is…well…STUDY! You’ll get the chance to take a tropical boat ride and get a reviving Balinese massage, but this trip is designed for learning. You will take away invaluable information that will enhance your healthcare education or holistic health career. On day one, you’ll spend the afternoon at the Martha Tilaar Botanical Gardens and see Jamu preparation (before we jet off, you can learn more about Jamu in this book: Jamu: The Ancient Indonesian Art of Herbal Healing.) On day two, you’ll visit the Bogor Botanical Gardens herbarium (these gardens date back to 1474!) and learn about the production of nutmeg essential oil from tree to bottle at the Cicurug Experimental Garden. Oh, and remember when I mentioned spa treatments at Bagus Jati? You will also attend a spa product workshop! 

5. No Need to Plan the Itinerary

Traveling to a foreign country (especially somewhere you’ve never been before) can be extremely overwhelming. Where do I go? What are the must sees? How do I get there? Our study abroad Aromatic Indonesia tour is already planned out in our brochure, so there’s no guesswork. Our local experienced guides get you behind the scenes to enjoy insider access like no other tourist! This is a benefit that is pretty specific to ACHS. This kind of planning helps you get the most educational and personal benefit out of your time and resources. Hold on, you free spirits! There is still flexibility in our itinerary for personal exploring and carving out your own adventures, but you’ll never have to worry about where to eat or rest your head at night.

6. A Bright Highlight on Your Resume for Jobs or Graduate Schooltravel abroad programs

Because of the amount of experience and education you’ll receive, many employers and admissions committees view studying abroad as beneficial as an internship or residency. Studying abroad builds a number of skills that potential employers are looking for, such as interpersonal communication and time management. Like I mentioned before, nothing produces rich stories better than traveling the world! And it wouldn’t be the worst thing to mention in your next interview that you’ve seen the vetiver Vetiveria zizanioides distillation process first hand in Garut or that you’ve studied at the Indonesian Medicinal and Aromatic Crops Research Institute while studying abroad in Indonesia with ACHS. 

7. “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life…”

This old adage pretty much sums it up. If you’re passionate about holistic healthcare, aromatherapy, or herbalism, journeying to Klaten to visit a leading spice exporter to learn about the production and export of vanilla, cocoa, coffee, and Indonesian spices certainly won’t feel like work or school. This beautiful amalgamation of education and hands on experience is one of the greatest benefits to studying abroad. 

8. Tax Benefits

You should check with your trusted tax preparer, but did you know that study abroad educational programs may be a deductible business expense? Why not get your continuing education completed in an exotic locale!

9. It’s the Experience of a Lifetime

There’s no getting around it…you’ll remember your time traveling through the islands of Indonesia for the rest of your life. It’s one of those experiences you’ll recall to your grandchildren years after the trip. You might be sitting on your porch 10, 20, or 50 years from now, watching the sun set behind the trees, and you’ll remember that sun you watched set over the Bali sea. Studying abroad stays with you forever, and that’s the biggest benefit of all. 

So will I be seeing YOU in Indonesia in May? If you're eager to learn more, please click the button below or browse our Aromatic Indonesia 2014 brochure for more information.

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There are countless benefits to studying abroad, and there's no way I'd be able to fit them ALL into a blog post. So what reasons are at the top of your list for studying abroad? Leave your answers in the comments below! 

Dorene Petersen, ACHS Founding President

Written By: Dorene Petersen, ACHS Founding President

Dorene is the Founding President of the American College of Healthcare Sciences (ACHS). She has over 45 years of clinical teaching and lecturing experience in aromatherapy and other holistic health subjects. She has presented papers on essential oils and clinical aromatherapy at the International Federation of Essential Oils and Aroma Trades Annual Conference (IFEAT) in California, USA; the Aroma Environment Association of Japan (AEAJ) in Tokyo, Japan; the Asian Aroma Ingredients Congress (AAIC) and Expo in Bali, Indonesia; the International Center of Advanced Aromatherapy (ICAA) at the WonGwang Digital University in Seoul, Korea; as well as the AAIC Expo in Kunming, Yunnan, China. Dorene is a founding member of the Aromatherapy Registration Council (ARC) and served as its chair until 2023. Dorene is also involved in the distance education community and has served as a volunteer, committee member, and standards evaluator for the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). Dorene is a travel junkie, and has led ACHS Study Abroad programs to India, Indonesia, Greece, and Hawaii!