Saturday, November 25, 2006
just came back from ISL myanmar. gosh it was really fun!! and i really learnt alot.
i was both excited and apprehensive of the trip at first, considering that we joined quite last minute and didnt go for any meetings at all. i was looking forward to experiencing a new culture, and making new friends.
When i first saw the airport, i was like, "eww, that's their airport?!"
When i first saw the bus, i was like, "gosh im so gonna die without air con!"
the place was like singapore in the 70s?? how could anyone live in such a place? but what struck me was -- are these people happier than us? maybe materialistic gains dont make one happier. oh, and their shortest skirts were knee length!
visited the most famous temple in myanmar and checked in afterwards.
day 2.
start work. we built tube wells! was really an eye opener for us, watching the locals create a well out of simple rods, and helping, of course. but i will definitely not want to be doing this all my life. we were more of a hindrance than a help actually, the villagers could do their jobs at least twice as fast as us, but they still bothered to teach and help us, it was really heart warming. made me realise that people are rich in different ways.
met a uni student and she could speak english! must have been really tough to get there, not like us nj students, probably all of us will get to go to university. when i watched the classes going on in the school, i wondered how many of them would actually make it to uni?
day 3 to 5 were basically the same. built tube wells and latrines and mingled with the villagers. was really nice to meet the people there. the kids were really cute!!
saw this poster of a beautiful beach in one of the houses of one of the villagers. it made me realise that these people actually have dreams too. they must have been thinking that one day, i will get there.
im having myanmar withdrawal symptoms now. i really miss the bus journeys. though long and stuffy with sand flying everywhere, we made the best out of the situation by singing songs, and the journey became shorter. the cultural performance, though ours was nothing compared to the preparation they did, was just as fun. and the bbq and the restaurant. and the long talks we had, up on the roof top, the stars we saw.
i like looking out of the window, watching the streets of myanmar, just watching. those streets are filthy. but everytime i look out, theres something else thats new. too bad in singapore we dont have the luxury of time to just slow down, take a breather, and watch the world go by.
i have really grown closer to alot of people on this trip, and im glad to say that it has bonded us well. this trip really should all of us the different sides of people, and through it we learnt to work well with others.
treasure what we have. cliche, but true. thats the most important thing that i learnt in myanmar. comparing ourselves to the locals, we are much more fortunate.
because when something is gone, theres no turning back.
hui jun published at 11/25/2006 11:38:00 PM
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