Room to Read

I was moved to tears while reading a book and eating my 小碗面 breakfast at the Bras Basah Complex food court so I had to stifle my emotions. The book "Leaving Microsoft to Change the World" was written by John Wood who is also the founder of the IGO Room to Read on which the book was based on. In brief, the background was that John travelled to Nepal, was appalled at the extent of illiteracy and the lack of books that he vowed to make it possible for more children in poorer countries to have access to books.

In one of the chapters in the book, John was in Vietnam and met a younger man named Vu. Vu works the graveyard shift (in the hotel John was staying) so that he can spend more time reading up and studying. John observed that Vu's hunger in reading and devouring whatever material he could come across when he observed Vu reading the manual of a digital watch (probably obselete). John, then still an executive in Microsoft was given the chance to show off his Microsoft Excel skills, but whatever John demonstrated, Vu could do the same process faster using shortcuts John did not know of.

John was impressed and wanted to help Vu by buying him a book on Excel. But Vu being proud and wanting to remain independent refused any help. John had to think of ways and means to 'trick' Vu to accept financial assistance.

In the end, John left a sealed envelope with US$20 as his 'scholarship' to Vu instructing Vu to only open the envelope a day later. Moments later, Vu knocked on John's door in tears. He had opened the letter, was so touched and finally relented to accept a new friend's help. After John sent off Vu and closed the door, John wrote in the book that "..at which point I collapsed on my bed and started crying with tears of joy, of hope, of optimism, for forming a connection that transcends words."

Holding in my chopsticks a fishball, I also had to fight back tears.