Stanley

Give what you have. To someone, it may be better than you dare to think.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
US poet (1807 - 1882)

Indeed just a little love, a small effort, a tiny sacrifice and some time can make a different in someone life.

After I went to Cambodia than I truly understand what is to live in a developing country. Feeling so fortunate to have a comfortable house to live in, clean and hygienic food to eat and also neat and smooth road to travel. Perhaps after living in Cambodia for 2 weeks I became of them.

When I first arrived at the capital of Cambodia I was shocked but what I saw. No tall building, no huge roads and it looks so different from Singapore. I began to open my eye, my ears and started to feel. The green pasture, the plots of padi fields, the herds of cows, the beautiful sun and clouds I know Cambodia have much to offer.

I felt so curious in many things making me asks lots of questions, as I wanted to know more about Cambodia. I began to understand their history, the problems the people faces and how is their daily life. I started to think that a simple life like the Cambodian is not as bad.

I felt most deeply is when I heard about the pol pot the genocides, where the past government killed his own people in order to “Purify” them. So many people were lost, so many families were broken, so many sadness in people and so much pain and suffering. If those people are alive perhaps Cambodia will not be in this state. I am really wondering why a person would want to bring so much harm to others to make him happy. Is this one of the human nature? When I went to one of the killing field, seeing all the skulls and bones I start to ponder what kind of pain that the people were going though that time and how they can contribute ( most of them are educated people like doctor, politician, teacher ect) to their country.

As I walk though their market, their shopping area and their schools. I was stunned. It was not air-conditioned, no proper road, not cemented stalls, and all muddy paths way, everywhere is stuff with rubbish and strange smell roam the area. The biggest shopping area in Cambodia is not even the size of any heartland malls in Singapore. Only than I realized what is to live in the country. It may sound weird but I what I see perhaps is how my grandparents were living in the 60s in Singapore.

When the bus passed though the houses of the people I saw the rusted roof, the broken house I felt so lucky to have a HDB flat in Singapore, and perhaps our small house could be a heaven to them. (Refer to the poor only in Cambodia; the rich can be really very rich. However 40% of the people are living under the poverty line)

However went began to interact with resident in the home than I truly experience something extra in Cambodia. I think with really make me feel for them is that what ever we did something for them they would always have a “thank you” behind and a smile. This little action makes a different. They appreciate what we did for them and the do not demand anything form us. Perhaps some little things to us were a great difference in their life and that is why they are so nice and kind to us.

What I cannot forget is that how they prayed for me, I remember one boy pulling my hands and prayed for me twice, those little actions really melted my heart at that time. Seeing so much concern in them toward us I am wondering do we give much love to our peers.

I really miss the resident in the two homes, both FGAC and BAC.

I really want to thank Miss Chew, Mr Ng, and BA Care, Serve team and Cambodia for giving me such memorable experience. I think this Trip gave me something extra.

I remember before I went for the trip I began with a quotation

We make a living by what we get, we make a life but what we give.

Indeed is true I made my life by what I gave in Cambodia.

Post entry: Ifah

Having gone to Cambodia for 15 days has definetely made mi a stronger lady and totally change my perceptions about certain issues..I have been born in a family in which my sisters and i were always given the luxury of goin on vacations and being given wateva we wanted.Honestly speaking being brought up in Singapore,we tend to take the simplest things for granted like the 1st time we did something special for our friends or said the words,"I LOVE YOU" to our parents..No words can reli express my feelings i have towards these newfound frens i made in Cambodia..We started off nt knowing each other and nt knowing how to approach one another..But its their sincerity and friendliness that reli touch my heart...They reli respect you and appreciate every moment in time...

These are the experiences that can't be written in a book but instead can be kept as memories deep in my heart..Not a day in Cambodia that i did not cry over the smallest gesture that these kids have done for mi.Their hugs,greeting mi "Hello Sister",protecting mi frm dogs and sacrificing their time to help mi out..These are the moments i will always remember for life....No amount of monetary value can take these moments frm mi...

