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A Journey I Will Never Forget

 Looking back on these past weeks in the Philippines, I realize that this journey was more than just an academic program or an international experience. It became a chapter of my life filled with growth, challenges, unforgettable memories, and meaningful connections that I will always carry with me wherever I go. When I first arrived, everything felt unfamiliar — the environment, the people, the culture, and even the way of life. I felt nervous, excited, and curious all at the same time. I did not know what to expect, but slowly, day by day, the Philippines began to feel less like a foreign place and more like a second home. Throughout this journey, I experienced so many things for the first time. I shared meals and cultures with people from different backgrounds, planted mangroves while learning the importance of protecting nature, visited beautiful places in Ormoc City, met local government leaders, and tasted authentic local chocolate that I will always remember. Even the quiet ...
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Week 4 — Facing My Fears and Creating Last Memories

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 Week four became one of the most unforgettable and emotional weeks of my journey. After spending the previous weeks preparing lesson plans and observing classes, this week was finally the time for us to conduct our teaching demonstrations. I felt both excited and nervous because it was my first real experience teaching students directly in the classroom. I was assigned to teach students in Grade 7 and Grade 10. Before entering the classroom, I felt extremely nervous and my heart was beating so fast. I kept thinking about whether the students would understand my lesson, whether I could explain the material clearly, and whether I could manage the classroom well. Even though I had prepared carefully, standing in front of the class as a teacher was still a completely different experience. However, once the lesson started, I slowly became more confident. The students were active, cooperative, and willing to participate during the activities. Seeing them respond to my questions and enga...
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Week 3 - Preparation, Adaptation, and New Discoveries

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 Compared to the previous weeks, week three was much quieter and calmer. Due to the energy-saving policy in the Philippines caused by the ongoing war situation, most activities were limited, and we spent more time staying at home or indoors. Even though there were fewer outdoor activities, this week still became an important part of my journey because it gave me time to prepare myself more seriously for the upcoming teaching demonstrations. Most of the days were spent working on lesson plans, preparing teaching materials, and discussing ideas for our classroom demonstrations. At first, staying indoors for a long time felt a little boring, especially after the exciting activities from previous weeks. However, I realized that this quieter period was actually useful because it allowed me to focus more on improving my preparation and understanding of the lessons I would teach later. During this week, I learned that being a teacher requires a lot of preparation behind the scenes. Creati...
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Week 2— Sharing Cultures, Protecting Nature, and Inspiring Classrooms

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 My second week became even more exciting and meaningful as I started to adjust to the new environment, meet more people, and experience many new activities. Compared to the first week, I felt more comfortable communicating with others and participating in every program. Each day brought different experiences that helped me learn not only academically, but also socially and personally. This week was filled with memorable moments that I will always remember as part of this incredible journey. One of the most memorable highlights this week was our food-sharing session together. Everyone prepared and brought food from their own country or region, and we gathered around the table to share meals, stories, and laughter. The atmosphere was very warm and joyful because we were able to experience different cultures through food. It was interesting to see the variety of dishes, flavors, and eating traditions from different backgrounds. Some foods were completely new to me, and trying them be...
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Week 1 — First Arrival, New Experiences, and Warm Welcomes

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 Week 1 of my cultural exchange journey was filled with unforgettable experiences, new challenges, and heartwarming moments that I will always remember. Our journey began on April 3rd. Four student teachers from UNISDA departed from Juanda International Airport in Surabaya at 7:35 PM, heading to Singapore. We arrived in Singapore at 10:55 PM and had a transit of nearly three hours before continuing our flight at 1:50 AM on April 4th. We finally arrived in Manila at 5:50 AM. During our long eight-hour transit in Manila, we were confused about what to do. When we started to feel hungry, we decided to cook instant noodles that we brought from Indonesia. We asked for hot water at the airport, and surprisingly, that simple moment became one of the most fun and memorable experiences during our journey. Later that day, we continued our flight from Manila to Tacloban at 1:50 PM and safely arrived at 3:15 PM. Upon arrival, we received a very warm welcome from our teaching internship supervi...
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