Saturday, July 7

OUR POWERS COMBINED

(Backdated: 20- 22 June 2007)

Swiss Cottage will go down in history as the guai-est school I've ever seen. They really stick to instructors and put in their effort and everything! Honestly, they're such lovely obedient campers it almost made me miss the rebellious, instructor-what-time-are-we-going-to-sleep/eat/bathe- devils. Almost. (:

The best part of the camp would definately have to be kayaking. But surprise surprise, we not only didnt get to kayak at all, we even had to wash up all the way. Yet, the cheers, laughter and splashes of water never died at all. One event that I feel cemented the fact that our group was hardcore and so super!

If anyone realized, all my end-of-camp photos are always taken under wet conditions. Thats cause my groups always wash teh toilets (usually staff) and I'm really getting increasingly good at it! HAHHA!

Oh yes, the usual, furious rush to scribble my last words onto those kiam cai reflection booklets. (: hahaha, come to think of it, its really quite fun, gets the blood pumping! This is something I just know I'm gonna miss!


Mirroring Jeremy was a whole new experience. Hes really very soft and understanding for a guy! Made me quite guilty at times. Could really sense his love for the group and the sincere vibes he gives off really impressed me yup! So thanks for everything mirror!!

Supposedly, this was due to be my last camp before NUS, but nope, I'm gonna rearrage everything and heck the rest I supposedly need. Cause Camps are really too hard to give up!

Last camp with Azri, and boy am I really really really REALLY gonna miss him. Dont know why but theres this mystical attachment I feel for him. (: I remember him all the way from my first camp and hes only gotten better and better since. Super guy my crazy monkey is!!

And finally, I challenge you guys to find one face in this picture that isnt radiating with an honest happy vibe. Such is why despite theh bad working conditions, low and slow pay, High Acheivers is still the place we all wanna be in. :D

Okay I know this video is an eyesore as it messes up the whole blog layout. Its one of my favourite video though, brings back all the good memories about Major Dou dou. (We're actually brown house, but the 4 of us changed its name cause Brown House Oi! is sure to lower morale. BROWN EH!)

P/s: AT LAST, THIS IS THE LAST OF MY BACKDATED HA CAMPS UPDATES! All campers scouring for photos can come here! http://vanlovesmilktea.multiply.com/

Labels: HA, work

Armpit Hair with leadership!

(Backdated 11-14 June 2007)

For every camper that pronounced BIJB (best in Jalan Bahtera) wrongly, I made them run to touch some coconut tree. But apparently, they enjoyed every bit of that as well.

-claps- ITCHY BACKSIDE! The story behind this clap is super funny I swear! So this picture is dedicated to Ridhuan! FLEA! FLEA FLY! (:

Inside the aluminium foil resides a nuclear bomb of flour, water and suger! When Oli and I saw that we laughed and laughed and laughed at laughed! Chances of it cooking is about 6%? hahhahahhaha!

This group really improved alot from the first day. I know this a a really typical comment (after all, which group doesnt improve as time goes by?). But I felt this this 4 days 3 nights was amazing. Again, another experience that makes my red instructor shirt worthwhile. The knowledge that we're able to impact their lives and everything. (:

Mirroring Oli for the THRID (must be a HA record to have same mirror for THREE times) and it was good as usual. hahaha. Oli's really one of my bestest mirror I feel. Not because he's so strong he ups the whole group by himself and everyone forgets about me. Not because he teaches me something every minute. But because we're evenly matched it feels that we're in this together, no obligations and no stress. The power of team really (:

Presenting the instructors of Xin Min Secondary 2 Leadership camp! ((: I remember someone once told me that Ridhuan doesnt only absorb the so-called better instructors. His instructors all make a difference as a team. :D

Labels: HA, work

Lime and Barley drink

(Backdated : 9 June 2007)

Did this day event at Bottle Tree with Francis. Sound good but basically, we were babysitters. Thankfull, I got the 3-6ers while he got the 7-10s. The highlight of the whole event was the BLACK TEE we got to don! hahha :D

And of course we couldnt resist a few more photos. (:

My 5 kids were so cute I SWEAR! There was obviously no learning point, but the keyword of the day was PLAYGROUND! (:

Labels: HA, work

You all are leaders

(Backdated : 4-6 June 2007)

And so they were.

