With All The Love

3 December 2008 (Wednesday)

All the preparation for Talent Show proved worthwhile, as today’s events marked a poignant and tear-jerking conclusion for the past two weeks we’ve spent with Riverkids. There was a turnout of over 350, including representatives from the local authorities, NGOs, staff of Riverkids, the children and their families. The program started off with sincere speeches by Sophon and our teacher Mr. Chua, gaining momentum with a series of performances and mini-contests. Students performing Music, Dance and Juggling delighted the audience with not only beautiful collaboration but also impressive solo parts.

These performances were the culmination of more than one week’s worth of preparation ad lessons, when we taught the ever-enthusiastic children the necessary and relevant skills.

For music, we started off initially by playing music related games to get them acquainted to the concept, after which we introduced them to their sense of rhythm, and finally allowed them to use the instruments that we made or bought to perform simple music pieces in harmony.

For juggling, we first introduced the kids to the basics- how to throw and catch a ball. Next, we introduced them to the different forms of juggling such as the two ball column. Third, we taught them rhythmic juggling, before eventually rehearsing the group performance and synchronizing their juggling.

For art, we taught them origami, finger-painting, and colouring and other basics of art. Under the guidance of the RJC students, they produced their very own art pieces, the best of which were selected to be displayed during the talent show. It was arguably a proud moment for the kids whose work of art was being exhibited.

For photography, we taught the Get Ready Girls the basics, such as composition and lighting. For the final hands-on session, we brought the girls out on an excursion to take photos relevant to the theme of ‘My Aspirations’. We then allowed them to select the photo that they felt best represents themselves and their dreams, and displayed these photos during the talent show.

It was heartening to see the children putting in the best of their efforts to put up a good show, and it was heart-warming to see the best works of these kids on display. Their adorable expressions more than made up for whatever awkwardness that was in their movements and kept smiles on hundreds of faces.

Parents were not left to sit by the stage, as the emcee facilitated inter-family activities that encouraged family members to work together and to know one another better. The display of excitement by various parents was encouraging to us, who were previously unsure about how families would react to the mini-contests. In witnessing the parent-child interactions onstage, I was also moved by several glimpses of the affection shared between them.

The product of our stay was not limited to exhibitions and performances, as we also presented framed family portraits to the number of families with whom we’ve done visitation. Following that was supposed to be a speech from Elizabeth and myself, but it was unexpectedly reduced to a mere few lines expressing gratitude towards Riverkids. Because saying goodbye turned out to be more difficult than I’d imagined it to be.

All that I’d prepared myself to say were immediately choked back by thoughts of separation. These unsaid words temporarily held back my tears, but the batch song that we presented as a group a moment later was enough to release the floodgates. With goodbye already on our minds, this song that meant so much to all of us easily triggered uncontrollable sobbing. It was so apt to a song to sing, as it was a song about how we all started out as aliens to the community, not familiar nor close to it, but how we grew to endear and love it eventually, and how despite the fact that we wanted to stay, we could not, as separation was inevitable. What, I wonder, were on the minds of our audience as they watched us?

It was heartwrenching to see some staff of Riverkids and students – even the younger ones – start to tear. Yet, even with tears in their eyes, they came to hold our hands and comfort us with group hugs and gifts. Such is the love and kindness that Riverkids has never stopped showing us. We’ve moved people to tears with our simple performance… but by simply reacting so, these people have touched a very deep part of our hearts indeed. I could write paragraphs about the many things we are thankful to Riverkids (staff, volunteers, and students) for, but I believe that ultimately we owe these experiences to their very loving hearts. And RJC ISLE Cambodia 2008 can never be thankful enough for your very loving hearts.

Lena