Week 1
SEA TEACHER BATCH 6 AT TARLAC AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
Day 1 in the Philippines (11th - 12th of August 2018)
My friends and I departed from Lombok to Kuala Lumpur on the 11th of August 2018. Along the way to get the Lombok International Airport was running smoothly. One of my lecturer who is also the coordinator for this project in my campus took us to the airport. My flight was at 8.30 pm and arrived there at 11 pm. My friends and I had to stay one night at the airport and my flight was at 8.30 in the morning. During my stay in the airport, there was a problem happening. Without we my friends and I realized, two of my friends' luggage were accidentally exchanged. We had to roam the whole airport to ask the staff for help. We needed to get all of our luggage back, to make sure there was no other similar problem happened. With long-tiring effort,my friends and I finally got back all of our luggage. After that, we decided to wait in the waiting room in the airport.
In the morning, two of my friends and I off to Manila, while the two other friends had to stay and wait for their flights in the afternoon. Around 12.30 pm I touched down NAIA (Nino Aquino International Airport) Phillipines safely. As soon as I arrived, one of my friend called our coordinator from TAU to pick us up in the airport. While waiting for the pick up, I also wanted for the other students from Indonesia who will also conduct their intern program at TAU. When all of us already arrived, we directly headed to TAU at 7.45 pm. On our way, we stopped by and had dinner together at the first time at one of well-known fast food restaurant in Manila. After the dinner, we continued our way to dormitory of TAU. We're very delighted of having warm welcome from the staff involved in helping us for this buddy. We also had a buddy, named Kuya Lao, who will help us in conducting this teacher intern program. We' re also happy cause we are staying at one room of 9 students where we can share our stories and experiences to one another.
SEA TEACHER BATCH 6 AT TARLAC AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
Day 2 in the Philippines (13th of August 2018)
On the second day in the Philippines, my friends and I had to stay at the dorm in the morning because there was a bad weather and it was raining. And our buddy Mr. Lau told us that the meeting with coordinators of TAU this morning was canceled. It was good for us because we were still tired so that's why for all boys, were so happy hearing that information.
But at 12.30 pm , some of my friends and I decided to go to the market. On the way to get the market, we met Mrs. Karen , Mrs. Christine, and two new friends, Renmark and Shiela. We were so happy to see them. After that, we headed to the market, we needed to buy some rice, flip flops, vegetables, detergent, bread, and other stuff, we roamed the market together even though there was a bit of rain pouring from the sky, but we still enjoyed shopping together, there were new things that we could see in the market, one of them was Balut, that is one of the popular food stall in the Philippines. Balut is a ducks egg with special flavour. inside the egg there is ducks embryo that is what Phillipinos eat. for me and other Indonesian friends, its kind of strange to eat that kind of food. but we decided to try it another time. haha.
All stuff we bought in the market are mostly cheap. we're so lucky because we got some Phillipinos with us. They were really helpful and they tried to bargain the stuff with low price.
After we got all stuff we needed from the market, we then continued heading to a department store to buy some detergent and snacks. in front of the store, there is a store that sells sim card for phone. I bought my new sim card there and Mr. Lau kept accompanying me to have a new sim card. After that we were off back to the University Hostel. But one thing special today was, it's my first time going to the market and getting back to Hostel by geepney, the local public transportation that Phillipinos have. its really fun because along the way to get back to hostel, we met a woman who was very friendly and we had long conversation with her, she told us about her experience when she visited Indonesia.
After we got our hostel, we directly headed to the kitchen and cooked for lunch. we cooked and had a big meal for lunch. all students who stay in the dorm gathered in the kitchen and had interesting topics to talk about together. It was really fun.
SEA TEACHER BATCH 6 AT TARLAC AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
Day 3 in the Philippines (14th of August 2018)
On the third day, all students from Sea Teacher and Sea TVET had opportunities to visit the office of Camilang, Tarlac province and the office of Santa Ignasias mayor. Our first visit was in Municipality of Camilang. Whe arrived there, we were amazed by the building office. It looks like a museum and it has unique construction unlike many building office in Indonesia. During our visit, the mayor of Camilang welcomed us well. He explained to us about the Camilang region and hes collaboration with Tarlac Agricultural University. He is really warm and friendly. He also served us with the local food of Camilang, which is called Tupig. Tupig is made of sticky rice flour and inside the sticky rice four there is coconut flesh and it is wrapped by banana leaves. And before we left, we had taken some pictures together.
