Lessons, Laughter, and Way Too Much Bread: My LIYCE Journey

Lessons, Laughter, and Way Too Much Bread: My LIYCE Journey

By: Keira Anabelle Budiman (Gr 12 St. Fidelis)

This past summer, I had the amazing chance to join the Lions International Youth Camp Exchange Program (LIYCE), an experience that was exciting, nerve-wracking, and, surprisingly, full of bread.

I first heard about the program through Stella Maris School Gading Serpong. With help from school, I reached out to Bunda Lusia, who manages the youth camps and exchanges in Indonesia. Surprisingly, the application process was relatively simple. I just submitted my data, got the acceptance email (which felt like winning the lottery), and bam, straight into preparations. Visa application, buying tickets, and contacting my host family… suddenly, it all felt very real.

The program began with one week living with my host family. As a die-hard introvert, I was nervous. Like, what if I say the wrong thing? Or worse, what if I didn’t manage to say anything at all? But my worries faded as they warmly welcomed me. It became a two-way cultural exchange where they showed me how things worked in their daily life, and I shared how we do things back home in Indonesia. And honestly, those little moments like chatting over dinner or laughing about habits taught me way more about culture than I ever expected.

Then, came the international camp, where I spent two weeks with 32 participants from 18 different countries. Imagine sitting at one table where each person brings not only their accent but also their stories, traditions, and quirks. It was incredible how fast we bonded. Of course, there were challenges, like the food situation. I ate so much bread that by the end of camp, I swore I wouldn’t and really couldn’t touch another slice when I got back to Indonesia. (I’m definitely still kind of traumatized, yikes) But beyond that, the camp was filled with cultural nights, workshops, fun, and plenty of laughter.

One of the biggest personal achievements for me was the day I spent completely alone just travelling on my own. At first, the thought of navigating a foreign country by myself seemed impossible, but I pushed through. I managed to figure things out, travel alone, and actually enjoy it. For someone who’s usually introverted, that was such a huge confidence boost.

By the end, what started as strangers from around the world had turned into a big family. We may have come from different corners of the globe, but somehow, we understood each other perfectly.

Looking back, LIYCE wasn’t just a camp, it was a turning point. It taught me independence, pushed me to open up despite being introverted, and gave me a chance to represent Indonesia proudly. Most importantly, it reminded me that the world feels a lot smaller (and friendlier) once you take that first step outside your comfort zone.

I’m deeply thankful to Stella Maris School Gading Serpong for introducing me to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I’ll be carrying all the friendships, memories, and lessons (plus my dramatic bread experience) with me for years to come.