we took to the school.
I got to know that some of the children studying in the school lives far away and have to travel on
for an hour or so to reach the school.
Some of them would stay in school and go only home during the weekends.
to learn.
We engaged in
construction work during the day and started our activities with the students in the noon time. I was in the group which was in charge of
teaching English to children who were about 14 or 15.
On the first day, it was not easy to bring the message across to the children even though they had some prior knowledge of English; we needed the translator to convey our message frequently.
However, as the children open up to us, we were able to communicate more efficiently with the use of
simple language and
hand gestures.
They were always
eager to learn and took things seriously.
Reflecting upon myself, I felt guilty for not being as determined as them although I have the opportunity and comfort to study in a good environment.
Learning was
bidirectional, not only did we impart our knowledge to them, we learnt and gained a lot from the children as well.
They taught us some simple Vietnamese words and phrases and also brought about much
joy and
laughter to us.
There was once they were given stickers as prize for doing well in the English game we played with them, they were elated upon receiving the stickers and even shared them with their friends who were from other classes.
Their
sincerity and
big-heartedness is as pure and magnificent as a crystal.
Little things could really bring great happiness to them.
Out of the school, we got to see things which are not seen in Singapore and also learnt from these sights.
Looking at these children, I thought about my own living condition and I'm reminded of how fortunate I am.
These children may not be having as much comfort as many of us do, but they are contented.
They live in harmony and are able to
find happiness within themselves.
Many a time, we do not realize how blessed we are and complain about things being not good enough. Maybe exposure to these environments would allow us to feel more
contented and appreciative of what we have.
Do the arrangements of the bricks look familiar?
The children were using bricks to play domino. They do not have the luxury of having nice plastic toys which would decrease their chances of getting injured, but they
enjoyed themselves.
She is one of the children whom I'll always remember.
She was playing hop-scotch alone when I saw her for the first time.
I joined her and even though we seldom talked, I enjoyed playing with her. She was
friendly and bubbly, a very lovely child. After school, she would follow her mum around, selling items to earn some money. It is a responsibility she has to uphold even though she is still young. I think she is much more mature than me when I was her age.
This
bamboo game was what they frequently played.
They were practising for their performance which will be showcased during the farewell party.
It was interesting to see how they danced to the rhythm.
Tavan Secondary School has indeed given me an insight to the lives of children who are living in a place not very far away from me.
The
smiles and
warmth of the children gave me the drive to continue with the amazing journey at Sapa, at the same time leaving heartfelt memories in me.
Through this trip, I've learn that
Life can be simple and still beautiful.
Happiness and
Love can be shared and will be returned double the amount.
Language Barrier can be overcomed by Sincerity.
Tavanova, an unforgettable journey.
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