December 25th - A Merry Christmas!

Today was the final class before winter break. The class itself was quite ordinary - we ran through drills and played games. We laughed, we played, one student even gave me a box of chocolates as a Christmas present! Another bought me a drink from the vending machine. I felt honored being on the receiving end of a genuine gift.

On the topic of gifts, I prepared candles with a pleasant fragrant for all students there today. They were so excited after getting a gift; most of the parents told me that they didn’t really receive gifts from other children in the past and were ecstatic.

I felt a sense of gratitude as well. I was initially a bit hesitant and overthought way too much in my head about whether they’d like the gift or not. But looking back, the gesture is far more important than the gift itself. I truly believe that it’s the thought that counts.

Giving a gift has never felt so good in my life before; it felt like I was giving gifts to people that truly needed it - a gesture of warmth and community. When giving gifts to other people, it feels like just a sign of friendship; for these kids, it felt like I was introducing them to new concepts/cultures of life, the sense of caring for one another and community.