e mërkurë, 26 nëntor 2008 @8:29 m.d.
Yesterday was the day i arrived back in Singapore after spending 3 memorable days with the children from Bethesda orphanage in Batam. We arrived in Batam on Sat morning and i wasn't expecting much from the trip but to visit the country i originated from and eat their food again!! It seems more of a 'holiday' and time off from the busy life here. We took a ferry over and it sure was a warm trip. We were then awaited by our tour guide, Octa. Our passports were then kept and we were soon in the minibus which would take us to Golden View Hotel. Our driver, Pak Pri was a nice man. Since the rooms weren't ready in the hotel, we had to place our belongings in a room provided by the hotel before going off for our 'shopping' for hardwares and tools.. Our meals that day was an ordinary one with nothing really special. After lunch, we proceeded on to Bethesda orphanage to get to know the children and see what we can do for them. i got to know a boy called Marlius who then taught me to play some hand game. it sure was fun. For the next few days. i had some problems trying to remember the names of the children there. After the visit, we went back to the hotel for our planning and rest!!On the 2nd day, we started work at the orphanage but there were difficulties which surfaced such as the attempt in assembling a cupboard which has no instruction manual. Next thing we know, the screwdriver was a lousy one and can hardly screw the screws in. Well, rather than just let it be, i thought might as well ask the 'kakak' if there is any hardware shop around so that we can buy new screwdrivers. She then asked Johan to bring me to the hardware shop nearby. Wow.. i miss walking barefooted. that walk to the hardware shop made me realize that. Was not really used to the hot and rough road but it sure was fun. While walking, i had a conversation with him and found out that they only eat fish and vegetables usually and only have meat such as chicken, etc only for special occasions such as birthdays. This is such a simple fare and yet they are surviving on them and yet here i am in a nice country, pampered with good food and sometimes putting them to waste. It sure felt bad. We then continued in assembling the cupboards while some of us worked on in the kitchen, cleaning it before painting the walls. We also shared our lunch with the childrens. After that, we there was supposed to be english lesson but the children didn't want to have lessons since it was a Sunday. So we then had a game of soccer at the field which was practically foot reflexology! Sure was impressive to see the children running barefooted and chasing after the ball when the ground were filled with rocks. Tim sure did something real nice in buying ice-cream for everyone. it was 100, 000 Rupiah worth of ice-cream which costs 2000 Rupiah each. We then went back and on the way back, our bus broke down!! ouch... We then had to 'tompang' the bus of another class to the shopping centre to do some shopping. Me and Nigel sure bought alot of groceries!! hehe..On the third day, we aimed to finish up we have come to do. However, we didn't manage to do so. It sure was disappointing. I would have loved to stay on and do more for them or at least complete what we had gone to do but time were not on our side and there were other factors. However, the third day was still cool and memorable. I totally can't get angry easily and no way can i get angry when a person asks me to. It is just not who i am i suppose. Painting the wall wasn't as easy though i've done such work before. Unfortunately, the long pole i was using actually broke and it had lovely panda pictures on them somemore.. ughhh.. hahaha.. We mounted shelves for the children as well as some fans as their fans were not in a very good condition. This time round, Andrew bought them ice-creams.. good business for the ice-cream man ba. At the sametime, T21 arrived at the orphanage. Saw Ty and he was telling me about what happened in Sg? more or less? yeah.. was like wow?? okayyy... it has only been a few days and so much has happened? wow.. Soon, it was time to say bye to the children we have made friends with in the short period. I sure felt like just staying there with them and nor boarding the bus. Ms Yao then told us to refflect on our immediate feelings in the bus. I was filled with so much emotions that i would rather look out of the window of the bus to reflect instead of writing. It was a great feeling to have known that we have done something nice for them and yet it is also very sad to know that our efforts only bring them temporary benefits. Would they ever become our domestic worker one day? possible. it is just sad to know how we live in a deluded world at times. The most shocking event that happened was about Kevin!!! that was... errrr... wow??Last day was then shopping day!!! It was cool!! but yet sad... what am i doing shopping? i would have gladly followed T21 back to the orphanage... ughhhh... Back in Singapore, i caught up with what has happened the past few days and hmm.. why are we living in so much problems and unhappiness when there are people out there who live simply and yet live life to the fullest and happily? Are we just too pampered and wish to pursue what we see as 'true' happiness? I'm guilty of that and how simple things can make me unhappy. Everything is about me but what about others? How do they feel? Are there others worst off? So what if we know so much and are sociable? So what if we are attached or like someone? We are still living in a very pampered condition. proper clothes, branded ones at that. Here we are worrying about what clothes to wear from our already huge wardrobe, about which games we should buy, about blogging away about our lives, about spending time with people we are close to and many more when there are many others out there who have no such worries but rather of how are they going to survive and all.. Sometimes i wonder..... is happiness gained through simplicity? Is generosity gained through hardships? and well, there are just many things...
♥ you and i both loved
