From university to island adventure
Leaving everything behind and building a new life on the other side of the world: I'm sure some people have dreamed of this before. For Joshua Kornhoff, 23 years old and Bachelor's student of economics and business administrationthis dream became a reality. Together with his best friend and student teacher Meiko, he moved to the small Indonesian island of Lombok to fulfil their shared dream of opening their own diving school.
Travelling to Indonesia with his childhood friend
12,000 kilometres from Germany and right next to the tourist hotspot Bali lies Lombok. Instead of overcrowded beaches, you will find wide stretches of coastline with clear water, small villages and impressive, in many places still unspoilt nature. Since March 2025, this place has been Joshua and Meiko's new home. What seems obvious today began as an idea that initially seemed far too big.
The two met while playing table tennis as youngsters. Over the years, their sporting rivals became close friends. Three years ago, they travelled to Bali together for the first time. At the time, Joshua was thinking about a professional diving career, while Meiko was getting his diving licence.
Weeks later, back in Germany, they suddenly had an idea that sounded crazy at first and then became more and more tangible: their own diving school in Indonesia. "My boss at the time gave us the decisive tip," Meiko recalls. "If Indonesia, then Lombok. Cheaper, nicer and, above all, not as crowded as Bali."
The step into the unknown
The process of founding her diving centre "DiveHeaven" was surprisingly straightforward. With the help of a notary and a lawyer, they found a plot of land and made the first down payment. However, it wasn't cheap. "Even Indonesians pay relatively high fees for licences. As a foreigner, it becomes even more expensive," explains Joshua. They invested around 10,000 euros in visas, company registration and licences alone - plus the boat, accessories, diving equipment, building and land.
Joshua and Meiko financed their project entirely themselves. Years of working part-time jobs paid off and made their dream a reality.
Working, living, arriving
Today, the former Paderborn residents employ four people. Their working days are long - usually from 8 am to 6 pm. Nevertheless, they give their all. "It's crazy how much energy you can mobilise when you're really passionate about something," remarks Joshua. "We were never lazy, but we often found it difficult to motivate ourselves to learn. It's different here. When the big picture is right, you work in a completely different way," adds Meiko.
Her private life has also changed completely: "People here do exactly as much as they need to live - no more, no less. That's one of the biggest differences to Western working culture," Joshua realises.
At the same time, everyday life brings challenges: cultural differences, language barriers and different eating habits. Many restaurants remain closed during Ramadan, Western products are rare and few locals speak English in everyday life. Nevertheless, the two get along well - mainly because they can always rely on each other.
Studies and future
In addition to their everyday life on Lombok, Joshua and Meiko are still students at Paderborn University. "It's important to both of us to complete our bachelor's degrees because we can see how useful theory is in practice. We were able to use some of the content from the degree programme, such as the marketing modules, directly for the diving school," explains Joshua. During the semester, the two take courses without compulsory attendance. This means they can also pursue their studies from Lombok. While it is the rainy season in Indonesia, the two are now in Germany for the winter to write their final exams.
Despite studying at the same time, the boys' diving school is doing very well. They advertise internationally via a website and social media and have already welcomed many customers. They have big plans for the future: the diving school is set to grow. Another plot of land is to be purchased and built on with accommodation - a kind of small diving hotel of their own.
Their conclusion
Joshua and Meiko are grateful for their studies at Paderborn University. The university has given them the necessary knowledge, the methods and, above all, the support to turn their special dream into reality. Her advice to other students is clear: "Listen to your heart. Don't study what your parents want or what brings in the most money. Find something that fulfils you and invest your energy in it."
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