After visiting Manucipality office of Camilang, we continued visiting the office of Santa Ignasia mayor. We had to turn back and to pass by Tarlac Agricultural University. The office is located near the Tarlac market. It takes about 2 minutes to reach the office. As we arrived at the office, some staffs there greeted us warmly. And there was an old man said Assalamualaikum to us, since all female students from Indonesia wore hijab. And then, we went upstair to the mayors room. As we entered the room, we saw the mayor was working but she suddenly stopped working, and she suddenly got up and welcomed us warmly. As all students had their seat, the mayor started talking. She was really happy to having us. She told us to be careful about the bad weather that has been happening in Tarlac region. She also told us to feel free to asking for help when we have some problems during the program. She continued telling us about her experiences visiting some regions in Indonesia such as Bromo Mountain and Malang city. After that, we took some pictures together and we then left the office.
After visiting the office of Santa Ignasias Mayor, we then headed to the market near the office. We bought some payong in Tagalog or umbrella in English. Some female students bought some vegetables and food stuff. We had to finish shopping quickly, because there will an opening ceremony at TAU hall behind our hostel.
After visiting the market, we went back to our hostel at TAU to get prepared for opening ceremony at 3 pm at TAU hall. After all of us were ready to attend the opening ceremony, we decided to take some pictures in the front of our hostel. It was really awesome because its my frist time to take some pictures with other students who are from different universities and country. All of us also wore different almamater which shows the identity about what university we are sent from. After that, we headed to the hall where the opening ceremony was about to begin. We had to register ourselves one by one before entering the hall. After that, one of our buddy guided us to proceed to our table. Every one table had some students names that enabled us to find the chairs where we had to sit. When everybody was already in the hall, the opening ceremony began. The MC opened the event by welcoming all the guests and pleased the head of Uni and coordinators who are handling the Sea Teacher and Sea Tvet program at TAU to deliver welcoming speech. The opening ceremony continued until dinner time. While we had our dinner together with all TAUs staffs, we were also enjoying the live band who entertained everybody in the hall. The opening ceremony event finished around 7 pm. My friends and I didnt forget to take some pictures together with all staffs and all the buddies. We also had to meet our mentors to discuss our preparation for briefing session, observation in the class, materials for teaching and what school and level what we will be teaching at.
After that, all of us went back to our hostel and preparing for writing blogs. well, thats my story on the 3rd days at Tarlac Agricultural University, Phillipine. There will be more interesting activities in the following days. So keep visiting my blog. Thank you.
SEA TEACHER BATCH 6 AT TARLAC AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
Day 4 in the Philippines (15th of August 2018)
On the fourth day at Tarlac Agricultural University all of Sea Teachers students had Tagalog basic class. This will help us in doing our actual teaching practices in the classrooms. The class started around 8.30 am in the one of the rooms at the College of Education of TAU. We practised a lot and our teacher asked us a lot of questions in order to improve our Tagalog language. Since we practised a lot, most of students including me really enjoyed studying the basic conversation in Tagalog. The class was really fun. All students and all teachers who came in the class were really kind and helpful. Around 11 am we finished the class and we returned to our hostel by mini bus. Before, leaving, One of the coordinator of Sea Teacher batch 6 at TAU told us to be back in that building at 1.30 pm for orientation session with our cooperating teachers and supervisor.
As we arrived at the hostel, we headed directly to our rooms to get changed. A few moment later, some students came in to the kitchen to cook for lunch. I cooked noodle and sausages for lunch that I shared with friends. After lunch, we then got prepared ourselves for attending the orientation session with our cooperating teachers at the College of Education of TAU. The bus driver arrived at 1.30 to pick us up and we went straight to the college building.
As we arrived, one of staffs at the College of Education instructed us to enter the room that we used to learn Tagalog a few hours ago. Not long afterwards, all the cooperating teachers, coordinators, as well as the supervisors came in and the session was about to begin. During the session we had to sign a some documents that are about aggreement for the placement program. After that, the coordinator asked us to discuss with or cooperating teachers about the plans for doing teaching practices in the classroom. I am very happy that I have Ms. Sharoon as my cooperating teacher and I will work with her for this program. She is such a supportive and thoughtful person. She told me that I will be handling grade 10 in Junior High School and grade 11 in Senior High School. And I discussed a lot about the material the she will teach to those classes. Since she is a literature teacher, she also told me that I will teach literature to her students. It surprised me at first because I am not really into literature when I was studying at my college back to Indonesia. But she convinced me that I can get by all of material about literature.
