I am a
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THE OFFICIAL SEA TEACHER EXPERIENCE BLOG OF ERIC DORIA ALINA | 2nd Edition | Published in 2019
Overcoming Language Barrier, Gaining Borderless Perspective, Embracing Diverse Culture
THIRD WEEK (Jan. 31 - Feb. 06, 2019)
A. TRANS KOETARADJA: Free Destination
Wanna visit Banda Aceh City Landmarks and beaches for free? This shuttle bus offers free transportation for all (Indonesians and foreign tourists) . There are some designated waiting sheds where this free shuttle bus stops. The destination is being shown on the bus upper front. However, always bring patience whenever you wait for this bus so that travel goals will be much happier. The bus is air-conditioned and seats are comfortable. Always remember that male seats are separated from female seats.Following their norms and rules is a sense of appreciation of the Acehnese culture.
B. When in UNSYIAH
I made a tour in UNSYIAH Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP UNSYIAH) and the university monument. UNSYIAH was so big that a day is not enough in order to make a 360 degrees tour. I walked by myself.
I visited FKIP UNSYIAH and met my faculty mentor, Dr. Muhammad Syukri, M. Ed. I presented my lesson plan to him for signing. Moreover, I talked about my plans for my final demonstration teaching which will be held on February 11, 2019. Aside from Dr. Syukri, I also met Ms. Yulis Mayanti, Dr. Syukri’s secretary at the Physics Department who is also a graduate in Physics Education in the same faculty.
After fulfilling my mission at FKIP UNSYIAH, I made a walk tour at different buildings and faculties. In addition, I visited the university monument standing tall and majestic just adjacent to the university highway.
C. A New Friend Named ‘IMAM’
After our duty in UNSYIAH Laboratory High School, Sir Marc, Ma’am Jiezel, and I were planning to go home that time but Sir Joem notified us to join him with ‘Imam’, an unfamiliar name whom I expected to be an Indonesian friend of Sir Joem, and yes! He was so kind that he even treated us with sop buah (similar to the Halo-Halo in the Philippines, mix of jellies and fruits with sugar and evaporated milk) and other street food. Although language barrier was highly evident on our conversation, the online Google translate was ready to help us. I really enjoyed the moment with my co-SEA teachers and a new friend named Imam especially when they cracked jokes and catching up with the meaning of the jokes were slow, and everyone would laughed.
D. Night Life with EYYAD and MADI at the Cocomix
Stress and boredom easily stroke me especially when doing some paper works in school and in the dormitory. But the night of February 02, 2019 tend to end the boredom and stress that I feel when Madi and Eyyad, both Indonesian friends of mine, took the initiative to invite us for some coffee at the cocomix. My co-SEA teachers and I grabbed the opportunity since it’s a great time to unwind and relax my mind.
I enjoyed the cold Cappuccino blend with chocolate cake because the two were delicious and sweet. I became more energetic because of the coffee. I also enjoyed the conversation with them that we seated at the coffee shop for almost 2 hours until it closed at 12 midnight.
After the Cocomix experience, the seven of us were not contented yet of ending the night just like that, and to suffice it, we took a night walk (although it is 1 AM in the morning, Indonesian Time). We went to a kebab food stall (similar to Shawarma in the Philippines), fruits and vegetables market.
I’m very thankful for the both of them because they made our night so memorable.
E. CLASSROOM STRUCTURING
Classroom Structuring is one of the significant tasks teachers and students do in order to achieve a conducive learning environment where positive and cheerful learning will prosper. In order to perform pedagogical roles of a teacher being a classroom manager and an air-con switcher, I took the challenge of classroom structuring.
Before the classroom structuring, I consulted Ms. Ulfa (my Cooperating Teacher/Mentor) regarding with what classroom should I done it, on what time only, the materials that can be utilized, and whom where I can ask help. Ms. Ulfa helped me settled on those things and here are the details:
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Available room for structuring: Room of Grade 12 (3IPA) Science Class
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Schedule: Every Tuesday and Saturday
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Materials: Cartolina, colored papers, scissors (varied cuts), glues, neon papers, etc.
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Helpers: Grade 12 students
I started removing the old charts and papers displayed in the bulletin boards and began putting new ones. I finished the phase 1 of the classroom structuring. However, I did not totally finished it due to invitation from Sukma Bangsa School Pidie and some academic tasks I highly prioritized. In addition, the time allotted is very limited. I just told my Grade 12 students to display charts or models to fill in the bulletin boards. I advised them to put thing which will definitely benefited their study where they can gain knowledge and learning.
