The Light We Give.

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

the ten days spent in cambodia was one of the most enriching and different school trip i've had so far. i would certainly never forget the look of appreciation after each student received their donation items. what might seem like any other ordinary bottle of mineral water to us, is actually considered as a luxury item to some of them. the contribution that the 30 of us provided might not be a life changing experience for them, but i'm certain, it created a small stepping stone for them in to the future.

One thing I learnt from the teachers and students from Kravan, was how happy they are to just be able to help out in anyway they can, be it carry buckets of water or sand for us, or sweeping the floor together with us. What they lack of in terms of items, they make up for in providing their services. It was certainly heartwarming to see the students from the disabled school lend us a helping hand in forming the human chain and passing the buckets of soil and sand. Even with their disability, it did not prevent them from helping out. There were even no sounds of complains. It certainly did put me to shame as I grumbled about how tired I was feeling due to the past days work. Their enthusiasm and energy is something that I definitely can reflect upon.

Another thing I learnt while spending my days there was how the locals did not let anything obstruct their way of getting on with life. Despite their impoverished status, they still get up early in the morning, finding opportunities/jobs to earn whatever little cash they can, taking pride in their work. Munrath and the three construction workers are the few such examples. They are not inclined to help us. They could have just told us what to do and left us figuring things out on our own. Yet it wasn’t the case. Munrath was actively helping us out with the construction and the translation, and the construction workers could have left the school the same time as us each day. Munrath even spent some time teaching me about the different vegetation they have and how they can be cooked.

Having gone through this trip, experiencing it together with my friends, has certainly created an impact on me.

Labels: Sling

reflected at 4:10 PM