Aboard a traditional Phinisi boat, the pride and symbol of Makassar, ETA Sydney of SMKN 8 Makassar joined the Vocational English Teachers Association (VETA) Makassar chapter for an evening that blended cultural celebration with professional connection.

Throughout the year, Sydney has worked alongside VETA members, all of whom are English teachers at vocational schools across the city, participating in lesson planning workshops, programming events, and casual gatherings that promote collaboration and the exchange of teaching methods.

This month, Sydney and her sitemate, whose teachers are also active in VETA, helped close out the season with a sunset dinner cruise that brought together educators from across Makassar. The night was filled with live music, singing, dancing, and plenty of photos, reflecting the strong sense of community within the group. The evening concluded with a fireworks display over the water, marking both a celebration and a farewell to a meaningful year of partnership.

By engaging in this experience, Sydney strengthened relationships with fellow educators beyond the classroom, reinforcing the ETA Program’s goal of fostering mutual understanding through authentic cultural exchange and sustained collaboration in English language education.

Sydney Grafals is currently teaching at SMKN 8 Makassar, Sulawesi Selatan.