REFLECTIONS | LUMEN
23
Journey
By Kennard Chin
to
International Education journey became a part of every Secondary Three student ’ s life in 2012 when the programme extended to all four hundred students in the level . Kennard Chin travelled to Cambodia returning from it enriched in more ways than one .
This page ( top ): Lending a hand in harvesting rice This page ( bottom ): Taking a breather
Cambodia
Historically , Cambodia has been a country of violence and turmoil but that does not hide the rich beauty of the culture , its people and breathtaking architecture . Thus this trip was a chance for me to discover the hidden treasures and heritage of this ancient civilisation .
Our trip to Cambodia centred on the aspect of service learning and helping the residents of Arrupe Welcome Centre in Battambang , a centre for young landmine and polio victims .
My first impressions : bedding and toilet facilities were basic , very much different from what we are used to in Singapore . Our meals were also simple affairs , and even more so for the meals that the residents had daily . The stark contrast in living standards is a reflection of our two countries ’ economies . Having the opportunity to stay with the residents made me realise Singapore youths are very fortunate and comparatively well-off .
What were most enriching about the trip are definitely the shared experiences with the residents . The wide cultural divide and awkward conversations disappeared when the residents opened up to us . This gap was also bridged with the cultural performances put up by both the Cambodians and us . Language barriers aside , we tried our best to impart a portion of Singapore to them , and they did likewise . This was the start of an understanding between us . I believe the catalyst to this was the shared meals . There was no other moment when we spent time so close together , doing the same things . As we had more meals ,
conversation started flowing and we were greeted with a genuine interest in our country . Similarly , we also took the opportunity to find out more about Cambodia from the residents . This firsthand knowledge beats reading any travel guides and history textbooks .
Our purpose at Arrupe Welcome Centre was to teach English to its residents who had the honest desire to learn and they wanted all the help we could give in the two short nights we had with them . Despite the challenges we faced , the reward for our effort was a sense of satisfaction to be able to conduct the lessons so well , and that they were actually benefiting from them . We learned much too . Our understanding of basic Khmer traditions deepened and we could articulate a couple of Khmer phrases .
Other than teaching basic English , we also performed some community work . Rice harvesting was a first for us . Mind you this was not a “ try-forfun ” kind of experience . We spent a day harvesting rice using only sickles and our bare hands . It was sheer menial labour - a once-in-a-lifetime experience for city dwellers like us . Furthermore , we also helped to plant trees for the centre and a few of us even helped to repair the thatch roofs of some houses . It was rewarding to think that we were actually contributing to the people there and not just there for some Community Involvement Programme hours .
Our trip would most definitely not be complete without seeing the sights and sounds of Battambang and Siem Reap . ‘ Beautiful ’ is one word to sum up the aged stone structures of temples and caves . The sights were but the richly layered history of a nation while the structures proved that Cambodia is not just a country , but a story , built upon years and years of the past and culture .
Travelling to Cambodia was a humbling experience . It was a trip that had much to give us , much to teach us . The shared journey with the group , the locals and the country was an experience worth learning from ; it was a magnificent experience worth remembering .