A post from Michael

Hi there it's Michael, the international man of mystery. As usual I haven't blogged yet but its only because the others have been doing such a great job. :) It can be hard for me to articulate exactly what it is that I want to say and how I feel but here goes... 

The Eyes Wide Open slogan "see the world, make a difference" is a good reflection of how I feel about this trip. For me, it has been very much along those lines. I have ventured outside my comfort zone completely. This is my first time to what you would call a developing country, but it has just been one surprise after another, from the growth of their cities to the amazing beauty of the country side and the grandeur of the Ancient Temples. The trip has been a total immersion into the culture of these countries, the way of life, the people, customs and of course the food.

For me, being from a building background, being able to watch the construction going on and the restoration of the Ancient Temples has been for a want of a better word delightful. All of the temples I have visited are breath taking, from there sheer size, the design and the craftsmanship, to the wonderful masonry carving on every wall and every square inch of the the Temples. 

But there has also being the other part of the trip - the humanitarian side - which has honestly caught me a little bit off guard. With the team we have visited quite a few orphanages, an unwed mothers home and street kids' homes. The orphanages are what have gotten to me the most, being able to interact with the kids, read books, sing songs and of course play time. Their bright faces and disarming smiles really got to me. Even at the earliest of ages, these kids understand that education is their way out and their way forward. The children have a way that connects with you straight away and for me it is a little weird; they just come up to you hold your hand and just start to ask you lots of questions. It gets harder every time we have to leave. It's been a very humbling experience and I must be honest with you that it has bought this man to tears during one of our debriefs. 

These places that we have been visiting are not asking us to take control or run anything, they are simply asking for a little bit of assistance to help make life a little better for the people that live there. If you ask me did i make a difference in these kids' lives, I would have to say yes, just a tiny little bit, for I know that for at least one afternoon I was able to provide them with an outlet of fun and laughter which to a little kid is priceless, and I know for me they have given it right back ten-fold.

Eyes Wide Open has given me a very unique opportunity to be able to discover myself and explore possibilities of another country. I am ready for the next trip and will be telling others about this experience.

Merry Christmas.

-Michael