helloooo unknown people.
as you know (hopefully), i just came back from vietnam like 2 days ago, im now gonna write a reflection which i need to pass up at the first week of school. well i wanna share my experiences of the trip with the unknown people sooo im gonna write the reflection here.

well the post will be very very long just to warn you, so you might wanna think twice before reading. also most of the things that im gonna say you will not understand (unless you are one of the 29 people), so you might be reading something that doesnt make sense at all to you. other then that, enjoy reading. hahaha.

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I didn't really thought of the bad things for the Vietnam trip at first, so when Ms.Sakinah asked who is interested of going to Vietnam, I was among the first few who raised my hand. I thought it would be a very fun trip, hoping to go with friends and have fun and everything.

Second impression was the Sungei-Api api trip. It was a very shitty one. Calculating the Ph value, temperature of the water and the electric conductivity of the fruits, and identifying the type of leaves and blah blah.. how boring. Then during the first week of the holidays, being called back to practice the dance and presentation and all... and seeing alot of people that I'm not really close with, some even I haven't seen before (despite we being in the same school), and some people that I didn't really like. Damn. I was having second thoughts of the trip, actually wanted to ask Mr Tan for a last minute backing out but I know obviously I can't anymore.

I also thought the Vietnam would be a very dirty unhygenic country, very underdeveloped, and the people are like very unfriendly. But I know at the day of the flight to Vietnam, if I don't present myself, I have to pay $900+, so I just said to myself, lets go there and suffer for 5 days.

How wrong was I.

But it was my first time travelling to overseas (except a few times to Malaysia), and my first trip organized my school. First time taking a flight. Excited, of course. After reaching Vietnam, took our luggages, then went up the bus and travelled around Ho Chi Minh City's. Went to some places, took some pictures, awed by some really nice buildings and structures. One thing that made me suprised is that the number of motorcycles on the road. I think 90% of the vehicle in Vietnam are motorcycles, and at busy traffics, the motorcyclists are like in the middle of a race. Super fun.

Vietnam wasn't as unhygenic and undeveloped like I thought. They are actually quite modernised.

Then we head to Cu Chi Tunnel. Didn't really do much there, only looking around and understanding how the Vietnamese hide during the Vietnam War and also we get to try to shoot with a AK47. Also get a chance to go through a tunnel. It wasn't scary but to most of the girls they are like screaming their lungs out, and I'm not sure why. It was quite fun actually. :P
After that, it was raining cats and dogs and all of us we are drenched with rainwater. And then we get out of there and took the bus all the way back to our hotel. The hotel was actually quite nice, we have a bathtub! And a TV! I bathed and got ready for our dinner.

That was day one. Day two was a long day, well not really, as 8hours +/- was spent on bus rides. I was thinking how fortunate we were in Singapore as the most we take for travelling would be 2 hours +/- while at other countries we can take like 3hours to 6hours++. We head off to Mekong Delta, was a very long bus ride there, and we took the boat as soon as we arrived and we head of to some places where we see how Vietnamese make ricepaper. They taste super nice, I regretted not buying more.. Then we head off to lunch, which was the best meal at all of the 5 days at Vietnam. The fish, popiah, rice and everything was super nice. Just thought that it was worth mentioning. And later we get to ride the boat (forget its name!!), It was fun, then we went to the ricefield and the back on bus for a 4hours ride back for our dinner, then back to hotel, and thats all for day two. Oh yeah, we got a good lecture by the teacher before we are allowed to head back up for our sleep.

Day three. Our first stop was at the Reunification Palace (If I'm not wrong?), I'm not sure about that, to be honest I didn't learn anything there, which is probably because I didn't listened to Mr Hieu. But we did practiced our dance there, in preparation for the College performance. Then we head of to the College and we got a very warm welcome from them. At first I was like very scared of them somehow, maybe due to the fact that they are at least 3 to 5 years older then us, but I got over it rather quickly. We then performed our dance for them, and we did it quite damn well. I was actually reluctant to dance at first as I find it lame and boring, but in the end I had fun dancing and why not do it twice just for the College students and the Orphanage. After the performance, we taught them how to use the datalogger and everything and it was fun teaching them, although I admit I didn't helped much. The students over there, although their English might not be the best, they tried their very best to comprehend what we said, and that is very nice.

