I didn't know a simple act of washing face can bring such smiles. I'd never be able to feel the sense of contentment of living a simple life.
The trailer on TV prompted me to watch the first episode. It's one of the best things that I get from watching TV - I get to see what's going on the outside world, and realise how fortunate we are...and how poor we are.
We are fortunate, especially Singaporeans, where we have no natural calamities. The most would be the haze from Indonesia or the flooding during rainy seasons. Other than that, it's the usual complains on the ungracious acts, people get caught eating in the trains, buses not arriving on time, toilets are dirty, dustbins not enough etc. We are the pampered and sheltered lot.
I'm a city kid, although I'm glad I grew up having real masak masak and self-invented toys to play with. Now I'm hooked on games in Facebook and Pop Caps, and that was partly the reason why I had sort of neglected updating my blog besides trying to catch up with my work.
Because of that programme, it has somewhat changed my mindset of Ah Tiongs. At least some of them. They can be the simple and nice folks without the air of arrogance, without the scheming minds that their richer counterparts have. It's sad to see that prosperity somehow is inversely related to the values people have.
I knew the programme will make me go teary, but I had to watch it, I had to remind myself there's more to life, I wanted to tell myself how minute our problems are compared to theirs. Humans are forgetful beings, we need to be reminded.
The first episode brings us to the earthquake zone in Sichuan. The journey was arduous and on route, the sight of massive destruction of roads and buildings showed the prowess of nature, as if it was angry with how we have willfully wasted what it has given us.
The first task was to help build a house from scratch and they helped a school to build a library filled with books. They also taught the children basic hygiene such as washing their hands and face and brushing their teeth. Seeing the faces that brimmed with joy made me envy the simple happiness they have. We have taken many things for granted and we have become too complicated be easily satisfied.
They featured a girl whose mother died of complications after giving birth to her. She stayed with her maternal grandparents as her dad had remarried and lived in another village. My heart went out to her grandma as she carried a bagful of branches as that she had gathered for the day. It was heavy certainly. Her grandma started crying as she shared about the teasing by her granddaughter's classmates - that she is an orphan. She was sad that her daughter was not able to watch her own child grow up. The girl wept quietly as she comforted her grandmother. I realised that regardless of wealth status, humans instinctively can't seem to accept very well things that are different from them.
The other was a deaf-mute girl who was unable to attend a normal school because of her condition. She was a pretty little girl full of optimism. The volunteers tried to convince her parents to send her to a special school so that she could continue her education. She was lucky to have met these volunteers as education, transportation and living expenses were taken care of. The parents were unwilling at first as they couldn't bear to live apart with her, but eventually agreed for the sake of her future. The host couldn't hold back his tears as the girl tried to call his name in her husky little voice. I was happy for her.
Life was tough and the harsh weather made it harder. Perhaps that is how they learn to be resilient and I admired their tenacity and strength.
Oh, the programme is called "Stars for a Cause", aired on every Thurs, 8pm on Ch U. I shan't elaborate more, catch it and I hope it will make a little difference in your life.