F. KA ALFI AND KA YULIS: THE INVITE
An unexpected invite was given to me by Ka Yulis days after we met at FKIP UNSYIAH. Its main purpose was to get-to-know me and my other Filipino friends/co-SEA Teachers. We were fetched by them through Grab. I’m so grateful of the invite because on our several days of stay in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, these friends of mine are rare yet welcoming for the Filipinos. We ate a lot of food which we encountered already on several food stalls and restaurants nearby.
Since I love adventure and food trip, I did not hesitate to take photos of the food ( although I’m shy that time) as a remembrance.
G. The BRICKS and the TOMB
"Wow! So unique and unusual!" These were some of the words I uttered when I saw tomb in the backyards of some of the houses in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Such culture or custom of resting the dead in the tomb nearby the house of the dead’s relative is totally different in the context of the Philippines (except for ethnic groups and tribes dwelling on mountainous areas).
I’d been mesmerized of the building composition of the houses in Banda Aceh, Indonesia because the people use bricks as the main wall. I believe that houses will be held strong when build using bricks.
H. KA YUN FAMILY: THE INVITE
An invite from Ka Yun Family was also an unexpected one. Sir Marc, my Filipino co-SEA Teacher notified us to come with him and grant the invite of Ka Yun family. The family is totally unknown to me since I have not meet them as well as Ka Yun. Then, Sir Marc told me that Ka Yun was also a SEA Teacher, an English major from Faculty of teacher Training and Education of Universitas Syiah Kuala, being deployed to Central Luzon State University, Philippines.,
I enjoyed being with her family because they were kind especially her parents. We were treated like their own sons and daughter. I felt the affection and thoughtfulness coming from them. I felt grateful and thankful to them because we visited Ujong Batee Beach. I felt relaxed and at peace with the fresh air and water breeze. After we go to the beach, we visited the Indonesia-China Friendship Village.
After the sunset, we took our dinner at Bardi. Bardi is a well-known food restaurant in Banda Aceh serving their best recipes such as Mie and Nasi Goreng. Actually, I loved the taste of their Nasi Goreng (Fried Rice) with Beef.
After the dinner, Ka Yun Mother initiated on buying us souvenir such as Poloshirt, etc. I am very thankful for her kindness to buy us Poloshirt since we did not ask for it.
Overall, I feel blessed because I met this kind of family who is kind, loving, and thoughtful to the different blood, like us Filipinos. A simple thank you cannot equate their good deeds and intentions to make us happy and to enjoy our stay in Banda Aceh, Indonesia.
I. BUNCH OF FRIENDS AND SOUVENIRS!
Since Sir Marc’s departure from Banda Aceh will be the next day, his Indonesian friends anticipated on accompanying him to go to souvenir shops. We also accompanied Sir Marc with his Indonesian friends. I joined them for the reason that I want to meet and know his friends personally and also to buy some souvenirs ahead of time, weeks before my departure.
All of them are college students of Universitas Syiah Kuala (UNSYIAH) from the different faculties/colleges. Imam, who I’ve met before, is studying a course related to Economics. Seri’s specialty is in Marine and Fisheries. Siti or Sarah is pursuing Bachelor’s degree in Statistics. Meri is studying Information Technology while Yuli is studying Government Science. They have been gathered by an organization. They met Sir Marc and we met them.
The mood is filled with fun, excitement, and optimistic attitude when I started being comfortable with them. At first, I feel awkward with these Indonesian friends because of our racial and cultural differences. Despite of it, our differences became bridge in order to connect ourselves and became friends. I enjoyed learning their culture in terms of religion, education, norms and values, and most importantly, the Indonesian Language. We laughed at each other every time we commit mistakes pronouncing or translating English into our respective national and regional languages.
These new Indonesian friends of mine helped me choosing the right souvenirs to bring when I come back home. Some of these souvenirs include Acehnese coffee, sweet delicacies, chocolates, key chains, etc. After buying some souvenirs, we ate our lunch and have watched Dragon dance performing in a convenient store. It is a celebration of Chinese New Year!
In the evening, they accompanied us going to the coffee shop to eat dinner and have some coffee.
J. 'CONGRATULATIONS' ART
I am amazed by how families expressed their feeling of joy and being proud through the ‘congratulations’ art for their graduate relative. They pay One Hundred Thousand Rupiah (Rp 100.000 or equivalent to Php 500.00). The letterings are so fine that these are made up of cloth being cut for purpose. The makers may have devote so much time in order to finish a masterpiece like ‘congratulations’ or ‘selamat sukses’. Art at its finest!
