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This trip was a wonderful experience. It is difficult to come up with any points of constructive criticism from this trip.
We met at the Vancouver Airport at 7pm on November 6th 2008. I had never met any of the team members. I had spoken to Marina, the trip organizer, on the phone once. I had also received several e-mails about the upcoming trip, but somehow I felt that I had no idea what to expect. There was a certain element of faith in the organization that was necessary in order to remain composed as I embarked on this journey.
I had checked out the TWECS website, which was impressive, but other than Marina I had not spoken to anyone who had been on a TWECS project. I really had no idea what to expect. I had been on one other volunteer eye care project while I was an optometry student at Waterloo. That trip turned out to be a heart breaker, as we never saw the 10,000 pairs of glasses that we brought with us make it through Mexican customs. The trip was a complete waste of time, effort, and fundraising. I was hopeful that this would be a better experience.
Marina’s connections in the Philippines undoubtedly helped this trip run smoothly. Her cousin Nica, born and bred Filipina, was there every step of the way. Nica greeted us at the airport, at which point we were escorted VIP- style through customs with no line-ups and no hassles. All 10,000 pairs of glasses made it with us. A banner welcoming the Third World Eye Care Society hung at the airport exit. The office of James "Bong" Gordon, Mayor to Olongapo City, had arranged for the banner. A comfortable air-conditioned bus sat waiting for us to board. We met Fred at that time, who would prove to be a dear friend as well as host and entertainer to all of us. We headed from Manila to Olongapo city, with a stop for complementary breakfast along the way. We were taken on the new toll highway, which ensured a smooth and pleasant ride. Our accommodations in Olongapo were at the Mountain Woods Resort, a modest and cozy spot nestled in the tree tops overlooking Subic Bay and its surrounding mountains. Our rooms were air-conditioned, our beds were comfortable, and the staff was extremely hospitable. A pool with an incredible view would provide us with incentive to carry on at the end of many long exhausting days to follow. A grand piano in the lobby was played nightly, providing a soothing and relaxing atmosphere for those who were not hidden away in their rooms swooning under the hands of inexpensive local massage therapists.
Marina our leader was very relaxed and approachable yet organized, flexible and efficient. She has an invaluable understanding of the challenges we face as foreigners trying to work in a third world country. She balances realistic expectations and priority setting with an incredible drive to work hard and make things happen. It is difficult for many of us to grasp the reality of working under such different conditions. It is important to have a leader who never fails to see the big picture rather than dwell on the frustrations that inevitably arise as a result of stepping away from our habitual standards of care.
Our days were long, hot, and exhausting. We were pampered with a constant supply of bottled water, Gatorade, lunch, and snacks. Everyone looked out for each other, and we worked together as a team to accomplish our goals. Thinking back on it now moves me substantially. I miss everyone from the team, I am proud of what we did, and I will cherish this memory always.
Adrienne LeVasseur, optometrist
Dec 30th 2008
Thoughts written on flight WJ671 from Toronto to Calgary
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