My Lost Reflection…

Well, lost in a sense that it was not published on 1 April 2010. Not that we are lost in Cambodia but we survived and had much anticipated fun while we were there. For some reason, I just forgot to press the button-Publish and luckily, it was saved as a draft. Good that I do not have to write it again.

Alright, below is the reflection of the long-winded ME! There are about 100 pages.

a. Based on your experience in the many activities we organised in Cambodia, what would be a highlight(s) for you? Why? Please elaborate.

At Prey Veng, Cambodia, there were many activities that encourage interactions with the kids, team bonding, testing our limits and perspective changing. Personally, the highlight would definitely be the quality time spent at the orphanage, house building, soap making and distribution. The house building lasted for about 4 days, with one day in between as a rest day which was the soap making day. And the weekend was spent teaching the children excel skills and a mini sports day.

House Building

House building was indeed a challenge for many Singapore pampered child like myself. We build this house for an orphan’s auntie who does not have a house to stay. The size of the house is only half the space of my current HDB four rooms flat living room. This experience was very fresh and challenging for us. Under the hot sun of 34 Degree Celsius, or sometime hotter, we worked practically about 8 hours a day. We need to hydrate ourselves often because we are doing labour work and under the big hot sun. For the first time, we all appreciated that there were cold water while we might take it for granted in Singapore.

It is rare in Singapore that we would hold an axe or a hammer in one hand and nails on the other hand, doing nailing on bamboo sticks. The bamboo sticks are the flooring of the house while the walls are made of palm tree leaves and supported by bamboo sticks. Perhaps, for some, doing housework at home is already a chore. And if you ask anyone in the team whether they have construct a house or any building in Singapore? I guess the answer is a definite NO.

Other than the hot weather in Cambodia, the other point to note was that we do not have a toilet at the construction site. We only have umbrellas as our shelter, sometimes our friends too, and to add on to the thrill, occasionally, we have piglets, chicken and dogs running around. Those who are afraid of dogs, they will take shelter behind those who were not afraid. For some, the trip is tough while for the others, the trip is manageable. For me, it is manageable though for the first few days I was having a slight difficulty of sleeping early.

Therefore, hand in hand, we managed to pull through. Despite the conditions, we hang on. We all know that we all are tired but we do not grumble because when on grumble, the rest will start to. The ‘All for one and one for all’ spirit.

Alright, I’m just done with house building. Now, let’s proceed to soap making + distribution and weekend at the orphanage. Please bear with my long-winded essay! And we are only at question 1. Haha.

Soap Making + Distribution

We made soap at the OHF Hope Training Center (HTC). Yes, we literally make soap manually. No machinery at all. Alright, may be one, which is the mixer. I learnt plenty from the making of soap. From the measuring of chemicals to wrapping of the soap bars, we did it all. And not forgetting, we distributed the soap bars to the villagers where the newly built house is located.

When we were making soap at the HTC, I felt like we were some mad scientists work at some backyard laboratory. We had gloves and masks on, measuring the various chemicals. It was the first time we make soap. Soap bars in Singapore are readily made available in shops or supermarkets. Never in our life we are needed to make our own soap. In fact, in Singapore, not many people use soap to bath. We use shower foam and shampoo. But in Cambodia, having a bar of soap is a luxury to the Cambodians. They either shower with washing powder or just plain water.

During the distribution, it touches my heart to see how happy the people are when they receive the soap bars. Some even request for one more bar. The hygiene condition there is not ideal at all. Some of the villagers’ teeth are broken due to either lack of nutrients or maintenance. At first, I was in a state of shock but soon, sympathy overtook the shock. My heart goes out to them. Their smiles make my day.

Finally, the sports day at the orphanage. We have a number of games being played at the orphanage on a Sunday. Simple games such as hop-scotch, captain ball and volley ball are in place. We played happily and enjoy the time spent with them. Before we end the day, we have a short game with the teenagers, and yes, we lost badly. But, of course, it is the process that matters not the results- our comforting statement. :p

b. Were there learning points during your trip? What have you learnt? About yourself, your fellow expedition mate, Cambodia, orphans, etc.

There were a few learning points during this trip. Time and again, these learning points strengthened the values and cultures that had bought me up.

