Day 14: A Bitter Farewell
Saturday, September 5, 2009
We’re done?
“Thank you very much!” – Ricky Pai
Today marks the day that we have been planning for during the past week. The first week was meant for environmental awareness and leadership training both for the student leaders as well as the SEALNet team. But since the start of Week 2, we went full force into the Green Campaign to outreach for our club and our cause. Environmental Awareness Day was symbolic in that it represented our hard work but also a last time to say goodbye. The panels were designed to inform the 300+ students in attendance of SEALNet presence and how we have enlightened the students. At the same time, it was a day to bid farewell all around. We poured our hearts into this project. Now it is up to those who we have seen grown these last two weeks step up and continue the tradition of excellence.
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We did not start the morning well. Everyone was still saddened by previous departures. Now the team had to say goodbye to three more precious members. I woke everyone up at 6AM now that I have reprised my role as the Door-Knocker. Everyone seemed to be dead tired and not willing to do the morning exercise routine. How can I tell? Well, no one showed up. At around 6:30AM, we gathered at the hotel lobby to bid official farewells to RC, Hien, and Hieu. RC and Hieu took turns modeling for the cameras. All the girls were extremely sad to see half of the men on the team go, especially the six members of the RC Fanclub. The local members were also present showing how our relationships with them have grown quite close during the second week.
At around 7AM, Hien arrived with the taxi signaling the last minutes that our team will be together with three. It was like a scene taken from a tragic movie. The receptionist probably thought we were crazy before. But we proved to be even more so. Posing for funny pictures, sobbing, wiping sweat, making promises, and so on – It is so true: It’s so hard to say goodbye. As the van left for the airport, the remaining members had to collect themselves in preparation for the important day ahead.
We walked quickly to school while trying to look around more carefully for it was going to be the last time we were going to be in Thanh Cong Middle School. The people from the shops, cafes, bookstores, and stores that we’ve visited for the last two weeks probably recognized our sadness. But there was literally no time to waste. As the Opening Ceremony for the new school year was in process, we piled into our separate rooms and started our new job as interior decorators. We posted our artwork, craft projects, drawings, pictures, and so much more. It was an exhibit on the four environment issues that we have been lecturing about. What makes it amazing was that the kids prepared it and were going to present it as well.
