Khotifah
BA, History, Sanata Dharma University, Yogyakarta
Ifa’s first exposure to tourism and cross-cultural understanding began when she interned as a tour guide as part of her research on sustainable tourism for her final paper in order to pursue a Diploma in Dutch Language for Tourism at a vocational college in Yogyakarta. When she received a scholarship to attend a Summer Course of Dutch Language and Culture in Hasselt, Belgium, in 2005, on behalf of the Nederlandse Taalunie and the Ministry of Flemish Community, her interest for meeting and understanding people from other cultural backgrounds got even stronger.
She continued to work full-time as a tour guide after receiving her Diploma. She led excursions and alternative activities for elders, adolescents, adults, and families, the majority of whom were from Europe. She experienced in handling with crises and complaints during tours. While working full-time as a tour guide and trip leader, she earned a Bachelor of History degree to improve her understanding of history and culture, which enhanced her talents in tourism and hospitality. Over the course of her more than 14 years as a tour guide, she discovered that, in addition to educating travelers about her home country and cultures, she also learned a lot about other cultures via their experiences, as well as gaining a deeper understanding of her own.
To add her experience, she also worked as a research assistant for the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health on healthcare status in rural communities in Yogyakarta and Central Java, and as a research assistant for the Ferenc Hopp Museum of Asian Art Budapest, interviewing wayang makers on the manufacturing process and subsequent assessment for qualitative information content.
She moved out of her village home in 2016 and now lives in the city center, in a neighborhood surrounding the Palace of Yogyakarta, with her sister to start a small hospitality business. Living in rural and urban settings, as well as traveling to Europe, Asia, and parts of Indonesia, broaden her viewpoint while bridging cultural, value, and social norm differences.
Ifa believes that sharing is caring, which is why she loves spending time with the Dapoer Bergerak community, where she collaborates with an amazing team to prepare, cook, and deliver food to those in need. She also enjoys gardening and doing paper crafts in her spare time.