Marigold - The most wonderful thing

The first time I joined the Green Summer program, a trip that was neither long nor short but enough to leave me with many memories, happy and sad, happy and angry. It also created for me many experiences, friendship, brotherhood, and even greater, family affection.

Green Summer, these three words have been heard a lot but I have never experienced them. Right from the first days of entering the university gate, I was determined to participate in the green summer campaign organized by the school. When I decided to participate in the green summer campaign, I was very worried, worried about whether I could do it or not, but then partly I wanted to change myself, to live more actively and more like a student. Partly I wanted to tell my parents:

"You're grown up and can do a lot of things."

Before starting the volunteer trip, my whole team had four days living and working together at Me Tri Dormitory. It was a great arrangement by the team leader Nguyen Vo Hoai Nam, because she wanted us to gradually get used to the collective life, get to know our teammates before the trip so that we would not feel awkward and strange on the first day of volunteering. The four days at the Dormitory were four days filled with joy and laughter. We not only had fun, but also practiced songs and Flashmob dances together... getting ready for the first volunteer trip in our student life.

I remember very clearly that night before the departure, my friends and I in the room kept tossing and turning, unable to sleep, feeling so nervous. I started to imagine what would happen on our trip, we lay together chatting, humming songs about youth and gradually fell asleep.

The early morning sun was so beautiful, just like my mood at that time. I was in my uniform and gathered at the school to start the military parade. The car just kept rolling and stopped at a strangely peaceful place, that was Van Tho Commune, Dai Tu District, Thai Nguyen Province.

When we arrived at Van Tho commune, I was a bit tired. Our car stopped at the gate of the People's Committee of the commune. I had a strange feeling. I looked around and felt that the scenery here was very peaceful, completely different from the hustle and bustle where I was living.

On the first day, we, the team members, met and got to know the uncles, aunts, and brothers and sisters in the commune, then returned to the families where we had been divided to stay until the end of the volunteer trip. At night, I lay there and could not sleep, perhaps because it was a strange place. But only for one night. The remaining nights, I slept very soundly without anyone lulling me to sleep for a very simple reason: the whole day of sunbathing had really exhausted me. I had never felt such a mixture of joy and fatigue!

One day… one night, two days… two nights, three days… three nights… the closer it got to the last night, the more sad I felt when I thought about having to say goodbye to Van Tho and the days and nights after that we wouldn't be working and playing together anymore, my mood just kept getting worse.

Then what will come will come, the days of volunteering began to pass quietly like a wind, when this wind passed, it was also the time that left the most echoes in the hearts of the people who experienced it.

These twelve months passed quickly, I was able to return to my family but there was little joy and much sadness. I miss the feeling of gathering every night, the alarm clock every morning, the hard work in the villages but still smiling innocently, the scene of my whole team eating together, the simple meals, the jokes during each meal... I also miss the drops of sweat when the weather is hot, I also miss the nights of singing and dancing, I also miss the nights of lying on the floor but still having a good sleep. I also miss the warm smiles and loving care of the people of Van Tho commune. I miss the innocent, naive smiles of the children in each village we visited.

The memories seem like they were just yesterday, going home but still the same routine, still unable to sleep at noon for fear of being late for the construction site, at night remembering the bright smiles of the children during the exchange nights. I miss them so much, I miss them so much, more than the past!

I remember most the noons when we sat together chatting, preparing for the program for the evening cultural exchange in the villages. Oh, I forgot, and the scene of giving each other each piece of rice, each slice of meat, how warm. I also remember the injuries while working, I know you guys are in pain but I feel the joy and happiness in your eyes and smiles because everyone is there when you are sick - that makes us feel warmer. I also remember the evenings when the whole team sang and played together.

Miss many times the warm and affectionate calls and cheerful smiles of the Van Tho Family.

Thank you my Van Tho Family. Thank you for caring when I was sick, thank you for reminding me when I was lacking, thank you for the times of anger to understand each other better, thank you for being friends, thank you for the warm moments that let me feel that true happiness is here...

Now life is gradually returning to normal, gradually getting into its groove, but I will never forget this summer, the most meaningful, most memorable, most memorable summer.

Dear Van Tho family, let's live happily, always keep in touch with each other, and see you next summer when we work together to do many meaningful things. Like you, I am always proud to be a student of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, dynamic, creative, eager to learn and always working hard!

"The joy of being together makes all the worries disappear quickly

The moments together pass so quickly, I'm choked up and speechless.

Happiness overflows, the lyrics thank love and give us eternal moments together".