As I sat down to reflect on the past 5 days I’ve had in DPRK, I could not help but cry. I am ok. I am more than ok actually. My heart is aching but it’s a good ache. Its the kind of ache you get after a good workout. At the same time, I am scared to feel this way. To feel so heartbroken. How can I be professional and objective when I feel nothing but a heartache? Will I feel this way whenever I do field visits? Whenever I see the faces of our beneficiaries? Perhaps I am too emotional to do this job. Then again, I realise, it is quite natural to feel this way. So it turns out Steven Jobs didn’t tell us everything. He told us to find what you love, but he didn’t tell us the downside of that – which is the risk of having your heart broken over and over again, as by putting your heart into your work, you put your heart on the line. Colleagues in the humanitarian sector say it gets easier. You get used to it after a while, you toughen up, you somewhat become immune to it. Perhaps I will one day too but I am not sure if I want to develop such immunity – how else will I understand their pain? Their frustration? Painful as it may be, I want to stay true to my feelings – as human beings are naturally equipped to feel what others feel (although we don’t always do), and follow my heart even if it means having my heartbroken over and over again. I think it’s worth the risk. These photos are taken in Sinyang county, South Phyongan Province where we saw Red Cross projects – WatSan programme providing clean water, poly clinic (medical supplies), green houses, and tree nurseries (to halt landslides). — in Sinyangdong, North Korea.
Posted on: Sat, 31 May 2014 10:49:40 +0000
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