Fun, Games, and Cultural Exchange as Visiting Indonesian Students Lead Festival Celebration
In the fall 2022 semester, 20 recipients of the Indonesian International Student Mobility Award (IISMA) joined Boston University through MET International for an educational exchange. Part of a program fully funded by the Indonesian government, IISMA provides Indonesian undergraduate students with the chance to spend a semester overseas at top partner schools, where they can develop skills and enjoy and experience a new culture.
On November 6, students visiting BU through the program led the 2021 IISMA Boston Indonesian Festival, timed to coincide with Indonesian Youth Pledge Day—a holiday that observes generational commitment to Indonesian independence. The festivities included sharing traditional Indonesian treats, like bakwan (a vegetable fritter) and playing traditional games like tarik tambang (tug-of-war), balap kelereng (marble racing), and balap karung (sack racing).
As part of the IISMA program, students also led a MET International presentation discussing the history of Youth Pledge Day, the differences between learning at their home institutions and at BU, and their collective experiences coming overseas during a global pandemic.
Watch a video highlighting the 2021 IISMA Boston Indonesian Festival below.
Learn more about exchange opportunities with universities across the globe at MET International.