After the discussion, all students had short tour in Laboratory School at TAU. We visited junior High School and Senior High school classes and we tried to interact with students. After the tour was over, we went back to our hostel and take some rest.
In the Evening, we had small conference at the hall in our hostel. One of our buddy, Rens Mark, told us some information about taking care of the hostel and he also informed us to do an enrollment tomorrow morning at 7.30 at administration building of TAU. After the conference, we returned to our room, It was very late already, so we need to go bed immediately.
Thank you and keep visiting my blog...! :)
SEA TEACHER BATCH 6 AT TARLAC AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
Day 5 in the Philippines (16th of August 2018)
On the fifth day, I started my first observation at grade 10 of Laboratory School of Tarlac Agricultural University. Before the observation, I had to go to administration building to fill a form for enrollment. This will enable me and other students of SeaTeacher and SeaTvet students to get Uni ID Card. this will also give us identity about University where were assigned at.
After finished filling the enrolling form, I headed to ELIA (External Linkages and International Affairs) to top up my phone credits and had brunch at Universitys food court. After brunch, I got back to the hostel to have Dzuhur prayer. Around 12.30 pm, I went staright to the College of Education to meet my cooperating teacher, Miss Sharoon.
At 1 pm. Miss Sharoon and I headed to the class. We had grade 10/A class today where I did my first observation and doing assistance. Then, Miss Sharoon began the lesson. She initially asked the students about the assignment that they got from the previous meeting. The assignment was about the definition of literature. Miss Sharoon kept giving chances to her students to answer her question in the beginning of the lesson. During the observation, I saw there were many students were enggaged to what miss Sharoon was talking and explaining about. I took notes during the learning-teaching activity was going on. I was so happy that I could get a lot of knowledge during my first observation in this class because all the students were so friendly and enthusiastic about the lesson theyre learning about. And I tried to ask them some questions about the lesson that they just got from class in order just to know their understandings and their enthusiasm about the lesson.
SEA TEACHER BATCH 6 AT TARLAC AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
Day 6 in the Philippines (17th of August 2018)
On the sixth day in the Phillipines, my friends and I were invited to attend the flag ceremony at Indonesian embassy in Manila. Today was also considered as the Independence day of Indonesia. We left to Manila very early in the morning. Its at 4.25 am I think we left TAU. It took about 5 hours to reach the embassy office. It was a very long trip because we thought we would be there around 9 am. But the fact, we arrived at the embassy at 10 am. We were late because of the traffic jam on the road in the high way in Manila.
As we arrived at the embassy office, we saw that the ceremony had already started. We were in rush entering the entrance, and we had to get through the body checking by the security guard for safety reason. After the ceremony was over, we had photo session with the ambassador as well as with his wife.
After the photo session, we came into the hall to enjoy the opening ceremony and all the agenda within it. For the opening session, we enjoyed the Tari Merak performance on the stage and it was followed by other performances like choir performance, and Tari Saman perfromance.
Other exciting things today were I had a privilage to meet and take a picture together with Mrs. Lily as the coordinator of Culture and Education at the embassy office, its our first time to have lunch and also we did Friday prayer together with all embassy staffs and the ambassador. And the thing during the event was, the ambassador along with all staffs and guests were dancing dangdut together. It was really a fun moment.
Unfortunately, not long after the traditional competition began, we had to leave beceause we did not want to get late to get back to our hostel. But before we left, we had said sorry for not being able to join the competition to the coordinator of the event who had invited us. But it was an awesome day because it was our first time celebrating the Independence day of Indonesia overseas.
SEA TEACHER BATCH 6 AT TARLAC AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
Day 7 in the Philippines (18th of August 2018)
On the 7th day in the Phillipine, I went for cultural tour at Nayong Phililpino, Clark, Pampanga, Phillipine. My friends and I left from the hostel at 9 am in the morning by accomodated by the Unis mini bus and car. The trip took about 1 and a half hours.
The Nayong Pilipino in Clar, Pampanga is a theme park which showcases Phillipines culture, history and popula attractions. well find replicas of huts, utensils and weapons that Filipinos were using before the Spanish occupation. There are also miniature versions of historical buildings and nature wonders which exhibits the countrys beauty. We can watch cultural shows as well which features folk-dances.
Spending your time by visiting this site will bring you to the ancient time that full of historical elements that will make you feel impressed and lead you to give more respect on history. We left the Nayong Pilipinos around 3.30 pm. But before going back to the hotel, we chose to go to SM mall (local Mall) that lies in Clark area. It was such a wonderful excursion.
