Day 5

Day 5 – Emily Ho and Christy Cheung

Our day started early in the morning with the wake up call at six. None of us believed that today was composed of the final moments of our time in Nuwakot with the inspiring children, the stunning scenery and the ever-smiling faces of the local villagers when greeted with a “Namaste”.

After a hearty breakfast of pineapple pancakes and our favourite instant noodles “shaka laka boom”, we walked, for the last time, through the village to the school. Hearts pumping with anxiety, trying hard to hold on to every sweet memory, we stepped onto the school’s stage with sorrowful faces. The children clutched nervously to flowers, posters and cards as we went down to say goodbye.

It was very difficult for everyone as we truly didn’t want to give or receive our last hug. We didn’t want to loosen our tight bonds, we didn’t want to distant our friendship, we didn’t want to forget this experience ever.

After getting the presents ready, the ceremony began. The principal of the school gave a touching speech about our everlasting friendship which bonds worlds apart. Unable to control our emotions, almost all of us Spring Blossom kids cried at the thought of having to separate from these children. Many of us had not imagined how long our attachment to them would be and this experience has indubitably exceeded our expectations. Not knowing whether we will ever meet again, several of us gave a short speech, expressing our gratitude and thoughts. It was an especially emotional moment because by this time nearly everyone – both Spring Blossom and Nepalese children – were crying.

We were given time to go down and be with the children who were crying, realising that we were going through this difficult moment as one. As we exchanged photos, addresses and phone numbers, we knew that this was not goodbye, but ‘see you soon’ or was this not the end of our camaraderie but the beginning?

We then gave out our presents which consisted of toiletry kits, pencil cases and our traditional laisee packets with Hong Kong dollar coins in. All the children were extremely grateful of the presents they received, even though most of the presents were second hand donations from people in Hong Kong.

It was then our turn for receiving presents, one by one, we were presented with the traditional Nepali tikka, hat and choker. After that came the hardest part of the day, it was time for us to leave this magnificent school. Pouring our eyes out, we waved goodbye and headed to the bus to Kathmandu. Children held our hands, crowded around every one of us and walked us to our bus. It was then that we realised that is wasn’t only our friends we were leaving behind, but part of our hearts.
Our memories would stay with us forever and we hope that it would stay with them too. Even on the bus, many of the children would not let go of our hands, many saying “I’ll miss you”, “Don’t forget me”, “See you soon!”

Perhaps the most difficult challenge of this part of our journey is not the long hours of preparation, difficult language barrier or becoming familiar with the kids, but having to put on a strong face and telling each and every one of our new ‘saathis’ that we’ll see them soon again.