Today was a really busy day, but also a very special one because today was an important day for our country!
In the morning, we got ready to visit the Indonesian Embassy in Vientiane, also known as KBRI Vientiane. We all wore our SMK IDN batik uniforms to show our identity and, of course, to look neat and united. We left our accommodation by bus at around 7:30 AM and arrived at the embassy at around 8:00 AM.
When we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by the people at the embassy, who were also busy preparing everything for the event. At first, we were wondering what was going to happen today. Then we remembered today was August 17th, Indonesia’s 81st Independence Day!
We were invited by KBRI Vientiane to join the Indonesian Independence Day ceremony. The atmosphere was really exciting because there were many Indonesians gathered together to celebrate this special moment even though we were far away from Indonesia. Seeing so many people wearing red and white and hearing Indonesian songs made us feel a little closer to home.
At around 9:00 AM, the ceremony officially started. We were also selected to become part of the aubade, where we performed Indonesian national songs together. We sang “Bagimu Negeri” and “17 Agustus Tahun 45”. At first, I was a little nervous because we had to perform in front of many people, but it was also a memorable experience for us. Being able to celebrate Independence Day in another country while representing our school was something we definitely will not forget.
After the ceremony, we had a photo session with the head of KBRI Vientiane, Mr. Ahmad Dahlan. We took some group photos and enjoyed the atmosphere together. There were also several traditional performances, including regional dances and songs from different parts of Indonesia. It was really cool to see Indonesian culture being celebrated in Laos.
After that, we were invited to the embassy residence, or Wisma Indonesia, for a special celebration. There was a yellow rice cutting ceremony, which was followed by what everyone had been waiting for: FOOD!
The food was really good, especially after having such a busy morning. We sat together, ate, talked, and enjoyed our time there. It felt more like a family gathering than a formal event.
While we were eating, we also had the chance to talk with some of the people working at KBRI. One of them was a very kind Indonesian woman who had just returned from Thailand. When she found out that our group would also be traveling to Thailand, she happily gave some of us 20 Thai baht to use during our trip.
It was such a small gesture, but it honestly meant a lot to us. We were really grateful for her kindness. Alhamdulillah, moments like this make traveling even more meaningful because we get to meet people who are willing to help us even though we have just met them.
After finishing our meal, talking with everyone, and taking some final photos, we said goodbye to the people at KBRI Vientiane. We were very thankful for their warm welcome and for giving us the opportunity to celebrate Indonesia’s Independence Day together.
After saying goodbye, we got back on the bus and continued to our next destination. It was definitely a busy day, but also one of the most memorable days of our journey so far. Celebrating Indonesia’s 81st Independence Day in Vientiane, Laos, was an experience that we will remember for a long time.
