Adventure in Thailand: Part 17

January 31st, 2017

Precious day, indeed!

It was my first time to handle my own class in Thailand. I mean, I know I've already done my teaching practice in Indonesia, but hey, it's different! In Thailand, more pressures and etc. I don't want to disappointing myself, my mentor, my family, my lecture, my country. Haaaaaaaaaaaa....

Before the class, another biology teacher gave me some Limes (but she told me that's Lemon 😛😆). She is very kind, and care to me. 

Exactly, it's Lime not Lemon

At 12.00 - 12.55, I was teaching my very own class. I was nervous. Totally nervous. But Alhamdulillah, everything went so well. The students were collaborating really good! I also gave the brave students who told us about their discussion result souvenirs from Indonesia. Hahaha.. Treat your students better!

Classroom Situation I

So, I will tell you guys a little bit about my teaching method. For the first meeting, I was teaching introduction of natural resources and various types of water. I gave them lecturer for the first 10 minutes, and after that, I let my students did their worksheet. It was a group discussion for maybe 30 minutes. Sometimes they didn't understand what exactly I want for the answer, but fortunately, my mentor Ajarn Dr. Salubsri was there too. She helped me a lot. 

Hello, It's me

I remember one of funny story about this day. One students misinterpreted the card. It written " SURFACE WATER" that mean water on Earth's surface but he thought that was "WATER'S SURFACE" which mean surface of the water. I explained to them over and over again, and finally he understood. Alhamdulillah. Perk of being a teacher. You need to be patience, because everyone deserve to be understand. I've spent the last 15 minutes for student presentation and assessment.

Classroom Situation II

I asked them to write their name in alphabets so I could understand and remember them easily.

My students' unique nickname, If I could have one Thai nickname, that would be FON (=rain) because I love Rain af

We (me, Alyssa, and Kyla) also went to CentralPlaza. We ate McDonalds (it was good, of course that was quite expensive). Actually, we were planning to go to Colosseum Plaza near our dorm, but Kyla said she want to eat chicken with gravy, so why not we try to find that at McD. But turned out, McD also didn't have gravy here. I thought today be like our celebration day. Because all of us start teaching today. Hahaha...

McD Selfie

After ate A LOT (idk, but maybe team Suratpittaya loves to eat A LOT) hahaha, we strolled around the plaza and bought lipcream (ewww, It's kinda regretting moment for me, it was expensive (189 bath) and I don't like the color after I use the lipcream at dorm whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy??)

Too Serious to Choose

We close our night with some Ice Cream. We called it Ice Cream Night for Teaching Survivors. Hahaha

Alyssa bought this for me, Thanks!!!! 💕💕

Adventure in Thailand: Part 16

January 30th, 2017

Another day has come and gone away. LOL....I can't believe it's already part 16. Hahaha... So tomorrow I will start teaching my own class at Mathayom 6/10. I'm nervous!!!! But, yeah, it's something that I need to face.. My main goal to come here, for teaching (not holiday 😜). So today, I was preparing all my medias and stuff for tomorrow class. But at 10.10 - 12.00, I joined Ajarn Dr. Salubsri to observe her class. That was Mathayom 6/8. They're cute, most of the students are girls. Because the boys went to military camp they said.

Mathayom 6/8

Her teaching method's kinda different with Indonesian teacher's method. At the beginning, she was asking the student to check their homework. She taught the students with Thai, so mostly I don't get what she said to the students.

PowerPoint; all in Thai

She is a very professional teacher. I admire her a lot, literally A LOT!

My Idol

After observation, I went to the Student's Copy Center. But the machine's broken. And 3 teachers from other department also want to copy their stuff (but they can't speak in English, so it was really difficult to communicate with them). After about 15 minutes tried to figure why the machine didn't work, another teacher took us to the academic affair office. I copied my materials there for free hahaha thank God. 

Thank You Machine

I'm just hoping, tomorrow will be fine! Wish me luck!

Adventure in Thailand: Part 14 and 15

January 28th, 2017

SATURDAY! FREE DAY!

Finallly weekend! We struggled quite hard this time! Because I need to finish everything that day (thesis, lesson plans, worksheet, materials, etc!) Huaaa that's so many things to do! But it's okay! We can do it!

In the morning, we went to Kho (kho means Island in English) Lamphu by walk. Almost 2 kms away from our dorm. But it's worth it!

