After graduating, she chose to work at several non-governmental organizations, hoping to gain knowledge and experience to apply for scholarships to study abroad. Unexpectedly, in March 2021, she applied at the last minute and was awarded a full scholarship for a Master's program in Sustainable Development Management. This was the first cohort of a collaborative program between the Norwegian Embassy in ASEAN and the ASEAN University Network (AUN), Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia, and Agder University, Norway.
Because everything happened so quickly, from application to the start of the program, it only lasted two months, so she was quite apprehensive at the time. Although the program had many advantages and offered a full scholarship, she had never considered studying in Indonesia. After consulting with her teachers, relatives, and an older student, she decided to take advantage of the scholarship, because "if you keep going, you'll get there; this opportunity could lead to many other opportunities that I don't know about yet."
She and her classmates at Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia.
Despite her determination, she found herself facing countless difficulties once she started. The program, originally designed to last two years, was streamlined so students could complete it within 18 months. As a result, the learning process was much more stressful and arduous. During the first semester, juggling online learning with her job, she considered dropping out at least five times. “That period was incredibly disheartening and disappointing; a flood of negative emotions overwhelmed me,” she recalled.
Conquer the volcanoes on Java Island - the world's most populous island.
Right after the Lunar New Year in 2022, when the pandemic situation had stabilized, she packed her bags and headed to Indonesia. She studied at Gadjah Mada University – one of the largest and oldest universities in Indonesia. There, she met many like-minded friends. Their shared concerns were not only about sustainable development issues, but also about their enthusiasm and willingness to face challenges and difficulties to become young leaders of ASEAN countries.
A journey to step out into the world.Besides her studies, Ngoc Lan's travels have also yielded many interesting experiences. During these April days, she reminisces about her time in Indonesia during Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month – home to the world's largest Muslim population. Although she had heard much about it, this was the first time she had personally witnessed and experienced this sacred month.
In the course "Forest Resource Protection," she and her classmates had a field trip to an owl conservation center and participated in a traditional festival of the local people. "Although pesticides and insecticides are now available, the center urged people not to use those chemicals, but instead to use natural predators to control rats, in this case, owls," she recalled.
Field trip to the Owl Conservation Center as part of the "Forest Resource Protection" course.
As for the "Marine Resource Management" course, it was another unforgettable experience. The whole class had to wake up early in the morning and climb up the cliffs facing the sea with the teacher to observe the waves, wind direction, currents, coastline, topography, planning, and many other things. In another course, she participated in a "Leadership Camp" lasting several days, where she and her classmates engaged in many practical activities to learn about management and leadership.
She and her friends at the "Leadership Camp"
With the third highest number of volcanoes in the world, Indonesia is considered a "specialty" of the country. Therefore, while studying abroad, she took the opportunity to experience this "specialty." From jeep trips with her class to climbing two mountains in a row, leaving her legs aching and her skin sunburned, she found joy in the experience. But in return, there were also beautiful moments, like stargazing from an altitude of over 2200 meters above sea level, or waking up at 3 am in the freezing 10°C to wait for the sunrise.
For her, those were such impressive experiences that she wouldn't have had the chance to try them if it weren't for the scholarship. There were days when she'd be in the forest in the morning and by the sea in the afternoon, enthusiastically climbing mountains in the morning and then sitting on a boat enjoying the sea breeze in the evening. But perhaps the best time was in Bali, where she could calmly complete her thesis. According to her, that was a time when Bali hadn't fully opened up to tourists yet, and the cultural life of the people was still somewhat peaceful, not yet subjected to the noise and crowds of tourist activities.
In Bali during the summer of 2022
Ngoc Lan and her supervising lecturer at Agder University, Norway.
At the end of her academic year in Indonesia, with her research proposal accepted by her professor, she had the opportunity to continue her studies in Norway at Agder University. Holding her European visa, she was free to explore ancient and picturesque cities, like something out of an Andersen fairy tale. While Indonesia offered a touch of the wildness and freedom of a tropical archipelago with the world's fourth-largest population and a developing economy, the "old continent" brought her a more tranquil and serene experience.
Celebrate the Northern Lights and Christmas in Norway.
Despite the busy months of studying, working, preparing reports, and giving presentations, she managed to do one of the must-do things when she came to Norway – see the aurora borealis. In just six weeks, she immersed herself in the streets of Northern Europe during the late autumn with falling golden leaves in Gothenburg (Sweden), celebrated Halloween in Copenhagen (Denmark), savored the cozy atmosphere of Christmas in the old town of Norway, and experienced the feeling of queuing to see the Mona Lisa at the Louvre Museum in Paris (France). Not only did this opportunity allow her to explore many famous landmarks, but it also helped her earn a Master of Science degree from Agder University, in addition to her previous MBA from her studies in Indonesia.
A Vietnamese girl in Paris, France.
Looking back on those wonderful months studying abroad, she never imagined that a single last-minute decision would take her so far. Perhaps "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" perfectly describes Ngoc Lan's unexpected, challenging, and incredibly rewarding study abroad experience.
The transitional moment between autumn and winter in Northern Europe.
Find information about the International Studies program at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
here
Article in the Vietnamese Student Newspaper:
Ba Vi grasslands, the land of a thousand islands, and the land of the aurora borealis.
