Memories...
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
POST-EVENT THOUGHTS BOUT GYS'07....
I think this post is long over-due. Haha, but the truth is that, i couldnt really find the words to pen down what was truly 1 of the best experiences of my life. Maybe now that my post-event syndrome has died down, and that i just finished the post-event report for it, it might be easier for me. Gosh, thats the reason why i take so long to finish typing reports, haha, just like how i took weeks to finish my agm report for arts club last year.
How should i begin? Hmmm..maybe by how i prepared for the trip. I think every single person will always have pre-conceived notions about other countries and nationalities, no matter how much u try to hide it. I am no different as i set out for KL on the 13th of May. But i believe what is most important when you meet foreign personalities at an international conference is to keep an open mind, and be ready to respect and accept different cultures, values, beliefs, religions, of people from different parts of the world.
And i m really overjoyed to have made so many new Malaysian, Indonesian, Thai, Philippino, Australian, Chinese, Taiwanese, Hong Kongers, Bulgarian, and even Iranian friends! Martin Luther King once taught us to judge a person not by the colour of their skin but by the strength of their character. Indeed. I discovered with great delight that no matter how different we may look or speak, there is something about youths that unite all of us, and that is idealism. Idealism and hopes for a better world, and a better way of life no matter where we live.
Most of the international newfound friends i made were dynamic youth leaders from their respective home countries, and it was sheer joy for me to be able to exchange views and contacts with them. I was really impressed during cultural performance night as well, where i witnessed that many of the delegates performed traditional dances or performances that really showcased their indigenous roots. I think it is in this cultural arena where Singapore is really at a shortfall as compared to many other countries. We pride ourselves as an economic, educational, social, intellectual, and even cultural hub, a crosspoint where East meets West. However, in this process of driving towards a 'global city' as the late Mr Rajaratnam envisioned, we must never ever forget about Singaporeans and nurturing our very own local culture... So that 1 day, our own local culture, can too stand out in this vast vast world.
Having said that, i think the trip also made me more "Singaporean" and think n learn more about my own country as well. When u are thrust into a foreign land where u become a minority, faced with people from different parts of the world, u become more conscious of your own identity and image, becoz u re representing yr university and yr home country. In this aspect, i m really glad to have made new friends in my fellow Singaporean delegates Dinesh and Tim, who were with me throughout the whole 7 daes. =) And of coz Wei Huang and Robin from NTU who were really funny chaps. haha..act come to think of it, i think we Singaporean reps can really be quite jovial, buoyant, and good-humored, which we displayed amply while we were in KL.
The Thai and Taiwanese delegates were really funny and lovable chaps! haha! Esp David (the badass!) and Wang from Thailand. Taiwanese friends as well, perhaps due to cultural affiliations and same language, got on really well with us.
In terms of personal highlights, I was really honoured to be elected as group leader for the "Globalization" group, and it was my 1st experience of leading a real international group of youths in the discussion, coordination, preparation, and final presentation of the topic. And when our group presented on the final dae of the symposium, Kian You, the Director of the Symposium, accorded an honorary mention for us as he felt we did the best presentation. I was really proud of that! Other than that, i was also the group leader during the Home Stay Race, and selected to deliver a speech together with Jah from Thailand at the Closing Ceremony of the event on behalf of all the participants. It was really an honour for me, one that i would not forget for a long time.
And of coz, after we came back to Singapore, me and Tim proceeded to show Martin, our Philippino friend, around Singapore and a few daes later, Arvin, Asia, Ariane as well. haha! I must say that it is at these moments when u really feel proud of yr own country. Of coz, no nation is ever perfect, but i do possess a greater appreciation for Singapore's development after i came back.
Really miss all of them. I set up a yahoogroups after coming back for everyone to keep in touch, and also next time, if we ever visit each other's countries, we could catch up and show each other around!
All in all, i guess the trip really made me more confident as a person and as a leader. Prior to the trip, i may not have been 100% sure whether i could lead an international group, but now i really do, thanks to the wonderful opportunity given to me by OSA. =) And also the confidence to hold my own in an international setting and arena, and the confidence to represent and assume an ambassadorial role for my country. More importantly, it is the wonderful people and friends from different parts of the world i made from this trip that has given me such sweet and wonderful memories. n_n
I have now fufilled another dream of mine in NUS..to represent my university and my country in an international conference..maybe thats why i feel really happy and idyllic for the past 2 weeks after i came back.
But the end is near. The last lap and year of university is upon me. And as with most things in life, i have to move on. With this entry tonight, i can finally close another mini-chapter of my life, my thoughts embedded in words finally.
I am a restless adventurer. I seek, crave, and thrive on challenges and dreams. Now that 1 adventure is accomplished, it is time for me to set forth on another.
