10 Days (written on 7/23)

I don't know if my AID kids will ever read this (much less understand it because it's all in English), but I want to say what I couldn't say during the closing ceremony.

To Class D,

I remember my first day of teaching. You were all really shy, and only Rita was brave enough to speak up at first. I remember when a bunch of new students and transfers came in and we all just started to get comfortable.

And of course, I remember our first game of UNO.

That game was when we immediately became closer as teacher and class. After that one game, we started to spend more time together. We started to play more games beyond UNO. We started to talk all the time: during break, during lunch, during nap time, and whenever.

10 days. 10 days of you learning English. 10 days of me learning how to teach. 10 days of us starting to know each other despite the language barriers. 10 days of developing friendship. 10 days of becoming a family.

Today, I didn't know it was over. I thought we were just beginning.

Anna, Alice, Rita, Jassica, Yoyo, Mini, Cherry, Betty, Sophia, Cool, and Allen:
You are the reason why I look forward to every day here.

I thank God for this opportunity: doing service in an economically disadvantaged region where the teachers are, in fact, the learners. We learn about the people, the culture, and the ways of life in a way no other tour group could offer.

Kids, hold onto your WILD cards. They allow the freedom to choose in the game. In that sense, remember that you get to choose what you want out of an experience.

When you guys started crying, I did, too, and I don't cry that much. At first I didn't realize how much of an impact I've had on you. But your impact will never wear.

In the end, I thank you for being the teachers to Phil and me, the students. I love you.