We arrived here after a semi-gong show of planes, trains, taxis, subways and ending up in the most China-like area yet. How ironic.
My last week in Chongqing was pretty good. We found some amazing food spots that were super cheap and kind of “hole in the wall”. But these places seem to be the best, just as long as you have someone there to order for you.
However there were some good times. We were invited to this company called “Soft Island” to speak English with their staff.
To be honest, I wasn’t really looking forward to this new venture. I kept thinking to myself how Mr. Awkward was definitely going to be there, and how I just didn’t feel like hanging out with him anymore than I already had that week/this whole month.
My leader and I ended up in the Customer Service Department where a handful of women sell video game stuff over the internet through calls and live CHAT. I don’t really understand it.
Seeing that they clearly made tons of long-distance calls on a minutely basis I asked if I could call my house and “sell products”. They seemed thrilled to let me take full advantage of their phone privileges.
Realizing it was 3AM I decided to only call my parents. (Sarah and Suz, your numbers are the only ones I have memorized, and if it wasn’t 3, you would’ve received a call)
Then, I asked if I could deal with some customers over the phone and Live IM. They seemed too excited for this. So I got to talk with some customers in the most non- professional ways I knew how. Calling customers who were 20 – 30 years old things like “champ” and “scout” didn’t seem like it would fly, but the girls there thought it was just the greatest thing, so the more unprofessional and ridiculous we acted, the more fun we all had.
Customer: “Hi, I was wondering if my order went through for War Craft Version POOJA.
Me/Eric : Not actually sure, let me check that out for you big guy, just hold on while I dig up that info.
Customer: Thanks
Me: “yah man, Mr. Computer is telling me that your order definitely made it’s way through”
Customer: Great, so do you know when I’ll receive it
Me: I have absolutely no idea, and to be honest, the computer doesn’t know either. I’m sure it’ll come soon though, I hope.
Customer: um, ok, thanks anyway.
Me: No problemo bud, hope your week rocks your socks off.
Customer: ok.
Me: Peace out.
Who wouldn’t want this kind of response from Customer Service. So basically I went in to a business to help, and ended up halting all work productivity for over an hour, but I definitely boosted morale, which is what it’s all about. Take that Mr. Awkward.
This past week I also got the chance with my teammate Laura to work in an orphanage. This orphanage wasn’t the typical “Chinese Orphanage”. It has had a lot of time and money poured into it over the past couple of years so it was in good shape. But regardless, still a sad situation. It was basically divided into 2 sections:
Healthy – Disabled aka Hopeful – Hopeless.
What that means is the one section of healthy and not too severely disabled kids are probably going to be adopted eventually. The other section, the “hopeless” section has the other disabled kids, who will probably never be adopted, and therefore their section of the orphanage is meant to be their home for a long long time. It has nothing to do with any difference in living conditions; it’s just “how it is”.
I got to spend 3 hours with each section.
The kids who were “healthy” were all baby – toddler aged.
Upon entering the orphanage we were told no pictures…a rule in which I obnoxiously violated multiple times. And we also experienced a mad rush of children who ran toward us yelling “bow, bow, bow” which translates to “hold me, hug, or pick me up”.
There wasn’t a minute that went by in which I wasn’t holding, throwing or playing with a kid for 3 hours. Probably one of the most meaningful things I’ve ever done in my life. There around 7 female volunteers there, and I was the only male, which means I’m probably one of the only male interactions these kids have had in their lives. I had a ball, it was so much fun. I remembered why I love doing things like camp again.
When they ate their lunch it was super sad to watch these kids standing at a little coffee table eating their lunch all by themselves, it just kind of hit me that these kids have no one except the couple of women who run this place. They don’t have a family. Something you need to push to the back of your mind when working in a place like this.
Needless to say I wreaked a little havoc, I couldn’t NOT give them toys, and the lady in charge didn’t seem to pleased with me playing with like 6 different toys at once. Oops.
The Disabled section was aged 8 – 25. These “kids” are a lot harder to hang out with, because it really takes time to build enough trust with them to talk or hang out with them. But I did hang out with a couple of them for a good long while. Again,a very worthwhile experience. I’m so so thankful I got this experience.
Thus far, the best part of my trip.
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