she said,"a great life ahead"

Yunnan, China (15th to 30th June 2009)
three words.
graciousness, gratitude and hospitality.

the vital essences of benevolence we've so constantly heard of and spoken about. i joined this team with the hope that i can make better the lives of children, one of my personal soft spots of whom i am greatly compassionate about. as plannings were underway, the team was clearly inclined towards something else that i am amorous about as well - teaching and education. that inspired me even more to go ahead with my intentions to be in the team, to provide the best service i possibly can. as congenial as how my intentions may sound, i am starting to feel a little uneasy and, alas, ashamed of myself, if i can be honest, as i unveil my thoughts about this expedition that i've went through.

"Breaking Habits, Changing lives" - the motto Team Skybreaker lived by throughout the whole time we were there at the village of Lan Jia Chun. researching on the everyday lives of the villagers, we noticed stark contrasts and differences between theirs, the ruralites, and ours the urbanites. we questioned ourselves, why the difference? did they not learn the proper way? why is their mindset so far off from ours? hence, the motto was conjured in accordance with our objectives to improve the living standards of their lives by altering some of their habits. we felt the onus was on us to convey cleanliness and hygiene seeing that each of us on average, is more learned about the established international standards of hygiene. on the surface, this might seem noble a cause but i can't stop regretting thinking that this very doing signifies how arrogant we are as city dwellers. to think that we can actually change their habits is tantamount to testifying that our way of living is the only right and civilised one. how right are we and how proper is proper? and how are we to change those habits? did we?

one of the activities we did over there was spring cleaning the toilets and the mosque just the same way we do here in singapore. during the cleaning, i found myself repeatedly lamenting how the toilets seem to be perpetually dirty albeit the every effort of brushing the floors after every bath and how the veranda of the mosque doesn't seem to be spick and span despite the countless sweeps of dust and dirt. this very experience taught me something. that our proper way in a particular time and space is not proper in another, that what we, the urbanites think is right, can not be right for the ruralites all the time, and in all circumstances. but of course, sharing what we know is not all wrong. my regret was that i judged even before i saw and experienced things for myself. culture does not determine how civilised a society is. we can decide not to adopt their ways but we must understand, respect and adapt through ta'aruf, tafakhum. i know of the adage, we learn something new everyday. true enough, the wise words of the expedition team leader mentioned during the initiatory makings of the team.

"At the end of this journey, we'll find that we've gained more than what we've given."

that cleaning setback simply enlightened me of the situation that the villagers are in. that the soil is the children's playing field, the arid air is their oxygen, the dust is their wind and that cracked lips, burnt cheeks, wrinkled and calloused skin make up their beauty. all of these define them just because nature decides to form them that way. and there i was thinkning i could make their lives better? happier, maybe, for a short span. but better? i cannot speak too soon. time will tell. however, i cannot deny how much more they have given back to me during the two weeks i was there.

it is akhlaq that the villagers have taught me. they reminded me of one of the most important traits of a Muslim. during one of those debrief sessions we had at night, i was so ashamed and disgusted at myself seeing how gracious the villagers are, how they are so full of gratitude to the extent that a person about forty years my senior does not hesitate standing up, putting his right arm on his heart to bow to us who are needless to say much more inexperienced, so immature and too pampered and spoilt. i was moved to tears that they were moved to tears. i was awed at how earnest they tried to accommodate to our comfort needs. mashaAllah.

all of that reminded me of how i am always hesitant to say a simple "thank you" to my parents for every little thing they've done, about how i covertly make a fuss having to serve visitors when they pay a visit and always complaining about everything when i already have much more than they do. astaghfirullah. it truly is a memorable experience, full of life lessons that will accompany me throughout the rest of my life ahead instead of merely an investment for my akhirah, inshaAllah.

graciousness, gratitude and hospitality. alhamdulillah.