Having said that,i believe that my friendship will these kids will nt end juz here but will last a lifetime..If i had the chance to go back in time, i would take this opportunity to strengthen the bond in my Serve team because i believe that every single individual is unique but its the juz the small misunderstandings that usually break a friendship..So pple,put aside ure differences and start friendships on a brighter note..Lastly i hope there's a way for us to meet the beautiful pple of Cambodia again...

PS:Wld like to apologise for the super late entry!!!

Post Trip Reflection By Siwei

15 days of life in a country I have never thought of going before. The longest trip ever since I was born, but seems to be the shortest one. The one which I thought to give more but I received more. This 15 days have been engraved in my heart and will not be forgotten for the rest of my life. The moments, memories, lessons learned has already been imprinted in me.

Before the trip, we have been told that this is a serve and learn trip. And I thought, I go to Cambodia, I will serve as I learn and it goes fifty fifty. Now that I am back, I felt that I had learnt more than I serve. What we had given them might be something material. But what I have learnt is something money cant buy.

Being a videographer, I do not usually join in activities. I watched and take down moments and so, I tend to see things which my team members cant see. Its like they are in a box interacting and playing with the kids and I am outside the box seeing each and every emotions of them. I realize that the kids there are easily satisfied. They have nothing more to ask for. Looking at myself, thou living in a fully developed country, I can never be satisfied with the things I have. Singapore is improving all the time and we will always ask for the better. When will we learn to be satisfied?

We kids staying in Singapore are so lucky to the extend which we do not know we are lucky. On the games day in FGAC, I was kind of worried when I saw the games that the kids over there are going to play. Feed the monster, the lost gem, spider web and others. These are the games which even primary school kids here do not even give a glance at. The games started, as I walked and took videos, one 19 year old teenager, Roth Chearn, ran towards me and said “Brother pig!! I got full points while playing the ping pong game and others are so fun!!” He was jumping around happily, being so proud of himself, enjoying himself to the fullest. I cried upon seeing that. They get so happy over games that we do not play anymore.

Since young, I had lost my dad. Tears do rolled when I think of my dad at times. I do miss him. But after the trip, I learned to be strong, to cherish what I have now. Kids over there do not even have any family members and they live everyday to the fullest. So why should I get sad over the slightest of things that happen in Singapore.

They taught me alot. These things can never be learnt in lessons. This trip is more than a fruitful one. Too many things I have learnt and too many things I have seen and gone through during the trip. The true friendships, the care and concern among the team, the helpfulness of everyone, the respect given are all that I have gained. Words can only convey limited messages. Nothing can describe the feeling within me for this trip, how much I love it, how much I cherish it, how important it is to me. If I have to give and example on how much I love serve Cambodia, I can only say, it is like the universe. Somehow, I think I still have lots to say, so, when I am free, I will blog again. No matter what, I have to say, I LOVE SERVE CAMBODIA!! take care guys.

sign off by,
brother pig..

Dickson's Post Trip Entry

It's been a month since we returned from our 15-day Service Learning Trip, SERVE Cambodia 2006. Until today, I still strongly believe a miracle happened and I am part of this miracle. Everything just happened so quickly yet so much has been done. From the pre-trip plannings to bonding camp to the actual trip. It's just mind boggling how this much was done...

Individually, I still cannot believe I have been through all this. Living in the suburbs. Living with limited resources. Living without Internet. Sleeping with mosquitoes. Bathing with bugs. Washing my own dishes and clothes. I have done so much more and honestly I don't think anyone would believe...

I miss the days when we were all lost in time. "What day is today? What time is it now?", were the questions that no one else could answer... What we all knew was our purpose and goals there. To finish up what we had promised. Everyday we would wake and just go for what we had to do. I miss the days when it all seem so slow and long... Have we been complaining how busy and short of time we are in Singapore? I am not saying there's a lot of time, there's only 168 hours a week. We will have to accept that fact and know what we want to do, definitely there will be enough time for everything...

