"Excerpt from the notebook 'The Turbulent Years'"

The whole team's eyes widened when he announced the upcoming trip. A volunteer trip hundreds of kilometers from Hanoi – to Lao Chai commune, Mu Cang Chai district, Yen Bai province.

We were surprised because only two weeks before everything was ready to return to our people in the mountainous region, with its vast terraced rice fields, the pristine white blossoms of the bauhinia and apricot trees, and the gentle, hardworking, yet impoverished people of the highlands… the team leader only informed us then. My first feeling – and probably that of everyone else in the team meeting room at the time – was excitement and… apprehension. Just recently, I had passed my university entrance exams and officially become a freshman at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. The initial shock of the bustling, noisy Hanoi, the new pace of life, and studying with friends and teachers from all over the country hadn't even subsided yet, and now I was about to join the team in another region. Exciting! But, more worrying!

We only had two weeks to roll up our sleeves and brave the sun and wind, wandering around Thuong Tin and the high schools to raise funds and seek sponsorships for the trip and gifts for the local people. The team leader's plan was meticulous and careful... but the risks were high. The team had just replaced a whole bunch of new, inexperienced members, yet the responsibility and task assigned to us were immense. We were determined and anxiously awaited our first day of work. The team split into groups according to their school schedules. Those free during the day went to the "fortress" at Voi Market in Thuong Tin to look after and receive donations. In the evenings, we stayed to sort clothes, pack candies, rice, salt, etc. The enthusiasm of the people in Thuong Tin made us forget all the fatigue from constantly traveling for two weeks. People came to support us; some sent money, some sent rice, some gave clothes, and some even donated hundreds of kilograms of salt to the people of Lao Chai... We joked among ourselves, saying, "Voi Market is not only a hub for traders, but has become a benefactor for volunteers." Then the high school students excitedly asked, "Can I donate old books and notebooks? I think there are many children there," "Brothers and sisters, I only have a few clothes, can I participate? I really want to contribute with everyone." And I was happy to see the pure joy shining in their eyes.

The success was astonishing; in just two weeks, the amount of donations we received exceeded all expectations. People are still contacting us wanting to donate clothes, and there are still phone calls offering help… but we have to move on. Thank you to everyone for your kindness, thank you for the hot, nutritious meals provided, and thank you for the genuine warmth of the team leader's parents.

People in the car, goods in the car… we left.

The children of Nhan Van University leave, carrying with them the sunshine of enthusiasm and the youthful energy of Nhan Van University to warm the highlands of Lao Chai.

Departing at 9 PM on February 1, 2015, 29 members of the Shock Troops left behind a dazzlingly lit Hanoi, anxiously awaiting their arrival in a new land. The journey was boisterous and joyful, filled with songs shared among everyone until an incident occurred. It was already 2 AM on February 2nd when both buses reached Yen Bai.

Rain…

The road we were traveling on was severely degraded due to the previous passage of many heavy trucks. All the team members had to get out of the vehicle because it was tilting. And it was at that moment—the moment I realized that besides the "group in blue" getting out of the vehicle, shivering from the cold and fear, clinging tightly to each other's hands, groping their way forward for fear of getting lost or slipping, all around me was the darkness of night with mountains on one side and a ravine on the other—that I burst into tears. I was scared, but those tears were for my friends. Sharing creates miracles, and when people experience miracles together—unconsciously—they create a strong bond. I proved that through my own story.

Humanities has given this newcomer so many invaluable things. And one of them is the other "humanities enthusiasts," the friends who have helped me write and package the memories of our youth.

The two-day, three-night trip to Lao Chai concluded with 1,500 sets of clothing, 230 gift packages (including warm jackets, socks, sandals, scarves, etc.), 50 Tet gift packages, 900 notebooks, 20 sets of textbooks, 200 kilograms of rice, 220 kilograms of salt, and 900 packets of instant noodles delivered directly to the children and people in the remote mountainous region. The muddy, slippery road that was used daily to get to school and to the fields was repaired. The national anthem echoed loudly through the deep mountains. Poverty still persists, and the hearts of those in need remain…

For me personally, returning from the trip meant so much love that had blossomed and grown. Love for humanity, surely, must be love for the people who embody humanity.