SMA Negeri Baturraden
Nestled near mount Slamat and surrounded with lush green vegetation in which the weather is cold is the school of SMA Negeri Baturraden. Gazing from afar, your mind will be at ease and you will feel the cold fine weather hugging your warm body. The school environment is really conducive for students which will promote better learning. Students were wearing yellow patterned batik and was preparing for the Indonesian Independence day celebration. As our vehicle draw nearer to the school, I am hearing a banging of drums and some melodies from an instrument that I cannot recognize. The sound becomes louder as we approach the gate of the university. I was informed that the rhythm I was listening is an Islamic music called “rabana”.
A warm welcome in a cold place
At the door of the main building was Ibu Is, the school head who greeted us with a warm smile and few other school department heads as well as faculty and staff. Ms. Lutfi was also there together with Pak Sae who interviewed us via Skype from UMP. We were asked to enter the school’s reception area and be seated. In from of us are some of Banyumas native delicacies. We had another solemn welcoming ceremony where Pak Sae and Ms. Lutfi endorsed us to the school as student exchange under SEA-Teachers program. They were talking in Bahasa and I tried to pay attention on what they are saying maybe I can decipher it but the way talk I feel comforted for some reason. After their short talk, they ask us to introduce ourselves one by one with a short background and so we did.
Exploring SMA Baturraden
After our short welcoming ceremony, we had a quick tour around the campus. Prior leaving the main building, we were able to get a chance to have some pictures together with students as well with the school head and department in-charge.We went first to their prayer room and met few students playing instruments. Beside their prayer room is a series of faucet to be used by students and teachers in washing their body before they will pray. As we roam around the school, I found several ponds with fishes and I also observed that their classroom is spacious compared to where I come from. Students are outside the class playing and having fellowship with one another. They don’t have class due to the preparation for their independence day. We are elated because students are happy to join us in group picture taking. At that moment, I felt like we are an instant celebrity.
The Fabulous Ibu Cici
The staff from UMP left me and Mass, a student exchange from Thailand who will be teaching Physics in senior high to Ibu Cici. Bu Cici introduced us to the teachers in their pod. She even gave me a moment to also sing an Indonesian song in front of them in I am so shy to remember the moment. We went to several spots at school and gave us information regarding the topic that we need to discuss as well as our class session. Bu has a bubbly personality that every moment with her is not boring at all. She is very thorough every time she talks and also she shared wisdom to the both of us that is very essential to that path that we are taking. She is very accommodating and makes sure that we are okay. We stayed in a room together with students from UMP who are doing their classroom observation in Baturraden. As the clock ticks close to going home signal, I was a bit worried how to go back to MESS and told Bu about this concern. She asked some students from UMP to drop us to MESS and they agreed. We are so grateful for Haris and Alif who gave us a ride back to MESS. Another day has ended and we wrap it up by eating the ever famous Nasi Goreng for dinner. I cannot wait for what the morrow may bring forth.
