{The Social Butterfly ♥}

Friday, September 07, 2007

hallo everyone! *waves to all (: i survived cambodia, together with all my new found friends! shall expect a super long entry since im so super free now & that later i will be out to get my boots since im starting my new job tmr at DFS. overall, the whole trip was extremely fun, challenging and it definitely change my perspective on how life should goes on for me (:

26 Aug 2007, 6.05am
Savouring thru the slice of mango cheesecake and stirring my hot chocolate, i met some early birds in the airport. Mummy & daddy blessed me, gave me a treat to Starbucks for breakfast & told me to take good care of myself. Of which, I took for granted because I failed to finish that cup of hot chocolate. Perception of a third world country was just a filthy place, with lazy people not working hard to support their country. I decided to sign up with the hope of changing people's lives, bringing some motivational strength to them as well as to challenge my mental strength. Saw every single one in the airport, took a group picture & off for the trip (:

Reach Phnom Pheh airport in roughly an hour time, Cambodia is 1hour behind Singapore. Small problem occurred in the airport, the officials tried to stop the guys from passing thru their custom as they were carrying lots of boxes which contain the soap making ingredients as well as the stationary packs. Managed to settle it and we started the journey with the Killing Fields at Choeung Ek of which MQ, SY, Ms Audrey Lai & myself dare not enter. To be exact, mummy didnt wanted me to enter since its like the mid of 7th month so I was obedient for once. According to the rest, it wasnt very disturbing & I guess I didnt missed out anything interesting. We proceeded with lunch where I share the table with PS, A, C, Bob & Pat. Thats where we started to really know each other well, laughed crazily in the restaurant, ignoring every other soul. I must say they're really nice to talk to (: Afterwhich, we proceeded to the S21 Museum at Tuol Sleng. Everyone went in, including the very timid me. Stories were recounted by this so-very-boring tour guide with her super duper tough-to-listen Khymer slang. It was really traumatising to see how the locals suffered & fought for their lives. They were even banned from killing themselves. The rules to obey were too much for them to bear.

Next, we checked into the very scary Asia Hotel. It was truely classic and retro, according to SL. MQ & SY's room was worse with a lock which apparently sucks. SL, MX, B, WY & myself worked thru the night for our lesson plan the next few days. The navigation in the hotel sucks, even their corridoor looks eerie, they made this border-looking entrance like a mirror & we were shocked out of our lives to see J jumped out of it. Imagine living in room117 with room100 next to it & only 3 girls were living on that level since MX, Pat & me were sharing rooms. All the rest were in other levels. B & WY's experience with the security guard was not any better. Room service was scary with the guard staring lecherously at both MX & myself. I swear its the worse hotel one can ever, Pat & myself even bathe without closing the toilet door because the toilet was simply too scary!

27 Aug 2007
We woke up the next day to start our journey to Aspeca Ophanage where the children had better command of English and had a little interaction time with them. It was really emotional to leave but Im glad everyone got over the parting scene. Children were definitely sweet & cute, I simply love this particular boy! Next, we departed for Prey Veng where Hope Village was. Jouney was crazy, especially when the air con broke down. Down with a little dehydration which gave the rest a chance to mock at me for the 'Are you ok?' incident. With much effort and a nice bus driver, we reached Hope Village safe & sound. When we arrived, we realised that all the kids were vrey conservation, unlike those in Aspeca Ophanage. Started off with the orientation by Janice, the operations manager, a very brave & respected lady. Bunked in together with the rest of the 8 girls in our dorm. Settled down, went for a shower & attended debrief sessions with Ben Cho & Andrey Lai. Not to forget, I bathe with Pat, back to back & our endless counting of 123 ): but she touched my ass! Its just her honour laaaaa D: Living conditions were very poor, the children were only given a dish & rice. To be honest, I must say they were definitely lucky to at least have 3 meals a day despite not having much variety. First night, everyone went through it safe & sound, much due to our weariness.

28 Aug 2007
Everyone met their students for the first time, started classes. I must say almost all my students were very bright, I love all of them. Chantol was my most hardworking & brightest girl in the class. Chun Li shown his eagerness to learn. Theary, despite being very reserved, opened up and answered more questions in class. Channa was the weakest but also the most playful, somehow I see myself in her, talkative as always. Loy Ra was the exceptional playful yet hardworking guy. Sarath, my top student, only joined us the next day & to think that I missed him the most since I think I was the closest to him. My class was so-called the gifted class since we had the oldest students and they were all very bright. However, Srey Onn, one of the recognised slowest learner was in the class, forcing us to transfer her to another class, fearing that she will slow down the whole process of teaching since the rest of them absorbed really fast. I felt slightly stressed up yet happy because all my students showed their eagerness to learn. It really changed my perception of Cambodians students. It was then that I realised, it's not that they are lazy but they were not given the chance to learn.

Lessons carried on as per planned and students were fun to engage conversations with. I was a little stunned with their responses towards BGR. I must really say that my students were not only bright but very mature towards their thinking. Even though they had expressed their love for the other party, they believed that studies and their future are their top priority. I trust that they will do very well in future. I do miss every one of them, especially 2 girls, not in my class but were pretty close to me. Polly was always give me that small little, full of warm hug whenever she sees me. Srey Ting & I were closer as compared to the other girls because of captain's ball & I must say given her age, she was really good. If she had been living in Singapore, she might even get into the Under15 selections team for netball! Her skills were born with her because I believe nobody there could teach her that. Sharing the same interest in sports bonded us even closer.

It was really tough leaving all of them. Just when we were starting to adapt well to the full-of-mosquitoes & houseflies environment, we were told to leave Hope Village. I must really say that I did not regret making the choice to go for I experience something which not anyone could experience. This experience is definitely memorable & I felt that I've really mature & shouldnt take things in Singapore for granted. Living in a third world country for 12days & surviving thru the very bad conditions made me lost 2kg, turned even more tanned but I've definitely learnt a lot & gain valuable philosophy on how I should carry on with life. I certainly believe that I should treasure my life & not waste food, money on luxurious items because on the other side of the world, people are suffering with only a dish and rice. They did not even have a choice to choose what they want to eat. In a nutshell, a different exposure makes Joyys a better person (: More forgiving, more emotional, less spoilt & definitely more 'cherishing' than before.

I will continue with experiences of Cambodia when I can. Off to prepare for shopping at town with my ex boyfriend who had become my bestest friend (: Pictures will be up as soon as J sends them to everyone, catch my pretty face, dear readers!

xoxo 2:10 PM