WEEK 3: Rolling in the Deep

    I think this is the most nonchalant yet melancholic week of my stay in UPI. Nonchalant in a way that I'm just doing the usual things I need to do, teaching, eating, roaming, but you know there is something inside me building up as if something sad will happen, or something will come to an end or near its ending. It's kind of scary for my dependent self I think.

    The first few days were kind of busy and usual since I'm just in Labschool to teach and nurture my students, giving them the knowledge and motivation as much as I can. I gave them an assessment and activity worksheet regarding global warming, group quiz bee, some recitations, games, and such for them to be familiarized with the lessons I taught them. Also, since it is a new week, I introduced them to a new topic which is Cell. Actually, Ibu Lia lets us choose what topic or lesson we want to teach, and I choose biology since it is really my forte and my favorite branch of science education, and I choose cell structure. It's enjoyable and easy to teach or convey what you want to share if you really love what you are doing, and know what you are talking about. For that is one thing I will never forget, as an educator,  you should master your subject and if that happens, then you will have the confidence to be the tunnel of knowledge to anyone who is listening to you, because the knowledge you have is the power no one can steal.

    Speaking of knowledge, one of my students in X Bilingual 3 personally opened up his idea about global warming, that global news reports are just exaggerating the issue on global warming, that data being published are not reliable and being doctored, and with that he showed me his research about his claim, and I am happy with that. Actually, this is one of the reasons why I want to have the X Bilingual Class again, because I have encountered students like him before, and I want to hear and listen to this kind of hypothesis. So as he said his research to me, with all my might I read and internalize it well, and I can say that he got a point on what he is trying to prove, but it is not enough to persuade the higher ups, but if he still continue researching and discovering science, then I'll be one of his fans then. As for me, it was really good to see and be a witness of this kind of people, people who are striving to prove something they are interested about, working on the things you are curious, finding answers from the unknown, because that's how knowledge are gain, and again, that knowledge is a power no one can steal.

    Foodiscovery will continue as we try the seblak, a local Indonesian food. It is actually a soup, I like it because it tastes like my favorite soup in the Philippines without the evaporated milk, and the macaroni is chewy, which makes seblak unique and unforgettable. By default, Indonesian food is really spicy, it is a good thing that you can order food that is not spicy if you just say so. One time, we ordered one canteen and we forgot to say 'not spicy', when the food arrived we were really surprised that the food was filled with so much chili. Even though we're really shy at that time, I really took the courage to politely ask the canteen to change our order to not be spicy, and luckily they said yes. I really want to enjoy and try Indonesian foods but if it is spicy, then I can't. My tolerance for spicy food is really low, that's why it's a miracle that I survived living in Indonesia with this kind of tolerance twice. We also tried mertabak, it's a fluffy sweet delicacy of Indonesia, and I like it since I love sweets.

    Of course, my favorite dish in Indonesia ever since I went here last year, grilled chicken with tofu, tempe, and my all time favorite salted green plant. This is the best!

    Speaking of food discovery, I would like to share our comfort food and the food we can eat every single day, Indonesians have the Mixue. This is the best dessert we ever had! Especially the Booba sundae, no words needed, this is the best, period.

    I would like to share to, that on this week, while we were in Indonesia, CLSU - College of Education held its pinning ceremony for the pre-service student teacher that will be deployed for this semester, and we are one of those, but we're not there to witness and experience it on our own. So it is kind of saddening to miss the once in a lifetime experience of a student-teacher being pinned by your parents' in the stage, as it is the last part of being a student teacher for in a few months we will be graduating with a bachelor degree. Though still no regret, for nothing is more important than having the opportunity to travel abroad as an exchange student representing my beloved university proving that we are globally competitive and work ready human resources at all times, anywhere in the world. So yeah, my experience in Bandung will always be a top tier for my chosen career path.

    On the weekend, since we don't have any excursions, we are not that busy or hectic in school, we got the chance to visit another recommended place in Bandung, the Bandung zoo. As a science lover, I can't get enough of all the things I've seen and experienced in Bandung zoo! I've seen things and animals I can't hardly see in Philippines, the lion, tigers, gorilla, bear, crocodiles, alligators, camels, snakes, and other animals that I can only see on the internet, but I'm already seeing them in real life, my heart is so full and crying. I even experienced riding an elephant, and that is the best 8 minutes of my life ever. I am in absolute and holistic happiness during those times, promise. Seems like I was back to being a child and my inner child was so happy to experience this core memory. This is one thing I am proud of, yes I haven't in my home country, but I just did in other country.

    Another twist of the day, since Bandung zoo is already near one of the universities in Bandung, we decided to take a look at it, the Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), and glad we did. One of our Indonesian friends told us that ITB specializes in science and technology, and they are also one of the highest ranked universities in Indonesia and even in the whole world.

    Of course we didn't end the week there, we need to cherish each day, that's why on Sunday we went out with our friends. These friends I am mentioning are the SEA Teacher participants of UPI last year who went to the Philippines. We met them during our last week of stay last year, and we became good friends with them until now that I'm already in the Philippines. So we went out, we went to Paris Van Java Mall, one of the popular mall in Bandung, so they did some ice skating while I waited outside, cause I can't be with too cold places, cause I'll catch cold and fever afterwards, so I just waited for them to finish, and just roam around the mall. After that we ate some of their authentic Indonesian foods, took some pictures of their garden, and ate some sweets with these sweet loving people of Indonesia.

    As the program comes to an end, my emotion towards UPI is rolling deeper and deeper, and I don't know how to get up from this deep sinking.