Chatting with the kids and teenagers at FGAC, we will know more about their dreams and ambitions... As much as we want to run from our lives, they want to live our lives... What an irony... We were provided for education, food, clothes, a roof over our heads yet we want to throw our lives away here to live simpler lifestyles... It's no doubt that our lives are physically less tedious and we live in reasonable luxuries yet we don't treasure them because of the struggles living in a stressful city with skyscrapers all around...

Are we happy? Do we feel all cooped up? I definitely still believe Man were born free, away from all these restrictions. I still cannot understand why they want to live our lives... Isn't growing own food, knitting own clothes, building own homes, being self sufficient and keeping life simple better...? I know being self-sufficient needs skills, loads of them therefore a certain level of barter should be beneficial to everyone. Perhaps it could have been better if the World stopped got stuck in Time centuries ago...

Even though I don't understand why they want to live our lives, I certainly admire their attitude in Life. They treasure everything they have, are selfless, helpful and relatively contented. A simple old Stephen Chow movie can make them laugh until they drop. Even with a blackout at night, they don't curse and swear but take it in their stride while looking for a solution...

I would say the 15-day did not melt me, the "Ice Mountain". On our departure date, I only bade goodbye to my parents... I wanted to hug them but they left too quickly and I hesitated. When I was at Cambodia, I didn't think of my family or home for more than 3 times or maybe I didn't even did so. When I left brothers and sisters at the Centres, I only felt minor sadness as compared to many "fountains" around...

Why am I so cold-blooded? I am not, just being selfish. I didn't want to hurt myself emotionally. I am just emotionally prepared. I will not let such things affect me because coming together and leaving each other is just part and parcel of Life. Being attached to something or someone brings us unhappiness only.

During our 15-days, there were differences and shaves as expected. Being a Overall Student Coordinator, I had to maintain my neutral stance. I learnt that there's nothing called neutral. Even Switzerland is no longer a neutral state. What is neutrality? I chose to just keep quiet on all differences. When fires flare at me, I would tell myself that it is due to the scorching weather...

On the 11th day, I was the Day In Charge. That was the day I wondered how did the team survived the last 10 days... Each and every of us had different working methods and many things were just not on sync. I slowly realised everyone has their strength and weaknesses. Someone's strength would cover for another's weakness. Then somehow or another, the team just survived... This is perhaps one of the best realisation I got from the trip. Sometimes letting things go their way can turn out well. There don't have to be some governing body...

Through my life, I will never forget the times we spent at Cambodia as a team and will never stop admiring Mr Sonny and Dr Castro for their work. Thank you all of you for putting and living this miracle together with me. At the end of the day, I have to admit I miss the team more than the Cambodians... If there's an opportunity, let's go back as a team again...

Post trip reflection - [eStHeR]

First of all, Im really sorry for this super late post trip blog entry. During some point of the day, memories of Cambodia will flash through my mind. However, whenever I sit down quietly wanting to start blogging, my mind would be in a blank. Like when I see my dad taking the clothes that we hang outside to dry back cause it was going to rain, this remind me of the times when we rushed to keep our laundry when it was going to dry in Cambodia. It shows how fortunate we are that in Singapore we are under the shelter of our home when we keep our clothes, whereas in Cambodia, people might have to run in the rain just to keep the laundry.

Now that we are back in Singapore, we each had our own different commitments and different lifestyle and all the schools projects start coming in, we would have little time and perhaps impossible to go back to the Cambodia slower pace of lifestyle. However, this also makes our stay in Cambodia more significant.

15 days in Cambodia had passed in a blink of the eye, when all seems as if it just happened yesterday. If I had a chance to go through everything in Cambodia right from the first day, I would. It was 15 days of memories I will hold in my heart now and forever.
I could still remember clearly that on the first day when we all gathered at the Changi Airport, we were so excited chit chatting around that the lady at the reception counter had to remind us to move aside for the other passengers.

