First Week

First Week: My SEA-Teacher Adventure Begins!

From Indonesia to the Philippines

Team Families

UHO-SLU Team Batch 10

At Halu Oleo Airport (Departure)

My journey began at Halu Oleo Airport in Kendari, along with my friends, Rian Mutiara and La Ode Muhammad Alwan, accompanied by my mother and uncle. Our flight departed at 5:50 PM WITA and arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang at 9:00 PM WIB.

From there, we boarded a Philippines Airlines flight at 1:20 AM WIB, bound for Manila. It was my first time flying and my first international trip! So I was a mix of excitement and nervousness. The views from the window were incredible—clouds, the vast sky, and the glittering city lights below. During the flight, I thought, 'I never imagined this day would come'. We landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila at 6:30 AM local time. Stepping off the plane, I smiled and thought, "My new adventure begins."

Hello, Philippines! Day One of a New Chapter

At NAIA (Manila)

With Ma'am Lawrie

My First Jollibee

Our New Home at SLU

We arrived in Manila and were picked up by Ma'am Lawrie. She and a driver (I forget his name) took us to our temporary hotel. I enjoyed the drive, taking in the sights of metropolitan Manila. The views of Manila were awesome! We stopped at Jollibee, a Filipino fast-food restaurant, for my first taste of their food. I loved it! The unique smell and delicious taste were unlike anything I'd experienced in Indonesia.

We had a quick stay at a hotel in Manila. That afternoon, we met the Vietnam team and hit it off right away. The four-hour trip to Baguio was a blast – we sang along to "Pano by Zack Tabudlo," chatted, and laughed the whole way.

A Warm Welcome: Campus Exploration

Igorot Museum at SLU

At SLU-BEdS Lab High School

At SM City Baguio

This day we explored SLU, accompanied by one of our buddies, Sir Rance. We took a walk around the campus, and Sir Rance shared stories about each building. I thought every corner of SLU was photogenic. We then went to the School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts (STELA), where we met the Dean of STELA, Ma'am Pauline (or Ma'am Po). We also met Ma'am Sheila, Ma'am Teresita (the SEA-Teacher Coordinator from SLU), Ma'am Doht, and other lecturers.

We also visited the SLU-Basic Education School (BEdS) and met the staff, students, and teachers. The school was orderly and neat, and they treated us warmly, like family. Afterward, we went to the Museum of Igorot Culture and Art at SLU. There were many artifacts, and I learned more about Philippine culture. I really enjoyed the museum and would love to visit it again. Sir Rance then showed us the library and the iconic Giant Steps.

That night, we went to SM City Baguio, one of the largest malls in the Philippines. From the balcony, we saw a breathtaking view of Baguio at night. The city lights glowed like fireflies, making Baguio truly beautiful. I have to admit, not only Baguio but also SLU is beautiful at night. Wow, what a full second day exploring SLU!

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