First, I had found back my smiles. Yes, smiles from the bottom of my heart not just a mere smile to entertain people. Every often, in this modern society, we will put up a guard against the people around us even to friends too. At the orphanage, the kids show their smiles so freely despite the circumstances and condition that they are in.

Second, contentment, be contented with we have now. The children are contented with what they have now. They do not frown because they do not have this or that. But they are counting their blessings instead of counting their mishaps. They smiled and this happiness allowed them to pass their days quicker. In my opinion, Singapore children are not as contented as them because we tend to keep requesting more instead of appreciating what we have now.

Third, team work, team bonding and cooperativeness. Team work, again, prove to stronger than individual work. With the amount of time we have, there many work we need to complete. For example, the board game session with the teenagers of the orphanage, group 2 led and organized us. If we do not cooperative with them, there will not be team work. Without teamwork, we will not be able to have a fruitful session with the children. Through the events and sessions, there’s come the team bonding. And it certainly take both hands to clap.

Be it small or big, everyone plays a important role.

c. The theme of this expedition was ‘Challenge your perspectives”. Did this happen? Did you have a new insight? Or do you now have a new perspective?

To some extent, it did challenge my perspectives. Sometime, I will think why we need to help the less fortunate when we are very well ourselves though I believe that we should help them because it is not their choice to be born into such a country and conditions. After this trip, it had affirm me that I’m right and the previous self-fish thoughts are not to be entertained because we should not just be money grabbers but to contribute our part to the world.

d. Call to action. Do you feel you have contributed at the expedition? Would there be future expeditions for you? What are your plans (related to community service). What does the future hold for you?

For an expedition to be meaningful and fun, it takes every hand to clap and contribute. Everyone certainly had done their part to make the expedition a fun and loving one. In addition, Ms. Audrey Lai and Mr. Ben Cho are the pillars of this success and they deserve our appreciation. Thank You Ms. Lai, Mr. Cho and teammates!! Three Cheers to you all!

In the future, I hope to participate more in such trip because I know it is not by coincide that I am born in well-developed country. Any child in Cambodia could just be me. I need to do my part to make the living condition better for the less fortunate. I certainly don’t mind going with the same group of people again. We had so much fun together! Definitely, miss the time we spent together!

Currently doing my final year in Singapore Polytechnic, after graduation I will further my studies. With free I have, other than spending time on my business, I hope to contribute more to the community such as meeting the MP session.

With Love,
Jasmine Chan

REFLECTIONS

a. Based on your experience in the many activities we organised in Cambodia, what would be a highlight(s) for you? Why? Please elaborate.

The highlight for me in this experience is definitely the soap distribution during one of the days. I feel it’s something material that we left behind for the many many villagers and is something that can be used to improve their lives one way or another. Also while we were going around the village, I got to see how happy the villagers were when they got their soap, how noisy (and happy) the kids were when Robert kee was going around terrorizing them, how basic their housing and facilities are, and to some extent the kind of lifestyle they have.

b. Were there learning points during your trip? What have you learnt? About yourself, your fellow expedition mate, Cambodia, orphans, etc.

I think that one of the learning experiences that we can all take back to Singapore is not to take anything we have for granted. While we are here at home spoilt with choices, complaining that this shoe not bling enough don’t match my belt, this facial wash open up my pores bacteria can go inside, and this chicken got blood I don’t want to eat, the under privileged just around our little dot are happy with the little that they have, and with that they are already much more happier than us.

c. The theme of this expedition was ‘Challenge your perspectives”. Did this happen? Did you have a new insight? Or do you now have a new perspective?

Yes, I think that this expedition has opened up my eyes and exposed me to what I’ve had not much experience in other CIPs, that is the close encounter we’ve had with the orphans and the time we’ve spent together.

d. Call to action. Do you feel you have contributed at the expedition? Would there be future expeditions for you? What are your plans (related to community service). What does the future hold for you?

If theres another expedition organized, I think I’ll most definitely go again.

