Anushri Sood is a participant in the 2020 Journalism Professional Practicum from The University of Sydney. Anushri is studying a Bachelor of Media and Communications/
Bachelor of Laws. She received a $3,000 New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant to support her participation in this program.
Q: Why did you decide to undertake the ACICIS program?
I decided to undertake the program because I thought that it would be the best way for me to experience a country like Indonesia. I had never been before and was keen to spend time in Jakarta before experiencing the full Bali shabang!
Q: Did you receive a New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant? If so, how did this contribute to your experience in Indonesia?
Yes, I am extremely grateful to have received the grant because without it, this whole experience would not have been possible!
Q: How will the Professional Practicum benefit or influence your future career?
Getting experience in communications was something that was invaluable both to my personal and professional development. Having only been exposed to journalism in the past, it was really nice to see a different side to the media industry, compared to the fast-paced, frenetic nature of magazines, news writing and production.
Q: What organisation did you intern with? (Explain your roles and responsibilities)
I was really lucky to be able to intern at UNIC (United Nations Information Centre)- from helping with social media for the UN75 campaign, to liaising with other UN agencies and writing articles for the website, my time at UNIC was nothing short of incredible, thanks to all the wonderful people I was fortunate enough to have worked with.
Q: How have you found the work culture of your host organisation? How is it different to work experience in Australia?
I think UNIC was different from a lot of other workplaces, because of the international nature of the organisation. It was something I really valued and it was really eye-opening to see how despite everyone’s different cultural backgrounds they were all there to work towards a common goal. That is a lesson I hope to carry with me throughout my life and take to whichever organisation I end up working at.
Q: Would you like to return to work in Indonesia again in future?
Yes, definitely!
Q: What do you like to do in your spare time in Indonesia?
I loved going to all the galleries, shops and eating joints in Kemang, south Jakarta is a treasure trove of beautiful bookshops and art spaces like Dia.Lo.Gue and Salihara and it’s somewhere you can literally spend hours hanging out by yourself or with friends.
Q: Favourite Indonesian word/phrase?
I love the Indonesian word mahasiswa, which means student. Apart from the fact that I love how it sounds, it was also a constant reminder of why I was there, which was to learn. Whether it was the language, culture or work ethic of the Indonesian people, I had the privilege of being a student throughout my 6 weeks in Indonesia and learning from the locals.
Q: Favourite place to eat? Favourite Indonesian food?
My absolute favourite food is gado-gado, probably at Cafe Batavia in old town
Q: What places in Indonesia have you visited during your practicum so far?
I spent a week in Ubud at the end to “find myself” and also went to Bogor for a weekend with friends from the ACICIS program.