My trip to Timor-Leste was definitely an eye opening one, it changed the way I saw the world. Sure enough, our interim group had lots of fun climbing Mount Ramelau, teaching kids at SOLS and farming with the village. But for me, it was a reality check, coming to a realization that people aren’t as well off as the rest of us back in Singapore. It broke my heart watching malnourished kids playing football(soccer), kids the same age as us but much shorter and skinnier as a result of malnourishment. I felt horrible as I accepted the huge clumps of food the villagers were offering us, something they could use themselves. My heart ached as a I listened to Platao mention that the parents of children in Timor would NEVER be home, working from day …show more content…
There were foreigners like Barry who could easily live a comfortable and easy life in a first world country but instead chose to live in these areas to help. They sacrificed their comfort while also giving away their own time and resources. Barry’s kindness towards the locals and the affection he showed for Timor-Leste was something I haven’t seen before. These guys are the real heroes. The world needs more people like this, their goodwill unmatched. Their actions is what truly “Build(s) A Nation”. I signed up for this trip because I heard Timor-Leste was a beautiful country(it really is) and subconsciously I gave myself the misconception of it being a developed tourist country. Boy was I wrong. I’ll be completely honest, to say I was devastated when I found out Timor wasn’t in a good place financially was an understatement. Thankfully, my opinion of this country changed over time and I grew to love this place in the short time I got to be here. From stopping the bus in the middle of the road to use the bathroom to climbing Cristo Rei in only Crocs©, the experience was unforgettable. I was very fortunate to learn about the problems a new country can face and got to see it firsthand. I was also lucky enough to be able to visit this country, something that I may never do again. Most of all, I’m glad I made this opportunity really