I just felt i could have done more to help because i know i can.....

INTELLECTUAL

- Understood the need to have a proper organisational system for such a large project

Prior to the trip, we spent most afternoons discussing about our project in the canteen when most of us were only thinking about playing soccer after that. This led to half of us being distracted while others were serious about what they were doing, leading to unproductivity. Looking back, i realised the time we put in was still not enough to cover all aspects of this project. I personally feel that we could have done more than asking for a ball when i saw how we could have maximised our time usage and got things done quickly.

- Realised the harmful effects of tourism within Vietnam

It had never occured to me that tourism had changed entirely the lives of the people there before this trip. What i saw in Sapa was a good example; children having to leave school to sell their ethnic wares in the main tourist market, mostly forced by their parents to make a living. I wondered if i was really deprieving these kids of an education as i recalled how much i had bought there, increasing the probability of them coming back again to sell their things to the next curious tourist. Another incident was when we were leaving on the last day. As i took pictures of 'whiskers' together with her siblings and parents, it only dawned on me when i was looking through the photos i had taken that the H'mong children were in t-shirts unlike their parents who were in their traditional indigo dresses. For all we know, this might be the last time they display their heritage proudly in a bid to keep up with the 'times'

DELIVERABLES

- delivered medicine and gave food to the minorities there

I used to think that the minorities in Sapa had basic access to medicine and food such that they would at least have enough for every meal. Once again, Vietnam proved me wrong when we trekked for half a day to reach this particular house with chickens and dogs running around in Xeo Trung Ho. We gave all the remaining medicine we had on us including our own after seeing how the family there lived in poverty. All of us so badly wanted to give something from ourselves to them as we felt guilty about the way we lived in Singapore. Even in the primary school as i just learnt, the children were thankful to have a proper meal of bread, egg and pork. I just felt i could have done more to help because i know i can.....

- helped to create a better learning environment for the children

We wanted to do our part by painting the school and doing up a small english reading corner for the kids there in Catcat village as part of our project. The effect on me was tremendous; i never expected to make such a diffenrence to the school children there. What the teacher said on the last day would always remain in my head. Their amount of gratitude towards us made me feel so small; the little we have done actually meant so much to them. It was certainly a good feeling to feel the difference we have made.

EMOTIONAL

- appreciated the fact i was born in Singapore

I had always thought i had been to and seen the worst in my life of 16years. My perception of poverty changed dramatically as i witnessed for myself how the people in Sapa were more than willing to take socks, boots and t-shirts worn by us and were preparing to discard them. This trip had really opened my eyes to the world; just a few hours away by plane on the same continent, so many people have to live a life totally unlike the blessed Singaporean lifestyle.

- recognised the need to stick together as one within a group

For the 4 years in NPCC, we never had the chance to be together for more than 3 days. This trip to Vietnam tested our forged bonds throughout the entire duration and hopefully it brought us closer together. The need for brotherhood and teamwork never sounded so strongly before as someone missing from the group due to any reason can wear down our morale quickly. However, I am still proud to say that we got through everything together and had the chance to interact closely with one another to learn more about others and most importantly, ourselves from others.

ADVERSITIES

- difference in expectations

I have always felt that the mindset i had prior to the trip towards this project was too far. Suprisingly, I had imagined it to be a leisurely own-time-own-target kind of project where we just did simple chores like sweeping the floor. It was only the last 2 weeks of November that I realised i was in for more; the best was yet to come. I had to try my best to change my focus away from other distractions (eg. shopping) and commit myself fully to this project. I did not put myself completely into the planning of this trip by having a holiday mood during the holidays; thus giving me a hard time in trying to accept what i had missed and to get on with what was going on around me.

LEARNABILITY

Throughout this entire trip, i have learnt so much about myself as a person that i can even confirm the doubts i used to have before this trip about my attitude towards learning. I believe that i will not easily forget about how i felt about myself before and after visiting Vietnam. There are so many life lessons to be learnt out there; as i have seen for myself. It is up to me if i want to apply these skills later on in my life, but i had better not regret one day in the future that i should have done this and that when i look back at Fusionoize 06' Vietnam

Zhang Jiawei