Cultural Excursions and Others
Opening Ceremony: A Warm Introduction to Our Journey of Growth
After being welcomed by my host university, Universitas Pekalongan, we were invited to an opening ceremony on February 2-3, 2025, to officially begin our journey in the SEA-Teacher Project as part of the 10th batch of the student exchange program. It was truly an honor to be part of this program.
During the ceremony, we had the privilege of meeting the university officials, including the Rectors, the Deans of each college, the teachers, and those responsible for various functions within the university. I also had the opportunity to meet my assigned mentor, Miss Amalia Fitri, M. Pd., who would guide and advise me throughout the program. Additionally, we met our buddies for the exchange program, friendships that I will forever cherish. The ceremony served as a warm introduction to what awaited us in the coming weeks.
We discussed the purpose of this partnership between my home university, Capiz State University, and Universitas Pekalongan, emphasizing how this exchange program would help us grow not just as future educators but also as individuals. It was exciting to hear about the experiences ahead and the skills we would develop through this opportunity.
During the ceremony, we had the chance to introduce ourselves and share our expectations for the program. After that, we were given the opportunity to take photos with these esteemed individuals, capturing a moment that marked the beginning of our journey in Indonesia.
Museum Batik
Museum Batik was one of the first cultural tours we did. At first, I wasn’t really sure what batik was, but when I learned about it, I was like, “Wow!”
Batik is an important part of Indonesian culture. I was really amazed to see so many different batik motifs at the museum.
We had a guide who explained that each batik design has its own unique meaning. I listened carefully and learned a lot. I also found out that Pekalongan, where my host university is located, has its own special batik motif, which is one of the most famous in Indonesia.
We also made our own batik at Museum Batik. We used stamps and did canting on our names. It was a really fun experience to try making batik firsthand in Indonesia!
Basic Bahasa Indonesian Class
In this session, we were invited to attend a basic Bahasa Indonesia class. The class was held at the library of my host university, called Unikal Library or Perpustakaan Unikal.
We learned several basic Indonesian words, and I also discovered that they have another language called Javanese.
They prepared slides with words and their English translations, which made learning easier. It was really fun and exciting to learn a new language different from my mother tongue. Oh, and I also found out that some words are similar to Tagalog. For example, the word for “umbrella” in Filipino is payong, and in Indonesian, it is payung.
First Podcast
In this session, we were invited by the university to participate in an interview podcast. We did the podcast in one of the university’s rooms, equipped with microphones and cameras.
One of the students from Unikal interviewed us. I found out that she was also an exchange student in the Philippines last year and was deployed to MMSU.
It was a really fun interview! We talked about many things, including our cultures and our expectations for this program.
Visit here: https://youtu.be/TaL8Z9XH0RE?si=076_pphBIZql9krS
Batik Classes
We learned that my host university, Universitas Pekalongan, is one of the universities that offer batik courses. It was truly an honor to be part of this for a week.
At the start of our batik session, we were introduced to batik and the different materials used to create motifs. Two students from Unikal taught us about the process.
First, we drew the motifs on baking paper, which was then transferred onto fabric. After that, we did canting on the fabric and then colored it. That marked the end of our session.
It was such a fun experience to create my own batik! Learning about Indonesian culture firsthand was an incredible opportunity, and I feel so lucky to have been deployed to my host university to try this.
Second Podcast
In this session, we were invited by the university’s library, Perpustakaan Unikal, for a podcast session. First, we gathered in their meeting room, where we got to try traditional snacks. I also learned that Pekalongan, where my host university is located, has its own special beverage called Oriental.
After that, we had an interview with one of the students from Unikal. I found out that she helps in the library and has a great love for books.
We shared stories about our cultures and how we learned English. The most fun part was when we sang a Filipino song with her—Pano by Zack Tabudlo. I also learned that Pano is very popular in Indonesia as well!
Visit here: https://www.youtube.com/live/41Sh7abzvG0?si=0VrrzyhmYiIHBUnS
Safari Beach
Safari Beach was actually a combination of a beach and a zoo. It was so much fun to see and discover animals I had never seen before, like elephants.
We also watched a dolphin show, which was really fun. After that, we walked around the beach and enjoyed the view.
The best part was going with our buddies. It made our visit to Safari Beach even more exciting.
Borobudur Temple
In this session, we traveled from our host university to Borobudur Temple for about five hours, and it was worth it. It was an honor to visit one of the largest temples in Indonesia.
I was amazed to see the temple, and its design made me wonder how it was built. I also learned that each floor of the temple has its own story, which is well-known in Indonesia.
It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I will always cherish the memories of visiting this temple, and I hope to visit it again someday.
Indonesian Railway Museum
After our visit to Borobudur Temple, we went to the Indonesian Railway Museum. It felt like getting a glimpse of Indonesia’s past.
We saw old Indonesian trains and railways. I was also able to take pictures of some tools used in the past, like the timbangan (weighing scale).
One of the best experiences I had was riding a historic train. It was a fun ride because I got to see rice fields, rivers, and how people live in Indonesia.
Sharing Filipino and Indonesian Cuisine
In this session, we were invited by the university’s ETC (Culinary Department) to share our cuisines with them. It was a really fun experience to introduce Filipino food to them.
We talked about different snacks, dishes, and pastries. The best part was that they also shared their food with us. I even found some similarities, like sapin-sapin in the Philippines, which they also have their own version of.
After that, they gave us some authentic Indonesian snacks to try. I’ve shared some snapshots here!
The Best Part of this Program
One of the best parts of this program was doing community service at my cooperating school. It was truly an honor to share my Filipino culture at SMP Negeri 4 Pekalongan.
Closing Ceremony
It was truly a great experience to be invited by my host university, Universitas Pekalongan. I am very thankful to be part of the SEA-Teacher Project and to have been deployed to this university.
From the beginning until the end of the program, the university was very welcoming. We were invited to attend the closing ceremony at the university auditorium.
We performed a traditional Filipino dance while wearing traditional Filipino attire. My co-participant also sang a Filipino song.
I learned so much and met many amazing people whom I will always be grateful for and cherish. This is a memory I will treasure forever.