On the first two days when we arrived at FGAC, we were feeling pretty restless and feel as if a week had passed when it was only second day. Slowly, we got to know the kids there and start interacting with them and that’s the start when our love for them and Cambodia grows.

During the IT class, we could see how keen they want to learn from us. It is true that we are able to learn more than them in Singapore, but how many of us are really keen on learning. Throughout the whole of our poly life, I’m sure most of us or even all of us had skipped lessons before and it is not due to being unfit for school. To them, they have goals and they know learning is important and they want to achieve their goals.

The children there are also easily contented, even treating them a simple ice-cream, they would be smiling so broadly, for Singapore children, they might even request that they want the expensive kind of ice-cream.

When we were there, all of us wanted to go to the market to see how it looks like and try the food there. But back in Singapore, how many of us are actually willing to go to the market with our mothers?

There are so many memories at Cambodia, so much things and events and people that I missed, I missed the kids there, their laughter, their smiles, their letters, their presents for us. I missed the staffs there, the way they helped us with our chores, fetching us to and fro the market, helping us with translation, cooking meals for us. I missed the trip to the markets, to phnom penh to buy our cooking ingredients, the trip to Angkor Wat, the stay in the hotel, the buffet dinner, the roadside food. I missed our serve Cambodia mates, the games we played together, the meals we ate together, the meals we cooked together, the wall we scrubbed and painted together, the mural we painted together, the medical outreached we planned and came out with, the chats we had, the reflection time we shared. I missed our teachers, the reflections we had together, the lessons they taught us and the list goes on and on.

If I were to choose if this was a service or learning trip, I would be still in a dilemma, it is a mixture of both. However I knew we had left part of our heart at Cambodia and the people there had also left part of theirs with us.

esther~

Post Trip Reflection - Hwee Yim

Time flies real fast and the 2 weeks spent in Cambodia had already past. Thinking back at the first day where we were so excited before boarding the plane to Cambodia. It seemed like it had just happen a few days ago. Its almost a month after we came back. I miss the people there, the environment, the puppies, basically ALL the things there. Hahas.

At FGAC, the kids there really cherished whatever they had, never taking things for granted. They really made use of the opportunity to study. Each and everyone one of them had their own goals in mind, some wanting to be a businessman and they were working to each of their goals. But for us, sometimes most of us will tend to ask ourselves, why do we study? Do we have a goal of our own to work for? I feel that most of us go to school for the sake of going or maybe, being forced by parents to go. The end product was just to get a paper. The kids took pride in the things they do, such as their homework.
As from young, they had to do their things on their own. They had grown up to be independent young people. While Singaporean kids, things were mostly left to their parents or maid to do for them. Example, washing of dishes. Some singaporean parents were afraid of their child getting any hardships that in the end, the kid became spoilt.
The kids there do not have any luxury items like us. They can do without mp3, handphone, etc. But for us, just a day without handphone would make us go crazy.

After knowing them for just a short period of 6 days, I'm already so bonded with them. Their sincerity really made me very touched. They made cards and wrote letters for us. Some of us would receive their hand-made friendship bands from them. I had one which had my name on it. Really appreciate their effort in making the bands. I believe they had brought us alot of joy instead of us bringing joy to them.

At BAC, the kids there were less open. That was the time where we had to make our first move to approach them. As they don't know English well, we had some communication breakdown. But communication still can be done through hand signals. But you could see them really enjoy themselves playing within themselves. Their games maybe simple but they had a great time.

Comparing Singapore and Cambodia, the lifestyle are definitely very different. A hectic, stressful compared to a carefree life. Sometimes I wonder, why do people see things as so complex when things are so simple. Is it because of the lifestyle we live in? I guess so.

After the trip, I've learnt to be even more independent. Looking at things at different perspective. Not taking things for granted. At times we might have some misunderstanding, but we must learnt to forgive and forget. It might be easier said than done. But at least we try..

