Upon arriving in Samarinda, Kalimantan Timur, Indonesia, on November 17, 2024, I immediately reported to my assigned school, SMPN 37 Samarinda. I was warmly welcomed by the dedicated faculty led by Pak Burhan, who expressed their excitement, as this was their first time hosting an international student. Their hospitality made me feel truly honored and privileged, especially since this was also my first academic experience abroad.

Pak Burhan, the principal/headmaster of SMPN 37 assigned me to Ibu Alfini Zulaikha, S.Pd., an esteemed Social Studies educator in the field. Under her mentorship, I looked forward to deepening my understanding of Social Studies education in an international setting while contributing meaningfully to the school community. 

During our initial meeting, Ibu Alfin through the help of our translator Ibu Maria, an English teacher in SMPN 37, thoroughly explained my observation schedule, teaching load, and the approach to lesson delivery based on Indonesia’s educational curriculum. I learned that Indonesia had introduced a new curriculum, Kurikulum Merdeka, in 2022. However, since I was assigned to teach Grade 9 students, who had started their studies under the previous curriculum, I would be following Kurikulum 13. Ibu Alfini clarified that Kurikulum 13 is more structured, with predefined content and objectives. In this system, lesson plans, or RPP, are semi-detailed, focusing primarily on outlining the teaching procedures, rather than elaborating on every detail of the lesson. This orientation provided me with a deeper understanding of the Indonesian education system and helped me prepare for the methods and expectations I would encounter as a teacher. It was an invaluable first step in my teaching experience at SMPN 37 and a meaningful introduction to the challenges and rewards of teaching in a different cultural context.