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr: The Prophet never used bad language neither a "Fahish nor a Mutafahish. He used to say "The best amongst you are those who have the best manner and character."

she said, "a great life ahead" so be inspired
FARHANA was destined to be on earth on may 6, 1988. a singaporean undergraduate in a local university (NUS) with not much intelligence but is striving hard in pursuing knowledge and wisdom, in search of Allah's blessings, mercy, love and pleasure, for the best of this world and the hereafter. so go gain, share and convey. AHLAN WA SAHLAN [fanadodol@gmail.com]	2009 January February March April May June July August September October November 2008 January February March April May June July August September October November December 2007 January February March April May June July August September November December RETURN TO INDEX
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2 July 2009, 19:38 Yunnan, China (15th to 30th June 2009) three words. graciousness, gratitude and hospitality. the vital essences of benevolence we've so constantly heard of and spoken about. i joined this team with the hope that i can make better the lives of children, one of my personal soft spots of whom i am greatly compassionate about. as plannings were underway, the team was clearly inclined towards something else that i am amorous about as well - teaching and education. that inspired me even more to go ahead with my intentions to be in the team, to provide the best service i possibly can. as congenial as how my intentions may sound, i am starting to feel a little uneasy and, alas, ashamed of myself, if i can be honest, as i unveil my thoughts about this expedition that i've went through. "Breaking Habits, Changing lives" - the motto Team Skybreaker lived by throughout the whole time we were there at the village of Lan Jia Chun. researching on the everyday lives of the villagers, we noticed stark contrasts and differences between theirs, the ruralites, and ours the urbanites. we questioned ourselves, why the difference? did they not learn the proper way? why is their mindset so far off from ours? hence, the motto was conjured in accordance with our objectives to improve the living standards of their lives by altering some of their habits. we felt the onus was on us to convey cleanliness and hygiene seeing that each of us on average, is more learned about the established international standards of hygiene. on the surface, this might seem noble a cause but i can't stop regretting thinking that this very doing signifies how arrogant we are as city dwellers. to think that we can actually change their habits is tantamount to testifying that our way of living is the only right and civilised one. how right are we and how proper is proper? and how are we to change those habits? did we? one of the activities we did over there was spring cleaning the toilets and the mosque just the same way we do here in singapore. during the cleaning, i found myself repeatedly lamenting how the toilets seem to be perpetually dirty albeit the every effort of brushing the floors after every bath and how the veranda of the mosque doesn't seem to be spick and span despite the countless sweeps of dust and dirt. this very experience taught me something. that our proper way in a particular time and space is not proper in another, that what we, the urbanites think is right, can not be right for the ruralites all the time, and in all circumstances. but of course, sharing what we know is not all wrong. my regret was that i judged even before i saw and experienced things for myself. culture does not determine how civilised a society is. we can decide not to adopt their ways but we must understand, respect and adapt through ta'aruf, tafakhum. i know of the adage, we learn something new everyday. true enough, the wise words of the expedition team leader mentioned during the initiatory makings of the team. "At the end of this journey, we'll find that we've gained more than what we've given." that cleaning setback simply enlightened me of the situation that the villagers are in. that the soil is the children's playing field, the arid air is their oxygen, the dust is their wind and that cracked lips, burnt cheeks, wrinkled and calloused skin make up their beauty. all of these define them just because nature decides to form them that way. and there i was thinkning i could make their lives better? happier, maybe, for a short span. but better? i cannot speak too soon. time will tell. however, i cannot deny how much more they have given back to me during the two weeks i was there. it is akhlaq that the villagers have taught me. they reminded me of one of the most important traits of a Muslim. during one of those debrief sessions we had at night, i was so ashamed and disgusted at myself seeing how gracious the villagers are, how they are so full of gratitude to the extent that a person about forty years my senior does not hesitate standing up, putting his right arm on his heart to bow to us who are needless to say much more inexperienced, so immature and too pampered and spoilt. i was moved to tears that they were moved to tears. i was awed at how earnest they tried to accommodate to our comfort needs. mashaAllah. all of that reminded me of how i am always hesitant to say a simple "thank you" to my parents for every little thing they've done, about how i covertly make a fuss having to serve visitors when they pay a visit and always complaining about everything when i already have much more than they do. astaghfirullah. it truly is a memorable experience, full of life lessons that will accompany me throughout the rest of my life ahead instead of merely an investment for my akhirah, inshaAllah. graciousness, gratitude and hospitality. alhamdulillah. Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr: The Prophet never used bad language neither a "Fahish nor a Mutafahish. He used to say "The best amongst you are those who have the best manner and character."