Touching hearts, molding minds

MANILA, Philippines - This was my friend’s description of her job in her Friendster account a couple of years ago.

Interesting, isn’t it?

Clearly, there is just one job in this world that can do that, the noblest of all professions, being a TEACHER.

I have been an educator since I graduated from college. And I haven’t stopped since then.

In 2007, I resigned from my teaching job in Manila. I wanted to pursue my dream of becoming an international teacher. The first step was to move to Cebu and teach the International Baccalaureate at one of the internationally accredited international schools in the Philippines, Cebu International School (CIS). I regarded this as my stepping stone to a much bigger dream of teaching in international schools overseas.

After two years, I decided to leave Cebu and try my luck abroad. I am currently teaching at Singapore International School, Indonesia.

Although Jakarta’s not that far from Manila, I still had to adjust to the new environment most especially with the school I was working for. I had to deal with new policies, a new curriculum, new colleagues and new students.

I was clueless when I came to Jakarta. Armed with little knowledge about the city and the school I had to work for, I had to weave my way through almost everything.

When relatives and friends found out that I was moving to Jakarta, they told me to be careful. Culture will definitely be very different. Indonesia is a Muslim country, therefore, it’s a very strict society. Their second warning: be alert all the time because Jakarta is a hotspot for terrorist attacks.

After spending three months in this city, I have learned a few things: 

I know now how to ride the angkot and say “kiri” so that I could get off.  I have also learned to take the public bus (metro mini) which a lot of expats dare not take because it’s old, hot, and cramped. One friend’s advice: “do not talk inside the metro mini so that people won’t know that you’re a foreigner, that way it will minimize the chances of getting their attention.”

I also had to learn how to eat and appreciate Indonesian food. I am now starting to like nasi goreng, nasi padang, soto ayam, and mie goreng. Good thing longganisa and tocino are available from Filipinos in our area. (Pinoy food is still the best!)

Aside from the food and the language, there are two other things that I’m trying to get used to here in Jakarta: the bad traffic! Oh boy! Worse than Manila and the imam whose early morning prayer at the masjid (mosque) happens everyday 4 a.m.! (talk about wake-up call).

I have learned to be more independent and domesticated. I can’t believe that I have to do everything for myself like cook, wash the dishes, do the laundry and clean the toilet! I never did any of these in Antipolo! Good thing there is a “ba” or maid in my place who would clean my room every weekday.

I had to adjust to three things at my new school:

Colleagues: they’re basically Asian - Filipinos, Pakistanis, Indians, Chinese and Indonesians. There were very few Caucasians or Bule as they call them here in Indonesia. I even had to train myself to get use to the different scent everyday.

Curriculum: Back in Cebu, I was trained to do the IB-DP which is common among all international schools all over the world but here, I had to learn another one, the IGCSE or the International General Certificate of Secondary Education of Cambridge University. I was even required to take an online course about IGCSE Geography, which I am doing right now.

Students: Right now, majority of my students are Asians; Indonesians, Singaporeans, Chinese, Koreans and Malaysians. It is a mixture of Asian culture. Sometimes, I have to be careful with my comments so as not to offend any religious or cultural belief. Often times, it’s difficult to be upfront to these kids unlike in my previous school. But one thing is for sure, I also allow them to find out about the culture and country where I come from. (Somehow, I want these kids to know that the Philippines, in spite of the bad press is still a beautiful country.)

I have a year and a month left in my contract in Indonesia, I do hope that I’m still able to make a difference in young people’s lives: to mold their minds and to touch their hearts.

WORLEY PAMILARAN teaches at the Singapore International School, Indonesia.