This had been a fruitful trip. A BIG THANK YOU to ALL who had made this Serve Cambodia a MEMORABLE one!

Post Trip Reflections - Jian Zhou

Time real flies past very fast... 15 days in Cambodia has just gone like this, within a blink of eyes. It feels like it was only yesterday that the whole event actually ended, but came to think of it, it is the 25th days that i'm back in Singapore. I began to miss the people there, the environment there, basically everything. I yearn for the warmth that they had, the fun and laughters that we seldom have in Singapore.

It seemed that I really have changed into a different person after i return from Cambodia. A difference in my characterisitic which only me can tell, but hard to put into words. 15 days had really left a deep impact and wonderful memories in me. Most of the things happened in FGAC, whether is it bad or good or sad or angry, it happened mostly at there. Quarrels had sadly came about there, misunderstandings and emotionally faced problems too, happened there.. And i realised something. The people there, doesn't seemed to have the same problems as we do. Is it because that we used in living in cities like Singapore whereby the environment had structured us to become someone who cannot see things apart? Or is it just us whereby we cannot have self-control over ourselves?

Why are the kids there seemed to be so happy and stressless, even though they do not have the luxury of using the internet, computer, play stations, air-con, arcades etc.? Is it that because of those luxuries that we began much hot-tempered, much aggressive than the people there? I think so too. I've learnt that see things apart and learnt how to take certain things lightly, close one eye open the other,

I remembered the times when we cried because we were leaving, especially during the celebration night, after the performance where they prayed for us and hugging the friends there. Everyone started crying, all Serve Cam peeps, including some of our friends there.. Thinking about that, I am still sad that we have left them, missing them, but then i'm very glad that i have known the nice bunch of friends. They are people who can talk their hearts out, as if we have known each other for many years. I really feel the warmth that they gave us and hated the apart that we are leaving them, although we have been there for only 7 days. Just imagine how much we have bonded.... =)

At BAC, the kids there are much more quiet and we have no idea of how to approach to some of them. Cos at FGAC, we were getting approached to, instead of the other way. But then we learnt the skills of approaching the more quiet ones, because we dont want them to think that we left them out. The kids there are different from the FGAC kids. They need attention more than anyone else. We need to learn how to take care of the kids there, act as in father and mother of theirs... Anyways, we also bonded with the staffs there and also.. The contractors there. We onced celebrate birthday for the superviser of the contractors, whom we bonded with much more compared to other workers. But then because we dont have any birthday cakes with us, we used the mooncake we still left with to replace it. Cool right?~~

Throughout the 15 days journey, not only I’ve made many great and close friends, I’ve also learnt something. We cannot take things for granted. Those things around us, no matter how we dislike something or someone, we must try to forgive and forget whatever bad things that had happened. If not, we will be living in a miserable lives of ourselves. Although sometimes it may be hard, try not to think about it, will make life easier and happier. Don’t always think that a developed country means better living, because we have experienced that stress come in more often in developed country then not so developed ones. Without stress, we then can live well and better.

Anyways, I would like to thanks Ms Chew and Mr Ng, all my Serve Teammates and also, people in Cambodia for the wonderful 15 days there. =) *claps claps*

Yuan Jin's Post-Trip Refections

Looking back on the memories of Cambodia, it seems blurry and yet exceptionally wonderful.

When we first landed in Cambodia, I see all around me dark-tanned Cambodians, skinny cows, too many people on a motorcycle and tones of sand. Cambodia is a less developed country compared to Singapore; hence there wasn’t much high-rise building. This was my first impression of Cambodia.

