Road to Jakarta: Our Pre-Departure Journey for SEA Teacher Batch 11

Hey everyone! The bags are packed, the passports are ready, and the nerves are definitely kicking in. If you’ve been following my journey as a pre-service teacher, you know that this is the moment I’ve been waiting for. I am officially on my way to Jakarta, Indonesia for the SEA Teacher Project (Batch 11) at Universitas Muhammadiyah Prof. DR. HAMKA (UHAMKA)! 🇮🇩✨

This international teaching internship is a dream come true, but before the classroom magic begins, we had to actually get there. Here is a look behind the scenes of our whirlwind pre-departure day on May 17, 2026.

📍 1:00 PM – The Countdown Begins at the Meeting Place

The day started with a mix of heavy suitcases and even heavier emotions. I arrived at our designated meeting place at exactly 1:00 PM. Saying goodbye to family and friends was tough, but the sheer excitement of meeting up with my fellow pre-service teachers made it all feel real. We took our classic group photos, double-checked our travel documents (manifesting that no one forgot their visa or boarding pass!), and loaded up the terminal-bound transport. Next stop: NAIA!

🏢 6:00 PM – Touching Down at NAIA

After navigating the unpredictable traffic, we pulled up to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) at 6:00 PM.

There is nothing quite like the energy of an international airport evening rush. Standing in line for check-in and immigration gave us plenty of time to talk about our expectations, our lesson plans, and how eager we are to immerse ourselves in the Indonesian culture and educational system. Walking through the terminal with the rest of the delegation, it hit me: We are really doing this. We are representing our country as global educators.

What’s Next?

As we wait at the boarding gate, staring out at the planes on the tarmac, I can't help but feel incredibly grateful. Huge thanks to everyone who has supported me to reach this milestone—my mentors, my family, and my institution.

UHAMKA, we are ready for you! From adapting to new classroom dynamics to exploring the vibrant city of Jakarta, I can’t wait to share every step of this teaching practice with you all.

"Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today."

Stay tuned for my next update, straight from Jakarta! 🌏📝

#SEATeacherBatch11 #UHAMKA #PreServiceTeacher #GlobalEducator #RoadToJakarta #TeachingInternship

Safe travels! If you want to tweak any specific details, add descriptions of your flight, or include specific emotions you felt at the airport, just let me know!