A Word of Gratitude

By Carol Chan

“As you move outside of your comfort zone, what was once the unknown and frightening becomes your new normal.” -Robin S. Sharma

Although we have been preparing for this trip for the past year, I did not really feel like I was going on an International Service Project until the week of our departure. On Monday, I remember waking up in the morning feeling very anxious about how the trip would go. I worried about the weather, the living conditions and whether or not I would be able to withstand stress and pressure without falling apart. However, I know that as long as I do my best and trust in my contingent, we will be able to get to the finish line together.

Standing in the airport with my fellow Rovers, I am finally able to say that reality has sunk in. We’ll be getting on the plane soon and traveling across the Pacific Ocean. As we begin our 14-day journey abroad, I am both terrified and thrilled to have the opportunity to travel to Malaysia and Singapore in a span of merely two weeks. I look forward to the people we will meet, the places we will see, the experiences we will share and the food we will eat!

Before we depart, we would like to say a big thank you to all of our supporters. First, we would like to thank our parents for being understanding of the many contingent meetings and events we attended in preparation for this trip. Although we may get home late and sometimes miss family dinner, we hope you know how much we appreciate your love and support. Moreover, we would like to specially thank Carol Chow for all the hours she put in organizing our flights, transportation and accommodation. Without her efforts, we would not be able to travel so comfortably and affordably. Finally, we would like to thank everyone who has offered our contingent continued support throughout our preparations for this year’s international service project. We would not be able to take on this adventure without you!

To learn more about what we are getting up to in Malaysia and Singapore, we invite you to check our blog for daily updates. We would also love to hear your thoughts in the comments box below.