A local high school student won a trip to her dream destination, Indonesia.
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Maya Willis from St John the Evangelist High School, Nowra, is studying to become fluent in Indonesian, and she hopes the two-week trip in the next school holidays will be helpful.
Maya will be immersed in Indonesian culture, learning bartering skills, cooking skills, visiting temples and living with a host family.
The Year 11 student will also be teaching English in Yogyakarta, Java.
“I’ve never been to Indonesia, I’ve always wanted to go, so this is a really cool way to do it,” she said.
“I’m really excited to be putting into practice everything I’ve learned at school, and about meeting my host family.”
Maya said Indonesian was one of the most popular subjects among students at her school, thanks to her great teacher.
“It’s definitely my favourite subject,” she said.
“Learning about another culture is really cool.
She did work experience at the Indonesian Consulate.
“Every single Indonesian person I’ve met is so lovely and so welcoming,” Maya said.
“They always try and talk to you in Indonesian, and they don’t care if your Indonesian isn’t great, they just want to help you communicate.”
Maya would like to study international relations at university with a view to joining an international organisation or Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Maya is one of three students to win the Indonesian Immersion Scholarship, sponsored by Blackmores.