My Cambodia Experience. My Memories.

Cambodia is a wonderful place to be. It is so green and it helps us to reflect on our daily lives. When I first step my foot there on the 21st of November, I felt pleased. I am honored to be an ambassador from Seng Kang Secondary School Leaders to help the people there.

On the first day, we all were very excited. We were singing and laughed joyful as we were all ready to do what we are supposed to do, Community Involvement Programme. We were all suprised by the busy surrounding and, there isn't any traffic lights at all! While we were on our three-hour journey to a village called Chombok, many of us were fast asleep. Some were sleeping peacefully despite of the bumpy journey. When we reached there, we were given a warm welcome from those villagers. I am so pleased with the service that they had provided. 

On the second day, we were totally into our Community Involvement Programme. We had to build a well for the villagers. We were having a great time and despite of the tired and heavy things that we have to carry and pass to one another ( using the human chain ) , we were laughing joyfully. After the hectic day, we have a performance for those villagers to enjoy. We performed joyfully and we smiled non-stop to ensure that the villagers felt very pleased with us. Oh yes, it was also the day for us to take our Malaria Pills. Bluek :p

Proceeding to the next day, it was our last day in the village. We went for a hike to have a awesome time at the waterfall. It was definitely tiring. The hill is so high that we were taking our time to reach the waterfall. BOOM! And here we are. We were all shocked to see the waterfall. It is so beautiful and the scenery were so extraordinary. Oh my. We played with the water at the waterfall and the water is super cold. If I am not wrong, it is about 17 Degrees Celsius.

And lastly, the last day. The last day was the most memorable day for me. Why? Cause, the tour guide showed us a museum of the war that had happened years ago. Up till today, I still can't stop thinking about it. It  is just so.. Oh my. Unforgettable. 

I miss Cambodia now. I miss the stars. I miss everything about them. (continue)

Lots of Love,
Farah Syahirah.

My Cambodia Experience,My Memories

Cambodia, the most memmorable country i have ever been to. It was also a place i never regretted going but it was also the place that made me feel proud that i went there as a leader from SengKang secondary. Cambodia was the country where i learnt many things during the day i spent there. It was also the place which was very meaningful , different yet a fun country. I really miss the time i had spent there but i'm happy to have those precious memories.

Everyday in Cambodia was a new day full of experience. Actually during the first day, i felt as though i'm gonna have trouble fitting in and even dreaded why i joined this experiential learning. But from just the hours i had spent with my friends and some interactions with the cambodians i felt it was not bad afterall. We actually stayed at the wonderful village,Chombok . It was also the village we were about to build the well  for. In the village there were many pets as well as many types of Flies. Actually it was really annoying to see all those flies surrounding you most of the times. But then we realised that as our aim to bild the well, we mustget used to it so that we would be able to accomplish our mission. With that mindset,we,the leaders were able to get over with the flies and did not really complain about it.

On the second day, we were all ready to built the wells and accomplish our mission. We actually walked to that area, and on the way, i actually enjoyed the scenary and the cambodia breeze. When we reached the area, we realised that the cement was actually very fun from the well and we needed to actually bring the cement nearer. That was when we all formed the human chain and brought back the cement. It was really a long way and it was really hot. But the leaders and i did not give up and toiled hard t build the well succesfully. Each of us were assigned to do something,and my group was assigned to do the sawing. I think it was also the first time i actually used the saw and i truly enjoyed myself. It was a great experience for me. And at night, we had the campfire which we all awaited for. everyone's hardwork really paid of and i wwas really glad that we gave an awesome shoe to the Cambodians.

The third day arrived quickly too. We actually went to a nearby school for our CIP. it was a really tiring way up cause the school was quite high and to our shock,it was relatively small. All the students there did not have proper attire too,it was actually sad to see them like that. Due to the time constraint, we did not really get much time with the students to play games so we started to give out the donation items to them. The cambodians accepted everything with a big smile and it was a pleasure seeing their smiles. Next was the most memmorable thing in my life,Trekking!! I am pretty sure it was the best thing that happpened to me in thw whole year. Ireally really enjoyed trekking a long way to the waterfall. We also helped each other and became more united. Trekking was just simply awesome.

In a blink of an eye,The fourth day arrived.  We went to the Tuol Sleng Museum and Russian market. The mueseum was really one of the saddest place i ever went to. But it also taught me the history of Cambodia.  i was also shocked of what i saw because the things i saw and heard were really atrocious. But the shocking thing is that the case is still going on. It is just so unbelievle to know such things could have happened. Well lastly we went to the last spot in Cambodia, the russian market. i really enjoyed shopping there cause the things were cheap but they were really very pretty.

The entire trip was totally awesome and i enjoyed myself truly.
Srisuriya,2E1,2011

My Cambodia Experience. My Memories.