This magic line (You all are leaders) - despite being overused and overcliched, proved to be the way to go. Such that Zhao Xiu's reflection went : You all are leaders, so go back and reflect on whart you have done yourself.

But they were.

ChiCak completely kicked ass, but aside for all the power, there were a few extra special incidents :
Dont want, dont take lorry! We'll walk all the way! - Shafiqah
We dont want to just beat the recond by just 50 buddah claps! We'll do extra 200 and take it to 1000 - Ya Huan
Shake your bootie to the left - Janani

BUT Most memorable evernt ever! During kidnap, due to some screw up, we had to open 18 boxes, and by the 15th, even my morale was way low. (But of course, being leaders, we were still running all over the place!) And Melvin's sudden call of GO GO GO GROUP 5 GO WE GO WE GO was a complete breathe of fresh air, I dont think I'll ever forget. :D

Such campers that touch my life always remind me why I'm in this line.

A pity there wasnt campfire (and that the teachers didnt allow high songs during their celebratory BBQ) - it would have been the best in HA history.


For every FTP, there has to be a Clementi Town. ((: To date, Mirror Oli (Yes, second time) and I still want CTSS back! THE MALAYSIAN SLAVE!

Xiu and I and our happy round faces!

Every Ridhuan's camp spell great balls of fun!

Labels: HA, work

Monday, June 25

Who cares about the camp? We're doing it together!


(Backdated : 28-30 May 2007)

Super eventful camp filled with the usual familiar lovely faces. Cy stayed over the night before so we could go to Tampines together the next morning. And for the first time in HA history I bet, 2 instructors were 1 hour early for camp!

You know, before Genting trip, I would never have imagine Cy being such a treasure. (: The wonders of the unexpected world. But I'm truely glad for her! Cause Pui and Jas were in a different major this time, Cy and I were largely on our own. ):

But then again, this camp is not about me. haha, its about them!




One of my bestest rafting this time! Our raft looked somewhat like a funeral car and Pui Ser's group practising their campfire item sounded ominiously like a funeral band. Complete with our funeral vests (the PFDs), my group was practically rolling down the ramp with laughter! hahaha!

Tiang force was one powerful group, the best right from the start (Remember? The best group dont have to look at other groups!). They were rah rah and sensible, with just the right mix of people. The icing on the cake has gotta be that there were some girls who were unexpectedly enthu! (: Yup, so it was a pretty power group!

Major was ownage! The hokkien cheer was so funny I had to laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh - couldnt bring myself to cheer together lah! We were calling the other group like old dogs and piggy girls and everything my gosh. No hard feelings though cause at the end of the day it was all in the name of fun! But the signature has just gotta be the whistle dance! When Jeremy and Mingsiong started blowing we just couldnt stop dancing! hahaha, it was one of the best major fights ever la! :D HADUGEN!

Haha, the male population dominated this camp, and it was down to the 5 of us for the touch of feminity.


The usual cam whoring! Man I miss this even! When we all smell each others armpit so as to find a place in the picture!

Although I meet a number of new instructors during camp, some of them just leave no impression, but glad to say, many of them do. Presenting the new friends made in the camp! Wheeheee! Francis (whom I pulled in again), Syazwan, Mingsiong, Chy Kiat and Alvan!

I wont say I wasnt there whenever they needed me (I am a responsible instructor okay!), but I felt that there was much more I could have done, so poor mirror Syazwan, sorry you couldnt see the best of me.

