SEA-Teacher Project #1: I (will) Teach in Thailand!

Here all the story begin!

Hai, blogger. Since it will be my first blog telling my story about my experiences during the SEA-Teacher Project, I think i better introduce myself and what kind of project that i will participate for the next 30 days. So, I am Andi Rafiqa Faradiyah (or you can simply call me Fiqa). I am currently taking my bachelor degree at Mathematics Department of Universitas Negeri Makassar (UNM, Indonesia), majoring the Int. Class Program of Mathematics Education Study Program. I am (already) at the 3rd year (6th semester) and got a chance to become one of the participant of the 5th Batch of a SEA-Teacher Project held by SEAMEO (The Southeast Asia Ministry of Education Organisation) with the other 11 students.

Formal Extrication for the Delegates of SEA-Teacher 5th Batch UNM.

Some of UNM's Delegates for SEA-Teacher Batch 5.

The SEA Teacher Project (Pre-Service Student Teacher Exchange in Southeast Asia) is a project that aims to provide opportunity for pre-service student teachers from universities in Southeast Asia to have teaching experiences (practicum) in schools in other countries in Southeast Asia. Based on the SEAMEO seven priority areas for the eleven SEAMEO Member countries to work together to improve the quality of education in Southeast Asia, “Revitalizing Teacher Education” is one of the priority areas in building and strengthening capacity of teachers in the region (Source: http://seateacher.seameo.org/seateacher/).
The exchange is preferably for 4th year students (but mostly all of the 4th year student at my university has already finished their PPL Program, so most of the participant from my university are coming from the 3rd year, including me) whose major are in math, science, English and pre-school (and for this year, there also some participant from economic, sport, et all because SEAMO and SEA-Teacher keeps on trying to improve this program). The duration is for one month and based on the mechanism of cost sharing basis. Students’ roles and responsibilities are assigned weekly during the one month period (observe, assist in teaching, teach and reflect). Moreover, the host universities will provide mentors to supervise and monitor the students throughout the practicum period.

Move to the story.

This project placed me to Chiang Rai Rajabhat University (CRRU) in Chiang Rai, Thailand. From the city where i live (Makassar), i have to take 3 times flight and 2 times transit to reach Chiang Rai since there is no direct flight.  There are 14 students from Indonesia and 4 students from Philippines whose arranged to CRRU. Some of Indonesia student decide to met at the Soekarno-Hatta Airport (Jakarta) to flight together to Chiang Rai. Since the flight from Makassar to Jakarta was my first solo-flight (i used to fly with family), it makes me a bit panic and anxiety. Arrived at Soetta, the first person that i met is kak Diah (from Univ. Tanjungpura Pontianak), and met the other in the morning at the waiting room-and having a flight together to Don Moeang Airport Bangkok. Arrived at Chiang Rai (from BK), the SEA-Teacher coordinator of CRRU (Miss Nok) have already wait to pick us up, and directly bring us to our hotel near CRRU for taking a rest, there is a room for two for us (my room-mate name is Dina, she is from Univ. Muhammadiyah Purwokerto-Majoring English Education). There (at the hotel) we met each other (both from Phil and Indonesia), we try to knowing each other by introducing our self and hanging out to find something to eat, at that first day..