Our journey began at the bus terminal in Naga, where our families sent us off for our scheduled 8:30 PM bus ride to Manila which ended up being delayed to 10:00 PM. The overnight trip took around 8–9 hours, and by morning, we finally arrived in Manila to meet our college supervisor, Sir PJ. He kindly helped us check in at a hotel so we could rest and prepare before our flight. Over lunch with him, we were able to ask questions and get a glimpse of what to expect from this big adventure.
Sir PJ then accompanied us to the airport. We were a little anxious about our luggage, since we had been told our limit was only 20 kg, but in the end, everything went smoothly. After check-in and immigration, we boarded our first flight, which brought us to Singapore at around 1:00 AM for an 11-hour layover. We made the most of the wait exploring the airport, taking photos, grabbing some food, and catching short naps whenever we could.
When it was finally time to board our next flight, excitement kicked in. A few hours later, we landed in Surabaya, Indonesia, where a faculty member from Universitas Brawijaya warmly welcomed us at the airport. From there, we traveled by car to Malang. Arriving in Malang felt surreal, this was the city we would call home for the next few weeks
We documented this entire journey, so if you’d like to experience it with us, you can watch the first episode of our vlog. It brings to life all the moments I’ve shared here. Enjoy!
My first impression of Malang was that it’s an incredibly beautiful city, a place where nature isn’t just preserved but embraced. I loved how the trees, even those in the middle of the road, were kept and incorporated into the city’s design, making the surroundings more vibrant and inviting. The blend of urban life with greenery instantly gave the city a refreshing charm.
The people were equally warm. Although we couldn’t converse much with the faculty member who picked us up due to the language barrier, I could feel his kindness and genuine welcome. As for the language itself, I found it beautiful, the rhythm and speed at which they spoke was fascinating to me.
When we finally reached Malang, the weather greeted us with a sudden downpour. We even passed through a flooded road, and we were told that the weather here can shift quickly from sunny one moment, raining heavily the next.
Upon arriving at our dorm, we were warmly welcomed by Doc Frida, who briefed us on the upcoming activities and patiently answered our questions. We also received a thoughtful gift from our buddy, Aqilla. Though we didn’t meet her that night, her gesture of giving us food was an answered prayer because we were starving after the long trip. The dorm lobby staff kindly helped us carry our luggage to our rooms, and I was pleasantly surprised to see how spacious and comfortable our room was. My roommate, Rea, and I were in awe of the room, and we quickly got settled by unpacking our belongings.
Before calling it a day, we went out for a quick essential run, then headed back to rest. It was such a long day, full of excitement, new sights, and little wonders that made me look forward to what lay ahead.
Our first full day at Universitas Brawijaya was filled with excitement and new faces. We were warmly welcomed by Doc Frida and finally met our buddy, Aqilla — who, by the way, is incredibly nice and pretty! Our first stop was SMP Brawijaya Smart School, the cooperating school where we would observe and teach. There, we met the principal and our cooperating teacher, Ma’am Yusi. Both were very kind and accommodating, making our first visit such a wonderful experience.
Afterward, we returned to Universitas Brawijaya to the Fakultas Ilmu Budaya (Faculty of Cultural Studies) for our opening ceremony. We met the dean, vice dean, and several faculty members, all of whom made us feel genuinely welcome. We also met exchange students from other parts of Indonesia who were spending a semester at UB. They were friendly and open, and we had the chance to introduce ourselves, share our expectations, and talk about how we wanted to experience the culture both inside and outside the university.
During lunch, we met third-year student-teachers who would soon travel to our university in the Philippines for the SEATEACH Program. They kindly toured us around the faculty building and parts of the campus. It was fun exchanging stories and tips, helping prepare them for their own journey abroad. Later, Aqilla accompanied us to a department store where we bought some essentials before ending the day with a nice dinner.
The next morning, we visited UB’s iconic logo landmark and, of course, took plenty of pictures. Back at the Faculty of Cultural Studies, we spent time in their library to study how Indonesian lesson plans are made. Doc Frida gave us an insightful discussion about the Indonesian curriculum and guided us in creating lesson plans, with Aqilla helping us translate unfamiliar terms. Afterward, we explored outside the campus and discovered a mall just a short walk away. We tried a fast-food restaurant called Richesse Factory for lunch before heading back to our dorm.
Friday brought more campus exploration. We stumbled upon a book fair, and although I was tempted to buy something, all the books were in Indonesian. We got a bit lost searching for food but eventually found our way back to the faculty canteen for lunch. We had some free time and we saw this microteaching room, a special classroom equipped with cameras to record student-teachers’ lessons for review and feedback. I found it to be such a smart and innovative setup. Moreover, we went to the room where we cheered for Aqilla as she presented her thesis proposal.
Saturday was all about exploring. We tried a restaurant called WOW, which lived up to its name with delicious food, and wandered through new routes on the way back to our dorm. On Sunday, we visited Malang Olympic Garden (MOG), one of the largest malls in Indonesia, and spent the day taking in its shops, sights, and atmosphere.
Looking back, this first week was a whirlwind of welcomes, discoveries, and meaningful connections. It was both beautiful and heartwarming, filling me with excitement for the weeks to come.
The first week was a whirlwind of emotions — excitement, nervousness, happiness, all blending into one unforgettable experience. I couldn’t be more grateful for everything that happened. I had so much fun and savored every moment, even the ones where I came back to our dorm exhausted after a long day. It was that good kind of tired — tired but happy.
I was fascinated by all the discoveries I made: the vibrant university life at Universitas Brawijaya, the unique practices I observed, the insights I gained about their religion, and so much more. This first week gave me the time and space to adjust and settle in. The warmth of the people made us feel instantly at home, and we appreciated every moment, knowing we had only about a month to soak in life here in Malang, Indonesia.
Here’s our vlog for Week 1, a glimpse into everything I’ve shared and more. Hope you enjoy watching!