And then we went to VSIP (Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park) and checked around the places which they are similar to Singapore. Then we went to the Golf Lagoon and learnt about its history and take a look around and also played some golf. It was fun and funny as I can't play golf for nuts. So far I think I only hit one good shot. Maybe golf is just not my sport, but I still had fun playing it.

Then we went back to the hotel and prepare for day 4. We first head of to Chinatown to do some shopping! But I didn't bought anything there. Then we went to Saigon Square which I bought only two shirts. I got ripped off for one shirt that I bought for $14, but I got one sleeveless Adidas shirt for $9. Then next, we went to the War Remnant Museum and check out what happened during the Vietnam War. It was really shocking and scary, as well as saddening. To know what happened in the past, how the people at that time suffered, and to see those deformed and mutated bodies and people at the past that suffered from the chemical warfare. Damn, how sick and sadistic those people are those days. We are the fortunate few that didn't lived during the time of war so we should treasure what we have now, and not complain and complain as we are already so lucky to not suffer like them. Then we watched the Water Puppet Show to learn about the Vietnamese tradition. It was entertaining and nice to watch, and I certainly did enjoyed watching it. Then we head back for dinner and then back to the hotel.

The day didn't end just like that. What happened after the bus ride back to the hotel is that as we get down from the bus, I realized my camera was missing. My first reaction is to search high and low for my camera frantically, but to no avail. Well I can't believe I could have lost something which is so dear and means so much to me. Firstly its a birthday gift from my mother and it costs around $400, and too lost something with this much of value, what will you do? I cannot lost my camera, I just can't. As my greatest hobbies and passions was messing around with my camera and filming and stuffs like that, to lose something that gives me my greatest of joys, what will you do? Well definitely I felt very sad, and as tears rolled down my cheeks, suddenly the teachers returned my camera to me. Those evil people cheated my feeeeeelings. Well props to them for incredible acting skills, but I did teached me a very important lesson, which is to not take things for granted. I regretted not taking care of my valuables, and this is my first time I "lost" something, so obviously I'll take this as a hard lesson learnt. I was actually very lucky that the camera wasn't stolen.

The next day, which was also the last day at Vietnam, we went to the Orphanage, and we played games and made balloons and dance for them. I felt very sad for them as their parents had either neglected them or they had lost their parents. We are, again, very fortunate to have lovely parents that loves and cares for us, but alot of people complain about their parents and some claimed to even hate their parents and also some even wanna kill their parents and other rubbish. Crazy people. I hope those kids in the orphanage appreciated our hospitality and we hope that they stay strong and keep their chins up.
After that we head to the Ban Thanh Market, which puts my bargaining skills to the test :P. Well I bought few shirts and two pants, bought two sourvenirs for my family members and everything. I managed to haggled the price from $25 to $7. Beat that. And I went around bragging about that, hahahaha. Bargaining is really fun, but some people who are so kind-hearted and stupid got ripped off from buying a shirt for $18! I got all of them for around 8 bucks. I just regretted not bringing more money to buy stuffs for friends and family members. Oh well.

After that, we got back on board to the airport and we all said our farewell to Vietnam and Mr Hieu, who had been a really great guy throughout the trip. We had alot of fun at our final bus ride at Vietnam, singing songs and taking photos and basically having fun with Mr Hieu, but then after arrival at the airport and saying bye to Mr Hieu, alot of us, including me, got into an emotional breakdown. Almost everyone cried for him, after realizing the wrongs that we did, not listening to him when he is talking, not appreciating what he had done for us, taking things for granted, and something which I really shouldn't had done - making fun of his accent. I realized my mistakes and was really sorry for my wrongdoings. I hope he can visit us at Singapore again, and keep in contact with him (we got his email :D). Just one thing that kinda annoyed me, Rahman was still fooling around, happy happy, like he didn't feel anything at all! He seriously have a heart of steel. Everyone else was sad and was crying the heck out of themselves. I felt like a freaking crybaby... laugh all you want people, at least I have a heart!!! Fine, I got bad control of my feelings, and emotions usually gets the better of me. But Zahid, Hamizan, Shahrin, and even Dzul cried... and something that is kinda worth mentioning, although its something that I really hate to say, is that when it comes to emotions,,, girls are stronger... USUALLY. I could be wrong! Hahahaha.

