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322th - My first experience with TRMPC (曾尹堃)
作者為左1
My first experience with TRMPC
曾尹堃 / 義工
Despite my volunteer work at a hospital from a few years back, this trip to the Pingtung area was a novel experience for me because of the sheer change in setting. Since my assignment was to assist with registration, the ample opportunities of interacting with patients, most of whom were Taiwanese aborigines, ended up being a raw frontline experience that allowed me to get a better glimpse of an underserved population and its culture. These people have the cards stacked against them in life due to their socioeconomic backgrounds, so much so that, from an outsider's perspective, it is the equivalent of climbing a social ladder with missing rungs. And yet, unequal access to resources has always been a harsh reality. If real change were to happen, it would have to more or less come at the cost of cultural identity. Underneath their friendly demeanor is palpable acquiescence—not out of approval, but rather as a way to cope with the challenge of being in a tough situation with no easy solutions. Ironic as it was given the purpose of our trip, I came out with a strange feeling of helplessness.
I am not sure whether it was pity or sympathy. Or maybe it was just disappointment from the realization that I could not do more to change the status quo. Much of the aid we provide are temporary and do not address the root cause of the problem. In a sense, I ended up gaining more from them than the material goods and services that they received from us. What I enjoy most about giving back to underserved communities is its faculty for putting certain aspects of life in perspective, and to me, a different outlook on personal values, privileges, and priorities is often the most educational and enlightening. Comparatively speaking, a lot of us are fortunate in life—certainly fortunate enough to make a difference in other people's lives—that it is only fitting to pass along that fortune and give back to societies what life has afforded us.
Teamwork is the other rewarding aspect of this trip. There were times when I had to think on my feet and utilize my problem-solving skills in order to work independently, but the backdrop of group mentality was always there to impel me to be flexible in helping out wherever needed. While stepping back for a brief second and looking around during our busiest moments, I got the sense that I was part of a much greater whole. Most importantly, I had a blast working with people who were easy-going, focused, and above all, driven by their passion to help others. They were consistently on top of things and very much in sync with each other throughout the entire trip. By virtue of everyone's being on the same page and having a singular mission in mind, execution was on point and efficient. Kudos to the drivers, our chef, and all his culinary assistants for doing the work that should not be taken for granted. I would also like to give a shout-out to my partner in crime Ms. Yao on the registration team. However little she spoke, she more than made up for it with great singing. The trip was overall an immensely pleasant experience for me thanks to these people's energy and dedication. I look forward to being a part of TRMPC again.
