.:. UCUISS - Introduction .:.

We have more than 70 members on our list consisting of postgraduates, undergraduates and some from University College. Unfortunately only 30 were listed with UCU by the collection due date this semester. We had no prior plans last years to form a society so we missed out on the early semester recruitment drive. However, we are here now and are happy to make the most of this Year.

We formed this society because a lot of Indonesian students feel the need for some sort of network of support. New students that have just arrived from Indonesia feel they need more help with adjusting to new new lifestyle or just more information on how to go about getting things to start their life here, renting a place, finding their way around the city, etc. There are established organisations to help newly arrived Indonesian students like the International ofice here at UC, however we feel they would also appreciate the extra familiar touch that we hope to offer. We though that if there is an established group such as ours to contact, and feel more comfortable with, it would have made life a bit easier. Getting friendship and social contacts out of this helps too.

Our Society is not just strictly for Indonesians though, it's for anyone who is interested in Indonesia and our culture. We have members from Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Pakistan and Australian.

The Indonesian Student Society here also affiliates with existing Indonesian Societies elsewhere and the Indosoc at ANU. The difference with the Indosoc at ANU, is that their embers are Australian students studying Indonesian as part of their Asian Studies degree. So there is an element of culture exchange happening here.

Watch out for our upcoming events. There will be a seminar on Globalisation and regional Autonomy in Indonesia around the 23rd of May with topics hopefully as follows: Timor, Ambon and the military, Islam and Java, A ski trip is also planned for June 30th. Indonesian night on the 9th of August will include traditional dances, food and our very own band called 'carrot no leave' (wortel tanpa daun - what? Ask Erik the guitarist about the name). We're also trying to have an Australian - Indonesian Business Association Open day, we're inviting ANU students to this too. This might be beneficial for those who are going to graduate or just for networking sake, to get some business contacts etc. You never know one day you might be working in Indonesia or for Indonesian students they might end up working here.

Copied from CURIO 04 - April 2001