Serumpun Tak Selalu Sepaham Revealing the Dynamics of Cross-Cultural Communication between Indonesia and Malaysia Students

Abstract The goal of the current study is to find out how international students at Universitas Islam Riau and Universiti Sains Malaysia adjusted to different cultures and how they overcame it. Eleven international undergraduate students from Universitas Islam Riau and Universiti Sains Malaysia participated in the study. A semi-structured interview was used to gather the data. Three aspects of adaptation namely, linguistic challenges, cultural adjustment in social settings, communication styles and misunderstandings, and adaptation strategies were included in the English-language interview. The results indicated that students who actively pursued intercultural learning opportunities through language practice, involvement in foreign student events, and interaction with varied peer groups were more successful in breaking down cultural barriers The results also showed the difficulties, obstacles, and adaption techniques the participants to overcome communication problem. Students pointed out that studying Bahasa Indonesia was both necessary for academic and social integration and a significant challenge because of the linguistic frameworks of Malaysian and Indonesian. These results have real world applications for creating welcoming and encouraging environments for overseas students, especially in culturally diverse areas like Southeast Asia. Furthermore, when students reflected on their own cultures and gained intercultural competency, the experience of living between two cultures spurred substantial personal growth.