Language is not only learned. It is experienced.
Mlaku-Mlaku Nang Suroboyo
One immersive month to speak Bahasa Indonesia in real situations, meet local people, and understand Surabaya beyond the surface
Turn words you know into conversations you can use—through city missions, local food, community encounters, and a final East Java village immersion.
This cohort began on Saturday, 5 September 2026. Registration closed on Friday, 4 September 2026 at 23:59 WIB; ask us about the next complete journey.
- Duration
- 1 month / 4 weekends
- Cohort dates
- 5 September 2026 - 27 September 2026
- Method
- 20% class / 80% real experience
- Group
- 20 participants in four Circles
- Finale
- Pujon Kidul, 2 days / 1 night
Learning through experience
Prepare the language, then live the moment.
Grammar matters, but confidence grows when you use Bahasa Indonesia with real people. Each weekend moves from preparation into a mission, city exploration, local food, and reflection.
Interactive class
Role play, useful phrases, conversation practice, storytelling, and cultural context for the day ahead.
Real experience
Community interaction, navigation, food discovery, artisan conversations, village life, and guided reflection.
Your learning cycle
- Interactive class
- Language mission
- City exploration
- Local culinary experience
- Reflection and evaluation
One month, four connected experiences
From Tunjungan conversations to living locally in Pujon Kidul.
September 2026 cohort in progress. Program sessions run 5 September 2026 - 27 September 2026, with three Surabaya city Saturdays followed by the two-day Grand Trip in Pujon Kidul.
Saturday, 5 September 2026 - 10.00-17.00 WIB
Tunjungan Stories
Introduce yourself, ask simple questions, collect stories from local people, and find your way through Surabaya’s heritage heart.
- Your challenge
- Speak with 3–5 local people, ask for directions, and share one story with your Circle.
- Where you will begin
- Start around Alun-Alun Surabaya, continue through the Tunjungan Street heritage corridor, and close with reflection in the Tunjungan area. Exact points appear in My Journey.
- What to bring
- Comfortable shoes, water, a charged phone, and weather protection.
Saturday, 12 September 2026 - 10.00-17.00 WIB
Kayoon & Genteng Food Stories
Explore traditional food, learn its story from local vendors, and present the discovery that stayed with you.
- Your challenge
- Ask about ingredients, serving traditions, and local memories—then present your favourite culinary discovery.
- Where you will begin
- Kayoon and Genteng culinary area, with a closing reflection around the RAV Coffee Kayoon area when operationally confirmed. Exact route appears in My Journey.
- What to bring
- Water, a small personal food budget, allergy information, and a reusable bag.
Saturday, 19 September 2026 - 10.00-17.00 WIB
Meet East Java’s Makers
Learn how a traditional craft is made, interview a local artisan, and explain the process in Bahasa Indonesia.
- Your challenge
- Observe the making process, ask respectful follow-up questions, and explain the steps in your own words.
- Where you will begin
- A confirmed Surabaya craft or community venue, followed by a closing reflection in central Surabaya. Exact venue and route appear in My Journey.
- What to bring
- Closed shoes when requested, a notebook, water, and only permitted photography equipment.
Saturday-Sunday, 26-27 September 2026 - 2 days / 1 night
Grand Trip: Live Like a Local
Bring every skill together while living, communicating, and learning with a local community in Pujon Kidul.
- Your challenge
- Use Bahasa Indonesia throughout community activities, everyday conversations, and the final reflection.
- Where you will begin
- Desa Wisata Pujon Kidul, Malang Regency, East Java. Departure, transport, accommodation, and meeting details appear privately in My Journey.
- What to bring
- An overnight bag, comfortable layers, weather protection, a charged phone, required medication, toiletries, and your support card.
You will not explore alone
A small Circle makes a new city feel easier.
You join four other participants and a local Lead Buddy who helps conversations feel natural, explains the little things guidebooks miss, and makes sure you always know what comes next. A wider team stays close when you need support.
- You and your Circle5 people — Share each Saturday, try the weekly challenge, and celebrate progress together.
- Your Lead Buddy1 per Circle — Helps conversation feel natural, explains local context, and keeps your group connected.
- Learning Mentor1 for the cohort — Prepares useful language, role play, storytelling prompts, and reflection before each real experience.
- Program Guide1 for the cohort — Keeps the route, timing, safety decisions, and local coordination clear throughout the journey.
Small challenges, real confidence
Turn “I cannot” into “I just did.”