"So many meetings, wahh wished i never signed up" this was the line you could hear from me when we were still preparing but now i know why we had to have the meetings. the trip was very fun and fast it was as though only a day there.. 

There was a negative train of thoughts in my mind before going to Cambodia. I thought it will be dirty, messy, full of unfriendly people. I kind of like got a slap on my face when what ever i thought did not come through in fact it was the exact opposite.

The tour guide was a great help to us. Without him i would not have been able to get alot of information about Cambodia. The owner of the house was also a great help to us he told us alot of stories about Cambodia especially when we were heading towards the waterfall.. 

The house was very neat. There was blanket, mattress, pillows and even mosquito nets. I did not expect it. It was quite hot at night but we managed it by using the fan they gave  us.

 While building the well, i realized that good communication and team work is needed. We had to make a human chain and carry the sand and bricks from one end to the other. The bricks were light but the sand was heavy. Well now people know that size does not matter.

I also learnt that they are not as fortunate as us. Water was very precious to them. Well while we were making our rice, i saw some kids going to the rubbish bin and finding water, they were so happy when they found the water that they started jumping around. This made me reflect how fortunate and ungrateful I was. 

The kids there are very respectful, before they take anything they will thank us by putting both there hands together and then they take the things with both their hands. There school did not even look like a school. I was shocked to hear that the shelter was their school.

Overall, i really benefited by this trip. The Cambodians are happy even with their simple life. While we are complaining  when we have high technology. My Cambodia experience was great and i gained alot of knowledge. I hope i will be a better leader and can apply what i have learnt in my daily life. 

Mini Raj (2E3)

 

my cambodia experience

The 4days 3 nights in Cambodia was a fun and enjoyable experience. Cambodia may be a dirty and poor country but even with the bad conditions they have I had lots of fun there. On the first 2 nights we may not had hotels to sleep in but living in the village make me learn more about their culture and ways of living. On the second day of the trip, we went to another part of the village to help them build a well and before reaching there we saw how the people there farm and learned more about how they farm in the village but the main part of the day was to build the well. Building of well was hard and tiring but thinking of the people there made all the hard work seem well used and seeing that we finish building the well made me feel good. On that day, we also went to give out rice to the villagers there. This made me learn not to waste food as the people there do not even have much rice. On the next day we went to the waterfall, which was the time most people went in the water to clean them and had fun. After it we went to the school but cause of some problems we only got 30 minutes to play with the children there. After it, we when back to phnom penh and had a good night rest in the hotel. Sadly we had to go back to Singapore so on the last day we when to S21 the place many Cambodians died and also the killing field. This made me feel Singapore is a really good place as it is always peaceful. Lastly we when to the Russian  market and bought some things back home. After that we when to the airport and the trip ended like that.

Marcus lee 2E4

My cambodia experience. My memories

Time flies, before we even know it, we have already arrived back in Singapore ready to go home. On the first day, I was still doubting my ability to survive the harsh environment there in Cambodia but once we arrived at our home stay, my idea of dirty toilets and muddy water changed completely. The surroundings of our home stay was clean and breezy and I enjoyed the noises the forest makes at night it pulls us closer to mother nature and step away from our high-tech city. Through the building of well, I have learnt how important is it for us to work together as a team rather than going solo which is more tiring and takes more time. The human chain has taught me to spare a thought for others as what I can carry may not be what others can and I should give them time to pass on the heavy buckets rather than carrying a lot at a time and clogging the chain. The giving out of the rice taught me to not take rice lightly as it is very precious to the people there and we must not waste it, instead of using only one plastic bag we should have used two for one pack of rice to avoid wasting the rice. The trip to the school has taught me to not despise people and stepping out of my comfort zone to serve people and teach them skills they might not even know of, it is sometimes a blessing to give rather than to receive and gain more by losing. The trip to S21 and the killing grounds have certainly made an impact on my life as well as the way I think through it's pictures and wordings. It taught me to love on another and that not everything can be bought with money, things like love and friendship cannot be bought. Throughout this trip, the villagers have taught me a lot of values which cannot be learnt in school such as their close relationships between each other and thriftiness. I did not regret going on this trip at all as I thought that it was very fruitful and my knowledge for this world has increased. I will want to go Cambodia to help the poorer parts of the village again! :)
 Charlene Neo 2E5

My Cambodia Experiences, My Memories

This was my second time going to Cambodia and I know how the environment it is like there. I am sure that the environment in Cambodia would not be as good as the environment in Singapore. Due to the poor living environment they have, some of them had to do farming in order to survive.

