Local Adjustment Training: Day 02

Our second day of training started with a briefing on the online application that all participants need to aware of; NEST, which stands for Network for Schools and Teachers. It was an online portal for all exchange teachers to sumbit their bi-weekly reports and documents regarding the projects which would be conducted at their respective schools. 

The next slot continued with a talk on the Korean Education System. As a young nation who achieved her political stabilization just around 30 years ago, it is quite astounding that they were able to pursue the modernization thus becoming one of the Asian Tigers. With the help of preceding educational policies that helped to generate human capital that they can be proud of today. 

The programme then continued with the slot on Korean Society and Culture where we were introduced with the traditional garments like Hanbok, as well as other cultural stuff like Chuseok Festival, kimbab, kimchi, ttoek, as well as the social manners like offering the drinks to the elders. During the session, our Malaysian ambassador personnel had dropped by and wished us all the very best of luck in completing the 3 months programme in South Korea. 

We were then taken to the Korean National Museum of Contemporary History and visited the statue of King Sejong the Great. I was so enlivened to be able to immerse in the history of a nation that I used to not interested of, and now having the knowledge of her past history, seemed like bringing me to look the South Korea or the Korean Peninsula from a different sentimental point of view. 

Briefing on NEST

Introduction to Korean Education System

Lunch pack - Grilled salmon, rice balls and salad

Introduction on Korean Society and Culture

Understanding Korean School System & Culture

Conference room

Primary school experience sharing session - This Korean teacher spent 30 months in Penang

National Museum of Korean Contemporary History

The statue of King Sejong the Great - the pride of all Koreans

Making our way to the restaurant

Our very first Korean style dinner

On the rooftop of National Museum of Contemporary History, overlooking the old palace of Gyeongbok Gung.

With the exchange teachers from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Mongolia

HM

Local Adjustment Training: Day 01

Upon reaching the hotel - Courtyard by Marriott - we had only 2 hours to rest before we start our hectic schedule. As usual, my partner, Saif and I shared the same room on the 9th floor. The room was amazing - 4 stars rating and cost around RM500 a room per night stay. Could not ask for more. It was surely my first experience staying in such 4 stars rated hotel. 

Courtyard by Marriott where we stayed for 4 days

The exceptional room

Sharp at 2.00 pm, we were brought to a restaurant located in the shopping mall, adjacent to the hotel. They provided a buffet dining style. Most of the dishes were alien to me and being a Halal Freak guy myself, I was quite worried about the ingredients used. So, I decided to go vegetarian mode and pick up any convincing food that is available - fruits and vegetables of course. 

After having the lunch, we were brought to the APCEIU building for our very first Local Adjustment Training slot. For those who did not aware, APCEIU (stands for Asia-Pacific Center of Education for International Understanding) is an organization under the supervision of UNESCO. They are the organiser of Korea-Asia-Pacific Teacher Exchange Programme for six consecutive years, and we are proudly the 6th batch of this same programme.

Goodies and Name Tag

As usual, we started our training programme with the ice-breaking session comprising all the participants from four different countries namely Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Mongolia. After that, the APCEIU personnel had given some talks on the introduction of the programme (Asia Pacific Teacher Exchange, APTE) and the role of APCEIU. Next, we then registered for the local number sim card and also opening the local bank account, KB Bank.

The first-day training ended at 6.00 pm before we moved back to the hotel and had our dinner at a Thai restaurant, located next to the hotel. The food was great and reminded me of Malaysian food which I had already missed on my first day in Korea.

After having some rest for about two hours, we had our cultural dance training at the hotel for another three hours. I was totally exhausted since we just had a 6 hours flight on the previous night, which made us having not enough sleep and rest. But still, we were told to be prepared mentally and physically as the programme would be very packed. Hopefully, thing will go well until the last day of this Local Adjustment Training. 

HM

KOMTEP 2018: The Adventure Begins

Today marks the journey of my Korea-Malaysia Teacher Exchange Programme odyssey. I am so excited a two of my Maktab's partner in crime, Ishak Ridhwan, and Aizuddin decided to send me off to KLIA albeit some glitches to the initial plan. We reached KLIA around 5.00 pm. 

Once we reached KLIA, we straightaway had our dance practice just behind the big screen. Quite embarrassing, to be honest, but we just do not care. Soon in the middle of practice my mom, my brother, and my nephew arrived. Settled the luggage check-ins, and had our conversation before we departed. And as usual, my mom reminded me of to always 'jaga waktu solat', a message that I will always bear in mind. About 9.00 pm we bid farewell to each other - quite sad to be honest to say goodbye to your mom especially when knowing the fact that you are apart thousands of miles away. 

We were also delighted to have the representatives from KPM for this send-off gathering. This would be my first ever experience in joining a delegation representing Malaysia and the feeling was so overwhelming. As of typical national delegation, we had our photo session with the banner and Malaysian flag. Proudly Malaysian. 

Since two of us had been sponsored by the Malaysian MoE, my buddy, Parthiban and I boarded on Malaysia Airlines as compared to 10 others where they boarded on Korean Air. We were really glad that Malaysia Airlines personnel had given us the Exit seating and the leg room was very spacious. And of course, the food was exceptional and that was the moment we really enjoyed our Malaysian food before missing them for 3 months. 

Having our kaya toast before the take off.

Plenty of leg room.

Supper snacks - Chicken pie with apple juice.

Classic Malaysian breakfast - Nasi Lemak & Kopi O

Satisfied Malaysian passengers. Thanks, Malaysian Airlines for making our journey stress free. Looking forward to traveling with you in the mere future. After about six hours we finally arrived at Incheon Airport, South Korea at around 6.30 am. We waited for our Korean MoE representative, Miss Bae Hyun Joo around 10 minutes before we headed straight to the hotel. Now the adventure had begun. 

HM