#SARASAdventure

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Day 16: Final Demo Teaching

The day I was most nervous in my whole stay in Sarasas. I never thought that I would be actually this nervous starting yesterday (February 12) until I finished my final demo.

First thing in the morning, I woke up early, took a bath (thankfully there was a heater), ate breakfast, and did all of my preparations for this day. First class, I just went to support Mariedelle having her final demo teaching and took some photos while I’m at it. Then, I just stayed in the faculty room preparing my instructional materials, gathering all of my courage, and praying for my success. Then, finally my time is up, I positively went in my class 4-1 and did all the preparation while waiting for Ma’am Vicki.

I started my class with greetings, followed by vocabulary of the day, and a little review from previous lesson. I introduced the new lesson with a game as a motivation for the students. I used various strategies such as encourage them to recite, asking some questions relating to the lesson, and gratefully they all actively participate in my class. We had a combination of discussion and demonstration for our lesson as it was about the first aid of burns. Lastly, to end my class I gave them a quiz as to assess if they have learned what the lesson was all about.

P.S. I was really freaking because my laptop was actually defected. Gratefully, nothing bad happens during my final demo.

                                                                                                   February 13, 2019

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Day 8: Holiday pt.2

Another holiday… Mariyela (an intern from FEU) and I decided to go outside and we went to Central Festival (one of the mall in Sarasas). I think the mall is what you can compare to Robinsons of the Philippines. I was shocked of the prices of the goods inside the mall and I actually bought a watch as a reward to myself as part of the interns abroad. We just explored the mall. We’re able to see firsthand the Central Food Hall (one of the world’s 25 grocery stores to visit before you die”.

P.S. We always use grab wherever we go and it was really cheap. By the way, we only have four interns from FEU including myself, Mariyela, Jewrish, and Mariedelle.

                                                                                                     February 5, 2019

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Day 7: Holiday pt.1

It was a holiday… I just lied on my bed while playing mobile games and scrolling in my social media accounts until lunch time. Jewrish and Mariedelle actually invited me for swimming and I had to decline because it was really cold outside. But, I still went to them to visit and see how they were cold in the swimming pool. In the evening, we just had our dinner and took our time staying at the lounge area.

P.S. I washed my clothes something remarkable for this day.

                                                                                                     February 4, 2019

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Day 6: Night Market

Sunday… we’re all lazy to even stand up and get out of our hotel. Anyway, I actually influenced Jewrish and Mariedelle (interns from FEU) to play Mobile Legends as we are just hiding in our hotel (well it was our rest day).

As the sun comes down, we decided to go to the Night Market which was also suggested by the teachers and yet another surprise for us (we all just like literally “WOW “every time we go to different places). There was a lot of foreigners with different nationality, and it was literally crowded. We found some goods that we can actually bring with us as a souvenir/remembrance/pasalubong. There we’re able use our skill as Filipino “tawad” (have a discount for every purchases) to have them for a cheaper price and some foreigners were amazed by how we do things (make “tawad”). Then, we explored, did some window-shopping, and ate some food that were new to us.

P.S. We bought a lot as if it was our last day in Sarasas. LOL!

                                                                                                     February 3, 2019

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Day 5: Flower Festival and Wat Phra Singh

We were suggested to have fun during the weekends by the foreign teachers, Filipino teachers, and even Ma’am Vicki. As such, we went to our first destination and *to see the Flower Festival. We saw various float with its unique style and different types of flowers, people with their costume (traditional clothes), foreigners who also wanted to have fun in the festival, and performances from different schools. I was also amazed by discipline of the Thai people and the view of the sky.

Next was Wat Phra Singh, we got to enter a temple for the very first time and was astounded of the architectural structure and statutes (to be honest I actually doubted if the materials used in the temples were gold LOL). I just learned that there is a rule that when entering a temple you must NOT point your foot to the statute as it is sign of disrespect to the Buddha so we had to walk with our knees in the aisle. It was also my first time to see a real monk.

P.S. We were mistaken as Thai people. In contrary, they looked like Filipino to us.

                                                                                                     February 2, 2019

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Day 3: The Sarasas Witaed Chiang Mai School and The Niyom Coffee

I woke up with a surprise that Chiang Mai was somewhat similar to Baguio when it comes to temperature. We were all surprised to see each other in the canteen wearing our own jacket.

In comparison with schools in the Philippines, Sarasas Witaed Chiang Mai School started with national anthem, followed by prayer, vocabulary of the day, then returning to their respective classrooms. After the class, I just had to roam inside the campus and took a picture while I’m at it. Sarasas Witae Chiang Mai School was unexpectedly big. I was surprised of the facility that the school had, such as an oval, a pool, a basketball court, a tennis court, a free space for table tennis, two canteens, three playgrounds, and various building for different programs (bilingual, international).

