Meet Sri Lanka, Canada, Nepal, India (part of the big group)
Rise and Shine. The sunrises outside my room are absolutely spectacular. I was on a mission. After a 10 km bike ride the night before, my ass was completely sore! Now I know what it means to waddle like a penguin! Well, I was determined to keep at my fitness regime (trust me it didn't last past day two). I was off to the gym. Huffing and puffing at 7 am, I was barely able to run for 10 minutes. So disappointing. But, you know the best way to get over that feeling is to eat more!
My roommate is from Beijing. Her name is Dulily and she is from the family planning commission in China. One of the largest NGO's with nearly a million people in membership. I quickly found out that this is one of the few places the Chinese government allows NGO activity in. Sex education and population is surely a priority with the population rising on a daily basis. Du lily is funny without knowing it. I think its in the way she delivers her comments and blushes at the sight of cute foreigners. I love it!
During the training, I quickly realized how much I had in common with everyone around the table. It was great to finally discuss issues in depth with people my own age and after a long time, I was able to say sex, condom or even HIV positive loudly without getting stared at. I could feel myself opening up to the concepts and learning, arguing and expressing my feelings through out that day. The exercises enabled me to focus my points and the regional context allowed me to understand the challenges faced. I never knew Malaysia was so behind in sexual and reproductive rights to a point of being repressive. In a couple years, there is a great fear that HIV in the youth will have reached an uncontrollable rate.
I was overwhelmed by the amount of information we went over a span of four days. It gave me a greater understanding of the challenges and commonalities south Asia and south east Asia faces. I felt empowered as women knowing that even this is a privilege. To be able to travel abroad and discuss issues such as abortion, condom use, rape, abuse without any fear in itself was a real honor. The long sessions left us drained of energy and the abundant food kept us going every night.
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