Maybe it was the back-to-back camps I've been doing that led to this substandard performance(I repeat, though substandard by my own definitions, i was still a good instructor okay! hahah). I think it is acceptable la, so long as i dont shrink my duties.

On an aside note, I really do not think back-to-back camps is an excuse for dumping duties onto fellow instructors. If you cant handle it, then just dont do it. Yes, I've learn my ways. But this is also why I really am impressed by Mingsiong. Hes tired, but he never fails to put up a good show!!

But I really felt I could have done better. No matter, my group learnt loads and loves me so thats what counts!

Labels: HA, work

Wheres Second Toa Payoh?

(Backdated : 25-27 May 07)

My first Ridhuan camp, my first camp with Oliver, and lucky him gotta be my mirror! hahaha, the camp was full of toils and tramas and medicals and -makes a sucking motion- but we got through it more than A-okay!! At first it was pretty detering, with only 3 girls in the group and the male domination. But thankfully, the initial attitude class melted away by campfire and although theire thank you presents was tramatising, at least, well, they were greatful ((:

One thing that made me really sad was the Technical bit. I hate it when people associate technical students with everything negative. I do love technical students very much! They dont have the arrogance of the express and are the ones who know their fun. Yet the stigma of not being book smart just trample on their self-worth. It really does nothing to them. But on the first day of camp, some of them actually told me they like being labeled this way, whats wrong with being a typical boy? I was really quite sad I kind of wanted to cry. But thankfully, I was right as I always am. At the end of the camp, they showed that they really arent what they claim to be. Thats why I said I love technical. They underpromise but always overdeliver. ((:

A vision of happiness! Campfire nights are always brightened by the beauties that come in! Especially if they come in with bubble tea! hahhaa, but boy do I miss Arvin and Xiu! And dancing random nonsense with Pui, Oli, ET and Xiu. Pure HA bliss! ((: ((: ((:

2N2 - my groupie!

2N1- Oli's groupie!

But togethers where we truely belong! ((:



Oli's an awesome mirror, and his awesome rating goes up with each camp we do together haha. He never loses his temper with the kids, and were I in his shoes, I'll have left them all hanging on the zipline. But not him, ever plesent and every soft. OR SO YOU THINK. ((:

Labels: HA, work

My first Attachie!

(Backdated : 21-23 May 2007)

I just realize I never did take a picture with the group. Golly! But I do have they're name list with me still and looking at the names brings back certain fond memories. The usual opposers, the Jing'ers I had to pull my hair out for, cute couple Alvin and Connie and Mustaqin who looked so much like my copy cat champion Iskanda from Hongkah! Oh yes, and I found the friend Peter I wanted all my life!

But by no means was this camp a lousy one! No way at all! Thanks to the usuals like Pui Ser! Super ultra fun stuff! haha, I really miss camp with this darling- wu gui wu gui tiao, slippers fight, dancing to 25 minutes (and getting caught by jodi), fighting for favourite toilet and WHOS GONNA WIN GONNA WIN GONNA WIN! Sadly, chances are such good days dont seem as possible now. :(

Mirror Zhang Mei and my first attachie Shu Yan and me! Though Shu Yan's not really into camp, I hope it was fun for her while it lasted. (: And I was duely impressed by Zhangmei cause despite her debriefs coming across as rather tatchy, on closer examination they're really insightful and they cover points I've never once thought of! (:

Gosh I truely though the SLs were a godsend! They were just so helpful and matured and delightful lah! The difference between sec 2 and 3 was really astounding. And I'm not just saying at cause they did belaying as well! haha, One of them as super pretty lah, so everytime I walked past, i just had to go Oh my pretty pretty boy I love you!

Labels: HA, work

Reach for the STARS


(backdated : 17-19 May 2007)


Happy pictures that truely mark the end of the camp, the start of their whole new life. ((:



Been wanting to do a camp with Shahul for ages. Pity this big camp didnt allow for much interaction. ):

Blurry, campfire warmth!


