Amid
the "tough" working schedule, we also found time
to visit an orphanage which was about an hour from Yangon.
The coward me told myself to stay a distance from the kids.
"You are no god", I thought. No contact, physical
(don't get me wrong!) or mental. Yet, the group wanted to
have an interactive session with the kids and thus we sang
"Little fingers On My Hand" with the hand actions
and stuff. The little girl that I was "in-charge"
off was reluctant to sing and hid her tiny hands behind.
Strange, other kids were happily imitating the stupid actions
that we did. I reached out for her hands, only to discover
she had deformed fingers. She was only 6 years old and she
was "ashamed" from this. I broke down mentally,
while remembering that moment forever.
In
retrospective, I never regretted doing the trip. Although
I personally felt that the work we had done were nowhere
significant (perhaps the money spent for our accommodation
and food could have been used for better purposes), it was
"mentally enriching" (in a negative way). I came
back feeling high, dry and emptier. I asked more questions,
I questioned the quality or should I say, the inequality
of life. I don't understand why I was in school (except
to get that stupid degree). I dreaded work, hated the thought
of a shirt and tie (yap, I am now). I asked why people will
ever bother to queue and fight for Hello Kitty. Maybe it
wasn't that bad. I just freaked out. Sillypore seems even
more shitty as ever.
Yes, the "hidden agenda" had accomplished its
aims! In the opposite way!
The End. (Exactly like the way I ended my Myanmar trip,
with a bitter dose of diarrhea and retribution)
Disclaimer: Views expressed as simply views from the
cowardly blogger and does not neccssary reflects the group's
view.
|
 |
As one
of the team member actually stays in Yangon, the team had
a party at his house. I recall there was Myanmar-style Laksa.
Anyway, he was a great help, often bridging the language
gap between the team and the villagers. |
