However, former Bendigo schoolgirl Lisa Martin has already experienced the life of a foreign correspondent in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Lisa was one of 25 students selected from across Australia as part of a language and internship program.

She spent five weeks at the ABC Jakarta bureau in January, researching problems caused by flooding in the city.

“It was a lot of hard work,’’ she said.

“I went out in gumboots and helped film the city completely flooded.’’

Her name will be listed in the research credits when the story is broadcast on the current affairs program tonight at 9.30pm.

Mentored by foreign correspondent Geoff Thompson, Lisa put to good use the Indonesian language skills she gained at Weeroona College.

She interviewed locals with no knowledge of English and translated their comments.

“It was quite scary, but you surprise yourself with how much Indonesian you actually know.

“By the end of the eight weeks I was dreaming and thinking in Indonesian.’’

Lisa said a highlight of the trip was helping the ABC crew cover the death of former president Suharto.

“We were outside his house the day he died and it was just surreal to be a part of that moment in history,’’ she said.

“The street was completely packed - there must have been 10,000 people there.’’

Lisa is yet to see the finished product.

She is planning to have a mini-premiere with a few friends tonight.