by Rachel from Hongkong,

I was told that day in the morning that my flight was scheduled in the afternoon. My boss was out of town for two weeks so we didn’t even have much time to talk and meet before I left. When I was heading to Düsseldorf airport, we just had a five minutes-long goodbye time nearby a petrol station. His eyes filled with tears whispering “I am not good at this.” My colleagues gave me the prepared handmade present which was a folder with photos and words titled “Rachels Jahr in der ESG Dortmund”. We took a photo and hugged. That’s all. No matter long or short, we always don’t have enough time to say goodbye. Would it be better if we have a proper time saying goodbye or we would still find it hard to leave someone we loved? Goodbye in Chinese is “再見”. Except farewell, it also literally carries the meaning of seeing each other again. I believe distance cannot separate relationship if we really care about each other.

 

I remembered there were invited international guests coming from different country during Kirchentag in June 2019. They are the partner of the Department of Ecumenism in the Evangelical Church of Dortmund. The coordinator of the Department of Ecumenism, Carolin, asked “Why are we gathering here?” Nowadays, we had Facetime, Skype, WhatsApp which allowed us to communicate with each other easily online. Why is it so important to meet each other face to face? “Because we can touch each other. You cannot hug a computer,” she then answered. I think that is also applicable to our volunteer programmes. I used to learn by reading and listening in class and school. Well, actually if you want, you can even access to more information through words, pictures and videos very easily. However, in this volunteer programme, it is so precious that I can learn by touching and experience, texture and temperature. I can acquire a lot of facts about Holocaust through textbook but it would never be the same when I go to an exhibition called “Survivors” which is a testament of the survivors of the Holocaust with my mentor. I can know where Indonesia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, India, Tanzania are but I can never make friends with the people there. I know there is cultural differences between different nations but I would never know how to respect and tolerant until I have lived in the international volunteer house for one year. I love the moment when my friend from Togo was playing with my long straight hair while I found interesting and funny touching her sponge-like hair. We both burst into laughter. You cannot replace friendship. That’s the most precious experience I have learnt this year, touching.

 

However, an end also means a new start. I am looking forward to another way of life and being a different Rachel Lee. After all, there is still a long way to go, many adventures to explore. Therefore, I have made a checklist of what I am going to do after the Quarantine. It gives me energy and motives to continue my life.

 

  1. Eating fresh seafood and fish
  2. Having nice Dim Sum at Chinese restaurant
  3. Watching drama
  4. Buying Chinese books
  5. Designing and DIY my own room
  6. Buying Koran and Japanese fashion clothes
  7. Playing my guitar
  8. Don’t have to wait long at the train station
  9. Seeing the beautiful scenery of Victoria Harbor
  10. Sharing what I have seen, heard, touched, tasted, smelled in this year.

 

Thanks everyone I met for helping me to become who I am now, a more mature, cheerful and thoughtful person. I am sure we will meet each other soon.