After some last minute goodbyes with friends and family, I went on the bus from Pampanga to Manila with the dean of the College of Education at AUF. Went to NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) Terminal 3, 4 hours away from departure. Levie, a classmate (and now I consider as one of my dear friends), met us there.
Flying was no big deal, even though last time I rode a plane was about a decade ago. Levie and I had so many stories to tell to each other that I didn’t even feel the plane land on Jakarta
Our dean accompanied us up to Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta Airport and then left us on our own to alight the plane to Palu. We are so thankful that our dean was there to show us the ropes.
We waited a bit more before our plane to Palu departed. As a light sleeper, I didn’t really had the chance to sleep at the airport, but found myself dozing off at the plane. Maybe 19 hours of travel would do that to you.
At past seven in the morning, we arrived at Palu, at Mutiara Airport to be greeted by Prof. Diah, our Indonesian coordinator, our Thai counterparts, and our buddies! We ate a hearty breakfast then was escorted to the hotel where we spent the rest of the day asleep.
Everything was so overwhelming to me. I had to keep on reminding myself that I was at Indonesia. This is where I will be for the next 29 days. This will be my new home away from home.
With the resolve to do my best and the energy of a jet-lagged traveler, I went on to sleep.
Ady's Adventures in Palu 