Our stay at FAG was fantastic. The children there are wonderful; they address us as Brothers or Sisters, something that would never happen in Singapore. Hearing “Hello Sister!” brings warmth to me. The kids there really appreciate whatever they have in life (even though what they have is little) and never take things for granted. They really cherish the chance to go to school. But for us, Singaporean kids, I feel that most of us just go to school for the sake of going to school and getting a diploma certificate. Whereas FAG kids take pride in doing their homework, cleaning up the school compound during the holidays and they have ambition at such young age. Most of their ambition will eventually contribute to the Cambodia’s society, be it a teacher, doctor or lawyer. Ultimately they want to help to build a better Cambodia, help their following Cambodians and improve Cambodia’s standard of living and economy. And sad to say, I don’t think I have goal unless you count wanting to get into a local University a goal. Also, I don’t know what I can do to contribute back to the society. After getting to know the FAG kids, I felt that they are contended with what they are and have and that there isn’t a need for us to bring joy or happiness to them. Yes, we gave them clothes, notebook, pens and a memory of us but in return, they made me view life in a different light.

Shopping at Cambodia is “ABSOLUTELY GREAT!” Why? Cause I get to bargain, bargain and bargain! Well, that’s not important. What’s important is that I get to see Cambodia’s wet and dry market. And yup, hygiene is definitely a problem there and of cause you can see litter everywhere. But that’s part and parcel of Cambodia.

BAC and FAG are poles apart. The surroundings of BAC are rice fields and grasslands, magnificent scenery. The kids at BAC are much younger and understand/speak limited English. But nonetheless, they are utterly adorable. Singing simple songs, playing easy games, playing in the rain, playing with mud and running about can make them happy and brings lots of joy to their life. Just by watching them makes me realized how simple life can be and yet we always complex it. And maybe it’s also due to the technological devices we own, such as television, computer and mp3. Speaking about technological devices, I’m rather amazed at how I can survive 15 days without television and laptop. And also, in Cambodia, I lost track of the day, date and time, these just seems unimportant and irrelevant when I was over there, unlike Singapore, every minute and seconds matters.

The trip was a superb and fruitful experience. The impression I had of Cambodia have changed, I’m in love with their fascinating culture, their breath-taking landscapes and lovely Cambodia kids at FGA and BAC. It certainly left memorable prints and made an impact in my life. And I have never regret joining Serve Cambodia 2006 and if I have the chance, I want to join the Serve team again and again. I will remember the obstacles we overcome together and cherish the friendships forged and most importantly, the times we spent in Cambodia.

“What one has not experienced, one will never understand in print”

My Post Trip Reflections - Ginni :D

Ever since I’m back from Cambodia, I wish for a time machine. I hope that this time machine would stop at the time when we’re in Cambodia. But I know that this is IMPOSSIBLE.
So, the only thing i can do is to treasure these unforgettable memories.

Before the start of the trip, we’re asked if this is more of a service or learning trip. And i cannot find the answer. but after the trip, I personally feel that this is more of a learning trip rather than a service trip. Reason being very simple, i think what i had learnt from them had exceeded the services i had given them.

Every now and then, I would think of the times we spent over at Cambodia. The wide smile on the children’s faces, the laughter of the children, the hugs and kisses given from the children and most importantly the sincerity of the children is something that would make me smile from the bottom of my heart whenever I think of it. Cause it’s just too sweet and this is the kind of feeling that one can never experience in Singapore.

To me, I had learnt many valuable lessons from there. These are the lessons that taught me to grow and to become a better person. I learnt how to be less rash and to be more responsible for my own actions. And that I have to learn how to think before I speak.

Sincerity. All of us have been saying that the sincerity of the people there is nothing as compared to Singapore. The act of helping but asking for nothing in return is something that touches our heart. But yet, are we able to apply that sincerity in our daily lives? Maybe we’ll be more appreciative to our surroundings, but will it last long? And for that, I’m guilty of it. I believe after this trip, we’ll all learn to treat others with more sincerity than before.

The act of putting others before self is another very prominent value we see in the cambodians kids. Even though they had very little pocket money, they are willing to use that money to buy ice cream for us. Just to thank us for sending/accompanying them to school.

