Trip Day #55 - #56

Somewhere Above The Indian Ocean, I Think...

I can hardly believe that my trip is done! It felt like I was preparing for it for years (I was only preparing for a couple of months) and then I blinked and I missed it (but it was two months of my life, so not really).

As I sit here in this aircraft, after having had a good (albeit short) sleep (I'm now trying not to laugh at the guy asleep next to me with his mouth wide open snoring rhythmically), I wanted to take the opportunity to reflect back on my trip. So here are my little thoughts about each of my stops:

I never thought I would return to Singapore because I had a really, really hard time adjusting to everything the first time (5 years ago) - the humidity, the busyness, the smog, the spicy food, the late nights... I especially never thought I would return and have a really great time! It is such a fascinating little part of the world that is the height of efficiency and self-sufficiency that I know is a denial of a need for our Creator beneath... and that breaks my heart. Yet at the same time, I see God's fingerprints all over the place - and I see the genius of design that can only be described as humankind, made in the imago Dei (image of God), letting their creativity and knowledge and inventive practicality work in free, reckless abandon. Is God not working behind the scenes? Of course He is - in Him we live and move and have our being! - but He is so rejected and unnoticed by the people of Singapore who are working like clockwork to become better and faster and more powerful. My prayer for the people of Singapore is that they would look up (usually from their phones), and see the handiwork of the Creator who loves them!

I feel like I fully took in the massiveness of cities from the moment I entered Singapore to the moment I left, and it was awesome. I loved the food (especially because it was cheap) - I loved the public transport - I loved looking at all the fascinating buildings - I loved the Marina (I think it might be my favourite place in the country) and I loved the cleanliness. I'm so glad that I put my past anxieties and fears behind me and booked a flight. And I'm so glad that, through God's strength, I was able to trust Him more and be anxious less. I'm not afraid to say that I would quite happily return to Singapore (and 5 days wasn't enough time!).

Who even am I!?!!

I'm sure I won't mind once I get there, but I really hope there's a nice beach in heaven. And I hope it's modeled off a beach in Thailand, because they are so beautiful! I don't think I've ever been rendered so speechless as I was when looking up at the limestone cliffs and down at the coral reefs near the Phi Phi Islands. I don't even think I can put the beauty of creation into words, and I certainly couldn't capture it with a photograph (sorry, I realise that means you don't get insight into it at all as a reader). Snorkeling is not my favourite thing, but I would do it in Phuket all day. The people of Thailand were the friendliest I've ever met; always wanting to talk to you, always wanting to hear your story and tell you theirs, always wishing you well. The massages in Thailand are so cheap and so incredibly soothing and stress-releasing. To top it all off, the weather was perfect the entire week, and I learnt that I have the ability to tan in humidity (I thought tanning was just not something I was capable of at all!).

I am so thankful to have had time to really relax in Thailand. I'm not sure I can remember the last time I was that relaxed. Having literally nothing to do all day, having perfect weather every day and having good food and beaches and drinks and books on hand constantly... Phuket, I will be back. And I'll tell more people, too, so that your economy gets a nice boost (although I don't think you need me for that, you seem to be doing fine on your own).

I have no idea when it was that Malaysia started to feel like home, but there's a few things I was very aware of.

I didn't feel homesick. There were things I missed about home - I haven't touched a piano, driven a car or eaten a home-cooked meal in two months! - but I never felt homesick.

I didn't feel threatened or unsafe. Last time I was in Malaysia (again, 5 years ago), my primary and very constant feeling was fear. It's not because Malaysia is safer: I've been informed by many people that the crime rate against tourists is actually getting worse and the corruption is as bad as ever. It's 100% because God is faithful - and when I threw all my anxieties and fears on Him, He cared for me and gave me peace that transcends understanding. I literally don't understand it. There were many times I probably shouldn't have felt peace: the time that the power on the electric train went out whilst the train was moving. There were many times I probably should've felt afraid: walking down weird alleyways and paths where beggars and sketchy-looking people all hung out together. There were many times I probably should've felt overwhelmed with anxiety: when an ATM stole all the money off my card.

But I know, assuredly, that I have no reason to fear.

The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.

What can mere mortals do to me?

Of course, I must take some time to talk about internship - the reason for my trip, the biggest portion of my adventure, and an unforgettable experience.

Working at KASS wasn't only a learning experience in terms of law (which it was, trust me - I didn't know a thing about intellectual property law before I turned up on day 1), but it was also a learning experience for me personally. It allowed (forced?) me to sharpen my legal reasoning skills, learn the art of writing great submissions, communicate clearly across cultural differences, focus for longer periods of time than I am used to and enlarge my knowledge of international law interactions both in breadth and depth. I was always an advocate for experience over the classroom alone; I will always be one. The amount you learn about your field and yourself in an environment where you have no choice but to master new skills and quickly take in new information is extraordinary and, I think, unavoidable. It is also invaluable, desirable and something I am overwhelming thankful to have been able to do.

To the lovely men and women at KASS: thank you for letting me work with you! Thank you for throwing me in the deep end with IP law and teaching me to swim in it. I learnt IP law faster and (I believe) in more depth than any other area of law I've studied at university so far. Thanks for helping me find English translations of legislation and the most recent amendments in hard copy (putting up with the fact that I am so used to a national legislation database!). Thank you for giving me feedback on my work and suggestions for improvement; thank you for praising me when I got it done right (and fast). Thank you for trusting me to write good advice for clients and to draft good submissions and reports. And thank you for that lunch you made in celebration of Hari Raya, because it was delicious!

Thanks for speaking English around us even though it's not your first language and it must have been more difficult! Thank you for all your suggestions about what to do and eat and not eat and not do around KL and the rest of Malaysia, and for welcoming us into your office, even though we could only stay for 6 weeks.

I wish I could've stayed longer, and had the chance to get to know you all better; do let me know if you ever come to Canberra! Working at KASS was, for me, an eye-opening, enriching, learning and cultural experience that I will never forget. Thank you :)

Malaysia, frankly, was an amazing experience I never expected to have. I experienced full-time work as an IP lawyer for 6 weeks straight and learnt more in week 1 than in 12 weeks of last semester. I met some incredible people from all over the world, and I got to attend international events that taught me more about politics and law and the world. I lived completely independently in another country without income and actually survived. I saw so many beautiful sunsets over such a beautiful skyline.

But my entire trip around Asia pales in comparison the how much more I can testify to God's goodness and faithfulness to me.

Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

The Creator of the ends of the Earth.

His greatness is ineffable.

His love for us unfathomable.

His faithfulness incomprehensible.

My failings so deplorable.

His saving grace unexplainable; but utterly, utterly glorious and deserving of all our honour and praise!

Ella Fiocco

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