Fourth Week

Okay, now this is it. My final week in Indonesia. This week I can't help but think of saying goodbye but nit wanting to. I can't believe that in just a few days, I'll be leaving. I have become used to teaching here, that leaving this place breaks my heart. Can I have another week? Why is time so fast? Throughout this week, I made it a point to take final pictures of SMA YP UNILA and important documents as well, as needed in the student self report. Somehow I feel so uneasy. The thought of leaving just haunts me.

I found it hard to stay alert and happy because of my lingering thoughts. My students often asked me this week if I'm okay because I looked so serious. I guess I was really taking my departure seriously.


On my last day at the school, I saw so many students at the court during classes. I was wondering what they were doing.

I was told that they were having their shooting for their graduation video. When I went upstairs, this was the view:

SMANILA- short for SMA YP UNILA. Wow. And to think that this whole thing was just put together by the students themselves!

This is the man they hired to take the video with a drone. The students wearing green shirts are the ones in charge of the whole thing.

 Bu Linda went with me to buy "oleh-oleh" or "pasalubong" which are local products to take home to the Philippines. I was schocked when she told me not to pay for it because she told me that the school will pay for it. It was a lot!

Me at the store. Photo taken by Bu Linda.

After that, we went back to school and some students gave me a local attire. I felt so touched.

Thank you for this, SMA YP UNILA students!

Then, the teachers at the faculty room said their goodbyes. My heart was melting right then and there. I remembered all the kindness they have shown me. They woukd often treat me to lunch or breakfast, especially Bu Linda. They would also give me snacks during istirahat (break time). I will be forever grateful. Then, when I saw Bu Linda crying, I also started to cry. The thing is, I hate it when I cry because I know I look so bad when I do! But I couldn't stop myself, so I just let the tears flow. The teachers told me not to cry, but I cried the more. It was so hard. It's like I feel as if something's missing. Like I'm incomplete. My goodness, goodbyes are so terrible!

Me trying to smile for the picture with teary eyes. 

I spent that night musing in my dorm, trying to settle with the fact that goodbyes are aprt of life, no matter how heartbreaking they are. That you've never lived if you've never said goodbye. The next morning, Ibwoke up knowing that I must face it bravely. It won't kill me, right? I will truly miss everyone I have met here.