Chapter 10: Departure

Today I woke up with mixed feelings. Partly wanting to go back after having gone through several consecutive tiring days and partly wanting to stay for the sake of these kids. The night before, Bo Ann asked me whether I really had to leave tomorrow. He suggested I stay for one more day. Haiyo…. how to answer that? – I’d love to stay but tomorrow Sri Maju bus it’s going to come and take me away back to UTP. Yea..that’s what.

Goodbye to the lush green village

Ian kindly fetched me down to the village as I had given back my 2 wheeled-machine to the neighbour. We all packed and gathered in the village centre that morning to wait for our bus. The kids (and teachers), right after school time, came to join their parents to bid us off. We took the chance to take our last round of pictures.

Picture with the teachers

Yuih Yee famous finger linkin’ good photo

Yours truly signing off

We brought with us tropical fruits, rambutan mostly, and few with mangosteen, bananas and even durians! We wish we could carry more, but that’s all the mouth-watering delicacies we could haul together with our heavy luggage.

Posing with our hairy-ball harvest

Finally the bus came. We exchanged goodbyes and hugs, and promise to come back for visits. When we started loading and boarding the bus, tears can be seen swelling in the eyes of these kids, who looked at us from below, with heavy hearts. Some were visibly sobbing. That’s when we knew we’ve made an impact in their lives during our one week service there. I hope the kids were motivated by us as much as they have inspired us. I would say our affection for them at the time were pretty much mutual, but alas all good things must come to an end.

Bye kids

I wish to tell you more but I’m overwhelmed by tons of things to say till I don’t know where to start. There are so many different experiences and stories to share. Imagine if 26 of us would write 10 chapters each. We would end up with 260 chapter-worth of stories that can match a good 1-inch thick illustrated textbook. All I can say is that what we have gained and learned and shared was invaluable, and what we have given and taught and passed-on was inestimable.

“Bye Liman Kati”

humbly yours,

the UTP rural service team

Coming up next:- Epilogue