You know how there's a saying that goes "the days are long but the years are short"? Maybe it was because we'd wake up so early every morning that the days seemed to stretch out and double in length, but one month passed by in time shorter than a blink. "Impact For Peace", we call ourselves. I wonder what kind of impact we had left behind in this one short month, but this experience has doubtlessly left its mark on my life.

 

When you first meet someone, you kind of get a vague sense of that person's name and face and everything, and it all gradually comes into focus and clarity as you get to know that person more. It was the same with these kids, except I don't know when nor how it happened - it just did. And all of a sudden, these kids' foreign names came to mean so much more than just a string of strangely mixed alphabets and their faces so much more than a stranger's. They wear their hearts on their sleeves and they are open books filled with flowers and sunshine and strength and love that we had gotten to share - they share without second thought, they protect without hesitation, they help without being asked to. What have we done to deserve all this?  I wondered. Because in my eyes, the benefits of all the things we were attempting to do - teaching, empowering, training - were not proportional to the abundance of love, friendship and trust from them. Honestly, I would say that we were at times more troublesome than helpful - we'd slow the kids down when we trekked along with them, we'd fall as we walked along the rocky paths, we'd misunderstand when communicating with them. Yet, they didn't mind, they didn't complain; instead, they gave freely to us - their candies, their flowers, their fruits, their time, their energy, their hearts. This was nothing short of a surprise, because how often do we ever encounter such love and warmth in the busy city of Hong Kong? Sure, they live simple lives, but they are happy and content and above all ready to give, even if what they have is limited. Being with them somehow washed off the city-bound thinking - the material, the glamour, the wealth - and replaced in me fresh eyes in seeing how life could be led in simplicity, serenity and contentment.

 

We call a service trip a service trip because we presupposed that we are better off and are lowering ourselves to help less fortunate ones up. But this trip has taught me otherwise, and in all honesty, I feel that I have gained much more than I have given. And for that, I am endlessly grateful.

 

Rachel Ma

Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education in Language Education (English Language) (Year 4)