i've just woken up from my long sleep in my very comfortable bed, in my very comfortable airconditioned room and for the first time in days i actually feel CLEAN. it really is a relief to be back, though i do wish that i could have stayed there much longer!

other than that, i'm feeling very very kendhikolhudhoo-sick at this moment. have already received some sms from the villagers there, which i really did not expect when i gave my number out. i guess we really meant a lot more to these people than we realized. the problem is, like i discussed with my friends, even when we call them it's not easy to communicate, since over there we communicated mainly by gestures and expressions (particularly when the ones i was closest to were of the age below 10).

i feel sad for them that they're so attached to us. i know already how easy it will be for us to move on once we get caught up in the rush of everything back here while they apparently spend the rest of their time thinking of us till the next batch of volunteers arrive. apparently the kids never forget us even though i suspect they will. but at the same time i feel there is something good about living in such a secluded area in the world. already from comparing just Male and Kendhi, i could feel the stark difference in the nature of the people and life. things just feel so much more sincere and genuine and safe there, somehow. i never thought i'd be able to really appreciate the simplicity of village life but now i do.

i've also learnt more things about people in general, and have had my previous impressions of certain people altered in very drastic measures - it feels good to know you were wrong about some people, sometimes.

i want to go back next year, but i don't know how realistic that possibility is. already liang hui is making plans about sending stuff to them when he goes next year, but sad to say i'm not as sure i'll make it back as he is.

and i do not want to go back to work so soon, i want desperately to have japanese food and i don't think i can eat tuna for the next year or so.

+ posted by M @ 1:39 AM