Dear Readers,

Words cannot describe enough how much I enjoyed and learned from this overseas internship journey. It is composed of super mixed emotions; from the rejections, acceptance, approval, processing of papers, departure, and arrival, it has been a blast! Being one of the South East Asian Teachers from the South East Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Project is truly a meaningful experience and I cannot wait to share it all to you.

            As the first SEA Teacher batch in our dear Cavite State University – Silang Campus, I was thrilled. Reflecting on my state back then, I never expected the things that I was meant to encounter upon embarking onto this journey. There are a lot of questions plaguing into my mind, fear of the unknowns, and at the same time the right shot of adrenaline surging through my body. I can still feel the emotions in my stomach as I write this letter, the flashbacks on how it went, the good memories I have spent with people, and how much it contributed to my personal growth as an individual, and more importantly as an educator.

            The inter-cultural experience that I have garnered during the duration of my internship is undoubtedly invaluable and will never cease to exist. I can consider it as one of my peaks when it comes to life as I have encountered a lot of first-times, and another side of me that I never knew will be unleashed.

            This narrative is the accumulation of all my almost-a-month experiences in being a SEA Teacher in Indonesia. It is a collection of my progress, achievements, and struggles in which I hope would inspire and strike a curiosity into your mind. To whoever is reading this, I pass you the torch to be the next SEA Teacher that will follow into our footsteps and explore the education outside the Philippines in high hopes that you would contribute your learned knowledge and experiences to the future of our mother nation. Let this piece guide you in accomplishing your dream, and I am very excited for you to take a step in achieving it.

Exploring Indonesian Culture: A SEA Teacher's Perspective

We went to a tourist spot called Tawang Mangu which is like the Baguio of Indonesia. Going up there is hard due to the zigzag road. As we go further, the temperature really drops since the altitude is going higher. After getting there, we went to a restaurant and ordered hot drinks together with grilled corn and rabbit satay. That was my first time eating a rabbit and not gonna lie, it was delicious. Overall, the experience was so worth it and if I was given a chance, I would likely be back again

Cold breeze in the high altitude: Enjoying the view as we meet the clouds.

We also went to a museum in Yogyakarta, and they, the locals said that we have to be silent so that the museum staff won’t know that we are foreigners due to the fact that they tend to make the entrance fee higher. As we enter the museum, we were amazed about the historical artifacts that were displayed in front of us. We see different types of stone statues from the paleolithic age, patterns of textiles, musical instruments, and even weapons of war. We also had a glimpse of Wayang Orang, a performance art inspired by an Indonesian folklore. There are many spots to take pictures with, and I also managed to use their virtual reality archery but sadly I got a low score because I am not yet used to it. After visiting the museum, we went to the side of the road and ate bakso, a soup-based meal with noodles, meat-balls, and condiments to taste and for fragrance. Then for our last stop, we went to a coffee shop but I didn’t order anything because I was too full. We just enjoyed the vibe, talking to new found friends, listening to chill songs, and shooting TikTok videos.

Immersive Cultural Experiences as a SEA Teacher

Embarking on a journey as a SEA Teacher in Indonesia is not just about teaching in the classroom; it is about immersing oneself in the rich and diverse cultural tapestry that the country has to offer. These immersive cultural experiences are not only memorable but also play a significant role in shaping a SEA Teacher's perspective and teaching approach.

A major perk of being a SEA Teacher is being able to engage in cultural visits designed to introduce educators to Indonesia’s culture. These excursions may include visiting historical landmarks, witnessing local ceremonies, or interacting with the people through their daily routines. Such involvement in local activities exposes SEA Teachers to the rich culture of the country as well as the communities in which they live.

In addition, these cultural engagements are not mere tourism visit to a foreign country-s rather, they offer important lessons which a teacher can use in class. SEA Teachers, for instance, can incorporate local folklore into their lesson plans, or narrate tales relating to cultural practices in their communities. This will greatly expand pupils’ engagement with the lessons. Through these approaches, students learn to recognize and value other cultures, thus fostering tolerance among ethnicities.

Along with these activities, SEA Teachers will have the opportunity to enhance their cross cultural skills. These skills are increasingly important in the modern world. Learning adoption new customs and interacting with different backgrounds provides teachers with tools for competent cross cultural communication and interaction.