This morning (as in, the morning of 28/2), I went to visit an orphanage. I was accompanied by my mother and the box load of Tunza's promotional goods. I was both very excited and nervous because today was the day I did my first environmental campaign as a eco-gen ambassador on behalf of Tunza. Oh, also that I have math exam tomorrow and I was losing the precious moments to study (as if I care).

I had a wonderful plan. I was going to bring out their inner self. As a secondary school student who was very much accustomed to how boring speeches can be, I did not want to rant off boring lectures on the environment and hand them out the goods as 'thank you for listening to my boring speech!' gifts. Which was what I always witnessed whenever volunteers would come to do whatever campaign they wanted to do in our school. 

I was going to make quite a use of the resources. I was going to hand them out the pens and sticky notes (rulers later) and tell them to write their ideas, what they could do to make the environment a better place. 

Which was exactly what I did.

Not.

When I woke up today, I was very sick. I had a very severe stomach ache (imagine what happened). I was no way prepared to do the campaign. But if I couldn't do it today, there was no way I could do any campaign before my ambassadorship ends. So I went anyway, in that condition.

It should be noted that we had gone to the orphanage before. So I knew a lot of girls there. I greeted them, asking how they had been, visiting their rooms and then, asking for a plastic bag on which I ended up vomiting.

Talk about embarrassment. I was there to teach them about being conscious to keep their environment safe, and I was using a plastic bag. I felt like such a hypocrite.

When we did gather around together, I couldn't stay still in my seat. I had to keep going back to the restroom to, er, puke again. So my mum had to take over and and had to talk mostly, tell them about the pollution and plastic and all that. All I could do was tell them about Tunza and how I was a representative for them, and how all the goodies in my bag were sent by them. I couldn't even help my mum and the girls tie the banner. I felt real bad, that this was supposed to be my campaign, I was supposed to be the one talking, the audience was mine. I told my mum that I was sorry. I expected her to answer something sarcastic, the way she always spoke to me, with the intention of getting under my skin. But she just said, "but it was your idea, no? You were the organizer, you were the one to arrange the campaign, you planned everything and even wrote a layout of what you were going to say. I was only your mouthpiece. So don't discredit yourself. You did a lot."

That made me feel better. I would have smiled, but it sort of came out as a grimace in my condition.

As for what we did in my campaign, we made them write their ideas in the sticky notes pad and share it with us. I was a bit worried whether they would actually be forthcoming, because children are not taught to think in Bangladesh, but I was surprised by their enthusiasm in participating. They didn't have any unique ideas, they were children, after all, but a lot of them came up with aspects beside what is written in our textbooks. 

I would have shared a pic of what they wrote, but it was written in Bengali, so I will just write down translations below:

I will not spit or cough anywhere on the ground (a big habit of Bengali people. Well done, girl).

I will keep my yard clean (fabulous. Most of us live in apartments and expect cleaners to clean the front of our house.)

I will not throw away plastic bottles in water (another habit of Bengali people. If you happen to be carrying around a piece of waste, either you throw it in the bin or in the water… whatever comes first)

Etc. Etc.

So this was my first environmental  campaign, not just as an ambassador, but as an environmentalist, as well. I really wish I hadn't become sick the day, because I wanted to learn how to really talk in front of an audience. But there's no point in regretting things that cannot be changed, so I will just hope to arrange a second campaign and do it all by myself.

This is my last report as the 23rd regional ambassador to Bangladesh. I did not extend my term, and I believe I won't be active that much as a member either. I have board exams due next year, the kind that is supposed to determine my fate. So I am being put off my many extra-curricular works. But don't despair! I will apply for the ambassador position next February and will be back with my fabulous reports once again.

Right now, I will stop writing. I am still sick, still whining from my stomach ache. This is starting to get real unbearable. 

Peace out for a year, Tunza.