FIRST WEEK IN SOS 18B

            First of all, before I start to write my journal, I apologize if some body can not understand my writing clearly, because of my language barrier. But believe me, I have done my best and I promise will make improvement in my next journal and  other assignments.

            My first week in SOS just have done, even those were just half week or three days exactly, but its like a long week for me. There were some differences between IOS and SOS study program that I was feeling. And also many new things that I found in SOS. Furthermore, all of them give me some issues in my first week.

            I had done IOS 17C before I continued to SOS 18B now, and this course took seven weeks for us. We were all 29 students from 16 countries mixed in IOS and divided to three flights : Red Tail, Blue Knight and Golden Eagle. Perhaps because many of us were a first time came to US and some of our countries like Indonesia  did not have English as a second and third language, so the flight commander and course director always guide us positively. All lessons were explained in detail and the instructor made sure all the students understood what the lessons meant. And often remain us for the next assignments or activities with direct speech or in our group application.

            I found many new things from SOS study program. We have been informed that IOS program was for transition to SOS, it means some lessons will connect or redo in SOS, but in my first week in SOS, I found more about a new thing than a previous thing. Right now, we are just alone in our new flight with 13 native students. Because they are all native people, so they can connect easily even though they did not know each other before. It makes study activity flow fastly. And also their culture when in discussion time, every single student speak fastly and continue with the other student without rest except me. I think it was amazing.

            An Adaptation need some sacrifices, this was happened to me now. Because of my language barrier, I found some issues to track and understand the lessons. I have to give my focus in every single word when its were spoken or written. Every lesson have some articles that need to read before, this was also not easy for me to understand the topic obviously. But I believe, day by day I will become better.

            Ultimately, it is not wrong if I said that my first week in SOS has been a hard week. But especially for me, if some things become harder, is means become interesting one. Just do the best that I can do, perseverance and always pray to our Mighty God. 


Author, Capt Galung
Editor, Maj Thrush (USAF)