My First Community Service.

I used to think the phrase "I would trade anything for 'XYZ'" was over-rated until the past two days.

On the way

I, a volunteer for Community Service from Asia Pacific University started my journey to the hosting University, HELP in Damansara as a very confused and uncertain candidate, but little did I know I would end up feeling like this and make so many irreplaceable memories.

It all started off with us being welcomed at the Community Hall by the coordinator of the program, with light snacks and welcome speeches we were all handed over to our Foster Parents.

Me and three of my foster brothers from different universities met our 'Mama' and her niece, Mama is what she wanted us to call her by.

The journey to Ruab, Sungai Pasu, Pahang was very silent.
There were so many strange faces, all unknown faces, except my fellow volunteer from Asia Pacific University.
So it wasn't really tiring, just a quick splash of water on our faces and we gathered at our respective foster homes for lunch!

I considered myself the luckiest of the lot to have gotten the caterer of the Kampung (Village) as my Foster Mother, so delicious food was at arms length.

Natural rubber!

Day 1 -

The first day was much relaxed, we had our first experience of the village life as we went rubber tapping and saw how the rubber is actually produced, met the Orang Asli people and gave them the donations of rice, oil, milk powder and canned food after they entertained us with their traditional dance and taught us all at the same.
Then in the evening, we went fishing, everything in the most natural style.
No fancy equipment, wodden sticks, strings and home made bait!
And we caught a lot of fishes, A LOT.

And to end the day, we taught the little kids of the village how to use Microsoft Office applications and making slides and smiley faces!

Day 2 -

The second day started off with the early arrival of the doctors and nurses from the hospital for the blood donation!

We were divided into groups on the very first day and the activities were all scored,
On day 2, each group got a different task,
To clean the field, to paint the boundary walls of a building, or to plant trees!

Painting!

And I am guilty of changing groups several times, and excused myself saying I'd get to meet more people!
And for all, football and netball against the Kampung folks!

With all of this going on, all the groups were scattered all over the village practicing for their performance in the night at the Cultural program.












The Cultural Program -

The bride and groom, 'fake'

The Mock Wedding :-
There was a loud drum roll and the Bride and Groom walked in between the people and settled at their chairs on stage while they played their traditional drums and honored the two.
We were given a first hand experience of how the marriages are in Malaysia, with the Flower with Egg given by the newly weds and the blessing, every bit of it.

The Performances :-

Every group danced for the performance part and entertained the audience, a lot of them joined and jived!
But our group had a little skit, we acted our a classroom full of International Students trying to learn Malaysian, some naughty, some good.
And it ended giving a strong message on how to behave in the classroom!

The Prize Ceremony :-

For the games and activities each group was awarded according to their performance and will given gift hampers to end the day with the happiest note!

Day 3 -

With the rise of the sun, sadness started to sunk into me, as it was the last day at the village.
Every house was buzzing with the volunteers packing before we left for the Pulau Chekas waterfall for a short picnic before last meal with the respective foster families and depart back!

My foster family!

So yeah..
Saya suka Malaysia.
Saya suka Bahasa Malaysia.
Saya suka pandudu sungai pasu, pahang!

I learned a lot, had an amazing experience and definitely will miss each and every one of the people I met there!