Before we return to our hotel, we went to the nearest 7/11 to buy our sim for convenience (unlimited date for one month). Just beside the 7/11 was the Niyom Coffee that was said to be cheaper than SB but with a similar taste. Out of curiosity, we tried and not to disappoint us, it was really good. By the way, I ordered a strawberry flavored one.

P.S. We learned our lesson and being meticulous in buying our rice.

                                                                                                    January 31, 2019

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Day 2: Master Micro (NOT sir Micro)

First day of internship and the day we’re introduced to our cooperating teacher and the only one who was assigned to a Filipino teacher. (I am really proud of the Filipino teachers. Their versatility is the real deal.)

This day, I was introduced to the class 2-2 of Teacher Shiena (my cooperating teacher) and was taken by surprise calling me Master Micro instead of Sir Micro (“master” is used for male teachers and “ma’am” for female teachers). I have been able to observe and seen how she handled the class and seriously the students were really naughty but they were cute enough to take away the stress.  After the class, we just went to the canteen to have our lunch.

I just had to stay in the faculty room and talked to the foreign teachers after we ate and I helped Jewrish (an intern from FEU) to do some checking of the books which was given by a foreign teacher. Then, we went back to our hotel after checking the books.

P.S. We were shocked when we bought rice as we were given sticky rice instead of steamed rice. From that day on I was traumatized of sticky rice as it was about to break my jaw.

                                                                                                    January 30, 2019

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Day 0-1: Travel Experience and Sarasas Witaed Chiangmai School

Upon arrival in Chiang Mai, my co-student teacher and I had a problem with the immigration because we were not able to give the telephone number of the hotel we will be staying despite of showing them the formal letter of us having an observation in Sarasas Witaed Chiang Mai School. Thankfully, there was a Thai girl that helped us by transferring us to another window.

We met Ma'am Vicky, the principal of Sarasas Witaed Chiang Mai School who has been waiting for us. She welcomed us with an FEU banner. Surprisingly, there were no traffic jam in Chiang Mai. We were also amazed of the facilities in Sarasas Chiang Mai Witaed School.

                                                                                                    January 29, 2019

An awesome experience of travelling outside the country for the first time! A 4-hour flight (8:50 pm - 12:50 am) from Manila to Kuala Lumpur followed by a 5-hour layover before a 3-hour flight (6:55 am - 9:55 am) from Kuala Lumpur to Chiang Mai.

We did some epic vlogging of what has happened during our flight, being on a travellator/walkalator, sleeping while waiting for our next flight, and looking the view at the window. Sadly, I had to experience an ear pain during take off and landing of the airplane because of unpreparedness.

                                                                                                January 28, 2019

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Why study abroad?

Here are five (5) benefits to help you make up your mind.

Most people, including myself, are afraid of change. Whether in relationship, appearance or simply changing the brand of soap that we use. We tend to stick to whom or what we are used to.

However, there is one constant thing in this world — change. The universe has this weird plan of insisting change in our plans.

This January, I was fortunate to be given an opportunity to have his on-the-job training abroad. I am glad and feel terrified at the same time. I haven't been in a new land before, not even in a plane!

I had to consider many things before I agreed. Some of those are: finances, mental and physical health and my self confidence. I asked my parents if they can afford sending me to other country. I also asked myself if I can do it and I have to push and pull myself towards my decision. Here are some benefits of studying abroad.

It’s a challenge. Studying abroad is not really easy, you might encounter different challenge that only comes with going overseas. However, you should not be afraid as it is all part of the experience. You will have to step outside your comfort zone and that will make it more challenging. As you conquer this challenge, you will become a better version of yourself.

Experience a new culture. Some of the students who choose to study abroad are leaving their home for the very first time. This gives students the chance to see, do things, experience, and meet people with different culture. For instance, you will be able to try different foods, experience different customs and traditions, and learn more about yourself which will help you mature and improve yourself.

Build your confidence and improve language skills. If you study abroad, you will get to practice your language skills by speaking every day with different people and chances you will also learn new language. Meeting and talking with different people will build your confidence.

Career Opportunities. When you finish your study abroad, you will return home with a new experience, a great education, language skills, built up confidence, and new perspective on culture. All these will help you to attract employers. In some cases, some students are being hired and offered. This will give you work just after you graduate.

Become independent. There’s a saying that you will truly become truly independent when you went to college. And this is even more believed when you study abroad and live alone abroad.