#smallgivingpledge

Hello world!!

Last night, the typhoon hit us in Nagoya, and I had no transportation to go back to my home Gifu. This is my first experience that I was stuck in the train, but I learned from it. "Everything happens with a reason." I like this quote so much, and I could learn it through my experience.

No matter how good or bad, we can find the meanings from things happened.

By the way, I already explained that why I started my own project that I call "Small Giving Pledge", but today I also wanna talk about "Why I Decide to make this blog".

Let's quickly jump into it!!

1. I can't help sharing my amazing experiences in Cambodia

Nothing to say!! The top reason why I start making this blog is Cambodia. Cambodia already became my second home country that always is in my heart. I experienced sooooooo many things in Cambodia(include the US as well). Most likely, those experiences are great memories, but of course, sometimes I was down as well. However, I take for granted for everything I went through, and I think those experiences are really valuable.

"Life is full of lessons. The only possible failure is to nor those lessons. " 

Friend of mine gave me this word when I left for Japan from Cambodia, and this word always encourages me.

2. Have Fun and Be Creative

Blogging in English is actually something I haven't challenged before.

Perhaps a blogger is a fan of a particular actor or loves knitting and wants to share that passion through a blog.

I guess one of the most important keys to successful blogging is having a passion for your blog's topic so that you can write prolifically about it. Blogging with no passion? That sucks. That is a disaster. Maybe I'm exaggerating, but truly I believe this is right.

Some of the best and most interesting blogs started out as blogs that were written just for fun and to give the blogger a creative outlet.

I just started my own small project and want to have fun as much as possible!!

3. Try new things! To find my future buddy

I just want to share my ideas, thoughts and opinions!! Why?

I think that is the best way to connect new people. I was a bit nervous and shy to spread out my idea, to be honest. But I was thinking this way "Is there any great things to be shy? "... My question was very simple. "No, it's not.

“If you’ve never tried, how will you ever know if there’s any chance?” – Jack Ma

Jack Ma is my inspiration, and I like this quote so much(I like all of the words what he said though). You know what? Jack Ma is quite popular in Cambodia for some reasons, and his popularity is beyond Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk and other famous entrepreneurs as well.. No joke!!(There is no official statistics, but I found this when I asked my bunch of Cambodian friends and students. Very interesting!!)

As some of you guys know, I started my own small project after I come back to Japan. "Small Giving Pledge", "English Gym" and others project will be coming up soon or later!! I'm super pumped to share all of those!!

I actually have more reasons to share. To summarize only 3 was very tough actually.

When I describe her self, only one perfect word would come up and that is the "mother".

Mavis is a founder of Touch*A*Life. TAL is an international humanitarian organization that embodies the principle of loving kindness to serve the world’s poor and displaced. They work to prevent and relieve suffering by providing programs, projects and partnerships that help save lives, promote health and education.

Back in 2016, I joined Touch A LIfe for my first time. It was a shocking moment for me in a good way.

I joined some volunteer works when I was in Japan. What I want to say is I didn't participate many volunteers, but for sure I think I sort of understand what the basic atmosphere is.

What I was most amazed at here was atmosphere and vibes that created by people here. Once you step into this place, you can feel comfortable and it's just like visiting somewhere you are attached.

It may sound a bit wired, but it is so amazing and beautiful. That left so much impact on me.

Their first serving was 17 kids, but now they extended. It's about 160 kids.

Here is a great video to understand their concept behind.

https://vimeo.com/262777490

"I think it's something so basic and primal, this thing about food. And if a child is hungry, what can she study in school? Not everything we can solve for them. But I think the physical transformations are quite apparent. When they first came they were really really thin, and they would have a lot of skin diseases.

What TAL is doing for the community is not only giving food for them. It's beyond the food.

"So I have no apologies for giving food because I also know it's beyond the food. These kids come in confident. They are not overawed by a whole bunch of foreigners that are here. They feel like they're friends."

Once you participate in a volunteer here, you will quickly know how people are connected because of the atmosphere created by great people here.

She welcomes any kinds of people who are keen to dedicate to the community, and you can see the diversity here.

"I always welcome volunteers here because I have been lucky enough to have had serendipitous meetings with many many people, who have inspired me to do things along this line."

"Wonderful people, hilarious people, some real characters. But lovely people. Very warm-hearted."

Her approach of sort of fundraising is to tell people that just PLEASE COME."Angkor Wat is beautiful, but come here and be with us."

So true. Many people are coming to Siem Reap because of the most spectacular temples, but there is no reason to miss to meet, feel and connect people here.

"This is a place where you have a friend. This is a place of friendship. And you can come here and be yourself."

Words from Mavis are so true and I can't agree with more.

"Food is just a means of getting closer to people. As basic as food is that feeling, that needs to feel that somebody cares about you. That you actually exist in someone's eyes."

Frankly, this is not only the place you can experience volunteer abroad, but it's more about the life-changing experience. Bunch of types of people from all around the world gets together at this place.No matter where they come from, TAL connects people and we together can learn giving make people happy.

How beautiful it is!!

What makes TAL unique is that people can share their own life story. You are not here to only give food, but if you have a good heart, you will receive more than that.

Come over! Share, experience and learn from it!

This is the place that we can help local people, make friendships and learn the life. The only thing you need to bring here is your warm heart.

I donated 5% of my last January’s salary. I was so happy to be the part of this project, and more importantly, I still connect with them even I am in Japan.

I have a plan to go back to SiemReap next year, and I definitely bring my parents to her place. It would be so so excited.