Denise's final reflection

Thinking back, it really has been a hell of a ride.

Being the last to get in, the only TA2, crazy team members, endless brain cracking meetings, fun-filled fund-raising events, photo essay project, "road building", endless competitive basketball games, my Brillant Buddy, 蛋糕 (高老师 plz dont kill me XD), the kids, the schools, the scenery, the games, gathering firewood, the programms, getting sick, the songs, and most importantly, the BEAUTIDUL TOILETS!!! Recalling all these really makes me think how i actually got throught it!

The majority of the pre-trip meetings were mostly to prepare us for the trip to Yunnan. Yet, unlike what i had expected, most of them required A LOT OF MY BRAIN JUICE!!! It so reminded me of Language Arts lessons. >.< Anyhow, despite my depletion of brain juice, I've never regreted going through the Service Learning lessons, the trip to ACM, the Haig Girls Event, Movie Marathorn, Open Hose and the selling of the Jigsaw. Time consuming as it may be, I had gain a lot of experience.

The trip itself was the fun-est part. I can still remember the first bus ride from the airport to our destination on the first day. The first thing we witnessed was the Sun rise. It was beautiful. Conincidental as it may be, the straight road we travelled on seemed to lead to the sun. It immediately gave me the thought of a journey to new insights, discoveries and... ...hope. It further opened up my mind.

The weather there was not as bad as expected. In fact, when i was there, i realised that i had brought too much clothes! Being Yunnan, the scenery there was breath taking. okayy.. thats a little too exaggerated but hell, it was still beautiful. Oh and a little observation, the average driver in Yunnan is equivalent to a Pro-driver in Singapore. Just look at their skill and you'll know it!

If i had to pick a favourite school, it would be Wan lv Qing and the school which students shouted "欢迎! 欢迎! 热烈欢迎!" when we came in. However, if you ask me which school kids I liked the most, it would be all. Though the schools may treat us differently, however, kids are still kids. Once we are being familarized with them, we were able to carry out our programs efficiently. And boy it was fun with the team bonding games, nursery rhyme teaching, english lessons, basketball games, teaching of 7 stones, and balloon sculpturing.

The most memorable experience of the whole trip would be the one on gathering firewood. The kids at Wan Lv Qing were practically flying up and down the mountain! They even helped to pull/push us up! And the way they climb the trees, all I can say is WOW! i still remember, when i "walking" back down the mountain with my firewood, i saw a sight which made my stomach clench.. GAO LAO SHI WAS SLACKING UNDER A TREE!!! okayy.. i wont say slacking.. lets say.. enjoying the role of being an empress dowagers sitting under a shady tree with people serving her while enjoying the beautiful scenery. right.. >.<

Oh yes my buddy.. how can i forget.. MISS FONG!!! I really miss the times where people tease you of being a bimbo.. haha.. oh and though i may suan you, i have never called you a bimbo.. hahaz.. juz wondering if you ever realised.. hahaz.. anyway, hope you enjoy your time in Shanghai with your husband.. but in case you read this, i would like to remind you that WE ALL MISS YOU!!! oh yeah.. did you like the pic i drew for you? XD

Now that everything is over, all I can say is that I really miss Yunnan and the time we, YELL, as a team had spent together. Though i had started out not knowing most of you guys other than one or two, though all those time, strong bonds have been formed and I really hope that these bonds would last through time. The last few days we spent as a team were the ones which really touched me. As most of you guys know, ironically, i fell sick during the R&R period but this news only got out on the last day. Reason being, after 11 days of CIP, I'm sure all of you guys would want to spent your leisure time shopping and stuff, and I didnt like the idea of me being a burden to you guys. But still, the care you guys had for me during the last night really touched me.. really... thank you...

I really hope that we as a team can carry out more events/services/justnameit in the future..
I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU GUYS!!!

~LONG LIVE YUNNAN OCIP '07 a.k.a. YELL!!!~


~dENisE