Appreciation.

Ive learnt how to appreciate things better in Phnom Penh.Studying is like a 'luxury' for the kids in Cambodia,instead of being a 'necessity' like what is happening in Singapore.Having that priviledge ,yet we did not make full good use of what is provided for us.Unlike the kids,their enthusiasm for studies that ive seen while teaching them in the Chinese enrichment class,'woke 'me up.

Simple meals that we ate over there also reminds me about the importance of food wastage which is quite common among youths in Singapore & also the availability of large variety of good food we have in Singapore ,.I must now learn how to better appreciate & be thankful of what we have over here in Singapore.

Throughout the working & planning process,more or less there are bound to be difficulties and problems that start surfacing,but no matter what,the kids will still have a solution to it to help me after i let them know of the various problems.Its never easy being a leader,whats more its my first time.But lucky for me,theres Jul to guide me as days past & honestly ive learned alot from her.Thankyou jul!

Therefore i say,Friendship isn't about whom you have known the longest... It's about
who came, and never left your side.The cambodian kids are just like the stars in the sky,they are always there no matter what.in the night or my darkest time,they shine brightly for me.While in the day,I cant see the stars,but I know that they are somewhere up there looking after me.


Regarding my experience at Siem Reap building the basketball,I have a short story to share whereby i bet most of us might have heard of this before when we are young,but im one of the lucky few ones that have the chance of experiencing it.

"It takes one not much effort to break just one chopstick into half,but when you have 1 big bundle of them together.Not only you are unable to break them up,instead you can make good use of them to improve & do something beneficial like how we serve Cambodia.

"One for all & all for one,Unity and thats the word."

We all came as individuals,we are strangers to one another,but through bonding and the trip,we stick together like the bundle of chopsticks ,like a team, achieve goals & targets together like how we scrub our lifes off the wall,lacquer and then paint them,how we mix the cement before we pass it around to build the basketball court.All these couldnt be achieve if we dont see everybody as ONE big serve team."human chain,human chain ,lai lai lai"

Through this trip,not only ive found new friends both in the team and in cambodia but most importantly,ive found myself.Trust me,if you have know me long enough before the trip, im a pure slacker that laze around all day,i must admit that,but i was so motivated to reach the target set for building the basketball court,that i unknowingly changed.

Whenever I feel like giving up,I will remember why I held on for so long in the first place.For the kids in cambodia.I tell myself,since ive come all the way here,lucky to be the chosen few ,been through the interviews and camp,why give up?My mind just wouldnt allow myself to rest ,knowing the fact that we almost couldnt finish building the basketball court in time,but my body soon gave way a little.

What we could do to help cambodia as an individual is already so limited ,whats more we have to race against time,all these gave me the sudden energy boost to persevere on til the end of the project & never give up.Like the cambodia kids,despite their country having such a history,they still stand strong and carry on with life,so why should i give up when i only had some minor physical challenge compared to the difficulties they faced & the psychological barriers they have to overcome.

I also learnt to be more thankful especially to the people who care for me throughout the trip,with our medic,Isabel,helping me out with the plasters and all with the many little blisters that ive got throughout my feet and hands.& also to ms teo ,who kept feeding us with water to keep us hydrated while working under the hot sun.

I rmb theres this distinct incident whereby i wanted to carry on helping out with the scooping of cement after i put the plasters and all,but ms teo stopped me & took over me.I felt so useless at that point but at the same time i felt so touched by her words.She said that she will stop working,only after i do.

I bet this is actually what the kids in Cambodia want from us,not big expensive bungalows,million dollar cash nor a Ferrari car,but actually our love & care because it feels great knowing someone that you may not be so closed with at first,to care for you.Like what ive experienced,I felt like im at the top of the world.

Flashback alittle,i still remember Mr ben tan's advice to us before the trip,is to bring our cupful of water over there,pour it all out,before we can pour in more water.I did it,ive pour all that ive got in the cup,and now im flooded with unconditional love,concern & care from the cambodia kids & my amazing serve team.

Touching Hearts,Building Life.
Serve Cambodia 2009 FOR THE WIN..!!
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Looking forward to post trip & meeting you guys in school!
Thanks for everything :D

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