Hello, let me introduce myself, my name is Ikrima Maulida. Since I was in high school, I have been used to being away from my parents. Likewise with college, because I studied at Undiksha I lived in Singaraja City while my parents lived in Jimbaran, South Kuta. Once a week you can go home. You could say I’m an overseas child. I have lived in Bali since I was 2 years old. Last semester 7 I had an experience that I will never forget. The experience was about PPL in the Philippines.
Initially, I was interested in joining this program because I wanted to apply the knowledge I had learned on campus and wanted to gain experience in what it was like to teach children who were not Indonesian. Plus my curiosity about life abroad. There was indeed a fear of not passing the selection because there were many English-language children taking part, but I was still determined to try. Luckily I was able to pass the selection.
At that time, on September 1, 2019, Wahyu and other friends left for Manila, Philippines. To teach at Laboratory Integrated School-Elementary Bayambang, Pangasinan. Luckily we were very well received by the Principal, Teachers, and children. Got to teach in my 6th grade elementary school and Wahyu became my teaching partner. Wahyu is a friend of a study program at Undiksha. We are trusted to teach science and English subjects. We exchange roles when I teach science, then Wahyu teaches English, and vice versa.
There I got a very good science teacher mentor, before teaching the next day I was asked to prepare lesson plans the day before, prepare learning media and the most interesting thing was I was asked to rehearse first. He also assessed the way I taught during rehearsal and then gave me input, so that the next day I was very ready to deliver the material in class. One time my friends and I were asked to play volleyball at school, but I couldn’t, instead they encouraged me and said let’s try first, there’s nothing you can’t do. I was stunned and started trying to play with them.
One day while teaching in grade 6, the children were so hot, that without hesitation, they took off their uniforms and only wore their undershirts. Suddenly I was shocked but that’s the culture here, it’s free and even on certain days they are not required to wear uniforms. Even so, they are still smart children who do not hesitate to ask and answer questions, instead, they scramble to convey their arguments. They are very enthusiastic and responsible and complete their tasks seriously. Because classes 4, 5, and 6 have picket schedules, after every lesson they finish cleaning the benches, classrooms, and bathrooms. Because the bathroom is in the classroom I saw them cleaning the bathroom. If someone comes, they immediately greet you. No less interesting, it turns out that at the elementary school level, there are also student councils. They campaigned, introduced their cabinet members, and even held democratic elections. My students are very interested when I talk about Indonesia. They said that when they are 25 they want to go to Indonesia. I just believe it and respond happily.
The teachers often offered us food, but if this Indonesian tongue wasn’t spicy it wouldn’t be that bad. Once when I first got there I ate at a fried chicken restaurant and chose the spiciest variant but it still didn’t taste spicy in my opinion. In my opinion, all the food there, from sardines to market food, is not spicy. But according to them, it was already very spicy. Maybe the level of spiciness in each country is different. In the evening we were also invited to dinner by the Regent of Bayambang.
While in the Philippines we were used to walking, most people there also walk. I feel healthier because I walk often. Unless it’s late at night and I have to shop for quite a lot of daily necessities, I take a motorbike rickshaw. Oh yes, strangely enough, the shops there close at 7 pm so before 7 we were already shopping.
Regarding the education system, the education system there is different, they still use cursive writing and already use English, but there are lessons in Filipino as well, such as citizenship lessons and Filipino language lessons. This can be imitated by Indonesia. So far, only international schools use English. RPP writing is also not as thick as in Indonesia. We only need to make about 7-8 pages.
Again, whether the education system is good or not must be seen from its human resources, infrastructure, and culture. Likewise with the goals of education in that country and the readiness of its citizens. However, what I regret is that the changing education system makes teachers confused, and the infrastructure is inadequate because Indonesia is vast and even remote. Maybe this is our challenge in the future as teachers in Indonesia.
One day, if I become a teacher, I will apply discipline, responsibility, hard work and never give up. Keep trying, trying, and praying. Just like what Filipino children do before they start lessons, the class leader will guide them in prayer. Don’t be afraid to express your opinion because I see that there are still many children in Indonesia who don’t dare to argue.
A month there we had to return to Indonesia. The sweetness of the children there actually gave Wahyu and me letters in beautiful shapes, so we were even more touched when we parted. I will miss those who every morning secretly put food on my desk before I arrive at school. Before going home we had time to travel to One Hundred Islands, Philippines, then to the National Museum, and National Park, and shop for souvenirs in the Philippines. Finally, we headed to the airport accompanied by a driver from the Indonesian Embassy in the Philippines.
Laboratory Integrated School-Elementary Bayambang, Pangasinan