Every week gives you one friendly challenge with clear guidance, useful phrases, and support from your Circle. Your reflections stay private. What grows is your confidence—not pressure to perform.
See how your journey worksStart a Real Conversation
Say hello, ask one simple question, and feel the moment a stranger becomes part of your Surabaya story.
Order with Confidence
Explore a local market, ask about a dish or ingredient, and order something using the words you just learned.
Meet the Hands Behind the City
Meet a local maker, listen to their story, and share one part of their process in your own simple Bahasa Indonesia.
Live Like a Local
Bring your language, cultural understanding, and Circle teamwork together in a final village immersion.
What you will gain
More than vocabulary: confidence, friendship, and a story you lived.
The program is designed to help you speak more naturally, understand local life with context, and leave with relationships and memories that feel personal.
- Better speaking confidence
- Real conversation skills
- Deeper cultural understanding
- Indonesian friends and local connections
- A lived East Java story you will remember
- Visible progress inside My Journey
Your welcome kit
Receive the four practical items introduced in the program concept during the first week.
- Hallo Indonesia T-shirt
- Reusable tumbler
- Program kerchief
- Reflection notebook
Included in your USD 85.00 place
- Three full Saturday city experiences
- A two-day, one-night final immersion in Pujon Kidul
- Useful Bahasa Indonesia and cultural preparation
- Four guided real-life language Missions
- A five-person Hallo Circle with a local Buddy
- Learning Mentor and Program Guide support
- Shared Grand Trip accommodation and published group activities
- T-shirt, tumbler, kerchief, and notebook welcome kit
- Your private My Journey dashboard
Plan separately
- Travel to the published Surabaya meeting point
- Personal food, shopping, or souvenirs outside published group activities
- Personal insurance, visa, medical, or immigration services
- Room upgrades or private transport not listed in the final Grand Trip plan
Next cohort pathway
Prepare for the next opening.
This cohort began on Saturday, 5 September 2026. Registration closed on Friday, 4 September 2026 at 23:59 WIB; ask us about the next complete journey. Ask for the next dates and review the same complete pathway before deciding.
- 1
Discover the full journey
See Tunjungan, Kayoon and Genteng, the artisan mission, Pujon Kidul, group support, inclusions, and terms.
- 2
Create your participant account
Keep your plans, notifications, onboarding, and private updates together.
- 3
Complete secure checkout
A paid place becomes active only after PayPal confirms the USD payment.
- 4
Prepare inside My Journey
Open your exact meeting details, packing list, Missions, announcements, and check-in guidance.
- 5
Meet your Circle
Join four other participants, your local Buddy, Learning Mentor, and Program Guide.
Your complete month
See the route, support, finale, and terms before you choose.
My Journey keeps preparation, private locations, Missions, announcements, and progress together from the first city conversation through Pujon Kidul.
A free program for first curious steps
Start with Surabaya Starter Quest.
Four friendly Saturday challenges help you notice, speak, taste, and tell your own Surabaya story. It is a complete self-guided program, built for newcomers who want a light but meaningful way in.
Open your own My Journey space for onboarding, four scheduled Missions, useful prompts, and private reflections - all at your pace.
A flexible fit for student communities
Choose the way that works for your students.
Bring a university group, let students from different campuses join together, or share the program with students who want to register independently. Every option gives them the same local connection, practical confidence, and clear support.
Bring your own group
Coordinate seats, invitations, timing, and the updates your team needs.
Plan for my universityJoin a mixed cohort
Students from different universities meet, explore, and learn together.
See the current programRegister independently
Students and other adults aged 18+ can book their own place directly.
Reserve an individual place
Questions you may be asking
Know what to expect before you book.
Do I need to speak Bahasa Indonesia already?
No. Beginners are welcome. We prepare useful phrases in English first, then your Buddy helps you try them in real situations.
Can I join without my university?
Yes. Any eligible adult aged 18+ can reserve independently while registration is open.
Can students from different universities join together?
Yes. That is part of the experience. A public cohort can include students from different campuses and independent participants.
Is the final weekend an overnight trip?
Yes. The September 2026 journey ends with a two-day, one-night immersion in Desa Wisata Pujon Kidul on 26-27 September. Confirmed participants receive departure, transport, room, activity, and packing details privately in My Journey.
What if I have dietary or accessibility needs?
Tell us during onboarding. We review your needs before each Saturday and explain practical alternatives clearly.
How much does it cost and can I get a refund?
Your place costs USD 85.00. Payments are non-refundable, so please review the dates, inclusions, and full cancellation policy before paying.