Meeting the UNISDA’s President

Since it’s our free day today, my co-exchange student and I woke up about noontime, savoring the free time spending it for sleep which we think we are deprived of during the weekdays. We would spend our time after classes on weekdays talking about our different experiences as my co-exchange student and I wasn’t assigned in the same school. Also, we write blogs and lesson plans during the weekdays which is why today our day started late.

               We’ve heard that Bu Ainul Masruroh has come back from a pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia and that we thought she, the President of UNISDA, would be delighted to welcome as, students from University of Mindanao, Philippines.

               The day progressed well and fast and we found ourselves eating lunch at Bu Ainul’s house while we talked about our experiences for the past two weeks that we were in their country. She collated concerns that we might have with regards to our stay and luckily we were not able to give any as there was none so far.

               We told her how we got accustomed to the environment, the food, temperature and everything in Lamongan. “We are more comfortable now than we were compared to our first week of stay here,” we told her.

               Bu Ainul has been very accommodating to all three of us, my co-exchange student and to our student buddy, Mr. Alwi. She even offered us Roasted Nuts to bring home and gave each of us “Sarung”, a traditional garment of Indonesia for men.

Sunset Watching

               Furthermore, she had us borrow one of her motorcycles, for us to use to visit places we want to go and see.

               Bu Ainul remarkably painted smiles into our faces.

               Having no other agenda for the day and with the motorcycle at hand, we decided to go sunset watching at TPI Campurejo which all of us enjoyed. Mr. Alwi and one of the teachers of SMK NU 1 Karanggeneng drove the motorcyles for us and watch after our safety to which we are very thankful for.

               We enjoyed the sunset that set the sky ablaze amidst dark clouds – it always makes me say “Alhamdullilah!”. One thing I realized watching the sunset was that things can end and still be beautiful.