I'm finally back from my OCIP! Done with ACER, SPSU and OCIP! Look like I've cleared a lot of my schedule for the holidays... only to realise that I'm left with 1 week of the holidays.
Pleasantly surprised with my results. Indeed, it is by God's grace, mercy and strength that I am where I am today and I have what I have today. On hindsight, it just keeps me wondering how was it even possible to achieve these kind of grades if not for the grace of God. I didn't do very well for my mid sems but then somehow, my overall results proved otherwise. And it was the first time in my life, I could proudly show my results to my parents and having full confidence that they'd be pleased and proud of my results. No holding back, whatsoever. Previous results, my whole life, even though they said they were happy with my results, but I wasn't 100% contented with my results per ser. But this time, I finally felt like, yes, I am happy and proud to show it to my parents.
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose." -Romans 8:28. I guess it is really just putting all your faith in the Lord and then to trust Him that he will provide an escape for you, and that He'll give you nothing but the best for you, even though you may not see how it's the best for you, but eventually, by God's grace, you'll see how carefully mapped out your life the Lord has done for you.
Alright so now for an update on my Vietnam OCIP.
Day One: Set off to Vietnam!
Wandering around T2 cause there were still some time left before boarding
First time sitting a budget plane ride!! Selfie with those who got seats beside me. The last few moments of using my own mobile data.
Finally reached Ho Chi Minh! At the airport. And the start of a journey...
Day 3: First day of Service
Woke up to a really nice morning light. Mandatory shot when lighting is THIS GOOD.
De-rusting the window grills. I HATE DOING THIS JOB. But it's a necessary before you can move on to the more fun part - painting.
Nice view, nice light, mandatory step shot with my great partner. Before we left for lunch.
The group was so amused because they saw a cow for the FIRST TIME IN THEIR LIVES. So we stopped for a cowfie.
Went to the school after lunch and that was where I saw the kids for the first time. These two girls stuck around me while the break we had in school.
Step shotsssssss. HuiEn is thinking hard.
Back to work, back to work! Finally started on painting.
Day 4: First day of Teaching
The butterflies here are really big and pretty. Really things that you won't see in Singapore.
After our first lesson which was conducted in the afternoon!
Step shot of the day.
Day 6: Getting to know the Translators better
Being serious when I'm at work. Hehe.
She looks as young as me, doesn't she? She's one of the Vietnamese translators! And trust me when I say that she was an even smaller build than me.
Going back to the host family's home for dinner after a day of service!
Day 7: Leader for the second time + Facilitation for the day!
After all... we are only young once right? :P Bringing step shots to a whole new level: photo shoot at the construction site.
Whole team at the construction site!
Yes, I take painting very seriously.
Facilitation at night! Was quite worried it wouldn't be impactful. But thankfully, we got the green light from Angie and she thought that it was a facilitation well done. With those who talked during the activity, which they weren't supposed to, and my partner behind the camera.
Day 8: Home visit!
My first time ever carrying a baby. Wow. He was just too cute and too handsome.
I be like, "You mess with me, I'll chop you like how I chop this coconut."
Yep, fresh coconuts from the tree! Suuuuuper good!
I was brutally forced to hold a puppy. You had no idea how much I was struggling and squealing internally. SO SCARY.
Mandatory step shots of the day as follow below...
And not forgetting my partner for DAY 7 with me. But we were in the same group for Day 8 so...
Day 10: Closer, getting still closer... to the students.
Morning faces with Ah Dy. When I found out he was from MAEC subcomm. Sent a snapchat to Amir & Glendon. HAHA.
This sweetie above made a bracelet for me below.
Recapping on the English we have previously taught them.
Day 11: More painting
Day 12: Last day of Service! Farewell, farewell... precious little ones.
This is just a quarter of the kids who kept sticking to me. I'm not even joking when I say a quarter. The rest were still having their classes.
This handsome boy will grow up to be a ladies' man. So so so so handsome. He looks mixed.
Pardon the really tired face though.
Getting some Chinese dance feels maybe?
Cultural performance at the farewell ceremony, family portrait!
Day 13: R&R Lo!
Cause last morning in Ben Tre. Must take those step shots I wasn't able to for the previous days.