TAN CHEK ANN

here’s mine for you, OPERATION CAMBODIA 2010. (:

Alrighty! Time flies, and it had been a week plus or was it two that we landed in S’pore? Everything felt kinda magical, feelg that we’ve SURVIVED CAMBODIA WAS AWESOME TOTALLY. despite all the horrible sandflies attack that most of us had gotten, we’ve managed to all pull thru’! This sense of satisfaction is what money can’t get us. Cambodia had totally changed my perspesctive to something call, L.I.F.E true to that. I wish to see a change in myself as well and am continuing to do so..

Cambodia’s time clock had sorta turned my body alarm back to a healthy one!! Which I so couldn’t do it when I was in S’pore, getting up early and sleepg early was smthg so farrrrrrrrr away. and so HARD to achieve, hahahas! Especially those late nights when we loved to stay up, to do.. Nothing. (:

A couple of reflections I’ve made when I was on the bus to Siem Reap, surprisingly everything had taken a toll on me during this bus ride, when I started to think back on a lot of stuffs, tears kind of filled my eyes to be true to that. As I thought back to some instances I’ve had/shared together with the kids..

When a simple cucumber cld meant so much to ‘dem, and how we, in singapore, people will do.. Prolly if you were to gimme a cucumber, I’ll totally not think much of that, or rather I don’t even eat ‘dem. But to them, I cld see that it was precious as gold, or rather anything or everything, be it a little or a huge thing given to them, they treated them like treasure.. It made me realised how food is so important and how I felt so embarrassed.

When I’m in S’pore, I don’t wash my own dirty sweaty clothes, I don’t wash my own shoes, I don’t have to wash my own plates.. Yet a 4 years-old kid, can do. What am i?

Before boarding the bus, I was wearing a pair of really dirtied pair of shoes. There was this little boy, whom I managed to exchange a few words with him the day before, insisted on carrying my luggage, told me that my shoes were really dirty dirty and I’ma dirty girl. He suggested me to take off my shoes so he cld use detergent to help me clean them to CLEAN CLEAN. that spur of moment, it felt like smthg had hit me so hard.

These little words that melt one’s heart.

Nothing really beats having to experience Cambodia oneself. It feels really different, and when I talk to my friends ’bout this experience, they couldn’t much feel me, which I thought it was quite a pity. But, given another chance, I still want to visit Cambodia, visit Hope Village once again, to see how the kids have grown..

How simple, easy, and fragile life cld be.

One great awesome learning lesson: House-building

I felt that the house-building was no doubt tough and tedious. It ain’t a simple task, especially for kids (spoilt kid like me), having to use a hammer?!?! axe?!?! nails?? i swear i’ve never ever touch these items before in the twenty years of my life or neither will my family allow me to. This expedition had challenged my limits and unleashed myself to the furthest. How hard we tried just to nail one nail into the bamboo, which seemed like so easy to the Cambodians. I totally took my hat off to all of them. And how artistically-talent they are in handicrafts WOW me.

Despite all the living conditions, adaptability, I’m proud of all of us to have graduated and survived Operation Cambodia 2010! (: Sincerely thank every single one for your care, concern and support which I needed so badly during this trip, without you, i doubt i’ve survived all on my own.

Priceless I’ve gained, is challenging my own limits, seeking a different new me, changing many life’s perspective, learnt to cherish something call L.I.F.E a different way.

To count my blessings and live each day to the fullest. Be thankful for what I’ve and never to ask for more. I’ve also learnt to give and take, but give more, to those who are less fortunate. To give back the society what I’ve taken, this is only rightful. Live life to the fullest!

This is mine for you!

and i hope i managed to touch a little into your heart. *(:

Hear what Felina has to say!

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love;

for it is in giving that we receive,

an excerpt of St Francis prayer.

Coming from a Franciscan school, Prayer of St Francis has been my school’s hymn for generations and this part relates the most to the Cambodia Trip.

a. Based on your experience in the many activities we organised in Cambodia, what would be a highlight(s) for you? Why? Please elaborate.

I guess for me, and for many others, the climax of the trip is the time spent in Prey Veng, namely the housebuilding days and the weekend spent with the kids at the orphanage.

Housebuilding was a brand new experience for me. Never in my life had i handle hammer with such skills. After day of hammering away, i turned pro and no more a klutz brandishing the hammer like a dangerous weapon. In the midst of the hard work, under the hot son, the group began to bond, over sweat and insect bites. Yes, there might be murmurs here and there, but from what i experienced, the group persevered and helped each other, especially when some of us were down and out.

