Travel Experiences
Since it was my first time to travel abroad, I was really scared of the thought that I will be away from my family and home country for one month. I was really crying on the airport before our departure to Bangkok, Thailand. And another factor was that I'm afraid of heights. But I've tried to conquer my fear during our flight. I was late to checked in my luggage that's why the seat that was assigned to me was at the far back portion of the plane. Actually, it was at the last row of seats. In my case, since it was my first time, it doesn't matter to me but the moment the plane has taken off, I heard the noise which was very disturbing to my ears, I can felt the sudden movement of the plane when we were already mid air. I and my companions were not on the same seats so I was forced to look after myself without asking for any assistance from foreign persons that were sitting beside me. I experienced extreme dizziness that I was almost throw up if not because of "white flower" that I have been inhaling during the whole duration of our travel and the bubble gum that I also keep on chewing. I was oriented of some scenarios during the flight but I have never expected the real feeling. I asked permission from the American guy that was sitting beside me if I can occupy the window seat and thanks God he agreed. The only thing that I have said once the plane has taken off was, "woahh, I'm flying!" For the meantime, I forgot my dizziness when I looked outside the window of the plane. I saw amazing views, from blue waters to green forests. I was amazed by the view that I was actually flying over the clouds. After three hours, the plane has safely landed and the moment I stood up, I feel my knees shaky and jelly like that I almost fall down.
During our flight back to the Philippines, I knew now the things to anticipate during the travel. Good thing was, the seat that I got was on the middle part of the plane and still window seat. So instead of thinking again of my fear, I just enjoyed the ride but still my dizziness did not disappeared. But better than the time of our travel going to Thailand.
Daily Activities
My life in the dormitory was just like ordinary days when I was in the Philippines. The moment I was able to adapt in the setting of Thailand since the time there was one hour behind the time zone in the Philippines. I was amazed because I was able to slept soundly during nights. But there were times I cried before I slept because I was homesick. I was away from my family and the surrounding I got used to. I treated my dormitory as my own home, I set my mind that my bed there was the same bed I used to sleep when I was in the Philippines. Our receiving university has provided us with refrigerator, rice cookers, oven, air conditioner wherein we felt at home even we were in a foreign environment. We buy our foods in the market and sometimes in Family Mart inside the university near our dormitory. Our days passed there leaving the dormitory in the morning to go to our cooperating school to report and go home in the afternoon. During weekends, we go outside with our Thai buddies with us.
New Friends
During my one month of stay in Thailand, I was not just able to learn but also won friends. All my Indonesian and Filipino dorm mates were my friends and we got sad the moment that we need to be separated from each other after the practice teaching.
Work at Industry/School
During my stay at Chiengrak Noi School, I can feel that I was welcomed and loved by the teachers there because I never felt that I was a foreigner. They treated me as one of their race. They are very helpful and generous in terms of making us at home at their school. Even if it was both hard for us to communicate, they were never too far far us. They keep on trying to talked to us and asked questions about Philippines. Good thing for my cooperating teachers because they can spoke English and it was not hard for me to tell them what I want to say regarding the class, my schedules, arrangement of classes. Over all, I get along with the teachers in my workplace.
Excursion Experiences
One of the most wonderful thing that happened in my journey in Thailand was the excursions that was sponsored by the university. We have gone to Amphawa National Heritage Museum and Floating Market. I enjoyed the travel a lot because it was one of my dream country to explore. I was amazed of the museums. They were very clean and luckily we were allowed to take pictures inside. We also have temple hopping wherein we visited five different temples. And we rode a boat to reach each destination. It was a great experience indeed. We have not just learned but we also enjoyed a lot of the beautiful scenery that Thailand was known of. During our excursion, we were with the mentors of VRU also Thai buddies. We were oriented of the do'd and dont's during the travel for safety purposes.
New Skills and Experiences
Of course, I have learned a lot when it comes to skills during the practicum. I have learned new techniques and methodologies used in primary level since I was used to taught in secondary level. I became a teacher, a performer, a singer, an entertainer all in the same time. It really tested my creativity in delivering my lesson to the students specially that my students were young learners. I was very happy that I was chosen as one of this prestigious practicum. What I have learned here in Thailand will be a great experience that I will share to my students and co-student teacher in my home country.
Personal Perspectives
In my own opinion, though Thailand is not an English speaking country still it is good to teach English language in a place where I will be able to squeeze you in my maximum potential. Actually, it was not really hard adapting to the culture which are foreign to me. I just have to be flexible and open-minded enough to accept the challenges around me. Free some of my thoughts so that I will be able to accept in my system the new things around me. And this international practicum is one of the challenges that I am very grateful of. I was able to conquer my fear, stand on my own far from my family and this experiences have contributed to my personal and professional growth as a whole.