Before China-ing

Day 1 – 25th August 2008 (Monday)
Saying ‘Goodbye’ is not the words I used to my parents and siblings who are reluctant to see me leave, but it goes ‘Take Care, I’ll be back” when the group of Ngee Ann Polytechnic students is leaving for their Oversea Immersion Programme (OIP) to China.

The day was quite a sad one when this is the first time I will be leaving my country and family members for more than a month or so and not forgetting being alone. Looking at the bright side of life, I have my wonderful bunch of friends to keep me accompany, thus, this is also a time when I can get to know them even better, which is one of my personal goals at the end of this OIP. They are my working partners, enemies, study partners, sharing groups of friends and many more you can say. Futuremore, it also serves as an independent trip getting used to ‘survive or live’ without my parent’s supervision. This time, I have to settle my own daily meals, daily laundry and limiting the amount of money spent for this 6 weeks.

At the Airport, I observe that not many parents want their child to leave them as they are worried that something will happen to them especially to China where a case of earthquake happen not to long ago before this very day. I feel that there is a period of time where parents should ‘let them go’ and exposure their child as much as possible so that they will be able to get expose, gain personality such as confidence and some knowledge that are useful to their live. However, I can understand why parents feel that way. I feel sad for those who are far apart from their parents either they are overseas or not closed in terms of relationship. I think for those who are not closed to their parents because they chose to be should really reflect on themselves, they never know when they will miss them (mum’s cooking & care and concern which they took it for granted etc).

-Moo-