Indonesia: Arts, Religion, and Social Change

Homestays

Homestays in this program grant students a special window into the values, daily life, and activities of contemporary Balinese society and provide additional context for language and thematic coursework. Since students begin their homestay experience in Bedulu on the eighth day of the orientation period and return to their homestay for the last few days of the evaluation period, their length of stay with their Balinese families—approximately 65 days in length spread over the entire program period—provides students an exceptional opportunity to become closely acquainted with their homestay family members.

Bedulu
The primary homestay for this program is located in the village of Bedulu, within a short walk from the program's classroom facilities. Bedulu is small, but fairly spread out, giving the feel of a well-organized and spacious village. It is famous for the ancient Samuan Tiga temple complex, which is said to have been the site where three earlier forms of the Balinese Hindu faith were merged to create a single, unified form of religious practice and belief.

Bedulu families, similar to most Balinese families, are very tight-knit and welcoming. Balinese families typically live in "house-yards" or family compounds that consist of a variety of separate buildings with a fair amount of open space separating each building or pavilion. Students discover the details of the Balinese home, including the role of the family shrine, the living quarters, and spaces for rituals or special guests.

Through the homestay experience, students have extraordinary opportunities to observe real life processes and to participate in the arts and social practices of the village. Some students may have the opportunity to join their host family at a wedding, tooth filing, or other life-cycle ritual, and all students see an odalan or anniversary ceremony of a local temple. In Bedulu and in other surrounding villages students can take lessons in the fine arts, or musical and performing arts. Students often forge strong connections with their Bedulu homestay family, and many remain in contact following the program's termination.

Bedulu is located near Ubud, a larger village that has grown into a major hub and crossroads cultural center, attracting Westerners interested in the arts, traditional culture, and "New Age" spiritual studies. SIT students can take advantage of the many amenities of Ubud which they can reach in 20 minutes by public transportation.

Rural Homestay (Tabanan Area)
During their rural visit in the Tabanan area, students undertake a second homestay lasting four-five nights. Students experience the area's strong sense of community while staying with village families, most of whom live in large compounds housing several families from a single descent group.

Yogyakarta, Java
Students will live with a host family in Yogyakarta for seven days as part of the group excursion to Java.

Other accommodations during the program include hostels or small hotels.