It is the hardships that bond the group together and it is the group that makes hardship less hard!

Then the children, looking at the photos posted on Fb, makes me nostalgic. Although we were told not to have favorites, there would be bound to have a certain few that caught my attention more than the rest. Namely, Munrag, Munrong, Munrog, the 3 brothers, always around Moses. For some strange unknown reasons, the moment the bus turned into the orphanage, 3 of them caught my attention before the others did. Maybe because they were standing among the rest of the older boys and girls and they looked vulnerable as compared to the rest around them.

The kids taught me how much they can give thanks to what little they have. The living conditions that what pampered Singaporean kids may consider as unbearable, to them, it’s a luxury. To be able to go to school, to be able to have meals everyday, to be able to have houseparents and bunk mates to live with and to have running water to wash themselves with everyday, to them these are much better than life could have been, should they were left roaming the streets.

The kids may not sit under the best teaching, nor do they attend the best schools, they still have their aspirations and dreams. Sock Gil, a 20 year old brother, he’s about to graduate from school and he shared with me, that he has dreams of becoming a businessman.

He didn’t let his circumstances tied him down, cause his faith is not in his surroundings. and to me, it is not easy to dream big, when you grew up as a child left behind by parents, impoverished in an orphanage. but thanks to the dreams and aspirations he has for himself, he is willing to strive to have a better life. and how many of us, can do that here in singapore?

now that i have graduated from poly, even in Singapore, where there’s many established schools and plenty of opportunities, i can’t even draw out a game plan for my future? that really put me and many other singapore youths to shame.

b. Were there learning points during your trip? What have you learnt? About yourself, your fellow expedition mate, Cambodia, orphans, etc.

What spoke to me the most is Teamwork, Tolerance, Patience, Grace and Understanding.

Without Teamwork, we would not be able to complete the tasks given to us so efficiently.

Without Tolerance and Patience, Teamwork will not be possible. The weather, the surroundings, the bites, the poor health (like me) may have taken a toll on ourselves and the team. Nonetheless, there was much tolerance and patience and there were wonderful teammates who would readily fill your shoes and back you up whenever you feel like you at the brink of giving up.

Without grace and understanding, we would not be able to accept each others’ flaws, or even the difficulties some of the kids may have. By understanding them, we are more gracious in accepting people’s lacks and vice versa. Nobody is perfect, but in our imperfectness, we can find others perfectness, and they can fill in our lacks thereof.
c. The theme of this expedition was ‘Challenge your perspectives”. Did this happen? Did you have a new insight? Or do you now have a new perspective?

This may be nothing new, but it reinforces its worth during the trip.

A smile goes a long way.

No matter how grey the skies may be, a smile is like a rainbow.

d. Call to action. Do you feel you have contributed at the expedition? Would there be future expeditions for you? What are your plans (related to community service). What does the future hold for you?

YES I WILL GO. better still, with the same group of people.

OH YEAH! many thanks to mr cho and miss lai for organizing this trip! it wouldn’t be possible without you two

Yvonne’s very first! (:

Hi guys! Okay, omg this is my very first post in our very own blogggg.

Here to congrats chek and felina, it’s our last year and it’s the end of all our papers!! YAY YAY. to jasmine: press on okay! (:

And here we go, to enjoy our cambodia trip to the fullest!

Hello there, big fat kiss to the vacations! (:

And here’s mine with my question What are your fears going on this trip? Elaborate.

Mhmm, frankly speaking this has been the question in my mind for the past few days, hahahahhas.

Other than the stressing exam fears! This is it! but i guess it ain’t going to be that bad, isn’t it?

Prolly ‘cause I’ve never went to third-world country, and since it’s called third-world there must be a reason?

After much elaboration by Mr. Ben Cho during the pre-departure meeting, whoaz. I got to see much more. And now, I wld very much like to see it myself live, if it’s that bad! It’ll be awesome to say, come home and tell my parents that I’ve survived Cambodia!

Nothing is impossible. And everything in this world needs to be given a try. No matter what, I’ll try to survive the living conditions! From seeing it myself to cleaning up!

