Saying goodbye to everyone was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do! I already miss all of the other coaches and the environment a lot but saying goodbye to the campers definitely won the heart wrenching award. Katie and I made a special photo paper page for each of our red team members. It was a picture of Katie and I from the Gulf and Thailand and then we wrote each of their names w/a sweet note. I think they all really liked it!
The Sunday morning awards ceremony was really special. All of the teams and coaches were recognized and special awards were given out to those students who placed 1-3 on their Life Skills or Academic Tests. Van from morning red team got first in both categories!! And Tai got 2nd out of all of the afternoon kids on the LIfe Skills exam. I loved cheering for all of them and seeing the kids get so excited for each other. I video taped the morning and afternoon red teams finding out that they placed first :) It was so cool!! They all got trophies and special certificates.
After the ceremony was over all of us headed to our respective color rooms to say goodbye. It was the saddest moment that I have experienced in a long time. Every team member that stood up, said any sort of goodbye to Katie and I made me fall apart! I killed me to see them so upset, but also filled my heart with joy to see how much we meant to them. Katie and I received tons of notes, presents, bracelets, drawings etc. Many of them continually told us how much they loved us and they kept saying "Forget me not." Of course I never could. I truly couldn't hold it together!! Lets just say the floodgates were fully open. Every single camper was crying. They were literally tugging at our shirts, hugging us, begging us not to go.
As we left school I gave Tai a special notebook that I had bought in Can Tho. In it I pasted a few photos of us from camp plus a long, heartfelt note that one of the Vietnamese coaches translated for me. I told Tai that I feel so blessed to have been able to meet him. I loved the constant smile on his face and his ability to be a leader and influential presence at all times. I hope he gets to fulfill his dreams and succeed to his full potential. I will never forget him and I will always love him dearly! I told him that if he ever needed me that I would always be there! He had Zow tell me that I will be a person that he remembers for the rest of his life :( It was very sad to say the least.
After leaving camp, the kids FOLLOWED us back to the research center to say goodbye again. Talk about twisting the knife!? But, I think most of my tears were out by then and I was able to give away a lot of my belongings. My pillow, bed sheets, books, magazines, headbands, random other things that I didn't really need. All of the kids kept saying "see you again" and while this isnt really realistic--it made me feel alot better.
My time in Vietnam represents a journey that I can truly never explain to anyone that was not there. I traveled here not knowing what to expect and I can easily say that my experience went above and beyond any possible expectation. Dealing with the death of my grandpa was obviously a really sad thing for me. However, I find it really special that the American and Vietnamese coaches and all of the campers were able to make me feel happier than ever and enjoy the rest of my time in Vietnam. I will never forget the love and support that I felt from all of those people! Even those that said nothing to me about his death, made me feel like they were there for me, I felt like I was in it with other people.
Will add some great photos soon!!!
Love, Jennings
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