OCP to Cambodia

My trip to Cambodia was not at all what I expected it to be. Even before the trip, I was thinking twice about attending this trip as I barely knew anybody in the group. It was my first time meeting the senior FBI members. However, when we were put into groups for the pre-trip preparation, I clicked with the seniors instantly. Therefore, our trip started out well with all of us bonding well with one another.

Initially, I had no idea what to expect from this trip as I’ve never been to Cambodia and this is why I felt that this trip has successfully achieved its purpose for me. I did not lay any expectations and it turned out to be beyond my expectations. There were many things that I learnt from this trip.

The most significant and valuable thing I have learnt throughout this trip is that we should give without expecting returns. It does not have to be giving something material per se but it can apply to giving something in a form of knowledge, effort or love.

The children in Cambodia taught me this through their genuine generosity. On the last day of my visit to their school, I received many gifts from them. I was given simple gifts such as lip gloss, plastic rings and key chains. Even though it was really simple, I felt really touched by their love to get something for us despite knowing that they are so much more in need of things as compared to us.

However, what really struck me was my visit to the Riverkids orphanage. We did not spent a long time visiting the orphanage. Nevertheless, I managed to go into their small classroom to take pictures for my Global Citizenship project. I got the chance to interact with the very adorable and lovable children there. The children were about 4-6 years old and they were so generous with their smiles. I had a conversation with one of them, asked for his name and many more children started to come towards me. Before leaving, a little boy came up to me and gave me a marble. That really touched my heart.

From then on, I told myself that if a little orphan boy was willing to give me his marble, why not I give whatever I have to others too. He has definitely left a mark in my life; I would like to make my mark on others too.

Posted by Eka

Visit to Asian Civilization Museum

First and foremost, the trip we had to the Asian Civilization Museum (ACM) was not my first. I’ve been there once before with my family and that place was more or less similar to what I saw a few years ago.

However, I feel that my trip to the ACM this time round was more fruitful and I managed to bring back more learning points this time as compared to the other time I was there. I feel that this is so as this time round I went to the ACM with a different perspective and for a different purpose. I went to the ACM in mind to find out how all the exhibits are linked up to what I am learning in my Global Citizenship class such as globalization, culture, values an sustainability.
I went through exhibits of different countries such as India, China, West Asia, Southeast Asia and South Asia. Towards the end of this trip, I start to see that all these countries such as China and India have played a huge part in how Singapore is right now and the culture and practices that we Singaporeans have inhabited.

In this trip I realize that many of the exhibits portray what I have learnt in class such as globalization. For example, I saw an exhibit on the Chinese porcelain and potteries which were inspired by other countries such as Europe to the Chinese. The artifacts were dated way back to the 14th century. This made me realize that globalization had taken place not only in the 20th century but it has started way before I was even born. Religions such as Buddhism and Islam were also an effect of globalization as people start to travel around the world; they start to spread their practices and their culture to the place they went to.

As for culture, the ACM mentioned a culture practiced by the Chinese which is filial piety which states, “As long as their parents are still alive, one must not travel a far. If one must, ones whereabouts should always be made known”. This is culture that is being practiced by the Chinese from a long time ago. However, I believe that right now it’s being spread to some other races and not only the Chinese. This is because I personally believe in filial piety too, I feel that as a daughter, I am still under my parent’s guidance and I am obligated to inform them of my whereabouts and not leave them astray even when I am older and married. It is still my obligation to take care of them as they have for me when I was younger.

I feel that this is also practiced by majority of Asians. The westerns however are more independent as they start to live on their own perhaps as early as the age of 21. This is a form of valuing diversity. Different cultures have diverse values and cultures which may be due to socialization.

Overall, I feel that I have learnt a lot from this trip and it has definitely been a fruitful one. I managed to link what I see in the museum to what I have learnt in class and now I have a different outlook in global citizenship. Aside from that, I had fun visiting the site with my classmates. This trip has given me a different perspective about the stereotypical museums being boring. I look forward to visiting more of such sites in the future with my family and friends to learn more about my country and also other countries around the world.

Posted by Eka