Kho Lampu Island

Ta Pi River

That island is like small island with sports and recreation spots. Where citizens can do picnic and etc with their loves one. There are a lot of birds in Kho Lamphu. You can also feed them, but you need to buy the seeds from seller here for 10 - 20 bath.

Nok a.k.a Bird

After exploring the island, we went to the riverside. Turned out there are several boats that sell food. We bought ice creams, fruits, and water!

Seller on The Boat

Under the trees

At noon, we went back to the dorm but we stopped by at Fresh Market to bought some veggies (not for me, but yeah, hahaha). The market kinda similar with my market in Banjarmasin (the smells especially LOL).

Veggies and Fruits Section

Fish and Meat Section

You know what, Mutiara and Zahra are basketball players. While we walked near SRP, we saw some students were playing basketball. They're tempted to join and we asked them if they can join, and the students allowed us to join. They even had a 2 on 2 game. Maybe I won't meet them again, because I'm not assigned in their level. But I really hope we can meet again (because they're lovely!)

SRP VS SEATEACHERS

At the night time, we went to night market near the river (I wonder why Surat Thani has a lot of night markets!). This Saturday market only sell clothes and shoes and casual things (not foods bazaar!) I bought Jeans Jacket for only 150 bath (cheap LOL). We also met Kru Daa (Kru means teacher in English) from Suratthani School (Muti's mentor). She treated us with foods ! Thank you Kru Daa!

Night Market Near The River

Selfie 😍

 January 29th, 2017

SUNDAY! FREE DAY! BUT NOT REALLY FREE!

Most of us will start teaching tomorrow, so we need to prepare everything since Sunday! We're not going anywhere (except 7-11 to bought some foods to eat) and stay at the dorm doing things! I know maybe all of you that read my blog feel we didn't explore the city too much, but the reality is, most of good places in Surat Thani are far from the city (like you have to drive or ride a boat to go there) and we don't have the time and money for that! Hahaha, ya, but I love this city so bad !

Adventure in Thailand: Part 13

January 27th, 2017

At that day, I tried to finish my skripsi (thesis) because the deadline almost made me dead! (LOL). Fortunately, I've 2 guide lectures (Mrs. Aulia and Mr. Arsyad) who always support me no matter what happened!

At 5 pm, Me and Alyssa and Kyla went to Lotus to meet my mentor and some other teachers to eat dinner at KFC. Ajarn Dr. Salubsri treated us! Yuhuu Free dinner. Thank you very much mentor! We also met the cutie pie, she's really cute (just like me, Overconfident detected!)

But, yeah.. TGIF!

Twinnies!! 20 yo vs 9 yo

Team Suratpittaya!

Adventure in Thailand: Part 12

January 26th, 2017

So today was just like previous days. Hahaha, we went to the school at 7.25 and you know what, usually the teachers already arrived at 7.30 and this morning was kinda different. The office was empty and turned out there was a flag ceremony! Uhhh, why we didn't know about that?? I really want to join their flag ceremony. Maybe next time!

At 10.00 am (BKK Time) we had online meeting with SEAMEO secretariat and that was my very first time join online meeting. That supposed to be a formal meeting I guess, but it was heavy raining in Surat Thani and both of us (Alyssa and I) didn't bring our earphone so yeah, we were trying our best to join and talk with them!

Online Meeting with The SEAMEO Secretariat

At 11.10 am, I went to Ajarn Dr. Salubsri's class (M 6/10). They're gonna be my students for the last 2 weeks. They're really nice kids (100% sure!). We had a very long QnAs session. Maybe for the next meeting, I will make give them "name tag" so I could call them and remember them easily! Haha... 

Classroom Situation (M 6/10)

Ajarn Dr. Salubsri In Front of The Class

At the end of the day, our friend Kyla just got back from Krabi with her students and mentors and she bought us this. It's very kind. Thank you very much!

A Gift from Kyla

Adventure in Thailand: Part 11

January 25th, 2017

Well, I am not sure if January 25th was a free day or a stress day. Because I feel like I had a lot of free times but also had a lot of tasks to do :(  All day I worked on my lesson plan and skripsi (haaa) and at the night time, me and Alyssa went to bed early (at 20.00 pm). Maybe both of us just feeling tired.

