Sea-Teacher Batch 9 Experiences Universitas Sebelas Maret - Saint Louis University

Introduction

SEA Teacher program is one of the programs held by SEAMEO (Southeast Asia Minister of Education Organization). The SEA Teacher Project or the “Pre-Service Student Teacher Exchange in Southeast Asia” is a project that aims to provide opportunity for pre-service student teachers from universities in Southeast Asia to have teaching experiences (practicum) in schools in other countries in Southeast Asia.

Based on the SEAMEO seven priority areas for the eleven SEAMEO Member countries to work together to improve the quality of education in Southeast Asia, “Revitalizing Teacher Education” is one of the priority areas in building and strengthening capacity of teachers in the region.

The exchange is preferably for 4th year students whose major are in math, science, English and pre-school. The duration is for one month and based on the mechanism of cost sharing basis. Students’ roles and responsibilities are assigned weekly during the one month period (observe, assist in teaching, teach and reflect). Moreover, the host universities will provide mentors to supervise and monitor the students throughout the practicum period.

My name is Fahreza Akbar Ramadhan, a 4th year student of Chemistry Education program in Universitas Sebelas Maret Surakarta (UNS), Indonesia. I am one of the student that is lucky enough to be a part of the SEA-Teacher program together with Meiriana Nur Maulida from the Biology Education program in UNS.

Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) sends 25 students for this program that are spread all over Thailand and the Philippines. For the month of September, UNS sent 3 Students to Santo Tomas University, 3 Students to Iloilo Science and Technology University, and 2 to the Saint Louis University which is Me and Meiriana. And for the month of October UNS sent 4 students to University of Northern Philippines and 1 student to Cavite State University, and more planned to depart on October 15th and November 5th such as to Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, Technological Institute of the Phillipines, Udon Thani Rajabhat University of Thailand, and Thepsatri Rajabhat University of Thailand. In total Universitas Sebelas Maret is having partnership with 7 Universities from the Philippines and 2 Universitites from Thailand.

Pre-Departure

One month before our departure, we have prepared all the essential needs that we need to bring to the Phillipines such as passport, insurance, some related documents, and personal essential belongings. We also prepared the token and traditional gift from our hometown to bring abroad. I did all the things above while also still conducting the Indonesian obligatory student’s community service period for college students. Before departing, I did my best to research about the Phillipines especially the Baguio City and Saint Louis University so that I know the situation that I would be dealing with.

Departure and Arrival

The Students from UNS had to take multiple mode of transportations such as train, bus, aircraft, and private car to reach Baguio City. First of all, on 15th of September we had to depart by train at 09.00 A.M and take 8 hours of train journey from the city of Surakarta in Central Java to the Capital of Indonesia which is Jakarta, we were so excited during the train ride because it is our first time to travel abroad. Then we arrived in the Gambir Station in Jakarta at around 18.00 P.M, then we took DAMRI bus (Djawatan Angkutan Motor Republik Indonesia) which carried us all the way from the train station to the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and it only took around 1 hour of journey. Then we prepare to board the aircraft but however the flight was delayed twice so we had to wait for a few hours until the time showed around 01.50 A.M on 16th of September then we finally depart to the Phillipines.

We reached Ninoy Aquino International Airport at around 07.00 A.M and we were so excited, happy but also exhausted at the same time. Then we got picked up by Mom Bay at Terminal 1 and we (Me and Meiriana) finally meet the other Indonesian Students from Universitas Lambung Mangkurat which is Hilya and Hana and also from Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia which is Undo and Nafisa. We ride together with Mom Bay from the airport to Baguio City that took around 6 hours, however the scenery along the journey was so beautiful and worth the time it took, and we got the chance to try tupig the traditional snack.

After all the time it took, we finally arrived in Baguio City which is so different from Manila. Baguio City is cold and full of trees especially pines that we felt so refreshed and happy again even though the journey was exhausting. We met two other Indonesian students which is Puja and Kevin from Universitas Halu Oleo and 5 other students from Dong Thap University of Vietnam which is Thung, Thing, Thoang, Annie, and Jasmine. We also met the first few buddies and they were Kenneth and Farhanie and also Fraesun. Not to forget we also had the chance to try Jollibee during our stop at the rest area of the toll road. Then during the night we had dinner together with the first few buddies.

