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

There are many experience in Cambodia with my beloved team members and teachers. Firstly, it will definitely be the first interaction with the children in Hope village. We are told to play board games with the children and all of us were already very tired after the long journey from phomn pheng. However, all of us had showed a very good team spirit by using all our heart and soul to play games with the children. No doubts we enjoyed playing with the children. Even though it was the first time communicate with them and i realise that they somehow can really communicate well and they were very serious and into the game. And that will definitely make my day.

Secondly, it will be the time when we first went to the worksite to build the house. The transportation that we took was a lorry and it was filled with all the materials that we were needed to built the house. That was the first time i sat in a lorry without much space left for my legs and the air there was really dusty even with a mask. The moment i reached there, i feel so strange because it really just look like a jungle to me and there were alot of question marks appearing in my mind like how possible would anyone could live in the condition like that. It was really an eye-opener for me. The houses there are very small and they do not even have proper sanitation. The living condition is bad and heard my team members who had gone to distribute the soap to the villagers that most of the villagers have gum problems and majority of them do not know how to use the soap to wash up.

Thirdly, it will be the experience of building the house. Personally, it was the first time for me to hammer a nail on a bamboo and i can assure everyone that it is not an easy job. The first nail i took about 10 to 15 mins to hammer into a bamboo. It was tough as all of us tend to hammer onto our fingers instead of the nail. HAHA. but eventually we did make it to the end and i feel so proud of myself. now hammering a nail is no longer a problem to me. The experience of building a house is so valuable and meaningful.

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

1.Punctuality - Due to the rule set by our beloved Mr ben, we learnt to be punctual throughout the whole trip. Punctuality is very important as it will make everything goes smoother and help the whole journey more enjoyable.

2. Teamwork - Nothing can be done withour teamwork. Teamwork is the most essential thing that make this expedition a success. We work as a team do as a team. Few examples of showing teamwork would be the cleaning up of our domitory, building a house for the ophanage's relative and for GUYS we even bathe as a team.

3. Courtesy - "Courtesy" is what i have learn from the children in hope village. They are very helpful and they always greet us or give us attention whenever we are free and need their helps. Not even the children, the staff are also very helpful. For example, Sister Martina, she is a cook in hope village and our team was asked to cook a Nasi Lemak lunch for the children and without Sister Martina's help, i believe we would be able to cook it so successfully and the children really enjoyed the rice. i hope they could cook more of nasi lemak rice for the children. After they enjoyed the meal, they will politely say thank you to us. and i really feel so touched when all of them were finishing their HUGE bowl of rice.

4. Adaptability - In the foreign country, adaptability is very important. we need to adapt to the food, water and living condition. For me, i have learnt to adapt the heat in cambodia, the mosquitoes bites, sandflies bites and bathe without using showerhead. It is very different from singapore and it gives me more confidences in being more independent.



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, Definitely. I personally did not come across many things but it did happen in Cambodia. The way they live in a room-size house and how the way the children in the village walk with their bare foots and the amount of poos on the ground and the material that they used to build a house. ALL THESE LITTLE SMALL THINGS have made me feel more curious about their living lifestyle. I hope i would have more chances to know them better and experience more new things that i have never come across with.

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 feel i have contributed at this expedition but it would neve be enough for me to stop here. It would just the beginning of my new journey. Because few days in Hope village, i know it would make a great difference for the children. Besides building a house and distributing the soap to the village, i believe we can contribute more by constantly helping them or fulfilling their needs and wants. I would definitely lead a team by myself to help them even more. For now, i am waiting to be enlisted and maybe going for further studies in U. But it would not lessen my passion in helping them. First, i would begin in Singapore by teaching the young generations how to be more independent. Doing some charity works to help some non-profit organisations. If possible, i would constantly do CIP as it would make me more happy than ever.

CHEERS
KM