Adventure in Thailand: Part 10

January 24th, 2017

Today was my 10th day here. Not really much to do. Well actually I have a lot of tasks to do, but I wasn't really into my mood. So today just like usual, I arrived at school at 7:30. We met Ace at the gate this morning and I stayed in my office until lunch time. I forgot to bring my wallet, so I couldn't buy anything. Hahaha, my fault.

I did my skripsi today (not much, but at least I did a bit haha). I also joined Teacher Angie's class (she is an English teacher, she is a Filipino). She's so kind. I love her style tho 😍😎. She even allowed us to assisting her; to give the students score. It was nice. 

 

Teacher Angie's class (Mathayom 1)

The teachers from my office gave me a MILO ice cream. I'm kinda into it, but unfortunately too sweet! 😖😖

Milo Ice Cream - Made in Thailand

I also tried to make my lesson plan (why it took too many hours to finish!!!???). I will discuss my lesson plan with Ajarn Dr. Salubsri this Thursday (finger cross everything will be okay!) 😇😇😇

Help me God

So how about your day guys??

PS: I also open a comment section in every post, so feel free to leave some comments in my blog!

I'll see you guys later!

Peoples Behind "Adventure in Thailand"

I bet all of us have our own favorite movie right? Of course behind all their success, there are peoples who always stands 24/7 (overdrama detected haha). But, that's true.

I would like to tell you guys, peoples behind my adventure in Thailand. First of all, of course Allah SWT. The almighty who always put me on His concern even if I am a bad Muslim.

My parents. They are my number one sponsor (both morally and financially) so I can go here to have my own adventure!

Head of Biology Education department, Mr. Dr. H. Aminuddin Prahatama Putra, M.Pd who had gave his recommendation to International Office to join this program.

Mr. Maulana Khalid Riefani, S.Si, M.Sc and Mr. Dr. H. Muhammad Zaini, M.Pd who had gave their recommendation to Mr. Dr. Aminuddin and also all lectures at Biology Education department

Mr. Arief Budiman, SE, MMktg, PhD as our coordinator and also the one who had gave his best effort so we can go here 100% free.

Ms. Kiki Amalia, International office staff who had gave her best effort to take care our airplane tickets and insurances.

Mr. Prof. Dr. H. Wahyu, M.S, Dean of Faculty of Teachers Training and Education and all the vice deans, who had gave us particular concern especially for financial problems.

Mr. Prof. Dr. Ir. H. Yudi Firmanul Arifin, M.Sc, Vice president for planning, cooperation, and public relations who had gave his best effort for us.

and last but not least, Mr. Prof. Dr. H. Sutarto Hadi, M.Si., M.Sc our university's president and all the vice presidents, who always support university program especially student exchange program.

I can't be here without these great people who always stand behind me! Thank you very much!

With Mr. Prof. Dr. Ir. H. Yudi Firmanul Arifin, M.Sc, Vice president for planning, cooperation, and public relations, Mr. Arief Budiman, SE, MMktg, PhD, and The 3rd Batch of SEA Teacher participants from ULM

Adventure in Thailand: Part 9

January 23rd, 2017

Another Monday. School time again. But that's okay! I'm really into this school tho. Hahaha... We went to the school at 07:25 because our school is near to our dorm. 

Umbrella girl 😅😅😅 (nahh,, it was raining so I need use my umbrella)

  

To be honest, nothing special happened today (beside I had to push myself to the limit to write this blog until part 9! haha). My mentor will away from Surat Thani until Wednesday. So, she was planning to check my lesson plan and etc on Thursday. I need to prepare it as soon as possible.

Beside that, I also need to finish my skripsi (skripsi is one of graduation requirements in Indonesia, like thesis for masterate degree). Just wish me luck guys!

Adventure in Thailand: Part 8

January 22nd, 2017

On Sunday, we woke up late (again) haha.. Alyssa, Kyla, and Josephine went to the cathedral to pray. So the other girls stayed in the dorm. Anthony (one of our buddies) was planning to take us to the charity event for flood victims. Unfortunately, the flood getting worse 😢😭 so civilians did not allowed to come to the area. So we just stayed at dorm until 5 pm. At 5 pm, Ace picked us up to go to the floating market. My expectation was the floating market is similar with the floating market in Banjarmasin (where the seller sell the food on the boat) but turned out it just a market next to the river so it's looked like float. But, that's okay! There are a lot of food stalls there. I love food! 😄😅 haha. We spent night there. Even Putri and Nuriska try to sang a song with SRP students that held a charity event for flood victims. It was a very meaningful night for us.