Saint Louis University

Upper Bonifacio St., Baguio City, Benguet,2600 Philippines

In 1907, the CICM Missionaries arrived in the Philippines, mandated by the Holy See to evangelize the northern part of the country. Pretty soon, it became apparent that Baguio, then a small mountain village resort in the province of Benguet, around two hundred and fifty kilometers north of Manila, will be pivotal for the region. With an elevation of at least 1,500 meters above sea level, Baguio is a natural gateway to and from the Cordillera mountain range, which traverses the Mountain Provinces (Montañosa), the home of numerous indigenous tribes.

Thus it was that in 1911, Rev Fr Séraphin Devesse, CICM, founded a one-room elementary school in Baguio for ten local boys. From these humble origins, Saint Louis School began.

In 1955, the graduate-level programs of Saint Louis College were granted recognition, but the real turning point came on 13 May 1963, when Saint Louis College was conferred University status by the Philippine Government.

source : SLU official website

Click here for SLU Navy Base Laboratory School

Day to Day Life in Baguio City

Roaming Around

Walking around the dorm, session road, Burnham park, and Ordering shawarma. It was our first ever tour around Baguio City because we just arrived but nonetheless it was fun and interesting especially feeling the different vibes from the environment and the people around us.

At one time we also went to SM Baguio city, Sky Ranch Baguio, Baguio Cathedral, Camp John Hay, and visited the Baguio Grand Mosque especially for me and Undo because us male should do our friday prayers there every week. We also had our hair cut in one of the barbershop in Baguio which was interestingly a bit different in term of working system.

After our stay in Baguio for a couple of weeks we actually met Malaysian students there named Omar and Kareem, whom we know from Hashfi ( Indonesian student in SLU), There are also 4 girls but I didn't have the chance to find out their name yet however we actually met in Session road at one point.

Groceries Shopping

We spent one day each week to replenish our groceries because we need them to clean up our room, to take a bath, and especially to eat because every morning is a rush to go to the school so we didn't have time to eat a normal breakfast.

Looking For Pasalubong a.k.a Souvenirs

Not only looking for groceries, we also spent our weekend to look for souvenirs to bring home and most of them are keychains, magnets, sling bag, tote bag, shirts and bracelets

Cultural Performances

During one of the weekend we were all performing a presentation in Gavers Hall in SLU Main Campus vicinity. All of the Indonesian students had the chance to perform signature dance or song or poem from each respective regions. We we're divided into two groups which were the Java island and the Borneo with Sulawesi island. In the end of the performances we were all combining and perform our last presentation together which was the Maumere dance and we also ask the audiences to join.

Cultural Tour

We spent one of the weekend having a cultural tour right after our cultural performances held by SLU School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts. We were accompanied by Ma'am Sheila and Mr. Bryan and few of our buddies namely Kenneth, Farhannie,and Fraesun. We went to some of the well known destinations in Baguio City such as Baguio Botanical Garden, Wright Park, The Mansion, Minesview Park, and Bencab Museum then Finally having our lunch in the famous Goodtaste Restaurant. All of the exchange students whether Indonesians or Vietnamese were really grateful of the cultural tour and happy after experiencing many famous destinations in one day and we didn't even feel tired afterwards because of the lunch.

In Goodtaste Restaurant all of us had the chance to try famous filipino dish such as Pancit Canton, Steamed Garlic Chicken, and Honey Chicken. To be honest Pancit Canton is my favorite among all of them, and I ate a lot of it when I was there. The second one would be the Honey chicken because the seasoning just fits my pallette. And last but not least is the Steamed Garlic Chicken, it wasn't bland but it wasn't seasoned all around either but still it's a good dish especially combined with the Pancit Canton for the extra protein.

Art Workshops in Tam-Awan Village

Not only that we go to school, teach, and roam around Baguio randomly. We also registered ourselves into an art workshop day in Tam-Awan Village. They had some options of different workshops such as water painting, rubber cut print, monoprinting and performance art workshop. There were also Art display and performances about Igorot tribe and all of them was beautiful and interesting for me. I applied to the monoprinting workshop together with Meiriana, Shirene, Ayra, and Gail. Monoprinting was about making pattern with a single color on a piece of plexiglass hence it's called monoprint and then applying the pattern onto a piece of white shirt and then we dry it.

Click the Program Result tab for details about the program

Program Result