Are you ready for another blog post from Bali? I know I am!
It's been a little over two weeks here in Bali, and I've learned a lot in this short time. It feels as if I've lived here for a few months now even though it's been only two weeks, yet at the same time, it feels like I landed down at the airport in Bali just a few nights ago.
Time has been warped here; every 24 hours is packed to the brim, and I love it!! We spend every day studying, doing group activities, visiting temples, attending lectures, exploring, and most importantly laughing. It can be tiring at times attempting a rigorous sixteen-week semester crammed into only eight weeks, but like anything it takes time to find a balance!
The first week or so everyone went full force (including myself) and didn’t want to miss out on any opportunity, but I’ve concluded that it’s ok to take time to recover. To preserve my nineteen-year-old youth I must do something my parents do: nap. My best friend has been taking a short nap during our typical two-hour break after our morning excursion and before our lecture in the early afternoon! This is the hack that a lot of us here have succumbed to. That, journaling, yoga, and extra hydration has stuck with me!
At Bio Rock Center in Pemuteran
Accommodations:
The resorts we've stayed at have been nothing but immaculate. From the rooftop infinity pools in Jimbaran to tropical plant landscapes in Ubud, beachfront rooms in Pemuteran, and delicious food at our fingertips courtesy of the hotel restaurant I can't help but feel spoiled. The breakfasts here are free, so you best believe you will find me stopping in around 7-9 am. I am feasting, and no one can stop me.
The staff here is so courteous and kind, and they help me with my food restrictions to the best of their ability. I'm gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian; I'm used to it being a challenge to find food, but not here!!
Roommates:
I can’t forget to add that I have the best roommate ever! Nora, who I've roomed with for the past two weeks is the best roommate I could ever ask for; She is supportive, kind, a good listener to my stupid stories, hilarious, and up for any adventure. She, along with the other girls here are like my sisters now as we have all gotten so close, so quick.
I am so thankful to everyone who works on this program! The drivers who take us around every day, the hotel staff, Laura and Darren with Latitudes Abroad, and the Professors here from SBCC like Michelle are nothing short of wonderful. Thank you for all your hard work!
Something I love about my peers here from SBCC is their joint passion for water and the ocean. If someone is having a bad day…we'll jump in the ocean. If someone's received good news from back home…we jump in the ocean. If it's midnight and we are bored…we jump in the ocean. It’s the best! The instantaneous joy from this one commonality has fostered such a deep connection between all of us in such a short amount of time. Surfers, swimmers, spear fishers, water polo players, and beachcombers; we all have something to connect to with each other.
Ocean fun at Menjangan Island!
Top middle: Me, Nora (my roommate <3,) and Charlotte
In Pemuteran, I've experienced some of the best snorkeling in the entirety of my life this past week. I think others can attest to this statement. As a class, we've done a few excursions taking a boat out to Menjangan Island and getting to see some beautifully biodiverse reefs! Rolling out of the boat, the water was more colorful than the boat’s bright turquoise paint job! I was swarmed by schools of fish of so many different hues and pigments. My favorite was seeing the neon parrot fish! Within a few hours of snorkeling, I saw over a hundred different species of marine life; Fish of all kinds, phytoplankton, eels, nudibranchs, feather stars, sea stars, and my favorite animal in the whole world: sea turtles! | Fun fact: There are seven species of sea turtle, and six of them are found here in Indonesia! The Green Turtle, Olive Ridley Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle, Loggerhead Turtle, Leatherback Turtle and Flatback Turtle. |
Views from down under!
"I've always wanted to be a mermaid, but I didn't think that childhood dream would become possible...but it did."
It gets even better: On September 18th-20th as a class, we had the privilege of getting scuba certified through Bali Diving Academy Pemuteran! I've always wanted to be a mermaid, but I didn't think that childhood dream would become possible...but it did. This experience allowed me to soak in all that was beneath the surface and appreciate the beauty and power of the coral reefs here in Bali! I even got to drink a coke-a-cola at a depth of 18 meters! I never thought I’d ever do that! https://scubali.com/en/
The hands-on learning through labs and research in this field of the ocean has been so eye-opening! I wish all learning could be done this way. I truly have never felt so passionate about learning and I feel ravenous to continue my studies! Part of this has to do with the passion that comes from the professors: Michelle Paddack and Laura England-Krusee. Thank you for all the energy and love you put into your teaching!
Another huge thank you to Bio Rock, and Biosphere Center for the lectures and tours this past week; I linked their websites below!
Bio rock:
Biosphere
More photos for your enjoyment!
The rice fields:
Indonesian cooking class!
Follow me on Instagram @rebecca.jamgochian for more updates!
Catch you on the next blog and I hope you have a wonderful day!
Terima kasih,
-Rebecca :)
Comments