Dara Urona, a student in the English Education Department (TBI) STAIN Teungku Dirundeng Meulaboh, was filled with excitement . Together with her friends, Lady, Fira and Ais, she eagerly prepared to participate in the Indonesian Independence Day flag ceremony on August 17th, 2024. She shared her experience of commemorating Indonesia’s Independence Day with us.

Songkhla is a province located in the southern part of Thailand, bordering the provinces of Satun, Phatthalung, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Pattani, and Yala. To the south, Songkhla shares borders with the Malaysian states of Kedah and Perlis. Although Songkhla is the provincial capital, it is not the largest city in the area. That distinction belongs to Hatyai, which has a larger population and serves as the economic and social hub of the province.

This year, I had the wonderful opportunity to celebrate Indonesia’s 79th Independence Day in Songkhla, Thailand. I am currently participating in a teaching practice program (PPL) in Thailand, along with a few fellow students from STAIN Teungku Dirundeng Meulaboh. This program is in its second year, and I was fortunate enough to be placed in Thailand.

The Independence Day celebration took place at the Indonesian Consulate in Songkhla on Saturday, August 17, 2024. From our school, I traveled 81 kilometers, which took about 1 hour and 40 minutes. Fortunately, the school provided transportation, allowing us to reach the event location smoothly. I felt very grateful as the school highly respected this historic day for Indonesia and made it easy for us to participate in the flag-raising ceremony.

Before departing, we were asked to wear batik or traditional Indonesian attire. Upon arrival, I saw many Indonesians gathered to join the ceremony. The atmosphere felt so familiar, as if we were back in Indonesia. The ceremony was led by a team of Paskibraka (flag-raising squad), dressed in their traditional uniform, complete with the iconic red and white Indonesian flag waving majestically. The event was solemn and deeply moving. I and my friends felt a surge of pride and emotion, especially when the Indonesian national anthem, “Indonesia Raya,” was played. Despite being far from home, the pride of being Indonesian was still very strong.

After the ceremony, we had the opportunity to meet Mr. Suargana Pringganu, the Indonesian Consul General in Songkhla. After the meeting, we took a group photo, making a moment we will all remember. This moment was particularly special for me as it was my first time celebrating Indonesia’s Independence Day abroad.

The celebration continued with a series of traditional 17th August competitions. These included marble races, cracker-eating contests, flag relay races, donut-eating contests, flour relays, biscuit-eating contests, sarong relays, and balloon dances. These activities were not only entertaining but also brought a sense of nostalgia, making us feel like we were back home in Indonesia. As luck would have it, I was thrilled to win a door prize during the event. We were all very happy because at the end of the day, all participants received a goody bag as a souvenir.

The entire day left me with many positive impressions. Even though I didn’t win any of the competitions, I was delighted to meet many new friends from different parts of Indonesia. This experience not only deepened my love for my homeland but also gave me the chance to connect with the Indonesian community abroad.

This Independence Day celebration will remain an unforgettable experience for me. Despite being far from Indonesia, the spirit of nationalism burned brightly in our hearts, proving that no matter where we are, we can still celebrate our identity as Indonesians.