Anyway..

After that we went back and told a short reflection to our teachers of how the trip went. After the short 5 days at Vietnam, I really admit that my first impression of the trip was wrong. I was really happy that I went for the trip and I seriously didn't regretted it. Even now I'm missing Vietnam a little. There wasn't anything that disappointed me for the trip, and I was very happy with everyone which made the trip even more fun. I also thought that through the trip, I made alot new friends, and friendship bonds grew stronger, and people whom I initially didn't really like got better. The bond between the teachers also grew. I really think that those people who didn't go for this trip had lose out alot. I really had to thank the teachers for making this very trip and I didn't regret spending 282 dollars for it. It was a very enjoyable, fruitful and memorable trip, and I really wish to be able to go for another trip like this again.

Just a side note,
I used to be very picky with food. I don't like veggies, curry, popiah, fruits, almost everything you could think of. But after this trip, I say, just eat lah. I became less picky after this trip, and I actually find that some food which I initially thought was sucky was actually quite nice! Also, It was very impressed with the people in Vietnam. They are the total opposite of what I thought of. They are actually really friendly and nice people. They never got angry, unlike our typical Singaporeans. And the country over there was actually very good, great weather too!
And as stated above, I learnt alot of life lessons such as to stop complaining about the things we don't have and rather to appreciate the things we have. Just imagine those people that suffered from the Vietnam War and also the people in the Orphanage. We are already very fortunate, but yet we are all still complaining.
And also I learnt that we all shouldn't take things for granted. Appreciate the valuable stuffs you have now, treasure your friends and family and your life now, as you will never know when they will be gone. And then it will be too late to regret already.

I really had to thank Mr Kumar too, he had been a very very nice guy throughout the trip, and I had a very enjoyable time with him. I really liked the games that he played with us, and I hope I hadn't been a bug to him. He is a really cool guy! Thanks Mr Kumar!

And again, thanks alot to Mr Hieu! Your hospitality with us was very much appreciated, and thanks for being understanding and so nice and so patient to us. Sorry for the times that we didn't listened to you and everything, and sorry for all my wrongdoings again. I really really miss you, I hope you can visit us again some time!

And the teachers that made this trip possible, thanks a ton! I really enjoyed the trip as much as you do, and sorry for the times that we made you guys angry or what. Thanks for all the hardwork and effort put into the planning and everything in this trip, and I really hope you guys could organize another similar trip again for the next batch!

And obviously, thanks everyone that went for the trip! I fully agree with Ms Sakinah that you are the people who made the trip a success! You are the reason why I enjoyed the trip alot too, and again, thanks alot!

A million thank-yous are still not enough!

Anyway, overall, I really really enjoyed the trip, It was really damn fun, and how I wish I could turn back time and still be and Vietnam. I admit I feel different the next day after the Vietnam trip. Nothing disappointed me throughout this trip, and I really appreciated those times. I learnt alot of life lesson that can be brought back to Singapore and alot of stories to tell to my friends. I really miss Vietnam and the trip and everyone. This trip is something I will never forget, after learning so much from it, having so much new experiences, and everything. It is something you can never get by just sitting at home. It is truely a very enjoyable and memorable trip. Thanks teachers!

And I also have to say that I didn't mind writing such a long reflection, even if there isn't a need to, I will still write a reflection to pen down what I had in mind after such a fruitful trip. And also, this is by far the longest "essay" I ever written. And I actually enjoyed writing it.

PS: I know my grammar and spelling and everything wasn't the best as I'm writing whatever that is in my mind and I didn't bother to read up and correct my mistakes.
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Just to let you guys know how much fun I had.

cp-kia.
he is a kid.
who jumps around.
need i say more?

i know, no need tell me.
i like it dull and plain.
and eh, this is my blog,
so i reserve the rights
to rant about whatever
i want, thank you.

x x
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