"You'll never know until you do."
PURPOSE
This was one unforgettable journey for me.
I believe some of the purposes of the SEA Teacher project was to let student teachers be exposed of the different culture and traditions another has.
Also, for them to improve their english communication skills.
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But this project taught me that not only can we build a family within the same race or nation, but we can also build a harmonious relationship with the people that showed their differences to us.
Not only did I build a new family within my cooperating school, I also built my very own family within the UPI group - Thais, Filipinos, Indonesians, as one!
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That's why I am very much thankful for every behind this project, for making our dreams to reality!
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PROCEDURE
Does the end justify the means?
Does the mean justify the end?
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Here are two difficult questions that people have been debating about for a long time now.
But in this project, both are equally important.
Because of the means, that the end was a gorgeous sunset.
Because of the end, the means had become more meaningful.
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The procedure, tasks, every single moment that made this experience a reality will be treasured forever.
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This has been a stepping stone to more and more achievements that I will continue to pursue in the future!
OUTCOME AND CHALLENGES
My final demonstration day was the most emotional point of this whole journey.
Starting with the first part of the day, my examination. The highlight was the error that I made. I don’t even know what made me write down b when I uttered the letter a. I’m all too confused right now, even until now.
But what deserves the spotlight was how my mentor and cooperating teacher was so considerate of me.
Being a teacher doesn’t mean that you expect your students to be perfect. You expect them to become good students, and later-on… good citizens, or good people.
Sometimes we produce smart leaders, but we rarely produce good leaders. Everyone has their own opinion about this, I believe. And I think what matters is that we get to inspire, motivate, and urge our children, out students to become better people for a better world.
Thank you for being ever so considerate, my dear teachers!
It’s finally time to say good bye. As I may have mentioned, Indonesia will always have a special spot in my heart. But, SMP Pelita Nusantara, my students, the cooperating teacher, my mentor, they all have their special role in my past that I will forever treasure.
It was an awesome ride! This has been one rollercoaster ride – from the pressure, the worries, the excitement, the shame, the silently shed tears, the happy good byes, the last hugs, and the slow-motion waves and handshakes. Everything was like television series eposide. Everything looked and felt so surreal that I didn’t want to believe, it’s happening all so fast. I wanted to pause the world from rotating, but in real life, there is nothing we can do. At some point, we always end up… well, in the end.
But this is only the end of one memorable chapter. This is the end of one of my favorite chapters, and I will surely drop-by and re-read this over and over again!
Thank you, sir, ma’am, students, for letting me experience everything that I’ve had with you.
Thank you, PNU, UPI, SMP Pelita Nusantara, and SEAMEO for giving me the opportunity to be part of the 7th Batch for the SEA Teacher Project.
Thank you, and good bye!
Mabuhay!
THANK YOU, NEXT!
This blog is a compilation of all the rollercoaster-like emotions I’ve had during my short stay in Indonesia.
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This is where I learned to say hello, yet in just a blink, wave good bye. It has been indeed a very short skate, but all the happy, sad, or sappy moments I’ve had here will remain in my heart forever. And this, may not be that emotional but believe me when I tell you – my last days had been the hardest, the saddest, and the most heart-breaking.
There was one point in my stay here that I cried, because I missed my family and friends in the Philippines… But there were even more mornings that it was REALLY hard to get up, not because I was scared of the COOOOLD WATER here in Bandung, not just because last night was tiring due to an excursion, but because I knew that soon enough, I will already be leaving the family that I had built here.
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This blog isn’t just a requirement, these here are pieces of my passion and dedication – for teaching.
Here in Bandung, in UPI, in SMP Pelita Nusantara, I found the passion I never thought I had in me. Indonesia is such a wonder, she made me hope much more for the Philippines.
After this short but sweet rollercoaster ride, I am sure to bring home every single quarter of hope and inspiration to my dear country!
Mabuhay!