Arriving in Vigan City was an exciting experience for me. Vigan is known as one of the historical cities in the Philippines, famous for its preserved Spanish colonial architecture and cultural heritage. Walking around the city, I could immediately feel a unique atmosphere that kind of reminded me of what I was used to in Indonesia–Old Town Surabaya.

When I first arrived at the University of Northern Philippines (UNP), I was warmly welcomed by the faculty members and the staff from the College of Teacher Education. Meeting the professors, the coordinators, the principal, some cooperating teachers, and the other SEA Teacher participants made me feel both excited and slightly nervous at the same time. Everything was new—the environment, the people, and the academic system.

During the orientation session, we were introduced to the structure of the program, the schedule of activities, and the responsibilities we would have during our teaching practice. We were also introduced to our cooperating teachers who would guide us throughout the program. Knowing that we would be supported by experienced teachers made me feel more confident about the journey ahead.

Those first days were mostly about adapting to the new environment. I started to observe the school surroundings, interact with students, and learn about the daily routines in the laboratory school. Even simple interactions with local people helped me understand more about the culture and hospitality of the Filipino community.

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