DAY #2 - New environment, new friends!

Thursday, August 16.

Me and my roommates woke up at 5 to have prayer. After that, we stayed up until 7 and had a breakfast. Last night, Mrs. Nemia and Ms. Lyza said that tomorrow we will take a picture for our ID Cards. And today, the ID Card proceeded at the room that literally specialized for making an ID Card. The room is in the 2nd floor of ISAT-U building. Me, Ajin, Mira, and the other four from Polytechnic Sriwijaya went upstairs together for making our ID Card. We entered the room and wait for our turn. So, this is it. My ISAT-U ID Card.

Yas, sadly my last name was misspelled as Yanuaroy which the truth is should be Yanuardy. Haha but I think that was my fault because I wasn’t checked my name carefully before the ID Card printed. But that’s fine, I feel the Philippines’ local wisdom in my name. Yanuaroy.

We had a free time until 12 PM because we will have a meeting with ISAT-U’s President, Dr. Raul F. Muyong in his office. We were so nervous but all that feelings gone when we directly met him. He is a very humble and friendly person. I adore his way of talking which is so smooth and full of smile. We introduced ourselves, where we from, what are our major, and had some talks with him so he welcomed us to Philippines, especially Iloilo and ISAT U.

After some conversation, we took a picture together with him.

TVET IT Students together with Sir Raul Muyong, Sir Jun, and Mam Nemz

Today was so tiring yet exciting because after visiting Dr. Muyong’s office, we were directed to go to the External Office where Mrs. Lyza works everyday. There, we had our snacks and met our buddies. There were so many of them. Sooo, let me introduce them to you. They are Liezel Espejo, Arnalin Gabor, Mark J Daza, John Philip, Queen Ann, Ricky Tubayan, and some more. Liezel and Arna are my buddies while the other are buddies of my other friends from Indonesia.

We talked a lot there. The beginning was when we talked about the similarities of Bahasa and Tagalog or Hiligaynon (the local language of Iloilo). I asked Mark to introduce himself with Tagalog language. Maayong hapon, ako si Mark Daza. That was what he said. Almost same like Bahasa, ako means I, which is aku in Bahasa.

Our buddy, Mark, introducing himself with Hiligaynon.

After around 2 hours, our buddies took us to walk around the campus, offices, classes, labs, gymnasium, and lastly, the school park. We sat in park chairs under the trees there while chit-chatting until the sky became darker. It was really fun to know many new things, especially when we have similar cultures. It makes me feel more relation with them.

We sitting together and had talk in ISAT park.

Just like I said, today was so tiring yet exciting. I love the hospitality and sincerity of Ilonggo people. <3