“Learning through socialization and engaging activities”

Daily Activities at Receiving School

On the 7th day of January, everyone was expected to come early for the orientation with the school’s rules and other reminders. It was our first day and a fresh start to meet other people with different personalities but united on the same interest.

All students from different universities in Indonesia and Philippines, the VRU President, faculty and staff, guests and the students/buddies were all present in the meeting room for a significant discussion. The school talked about its history, the do’s and don’ts’, the meeting with mentors and buddies, the subject matter with our assigned school and the cooperative teachers in the leadership of the coordinator in VRU, Ms. Nina and other member of the Education Faculty such as Ms. View and Mr. Neung, the Science teacher; Ms. Piimlak and Aj. Thanaporn, Math Teacher; Ms. Nit, an English Teacher.

We exchanged numbers after given a chance to talked to our mentors and buddies. We took pictures with smiles on our faces which reminded me of our first encounter together. The meeting was adjourned at 12:00 in the afternoon, so we bid goodbyes for those who are assigned in different school. They were brought to their respective schools which was outside of the VRU.

While I, my companion Femie from UIC and the other delegates from different universities in Indonesia such as UNP, UNESA, UAD, UNM, UII, and UPY who were assigned at the Demonstration School stayed at the vicinity of VRU. After we took our lunch, we went to Satit building in which Mr. Bob together with other respected officials welcomed us formally. They gave us souvenirs and informed us of our daily duties in the said receiving school. Afterwards, we went to the English resource center, our quarter for the whole month, where we had a talk with the school’s officials regarding on the requisition of the learning materials and the schedule of our classes which will be handed on the following day. After they gave us the forms to document our daily experiences and shared thoughts with them, we went back to dorm since it’s already 4:30 in the afternoon.

Wednesday, 9th day of January, I and the rest of the delegates in primary Cicha Yumaika (UNP), Karina Dewi Mashita (UNESA), Stima Anggita Putri (UAD),and Hindun Astiani (UPY) and secondary department Femie Goles (UIC), Eni Inidria Safitri (UNESA), Alyvia Jhuly Adhani (UNM) and Anikke Fatikhatul Fauziah (UII) who are assigned in the VRU demonstration school went to Samkhok school, the partner school of VRU.

We left there at 11:00 in the morning with all the prepared learning materials and was accompanied by the officials and staff from Satit building since they were launching a Math Camp. We drove there for almost an hour through a van. Once we arrived, we got all the things inside the room where the students are waiting as well as the teachers. We chose our partners to facilitate an activity assigned to us and grouped the students. At exactly 1:00 p.m., we started to teach grade 1 students, with different strategies on counting like adding items depending on the resources used. We prepared five activities to be taught to the students. The test is given once the students were done with the activity. It took us 2 and a half hours to finish the given activities. Even if we felt exhausted to deal with the kids but it was also fulfilling to see their smiling faces as they enjoyed the fun game activities. They were so cute and talented which gives me energy to do more efforts to give them what they need rather than depriving them the knowledge they deserved.

We went back to the VRU school at 4:00 pm and stayed in the quarter for the remaining 30 minutes. At 4:30p.m, we went back to the dorm to rest and talked about our first out of school experience, where we had to dealt with active and responsive students. At 6:00 in the evening, we went to the night market to buy food and some items with our fellow SEA Teacher from USI, Marian Dacara and Eve Pural. We went back and call it a day as we finished our dinner.

The next morning, Thursday, 10th day of January, we went to school early since the school time in is 7:30 in the morning. We learned that they were having a scout camp for three consecutive days. First day was the opening and the grade 9 to 10 who were assigned in secondary department observed and took pictures of the event. The teachers join the band with the accompaniment of different instruments as the students passed on the cave-like structure they made. It was an enjoyable scene to witness. All I could hear were laughter and excitement.

Also, the students were taught to respond to a certain call of the master while squatting on the floor. In the afternoon, students made a structure which symbolized survival.

In the evening, they were task to cook food on their and cope up with changes for survival using different tools. Of course, the teachers took in charge of the event. More activities were introduced to students to measure how far they can go. The students seemed to enjoy the activity as they showed no pain and exhaustion. All that can be seen was smile, laughter and joy as they perform the tasks. We left the school at 4:30 p.m. with smiles on our faces. We did our usual thing in the dormitory such as cooking, washing our clothes and doing our preparations for the next morning.

On Friday, 11th day January second day of the scout. We went to school early not to miss the flag ceremony. We kept on taking pictures and videos to record every moment that interest us most. The scout team went near the princess house where they had their training on how to tie a knot, build a rigid structure, to perform necessary action in respond to any unexpected circumstances and other instructions were given.

I and my co-SEA Teacher delegates in secondary followed them to observe how the teachers gave instructions. They talked while doing the steps which helped the students apprehend it and do the same. We spent almost 3 hours there observing and making rounds to take pictures of the event. We talked to each other about what we think of this first week experience staying in VRU and shared about our own scout moments way back in high school. At 4:30, our usual dismissal, we went back to the dorm to go to night market and family together for our food and other personal things. At 6:30 in the evening, we were already inside of the dorm.