BINAR 2025, Yogyakarta Indonesia

I participated in BINAR 2025 (Bina Budaya Antarbangsa), an international summer camp program held at BBPPMPV Yogyakarta from September 1st to 15th, 2025.

When I initially joined this program, I knew I wanted to go beyond a simple cultural exchange. I wanted to immerse myself in an environment that challenged my communication skills in both English and Indonesian while fostering deep cross-cultural understanding. While participating, I was inspired by the diversity of the participants and the shared goal of building international harmony.

I knew I wanted my experience to be focused on Collaboration, Discipline, and Traditional Arts. As such, I joined a multinational team consisting of members from Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Together, we practiced the "Butterfly Dance," which required immense teamwork and synchronization. Beyond dancing, I actively engaged in learning Batik and Gamelan, which allowed me to appreciate the intricate values and discipline embedded in Indonesian heritage.

The main goal of this project was to represent our collective cultures through a final performance that demonstrated mutual respect and unity. This had to be done by balancing intensive practice schedules with cultural workshops, ensuring that every team member felt included and valued despite our linguistic differences.

Although I faced challenges in coordinating across different cultural backgrounds and mastering traditional instruments in a short time, I learnt a lot from the experience. I discovered much about the beauty of regional arts and the importance of resilience when working in a global team. I also learnt to be more patient and adaptable, reinforcing my passion for cultural exchange and international education.