Date : Saturday, January 03, 2009
Time : 11:16:00 pm
Title : The start of an awesome trip.

Its high time I start blogging about my Global Classroom Experience Trip to Vietnam.
I wonder, why hasn't anyone bugged me to blog about my trip updates? Haha.
Okay, here goes for Day 1.
I wanted to blog both Day 1 and Day 2 together, since theres really nothing much on Day 1. But, there are too many photos already. So I will post on 1 day at a time. A picture means a thousand words!
But, I have details n some of my thoughts too.

Vietnam trip Day 1.

Assembled at Changi Airport early in the morning.


Before going in to board, many group photos of us were taken by the parents. So, we have many of such photos, as seen below because the parents snapped us non-stop.

Boarded the 10 AM flight to Hanoi, Southern Vietnam. SQ 176. I believe I can fly.....
Plane partner: Bertrand.

Upon reaching Hanoi, we transferred to Friendship Village. Friendship Village is a Residential Treatment Center for victims who were affected by Agent Orange during Vietnam War. Most of the victims are youngsters. The impacts and aftermath of Agent Orange has caused the victims to be deformed, physically, mentally or both. E.g mental handicaps, sensory limitations..

Not all the children there are orphans, many whose whose parents who cant care for them adequately because of poverty, or because of the severity of their own condition or their parents own related health problems. Many of the children are unable to continue in school either as a result of their mental or physical handicaps or because of teasing from other children. The Village provides them with a place to live, access to necessary medical care, and provides constant supervision for the children whose mental problems would otherwise lead them to endanger or harm themselves.

We were given quite some time to interact around with the people at the place.