My two-week student mobility attachment with SEAMEO RECFON in Jakarta, Indonesia, was an unforgettable experience that combined professional growth with rich cultural exploration.

Beyond the meaningful activities we participated in as part of the programme, the opportunity to explore Jakarta and immerse ourselves in its vibrant culture made the attachment even more enriching. As Indonesia’s bustling capital and largest city, Jakarta offered us a blend of historical charm and authentic local experiences.

The two-week student mobility attachment offers a unique opportunity to be directly involved in SEAMEO RECFON’s initiatives. Participants engaged in activities such as the Nutrition Goes to School programme, attended the SEAMEO RECFON 2nd International Conference on Food and Nutrition, and contributed to the development of infographics for the organisation’s annual magazine. This experience allowed students to apply and adapt their existing skills and knowledge in a different country and cultural setting, fostering both professional growth and cross-cultural understanding.

The activities we participated in included delivering a nutrition talk to Indonesian junior high school students under SEAMEO RECFON’s Nutrition Goes to School flagship programme. While our degree provided us with the knowledge and hands-on experience to conduct nutrition talks effectively, presenting to an audience in a different country with its own unique culture and food habits was an entirely new experience. This allowed us to adapt our skills and approach to ensure the content was helpful, relevant, and engaging.

Similarly, developing infographics for SEAMEO RECFON’s annual magazine offered valuable insights. As the magazine is to be published internationally, we learned to design content that was universally applicable and understandable, a critical skill in nutrition communication. Additionally, gaining a deeper understanding of SEAMEO RECFON’s various initiatives and their admirable dedication to enhancing community health through food and nutrition was truly inspiring.

For students passionate about community nutrition, this mobility attachment offers a valuable opportunity to gain firsthand experience by participating in initiatives designed to improve community health through food and nutrition. It also fosters adaptability, cross-cultural understanding, and a greater appreciation of the role of food and nutrition in public health.

One of the highlights of our free time was visiting Jakarta’s popular tourist destinations, starting with Jakarta Old Town (Kota Tua). The area was filled with many Dutch colonial buildings, which were incredibly fascinating to sightsee. The heart of Kota Tua, Fatahillah Square, is surrounded by several museums, but we chose to visit the Jakarta History Museum. We admired the collection of artifacts that showcased Jakarta’s evolution over the years, but what really amazed us was the display of antique furniture. Amongst ourselves, we talked about the intricately carved woodwork and the sheer size of these pieces. One of the standout pieces was an antique bookshelf that stretched from floor to ceiling and wall to wall, leaving us absolutely in awe of its grandeur and craftsmanship. We talked about how much time, effort, and skill went into creating these pieces – a form of art that seem to have been lost over time by the growing trend of minimalism.

Another memorable destination was Pantjoran Chinatown PIK. The towering pagoda at its centre was beautiful, and many Chinese restaurants with some local food options filled both sides of the street. After exploring Chinatown, we made our way to Pantai Pasir Putih PIK 2 that was nearby. We bought ourselves a drink and spent an afternoon sitting by the beach.

Beyond the tourist attractions, the local experiences we had in Jakarta were equally memorable. Our hotel was in a lively area surrounded by good restaurants, a bookstore, and local marts, all within walking distance. So, we had a taste of Jakarta’s infamous heavy traffic. At first, it was slightly terrifying yet fascinating. Navigating and crossing the streets was an adventure of its own. The place we visited the most was their local marts. It was like our daily routine. We would go back to our hotel with local snacks and drinks to try. We were particularly very happy to find fruits being sold in these small marts, which is uncommon in Malaysia.

My roommate, Luo Qian, and I would buy yogurt and fruits to stock up our hotel fridge every few days. It seems you can’t separate dietetics students from their healthy food choices.

There was also a local food market right beside our hotel, where locals living nearby would pick up their dinner. However, trying some of the food did unfortunately lead to me having a bout of food poisoning – oops!

Regardless, it was still a unique experience and a reminder of the importance of being cautious when trying new foods in unfamiliar places.

The two-week mobility attachment was more than just a professional opportunity, it was also my first time visiting Jakarta and traveling for such a long period without my family. It pushed us to be independent and rely on each other, which brought me so much closer to my friends.

Spending all that time together, exploring the city, and sharing new experiences deepened our bond and even helped me build new friendships.

Having my classmates, Vanessa, who is from Indonesia, and Fitri (Farthest left in the photo on the right), who is fluent in Bahasa Indonesia, made traveling around so much easier. They helped us navigate, communicate, and even discover local gems we might have missed otherwise.

Additionally, Dr Kanimoli Arasu (Second from left in the photo on the right), our Dietetics lecturer,  joined us during the first few days of our attachment, and it was such a blast having her around. Every meal, she would share all kinds of fascinating food and nutrition-related facts. It made things so much more fun!

This attachment was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I am incredibly grateful to SEAMEO RECFON, IMU University, and our Dietetics with Nutrition lecturers for making this experience possible.

SEAMEO RECFON is an organisation based in Jakarta, Indonesia, with a mission to conduct education, capacity building, research, and information dissemination in the fields of food and nutrition to enhance the quality of life for people in Southeast Asia. They achieve this through their unique flagship programmes, such as Early Childhood Care, Nutrition and Education, Nutrition Goes to School, and Nutrition Goes to Workplace. They also engage in extensive research on food and nutrition and publish informational materials, including an annual magazine and infographics, to raise awareness.

Through their wide-reaching initiatives across Southeast Asia, SEAMEO RECFON strives to improve public health, starting at the community level.

Written by Liow Wei Xuan