Post-Trip Reflections - Alexander
A 15-day trip to Cambodia, not just of pure community service, but also that of learning. Indeed, many things have been learnt, and I dare say, not only I have benefited from this trip, but even the rest of the team. And I feel that the things we have taken back from Cambodia are that of great value, and will be useful in our daily lives, even in Singapore, for example, appreciation.
Seeing and observing the lifestyle of the children we visited and interacted with in both the childcare centres has reminded me how “lucky” we, as teenagers, are in Singapore. We have almost everything we want. Yet, even as the children in the childcare centres do not have everything they want, they are not just contented, they are happy. I remember how warm a welcome they gave us when we entered each of the centres, and throughout our whole stay there. It just shows their sincerity towards “loving” us. Do we show this sincerity in Singapore? Perhaps we do, but it is not a sincerity of continuity.
Appreciation. The appreciation for our parents. The appreciation for electricity, for electricity is not readily available 24 hours of the day. The appreciation for the comfort in our homes and schools. The appreciation for hygiene. And the list goes on. These are things we “oversee” while we are in Singapore. Of course when we are in Cambodia, we appreciate their fresh air, we appreciate their simple life, their simple joys, and the list goes on.
I remember seeing a kid in a centre, while playing, his slipper broke, he did not cry, or looked shocked, or panic. He simply laughed and tried to fixed it. 5 years old. What would we have done in Singapore, as teenagers 17 to 20 years old? Looked pissed? Curse? And then get a new one, even if it can be fixed.
So, the question Who brings who JOY on our mission to Cambodia? I would say it was a 2-way thing, we brought them joy, they gave us joy, ALL were joyful! The question on quantity of joy is irrelevant. Joy is joy.
Of course, friendships were made there, in both the centres, both kids and mosquitoes. I will never forget them.
I would say that each and every person in our team has had the chance to take up a leadership role and lead the whole team. And each has his/her own style of leading. And definitely, unhappiness would in one way or another, arise. But I feel that, what matters most from these things is that we learn from them. So that we can improve.
All in all, the trip was fulfilling. Much was learnt, much was experienced, we bathed with well water! That’s so cool. I would say everyone had fun while serving, building, painting etc…
Alexander Tang
Serve Cambodia Team 2006
Seeing and observing the lifestyle of the children we visited and interacted with in both the childcare centres has reminded me how “lucky” we, as teenagers, are in Singapore. We have almost everything we want. Yet, even as the children in the childcare centres do not have everything they want, they are not just contented, they are happy. I remember how warm a welcome they gave us when we entered each of the centres, and throughout our whole stay there. It just shows their sincerity towards “loving” us. Do we show this sincerity in Singapore? Perhaps we do, but it is not a sincerity of continuity.
Appreciation. The appreciation for our parents. The appreciation for electricity, for electricity is not readily available 24 hours of the day. The appreciation for the comfort in our homes and schools. The appreciation for hygiene. And the list goes on. These are things we “oversee” while we are in Singapore. Of course when we are in Cambodia, we appreciate their fresh air, we appreciate their simple life, their simple joys, and the list goes on.
I remember seeing a kid in a centre, while playing, his slipper broke, he did not cry, or looked shocked, or panic. He simply laughed and tried to fixed it. 5 years old. What would we have done in Singapore, as teenagers 17 to 20 years old? Looked pissed? Curse? And then get a new one, even if it can be fixed.
So, the question Who brings who JOY on our mission to Cambodia? I would say it was a 2-way thing, we brought them joy, they gave us joy, ALL were joyful! The question on quantity of joy is irrelevant. Joy is joy.
Of course, friendships were made there, in both the centres, both kids and mosquitoes. I will never forget them.
I would say that each and every person in our team has had the chance to take up a leadership role and lead the whole team. And each has his/her own style of leading. And definitely, unhappiness would in one way or another, arise. But I feel that, what matters most from these things is that we learn from them. So that we can improve.
All in all, the trip was fulfilling. Much was learnt, much was experienced, we bathed with well water! That’s so cool. I would say everyone had fun while serving, building, painting etc…
Alexander Tang
Serve Cambodia Team 2006
posted by - xander - at 5:17 pm
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home