South Korea: A Journey Filled with Pride and Gratitude

Hello everyone, today marks a very special milestone for us, the Indonesian delegation for the IKTE (Indonesia Korea Teacher Exchange) 2025 program has finally landed at Incheon International Airport. The moment I stepped out of the plane, I felt a wave of emotions relief, excitement, pride, and even a touch of disbelief. It still amazes me how dedication and achievements can take someone so far from home. 

from the window seat, on my way to Seoul. Dreams really do take flight.

We meet our Malay friends at Incheon

Tall building at Seoul

During the long flight, I caught myself gazing at my official passport over and over again. It wasn’t just a travel document in that moment it became a symbol of the journey I’ve been on. After facing some failure, this opportunity feels like a blessing in disguise, as if life wanted me to pause, take a deep breath, and find new meaning through different experiences. 

Of course, coming here does not mean leaving responsibilities behind. In fact, my academic journey feels even more demanding now. Here in South Korea, I am not only expected to learn, research, and teach, but also to represent my country in the spirit of cultural and educational diplomacy. This makes the journey even more meaningful because it is not just personal growth, but also a mission that connects nations through knowledge and mutual understanding. We were warmly greeted upon arrival at Incheon by the wonderful team from APCEIU (Asia-Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding). 

Their presence instantly gave us a sense of comfort and belonging. At the airport, we also met our fellow delegates from Thailand and Malaysia, which immediately created an atmosphere of friendship and regional unity. It was inspiring to realize that although we come from different countries, we share the same passion for education and intercultural dialogue. Soon after, a bright pink bus picked us up and took us through the lively streets of Seoul, our first glimpse of the city that will be our home for the next three months. We headed first to our hotel and then to the APCEIU office, where the official program began. The first day’s agenda was a Local Adjustment Training and Welcoming Ceremony. The session was more than just an introduction; it was a chance to learn about each other’s backgrounds, share our hopes, and reflect on the journey ahead. 

Well, here are some pictures I’m attaching to embed the memory. Some of them from our pre departure pictures.

Mirror selfie in my room at Aone Hotel Jakarta.

From 879 participants across 19 provinces, 41 made it to Stage 2 in Jakarta, and finally, 8 were chosen as Indonesia’s delegates for the Indonesia–Korea Teacher Exchange Program 2025.

A proud moment that reflects dedication, hard work, and the spirit of representing Indonesia abroad! 

🇮🇩✈️🇰🇷

The IKTE delegation with the committee from the Ministry of Education of Indonesia before departure.

Pre-departure closing night in Jakarta.

Just a bit too enthusiastic about this adventure!

Before our flight, the organizers gave us a little tour around Jakarta in the morning.

love our team and the jacket

the day of departure

smile from ear to ear

bisa punya passport dinas, masyaa Allah

our meal that night

love them so much

sempet baca ini sebentar ba'da subuh di pesawat

our first flight with Korean Air

with Mbak Rossi from Kemendikdasmen

hello Seoul

welcoming the day with a bright smile

Malaysia and Indonesia at Incheon

with my korean friend at the bus

Let’s have a snack before class

there are always halal snacks prepared for us.

some explanations from Habin

Santi from Aceh

Our Malay friend introduced himself

writing a letter to our own self for the next three month

halal meal from the committee

Seoul from bus

from the window at apceiu office

prayer room at APCEIU office

our Thailand friend

Guided by the APCEIU team, we participated in activities that helped us feel connected, even though we had just met. The warmth of the welcome made me believe that this journey will not only be about professional growth, but also about building lifelong friendships and creating memories to carry back home. As I look ahead, I can only hope that these three months in Korea will leave a lasting mark on my life and the lives of those I meet. May every step of this journey bring lessons, joy, and stories worth telling for years to come. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I embark on this adventure. See ya!

On The Matter of Luck

Mungkin, saya adalah salah satu dari sedikit pendidik yang beruntung. Saya memulai karier dengan cepat tanpa kendala berarti. Penghasilan yang saya terima lebih dari cukup, walau tak bisa dibilang berkelimpahan. Tapi lebih dari cukup untuk membiayai diri, membantu orang tua dan support finansial bersama teman hidup di rumah sederhana kami. Setiap bulan saya masih bisa beli buku. Setiap tahun saya bisa melakukan riset. Tapi memang saya hanya punya dua anak dan belum masuk usia perguruan tinggi, jadi kata orang masih belum banyak kebutuhan. Namun sedikit-sedikit masih bisa menabung. Tapi kalau tolak ukur kemapanan dinilai dari kebun sawit, tentu saja saya jauh dari itu. Jadi saat ramai-ramai ada frasa ‘beban negara’ tentu saya menolak mengambil frasa tersebut untuk dilabelkan pada saya baik personal maupun professional. Saya berkontribusi dan merasa hidup nyaman. Entah karena tidak punya banyak keinginan dengan nilai materi yang tinggi atau memang kebutuhan akademik saya merasa terpenuhi, saya juga tidak tahu. Yang jelas saya bersyukur. Rasa syukur yang akan membuat saya membuktikan bahwa negara tidak rugi berinvestasi pada saya. Mari kita terus upayakan hal-hal baik itu. Salam, Penyelamat bumi.