On the way to Unicorn Island, Mekong Delta.
My wave of emotions & facial expressions as I held a python for the first time in my life. The second last photo can be explained: I was being licked by the python. Oh my.
The step shots that Yat and I took on day 1 was ruthlessly deleted by WenJie cause he found the pictures too dark. So in all attempt to take some step shots...
Coconut juice on the way back. This is the life man...
Day 14: Goodbye, farewell, until we meet again...
Home bound. Casual attempt at an OOTD.
My really kind and caring but blur roommate! Thank you so much for just being the easy-going and accepting person that you are! Always accommodating to my queer OCD habits. I was really touched when you washed my socks for me as a surprise!
NOUC DA NOUC DA! Your blurness never fail to provide comedy relief for the team.
Best friend Ah Dy ah! Thought you were a really serious and uptight boy but got to discover that cute little boy side of yours.
FRIEND GIVING ME A 'HEAD MASSAGE'. Thank you WenJie so much, for always ever so ready allowing Amal and to crash your room to talk cause the other rooms weren't just as safe as yours and Apit's.
Even though
I am older, but he give off such a strong father vibe that I unknowingly give in to his naggings.
Abang Sayang! Can never thank you enough for taking care of me this trip. You're always one of the first few to notice whenever I am feeling down and out and come over to ask me what's wrong, even though I don't say it out loud. I can never hide it from you. Experienced so much ups and downs and you were always there for me when I was experiencing those downs in the trip. Thank you for late night deep conversations and sharing your life stories with me too. It has certainly been a great pleasure to know you better through this trip.
Happy Dylan is Happy because we saved him from sitting in between awkward strangers when there was a free space at our row of seats. Talk > Eat > Talk > Sleep > Talk > Eat. What we did the whole flight.
And certainly not forgetting the staffs of YMCA Vietnam & Singapore, and essentially, the wonderful translators.
Chung has a really nice voice and I love it how whenever I sang with him, he is able to harmonise so perfectly. Just a pity was that when I finally got the chance to sing with him, I was already having a husky, sexy man's voice. Thank you Chung, for your note of encouragement! And it was certainly heart-warming to see you coming back even though you don't have to, after the 7th day. Singing with you has made me love singing more!
The way Bryan interacts with the kids is just so cute. It is as though he could blend in to be like one of them already. It was fun playing chapteh with him cause we'd teach him all the slangs we use like "Burrdennn" and "Nice" sarcastically when someone fails to kick the Chapteh properly, and "Just play yourself lah" when someone keeps failing to kick the Chapteh to others. He was also really good at translating from English to Vietnamese really quickly in a way that they kids understood what we wanted them to do. He's like a big brother to the kids when he plays with them. Thank you for being ever so patient with me when I was learning how to play the Chapteh!
Didn't interact much with Nhi but really, the very first impression I had of her was that I thought that she was a staff from YMCA Singapore. I was quite shocked to find out that she was a local! And even more shocking to find out that she was 22. I thought she was 17 man!
YEN YEP GAI! The translator that I was closest to this whole trip, and miss the most. She treats me like her younger sister, but she herself is so cute when she speaks English! Especially when she calls out our names. She brings cuteness to another level when you hear the sound effects she makes when she paints the basecoat and plays the Chapteh. "Ohhhh!" "WooHOO!" HAHAHA. TOO CUTE. But behind her cuteness, I could see that there laid a leader. She was one of the more experienced staffs in the translator team and she was like the pillar of emotional support for her other peers.
Hope you all would get a chance to come to Singapore! Then, we'll take you all around Singapore!!
Uncle Brother Ivan! Thank you for always sharing your food with the team and for taking care of the welfare of the teams doing construction, always making sure there's soap and wet tissue for everyone. Through you, I saw the kind of selflessness one should have, even with a stranger. Hope to see/bump into you in Singapore! Or better still... join us for our gatherings. Hehehe.
And that concludes my colourful, eventful and meaningful 2 weeks at Vietnam. Not much deep thoughts in this post cause I don't want it to be an even longer post, but I thought that a lot of the pictures were so beautifully taken, I didn't want them to go to waste. So there you go. :)
Goodnight loves.
