Waking up this morning to the sounds of the busy road outside my window took a little getting used to after the relatively quiet dirt roads of Batam. I'm still trying to adjust back to life without cement mixing, re-bar tying, wheelbarrowing, etc.
Going to Batam was truly an awesome experience. What started out as an experiment to chuck a bunch of city brats in rural Batam turned out to be one of the greatest life changing experiences for many of us. Living in comfortable Singapore does not allow us the privilege to appreciate the labor of the construction workers here. It's only when we actually venture beyond our normal boundaries into the unknown would we then get to experience life on the other side of the fence.
The first day started off a little unsettling because we didn't know what to expect. I for one, could never stand dirty toilets. Yet after a hard day's work at the worksite, building homes seemed a fun, albeit tiring task. The next 2 days to follow were two of the most enjoyable times of my life. Work may be arduous, but I was in the company of really good people, who were fun to be around and to work with. Oh, and working under the sun got me a really good tan/burn too.
Uncertainty breeds a lifetime of memories. That's what I took away from the Batam trip. I've never dared to go on mission trips to Thailand because I never knew what to expect, and I dare not go for fear of not enjoying myself. Yet sometimes we have to cast away that security blanket. I was not over enthusiastic about going to Batam, but I went ahead with it and now I have a barrel-full of memories to last a long time. The great camaraderie among the team was one of the highlights of the trip. I got to interact with people I wouldn't normally talk to in school apart from a forced greeting. This trip has broken down barriers between many people, and it would be marvelous if that bond still holds when school starts next year.
Building homes for the poor was a really humbling experience as well. A bunch of city brats wouldn't normally take much notice of the construction workers, but when 'forced' to become one, we had to cast off all the prima donna-ish ways of the material world, and to humble ourselves enough to pick up that dirty spade and muck around in the soil and cement. Being part of the construction team has taught us how to appreciate what the construction workers in Singapore are doing. It definitely isn't an easy job, and yet they are paid peanuts for it. To be in such an environment for 3 days may seem short, yet it was enough to teach me how to appreciate what I have been blessed with. Batam helped me gain a new insight on life, and I'm grateful for the experience that I've gained in my short time there.
Stepping off the ferry back into Singapore, Kelly and I had a short chat and we agreed that it felt weird walking along the shopping centre and seeing so many lights, sounds, and people. It was a far cry from the rural countryside of Batam. Even though we were plucked from 'civilization' for only 3 days, it was enough to impact us. It was also a form of farewell for Kelly. At least he had a great time. It's sad that he's leaving, yet sometimes the door has to close for it to be opened again. I wish Kelly all the best at SP, and I thank him for being a great source of inspiration for many of us.
Sitting in the relative comforts of my room and blogging marks the initiation back into modernity where everything is catered comfortably to my every whim and fancy. Yet I hope the Batam experience would remain a part of me forever, so that it can serve to humble me if ever I start taking things for granted (and if ever I cannot find a job, I could always volunteer my services at the construction sites).