Wasnt supposed to do this camp, but Mojo couldnt do it at the last minute so I took over. And it was a gift from some up there because... I WON COPY CAT! hahah, no, it was more than just that!

Alot of campers whom I'd initially type the need-more-attention kind surprised me greatly. I think campers like that are just the very best.

Mirroring Pillay wasnt a bed of roses, but I must say it was an experience. I love Pillay I swear I do, but it wasnt easy catering to his every whim. That said, its amazing the way he gets the kids :D

Labels: HA, work

Thursday, May 17

And now desert me

I got my first silver in my entire life. I was 2cm away from a bronze so I suppose it could be much worse. We shall wait and see. ((:

Welcome-back-Cherie! squad outing today was real successful! ( Though like less then half didnt turn up with random reasons such as couldnt fit us into schedule and some without reasons at all.) Firstly, Cherie turned up (unlike the last one) and secondly, it was great balls of great fun! ((:

Nevertheless, we had great job recalling the past of MVP qing ren (the present in Feng's case), liu xing hua yuan, Christopher Lee, TCS girls and girls - whos hot and whos not, etc etc. For the record, Yins votes Qi Yuwu, Feng votes Elvin Ng, and Rina I think goes for Pierre Png. What closet aunities we really are! :D

Love those darlings, it was awesome it was. (:

But I cant help but think of the little time I get to watch TV now. I hardly have since JC. Even now though I'm kindda bumming around half the mth. Camp and many many friends makes it impossible to stay glued to the latest drama serial, or to take care of my tamagotchi for that matter. :(

Speaking of which, I'l trying as hard as possible to wave the bad feelings I've got about tomorrow far far away.

Labels: Baybehs, HA, SJ, St Nicks, stargazing

Friday, May 11

Oh how lovely is our country

(Backdated 16-18 April 07)



I was looking forward to this camp since March. Its my mother school, my group was enthused and the instructors were awesome!

But somehow, it wasnt super impactful. Now I really get what Mojo means.

Except for the fact that I used up 8 firestarters instead of the 2 we were allocated. Thereby sabo-ing all those doing outdoor cooking after me. It was funny looking back. Everytime I saw jeremy's face, all I think of is the firestarters. Haha, at least he seemed pretty pleased with me at the end.

And the never ceasing calls for Vaneh (courtesy of mirror mojo) still rings in my ear. haha


(more pictures here : http://vanlovesmilktea.multiply.com/photos/album/34)

Labels: HA, work

Spartans, Prepare for Glory!
AH HOO!!

(Backdated 11-13 April)



This camp was my first in many ways.


The first camp it wasnt easy working with the instuctors.
The first camp I cried completely because of the students.
The first camp my group, though not a rahrah group, showed me strength in other ways.
The first camp I'm bursting with pride at their growth
The first camp I took a picture of a msg a student left me on the ev form
The first camp the students made me feel my debrief was really really super useful.
The first camp that looking at their t-shirt means so much to me.

Yup, this camp was a delightful breath of fresh air I must say. ((:


(More photos : http://vanlovesmilktea.multiply.com/photos/album/33 )

Labels: HA, work

Thursday, May 10

WIth Amanda! Really glad we didnt stick around like first camp! haha, I was damn scared of her la!

All 18 of us who went up and down Genting Highlands together! (19 with Steven who met us there) An awesome medley of people!! ((:


On the bus there:


The bus was completely ours for the taking. And took it we did! We rocked the bus with our noise and song sessions and cheers! We passed the preserved papayas and the Ramly Burgers and our passports for each other to laugh at. (: The award for the funniest passport photo has to be split between Jeremy Lee and Melvin Loy. (No picture attached for Melvin): )


Check in and safety briefing:

The first world hotel really needs to improve on their facilities! I mean hotel without aircon is already jaw dropping! (OKAY I KNOW GENTING IS COLD ANYWAY) But the lack of a safe was damn inconvenient la, we had to lug our passports and everything around (OKAY I KNOW YANA DID MOST OF THE WORK) haha, but yes, and SEVEN girls in one room is crazy la! haha, but it was damn funny also! With Zhao Xiu being damn strict about the neatness and bed space and everything (:

Geeks are in!

