The Journey Begins: Preparing for an Unforgettable Adventure

Every great journey starts long before the actual departure. For me and my fellow SEA Teacher participants, the adventure began the moment we started preparing for our trip to the Philippines. From sorting out essential documents to overcoming unexpected challenges, every step brought us closer to this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Little did we know that even before setting foot in another country, we would face small yet memorable hurdles like a chaotic passport application process, a hilarious trip to pick them up, and the excitement of finally securing our flight tickets. These moments, filled with both stress and laughter, made our journey feel even more real.

Here’s how it all began!

The Passport Journey: A Challenge Before the Adventure

Before booking our flight tickets, my group of four who are also my classmates had to get our passports sorted. However, finding an immigration office with available slots for all four of us was quite a challenge. Most offices were either fully booked or had no openings that fit our schedule.

After searching for days, we finally found an immigration office in Kediri that had slots available. The only downside? It was about a two-hour drive from our campus. Luckily, our SEA Teacher coordinator, Ma’am Irma, along with our lecturer, Mrs. Anita, helped us arrange the trip. They scheduled a day for all six of us, including them, to travel together. We were provided with a car and a driver, making the long journey much more convenient.

We left campus very early in the morning to ensure we arrived on time. Everything went smoothly, except for one small issue we were missing a few required documents! Fortunately, the immigration office had a photocopy and printing service, so we were able to complete our paperwork on the spot. Once all the documents were ready, the process of taking photos and fingerprints went without a hitch. By the end of the day, we received confirmation and were given a receipt to collect our passports a week later.

It was a small but memorable challenge that made the journey feel even more real. Finally, with our passports in hand, we were one step closer to our adventure in the Philippines!

Picking Up the Passports: An Unforgettable Journey

A week later, it was time to collect our passports. Fortunately, passport collection could be delegated as long as we had the necessary authorization letter. So, my friend Irfan and I were assigned to pick up not only our passports but also those of our two female friends who were part of the program.

To make things easier, Irfan stayed over at my house the night before our trip. Since passport collection was only available from 10 AM to 3 PM, we decided to leave early to avoid any unexpected issues. Before setting off, my mom prepared a hearty breakfast for us and even packed lunch so we wouldn’t have to spend extra money on food later.

The trip itself was a hilarious experience. Irfan has a well-known habit he can fall asleep anywhere, anytime. True to his nature, he dozed off multiple times during the ride. His helmet kept bumping into mine, and at one point, he was so sound asleep that he rested his head on my shoulder. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who had experienced this our other friends had shared similar stories about giving him a ride. Turns out, I wasn’t the only victim of his sleepiness!

After a long ride, we finally arrived at the immigration office early. Although the office was open, passport collection wouldn’t start until 10 AM. While waiting, we took the opportunity to double-check our documents at a nearby photocopy and printing shop. Right next to it, there was a small snack area with a freezer full of free ice cream for passport applicants. The last time we were here, we missed out because we had arrived later in the day. But this time, since we were early, Irfan and I got to enjoy the free ice cream. We immediately sent pictures to our group chat to tease Ma’am Irma and our friends who hadn’t been able to get any before!

When passport collection finally began, the process was straightforward. We submitted the authorization letters and necessary documents, then waited for our names to be called. Within no time, we had all four passports in hand. Mission accomplished!

Feeling relieved, we headed to the mosque inside the immigration office to rest and have lunch. The homemade meal from my mom and my girlfriend tasted even better after the long journey.

After eating, we couldn’t resist taking a short nap before performing the Dhuhr prayer.

As we prepared for the ride home, I braced myself for another round of Irfan’s nap attacks. Sure enough, despite our rest, he still fell asleep on the bike. The real surprise came near the end of our journey just as we were about to reach my house, it suddenly started pouring rain! We got completely drenched, but thankfully, all the important documents and passports remained safe.

Despite the exhaustion, laughter, and unexpected rain, the trip was an adventure in itself one I won’t forget anytime soon!

Booking Flight Tickets and Insurance

Once our passports were secured, the next step was purchasing flight tickets and arranging travel insurance. Thankfully, this process went smoothly without any major hurdles. We managed to book our flights on time, ensuring we had everything ready for departure. With tickets in hand and insurance sorted, everything was finally falling into place for our big adventure!

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With our passports secured, flight tickets booked, and everything falling into place, the real adventure was about to begin! But what awaited us in the Philippines? Stay tuned for the next chapter of our journey new experiences, cultural surprises, and the unforgettable moments that made this trip truly special!

STAY TUNED! IT'S COMING SOON!