Hey! My name is Dishant. I’m going into my 3rd year of studying physics at Southampton University and I recently completed the Global Team Internship with Think Pacific in Bali, Indonesia. This was an amazing, once in a lifetime opportunity I came across through the university.
The internship initially started off with a briefing weekend at a hotel in Ubud where I got to meet all the other participants and learned more about what the project actually was, what I’ll be doing and what the next few weeks would look like in general. From there I was taken to a place called Bali Kuno where I participated in team building activities for example, cooking classes and team based games. This is also where I got to learn and experience some of the rich Balinese culture and traditions such as Balinese dances. By the end of my stay here, I developed a sense of community and formed a bond with the other participants.
I then moved to a homestay in mas village which is located just outside Ubud and met my homestay family who were all very lovely and accommodating. There were also 5 other people staying in my homestay and I became very close to them. Here I eventually realized just how much the people of Bali loved rice and Tempe! Don’t worry though, there are restaurants around the village and food is pretty cheap. If you get bored of those you can also order from grab and have food delivered. The village also had small conveniance stores and shops (the popular one being Circle-K) a gym (although this in particular is a bit pricey) and other services such as laundry and barbers. There are also restaurants around the village.
As part of the project I got the opportunity to work with a different business each week where I helped the brand achieve its goals for sustainability and growth. I enjoyed working with HNS Studio the most as I admired the raw talent and creativity that every artist there had possessed.
On the free weekends I had the chance to explore Bali on my own and so I went along with some of the other participants to do activities such as climbing Mt Batur, ATV riding, snorkeling and seeing sights like the waterfalls and temples.
ADVICE
- If the place looks dodgy, don’t eat from there.
- Do a little research on activities and things to do before you leave – you don’t have that much time on free weekends so best not to waste it. Then book the activities once you have
- arrived so you can see if people want to join.
- Try socializing and mixing with different groups of people within the GTI – I enjoyed talking to different people.
- Keep an open mind and make the most of the opportunity.
- Take adapters for plugs.
- Try the grab/gojek bikes at least once
Overall, the Global Team Internship in Bali with Think Pacific was an incredible experience that I would highly recommend to anyone considering it. It offered a perfect blend of professional development, cultural immersion, and personal growth. Through my time working with local businesses and engaging with Balinese communities, I gained valuable insights into sustainable practices and experienced the warmth and hospitality of the Balinese people firsthand.
For queries feel free to drop a message: dpm1n22@soton.ac.uk.