The guys and the girlies!


Play:


The best self-shot with 12 people. Honestly, my Powershot 630, is big and POWERFUL!



The rides werent SUPER awesome. (Esp the 4D rides where we get to wear those blackies. Damn puke-ish!) But the company definately was! We rode the rollarcoster at least 10 times and bumped around on the bumper cars with such gusto!

I'm damn proud of this picture I took! ((: Outside the Spiderman (I told Zhao Xiu and she say it was Superman. Then we spent the entire ride arguing. :))

Oh yes, and we got stuck in a lift :/ They blame it on my bad luck. ):

I dont think any of us had visited a theme park the HA way. And it was like nothing else in the whole wide world! Underwear song on the pirate ship, Pui Ser's dance on the umbrella, Space shot non stop senseless screaming, holding an uncaped waterbottle on the cockscrew, not forgetting the trademark Para Para on the stage! Hahha, I suddenly remember ji ren ji ren zhan qi lai, when Melvin C had to take off everything lah. Haha, honestly! Theres nothing like the HA way. ((: We're truely self-entertainers and brilliantly good at that! :D

Meal times :

Night Programme:

Night programme was a misture of arcade (in which Sam and I spent the entire time trying to hype each other up - the solution, forehead slapping game) and AH HOCK CHEE CHEONG FAN! Twice, we braced the super cold wind and waddled determinatedly towards this chee cheong fan store that Melvin Cheong insists is the place to go.

Guys trying to show their strength defies the elements. (Aside note : Melvin is damn white la!)


Campfire Night:

Really, we must be the first bunch of people to have had a campfire beside the chee cheong fan store. Ah hock was the guess, and Jeremy the MC. We were good campers, we put up good performace and nothing could have doused the fire that night ((:

And it so happens, that at this most memorable moment, not one of the many cameras were there. ahha, so all we depended on was Yana's phone.

Yet, with or without pictures, that was one event the 18 of us wouldnt forget. (Poor Steven fell asleep in his hotel room)

The freezing walk back to the hotel was another highlight. The care and concern, the low voices and true hearts. Fulzzy really touched me with what he said; the guys and girls were all helping each other out (Jacket shortage you see). A super special moment that was, with the warmth generating from the hearts. (But Fulzzy also said its because we were blown numb by the wind and thats why we didnt feel cold anymore. :/ My theory sounds more romatic)


Last day:

The usual phototaking frenzy and signing of autographs. Okay, no autographs this time. Hahah, but a mad rush to buy everything we wanted to buy because we (very natuarally) woke up late. Thank goodness for responsible Neng and Yana!!! The trip would have been super chui without them! ((:


Home Sweet Home :

This time I cant remember what we really did in the bus. haha, Bluff I think. And UNO. And watching Arvin perform his magic tricks.


Our final picture, to mark a closure for this awesome trip!


Reflections :

More than anything, I'm glad for the friends I found and picked up.

And the hella crazy time that I may never find myself stuck in the middle of again. :D


FAUZZY! A new found friend I super like! :D


Jeremy buying cotton candy (Jas and my absolute favourite) for us! ((:


A new found good friend in Cyerna! A pizza dinner in the hotel room really worked wonders!

So say goodbye, but dont you cry,
Cause a true love never dies


(Alot alot ALOT more pictures here : http://vanlovesmilktea.multiply.com/photos/album/29)



AND! GUEST STARING CHEEYONG! (: Fate let us meet even in Genting for the second time! ((:

Labels: HA

roses are red

阳光总在风雨后
请相信有彩虹

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