Ciao Belle!

I really love this photo

Adventure in Thailand: Part 7

January 21st, 2017

School in Thailand only open from Monday to Friday, so on Saturday and Sunday we are free. We woke up pretty late on Saturday (hahaha) and went to Suratthani City Pillar Shrine by walk 😍😎. We also stopped by at Cha Phayom (a milk tea store, but I didn't buy anything there). The city pillar is really awesome. I mean the architecture and the lady who sell flowers and things for prayers is really humble and nice. She even asked her son to took some photos of us. For lunch (and dinner) we had nasi minyak (again) in halal restaurant near the market.

Suratthani City Pillars Shrine

My family 😍

Adventure in Thailand: Part 6

January 20th, 2017

At January 20th, Mathayom 6 students had school examination to prepare them for the national examination. So I was free (again). However Alyssa not really that free. Her mentor Ajarn Dr. Tim traveled to Bangkok so she had to enter Dr. Tim class at Mathayom 4/13. Kyla and I accompanied her. I do believe she will be a great teacher in the future 😇. 

Alyssa and one of the student

And for the first time in my life, I tried to cook chicken's nugget in rice cooker (and the result turned not as good as I want) 😤.

It's edible FYI

Adventure in Thailand: Part 5

January 19th, 2017

Sooooo,,,, that day was my fifth day in Surat Thani. I think I'm really "into" this city and somehow I've been dreaming to teach in SRP someday LOL. One of the teachers in the office is a Muslim. Her name is Kak Sum 😎. She is a science teacher as well. She can't speaks English, she only speaks Thai and Melayu (luckily I usually watch upin ipin back home hahaha so I understand Melayu too). She bought me nasi minyak for lunch 😙.

Nasi minyak from Ajarn Sum

At that day, I also met my buddy who also has teaching practice in SRP. His name is Ace 😄. He went to Banjarmasin last year. He was a participant for SEA Teacher as well. So we can share each other's story (just like a throwback for him haha😗😂). At the evening, Ace picked me, Alyssa, and Kyla (team Suratpittaya LOL) to join him in small welcome party at the pier (I'm not even sure that's a pier haha). I ate seafood pad thai for the first time! It was really delicious, no wonder Thai people always look happy 😍, maybe because of their foods are so delicious.

Seafood Pad Thai

He also bring his friend, Yiin (I’m sorry if I wrote his name wrong). He will be a Thai's Language teacher in the future. He is a very friendly friend. He also a Miss Universe  enthusiast.

I am sorry I need to cover my face, I'm too shy to post it (LOL) - Kidding

After all the dishes, we still had room in our stomach for desserts 😙. So we bought dessert. I forgot the name, but it was very delicious (again). Consist of sweet potatoes, corns, jellies, coconut milk, and ices. At the end of the day, we went to the riverbank side. Ahh, it was a very happy day!

I forgot the name, but I'll never forget how delicious it was!

Dessert Heaven

Riverbank side! It looks similar with Banjarmasin's siring

Adventure in Thailand: Part 4

January 18th, 2017

I think, January 18th was full with "my first time experiences". First time went to Suratpittaya School (or SRP - my practicum school), first time walked to the school haha (because I usually use motorcycle to go to everywhere I want). Got lost in SRP for the first time, because their school is so huge 😂😂. 

Suratpittaya School (SRP) - from Foreign Languange Department

First time met Ajarn Dr. Salubsri's students from Mathayom 6 and had a very warm QnA sessions with them.

Lovely students

First time ate in the cafeteria (their cafeteria is hella big too, and also have special cafeteria for teachers).

Part of SRP cafeteria

Here is a funny story. My mentor gave me a biology book. All written in Thai (I really don’t understand, but I would learn Thai a.s.a.p 😓😓) and she asked me to find the learning materials over there (maybe I will need help from my buddy tho hahaha 😏)

Biology book (all written in Thai)

My mentor also gave me her table at the office so I don't have to wait outside the office (alhamdulillah, thank God)

My desk (actually my mentor's desk) @ Science Centre

and at the end of the day, we went to night market for the first time!

Halal stall @ night market

Weird food @ night market