SO IT BEGINS!: 2017

Are you still thinking whether to join this SEA Teacher program or not? Are you still not sure about it? Gurl, you better find your most comfortable seat, lay down and read this article.

Here we go!

My first tip is before you decided to enroll for this program you have to make sure that you GOT THE MONEY. Lol. Since it is not fully funded program so you have to prepare the money.
You have to make sure that you REALLY WANT TO DO THIS PROGRAM and be away with your family for one month (especially for those of you who haven’t lived without your parents before). Because even though you will live with your friends, once you got problem or something they wouldn’t understand you as best as your parents, right? Or else you might cry. Lol. Plus you will do everything on your own like washing the clothes, ironing the clothes, managing the money, ect. So, think about that gurl! Because once you step in you can’t step back!
ORDER ALL THE DOCUMENTS NEATLY.. Place your passport, plane ticket, invitation letter and some money in a bag that is easy to reach when you are in your airport. It’ll ease your trip. Plus, if you are in a hurry you can reach the document easily so you won’t miss the flight. Lol. Also, make a copy of your passport and invitation letter in case they are lost.
JUST LEAVE YOUR NATIONAL IDENTITY CARD, DRIVING LICENCE and some things like that in your country or else you might LOSE IT like me L They’re not needed in the airport anyway.
BRING EXTRA BAG like huge tote bag. I bet you will bring a lot of gifts from your lovely exchange country.
Have “GOOGLE TRANSLATE” APPLICATION installed in your phone. I had so much difficulties communicating with Thai, especially the street vendor sellers. They don’t understand English at all even I just asked them “is this spicy? Spicy?” They just ignored me. Lol. Fortunately, my friend had Google Translate in her phone, so she translated it in English and showed it to the seller.
Related to Documentation. Move your pictures and videos you took to your laptop daily and name the folder based on the date you took the photos. It’ll ease you to make a report to you blog or your self report later. YOU’RE WELCOME J
DON’T TRUST YOUR FRIEND. Hey, even though they seem nice and all but we just met them for a few days, right? We still have to be careful with them. I’m not being negative or what here. I’m just telling you this because I had bad experience LOSING MY WALLET IN MY OWN DORM. So, just be careful and prevent this thing happening to you. You could give your wallet strap hang to your neck or arm or something. So, it will always be with you and not lose it from your sight. Plus, keep your money in a safe place. ALWAYS LOCK YOUR ROOM DOOR so your friend can’t come in and out your room as they want. And lastly,
ASK Your Buddy if you don’t know how things work in that country. Like how to operate washing machine, top up the phone bill, even how to do the greeting perfectly. Plus, just tell your cooperating teacher if you NEED SOMETHING related to your self report such as lesson plan, school profile, headmaster’s signature, etc. They will of course help you. Just make sure to COMMUNICATE WELL and check their understanding first. Make your explanation as clear as possible so there will be no hard feelings between you two. Way to go, gurl!
Also TELL EVERYTHING to your advisor/co-advisor/lecturer in your home country if something unpleasant/bad happening to you. Like if you’re sick, lost your room key, lost your wallet, ect. They will help you figure out the problems or at least they know you have something inconvenient so you can ask for further improvement.