Food was simple and mostly one dish meal. Yet, I enjoyed it. Simplicity is still the best. But the one thing I feel bad about was that the children over there ate much more than us even though they’re younger and smaller size than us. This was one of the reasons why we didn’t dare to sit with them at first.

The kids over there weren’t scared of boredom at all unlike us who often find friends to go out once we’re bored. They “settled” it without a single cent spent. They played simple games like London bridge is falling down, making a flute out of papaya leaf stalk and etc.

During the 15 days, there were unhappiness among ourselves, the team and each other. Much misunderstanding occurred. Each of us thought that we’re unhappy with each other and hence didn’t dare to approach each other. This made the situation worse. In the end, the team split. All of us know that, but nobody had taken the first move (including ME)to patch things up and to be ONE UNITED TEAM again. Back in Singapore, where all of us have our own schedule, own group of friends and the question lies, will we be able to get back as a team?

But despite the unhappiness, I believe all of us had enjoyed the trip as much as i did. The joy we received from them, the beauitful scenery, shopping and etc had surpassed the unhappiness within us.

All in all, the 15 days spent in Cambodia are the best 15 days of my life. And if I were to be given a chance to go back, I would definitely not say "nO".

THANK YOU SERVE CAMBODIA FOR GIVING ME THE BEST MEMORIES I EVER HAD

THANK YOU SERVE CAMBODIA 06 TEAM MATES FOR GIVING ME THE BEST FRIENDSHIPS.

I LOVE SERVE CAMBODIA 2006 !! :D

post-trip post by peiwen

It was a life changing experiencing community service trip in Cambodia. Be it the children of Cambodia, my team mates, my lecturers or the activities done, each of it has made an lasting impact in my life and it will continue making a difference in my life.

The friendships and the memories in each of the places visited made this experience invaluable and unforgettable. Remembering the days I have spent in FGAC and BAC, even though there were language barriers, culture and race differences but connecting and communicating with the children was not stumbling block to me. There was an unexplainable mutual human feeling drawn towards each other that communing together was not a problem.

Indeed, we went there to bless them with our hands and efforts in providing them a better environment of learning- mural painting and painting of their canteen, a basketball court for activities, footpath for better transportation, health care-delicing, carnival etc. but they have blessed me so much more by experiencing their lifestyle by living among them, gaining knowledge about their country, culture and language.

Knowing them personally has made me established friendships with them and even understanding their life background help me to empathize what they went through. It was not an easy life like what a normal Singaporean child would go through. Life is to be treasured isn’t to be taken granted for. I am very inspired by their perseverance in studying and striving hard for their education so that they may be able to provide for their family who maybe far away from them. I encountered a brother who shared with me how he decided to give up studying in the bible college so that he can work to provide for his family. He has 6 other brothers and sisters plus parents to provide for. The load of providing financially for a family like that would definitely not be easy alone. I boldly would ask how many of us would think of giving up our studies and dreams if we were in his position.

I am also very much encouraged by their hope in life and the never say die spirit I felt so strong in them. Things was not provided as naturally for them yet they strive and they believe that one day they will make it out of their poverty, out of the sufferings and out of the pain they may face each day. Many of us would probably complain and give up half way in when facing sufferings in our lives, how many of us would be the one of the few that make it in the ending of the race?

Another learning point that could be worth thinking about is problems we face in our lives. The problems we face each day, to us could be a major problem, but at another end of the world, people face problems like a roof over their head, the 3 meals they have to worry each day. So what are the problems we face compared to theirs?

The trip has made things very real to me. The reports and news we see daily on the television are reality, it is happening and it is not far away from us. It was a trip that has made me reflect a lot and I believe this experience would make a difference in others life when I share with them.

Before ending off, I would like to appreciate each and everyone in the team because we made it and survived. I believe there were many times that we were out of our comfort zones and discouraging moments during the trip. But I would like to say it was not the moments that we disagreed or were unhappy with each other but it is the moments that each and everyone of us struggled that we learnt grew to love and accommodate each other and relationships and friendships built among each other that we are remembering and cherished.