The homestay at the village was a great experience for me because it was my first time staying in a village and my first thought was that I would not be able to survive through the two days. When I first step into the house, I saw that there was a mattress, pillow and a mosquito netting provided for us. It has change my mind about staying in a village. When I told was told it was the villagers that let us stay in their houses for the two nights, I was really grateful towards them as if it was me, I would not let a stranger to sleep in my house. However, they were very willing to welcome us into their houses. Through the two days in the village, I had a lot from the Cambodians. Even though they were poor, they did not complain about what they did not have, and just live a simple life. They were always smiling and I know that they were happy although they did not have much things to play with. It was opposite from what a Singaporean had. Most children in Singapore live with technology nowadays, but they were always complaining. They were always comparing with other children about what they don't have, but if they were to stop and think about the children in Cambodia, I think it would make great difference on them. We should cherish what we have now.

The scene where the Cambodians went towards the rubbish bin and drank our half-filled bottle of water, I almost couldn't believe my eyes. They drank the water that we threw away. Most of us in Singapore would just throw the bottles of water away even through there is still water. I think we should not waste water and should cherish every drop of water. Through this CIP in Cambodia, there were a lot of improvements made in my life, like not wasting water and cherishing what I have now. Living in a good environment like Singapore, is a very fortunate thing. I will always remember how the Cambodians live, and apply it in my life so that I will improve.

Hui Shi, 2E2

My Cambodia Experience .

So fast ~ And our CIP and trip at Cambodia ended . Like a fast only :O Before going on this trip , all of us had worked hard on our respective tasks . And i mean REALLY hard . We go to meetings everyday , We buy the materials , And we collected the donations for the Cambodians .WOWW ~ At first , i didn't think that sec twos like us would be able to pull it off and have a happy ending when we go home . But ,we did it ! ^^ *proud* Yayy ! Before the trip , everyone was worrying about what is gonna happen during our 4days 3night at Cambodia and now we are back in Singapore to tell you our story ! ^^

On the first day we all gathered at the airport in Terminal one .After we gathered with our teachers awhile ,we were left to our own to spend our last time with our family before boarding the plane . To be honest with you , I'm scared of the plane's toilet cause it's black so i went to the airport's toilet alot of times . Part of the reason of going to the toilet many times was also because I'm worried about how our trip will go . Will it be a happy ending ? Will there be any mishaps ? Ohh My God . I worry this worry that . kekekeke ~ Funny right ? And so we flew flew flew away to Cambodia at 1030 (:
-after plane touchdown-

When we got off we were supposed to go and chop passport right ? Yeah . I was expecting some kind of airport that's like Malaysia's budget terminal , where you have to walk down on a staircase down the plane and then walk into the airport . But no , Phnom Penh's airport is just like Singapore's airport ! So this taught me to never judge a book by it's cover or in this case never judge a country by it's descriptions . I also noticed that in the airport there's this machine that's standing in the middle of the whole area . Do you know what that is ? It's a machine that's like Singapore's scanner that took over the chopping of Singaporean's passport except that it only requires for the Cambodians to put the whole passport into a slot . #coolshit .I didn't think that there would be something so cool like that in a country like Cambodia .

-after clear custom-

After clearing custom we went to eat lunch . Outside the restaurant , we saw a beggar sitting at the doorstep begging for either food or money i don't know . Pity . So we all must study hard so that we can take care of ourselves or even better take care of others who are in need . After we ate , we went on to buy rice for the villagers then bus-ed to Chombok Village for 3hours straight.

The village on first impression to me was : rural and maybe unsafe . And i didn't expect lights to be there for us . Little did i know that it was on just for us . I think it cost them quite alot for them to buy a generator ): Then there was an introduction on the village by Mr Chaim the head of the village (?) . Also , i thought that the dinner would be like things that i can't get used to eating .But they cooked eggs for us ! I think it might be to them a luxury to eat eggs everyday . You know , we ate eggs for almost every meal for the whole trip . That's why now i stop eating eggs for a week cause the eggs are so high on cholesterol :/  I'm not complaining or what . But i'm awfully grateful for the eggs to be there or else i wouldn't have ate so much and have enough energy for the activities . So through this ,i also learnt to be grateful that Singapore is a country that can allow us to have Da Yu Da Rou ( Big Fish Big Meat ) for every meal . So we must not waste food ^^

During our 4days 3nights there , we also build a well for the villagers so that they can have direct excess to water . Well , actually we did not do much except pass the cement , sand and bricks to the villagers there to build the well . They are all fast workers ! When we finish having lunch , the well is already to the cementing stage already ! If we were to help them , i don't think it would have been so fast . Really . ut it's a good experience as i did not do before this kind of work or seen such big earthworms . They like a big only ! The size of my index finger maybe ? It's scary :O In Singapore , we do not have such size for worms ..

All in all , i think this trip made me think that i should really really be grateful for everything i have and being born in Singapore . We should also not waste food and water even though we have money to pay for it .

-Sabrinna 2E1'11