And most of the time, the only interaction I’ve ever had with Cambodia is through teevee, so I have no idea how it’s going to feel like, getting to really touch and feel Cambodia. It’ll also be another challenging task ahead. (: but nonetheless, i’ve got everyone together w me and along with my grp, WE’LL SURVIVE!

In short, This trip is going to be filled with surprises, mysterious, expect many unexpected…

I expect more than just an army field trip!!

 

Enjoy our last two days in SG before we head back home. (:

new updates!

Hi all!

It’s been awhile since the last post. How’s school for you these few weeks? I hope it has been kind to you, aside from the projects, CAs, and deadlines. (:

and i hope you guys have free days to wreck havoc after your exams, before the trip. cause i, for one, don’t have any free days since my last paper ends on 5 march. bummer i know!

anyhoosss! i guess all of us except for chek will be going for vaccination right? jasmine! dont be scared of the needle, it’s nothing i promise (;

and just a few things to note

1. vaccination (either this thursday or next monday)

2. flights have been changed from silkair to jetstar ( honestly, im quite put out. the last time i flew with jet star, my legs were super cramped by the end of the flight. hopefully this time round will be a better experience for me)

3. the dates are confirmed, 7th march to 18th march 2010 (; the flight will be at 0600hr on the 7th. so be there by 0400? DONT BE LATE. (rmb the latecomer charges?)

4. the methodist girl school thingy isn’t confirmed. (chek hasn’t get back to us it seems)

5. roomings are up! jasmine and yvonne you two rooming together

6. i know the last time we met up, it was a short session. im thinking maybe the day before we fly off, on 6th march, we can go out and buy whatever we need, like repellents and whatsnot at army market.

alrightys then.

have fun in school, especially for those who are graduating. enjoy your last 2 weeks to hilt. (;

see you around. LOVES!

felina (:

Hope:

A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen/ A good expectation of things to come

hey people,

tomorrow will be our teambonding day!!!!

BOWLING!

so remember to bring a pair of socks and meet at fc6@5.15pm.

see you guys tomorrow!

9th Jan Activities+Talk by OHF member: Doris Chan

krom bram (group 5)

today’s pre-expedition briefing was pretty fun, learning the new cambodian phrases, dancing moves, culture and folks’ games. it was la-or-na~

so, as what we discussed today, we shall go bowling at SPGG! this thursday, on 14 jan 2010. let’s meet at FC6 at 5.15pm after school and bring along a pair of socks yea?

for the expedition activity (Methodist School), let’s wait for Mr Cho’s further instructions before we start our planning.

alright! enjoy your weekend, and see you guys around!

Hi all,

HAPPY NEW YEAR! and welcome back to school. gloomy day i know.

anyways.

can we set a date for the pizza hut? how does this thursday, 7 january 2010, during lunch time?

for the group expedition activity

1.bukit timah hike (the rocky trail)

this could be like some stamina building and let us who are in our comfort zone rough it out

2. bowling

a healthy, friendly competition between the groups can bond within the groups and the team as a whole.

for this activity, maybe one of the weekends, maybe on 23 january 2010.

please give me your replies ASAP, sms me.

chek

welcome!

hi group 5!

this will be our group’s blog and everyone is free to update the blog.

anyways, some suggestions for the group’s activity

1. Pizza hut at FC5 when school reopens : FOOD MAKES THE WORLD GOES ROUND

2. Movie outing?

I’m a super nice guy (I know hard to believe) and open to all suggestions. SMS me your suggestions or if you are cool with any of my suggestions.

ALSO!

take note of these dates please

#1: 9 Jan 2010, Sat
Time: 9am to 4pm (tentative)
Venue: T2147 (tentative)
3 main parts:
· Talk by OHF Founder – Mr. Robert Kee
· Introduction to Khmer language – Ms Doris Chan
· Introduction to Khmer Culture – Ms Linda & Ms Solong

#2: Week of 18 Jan 2010
Fund raising at SB. Beneficiary will be OHF.

#3: 18 Feb 2010, Thurs
Pre-departure briefing. This is happening during the Thurs of the study week. Do note that the Mon and Tue of study week are public holidays (Chinese New Year).

alrights! enjoy the rest of your holidays and have a blessed, merry christmas!

Chek