As you can probably see from Darren’s earlier post, never underestimate the power of a filter – especially when you fall from the ledge onto your bum. But that is a story for another time.

Last week, I went to Hanoi on a volunteer trip with The Hemispheres Foundation and the Australian International School Singapore (AISS). The trip was part of AISS’ community building program and it involved doing volunteer work (general cleaning, painting, farming, building a playground) at Kim Bang Social Centre, which is an orphanage located at Ha Nam Province. I was there as a facilitator and videographer/photographer for the camp.

There, I met an orphan called Lan, who opened my eyes to his life and it was a truly humbling experience. Neither of us speaks each other’s language and we communicated through hand gestures. During the two days I was at the orphanage, at some point in time whilst everyone else was busy with their activities, I would find him standing outside his room staring into the distance. To some extent, it almost seemed rather stoic. On the second day, I tried to engage him but he would brush me off and return to his position by the steps. So we stood there, for at least a good half hour in the cold. It then occurred to me that he was waiting – for something or someone, his family maybe, who might never return for him.

What can you hold on to when there’s nothing to ground you? When you have everything you need but nothing belongs to you? When people come and go but it’s never the right person?

What else can you do but wait? I once thought that a year’s worth of waiting was long. But that is nothing compared to Lan’s wait.

And for that, I really admire this little boy and hope that someday his wait will come to an end.

no comments to "Wait"