Shall not with about Ai Tong Pri camp since I'm only there as belayer.
I'm going to try writing this post without all the day summaries, think it's kind of boring reading it. But, please comment? Haha...so I can make changes accordingly?
Here goes....
After so many schools in the East, finally one in the west(for HA).
During pre-camp brief we where told that this camp would be a little challenging and the culture is actually quite different from the schools that we've done.
And that there's lots of malays in the school.
Please note, I'm not racist. In fact, I like it when there are many malays.
More fun.
The interesting thing is, because of the number of malays int he school and also because of the school campaign to encourage chinese to learn malay and malays to learn chinese, many of the chinese actually knows how to speak malay. Some chinese can even converse in malay with the malays.
Really interesting. Always wanted to be able to do that.
And the more challenging the campers, if I'm able to run the camp well for them, the better the sense of accomplishment.
There where a total of 14 group instructors in the camp. Most of the class where separated into 2 groups and shared by 2 instructors. Only my the first class and my class is taken by only 1 instructor, my class, 3C, only had 29 campers(one absent).
On our way to the campsite, it was already evident that there are a few boys in class that were more "nosier" than the others. If they could direct their energy to doing constructive things, it's going be a great camp ahead.
Actually, I would say that that the class is quite problematic. Not because the students are delinquents but because there seems to be lots of tension, conflict and misunderstanding.
The problem between chinese and malays is actually quite serious in the school. But luckily in my class, there wasn't much of such a problem.
However, the class seems to be quite divided. On the first day, ready a fight nearly broke out because our class flag went missing and someone started pointing fingers.
Also, there's this girl that was sort of "out-casted" because the class didn't like that way she behaves and the way she want things her way.
The tension and misunderstand in the class is most probably due to the way they talk. Especially the boys. From the start of the camp, I've never actually heard a decent conversation within the class. The way they speak was more like quarreling.
I had to pause activities so many times to talk to them.
Even had to cut an activity just to make them communicate with each other.
I had to stop so many time to remind them of the same thing, they actually remind me of Jurong West Pri P5 camp that I just did.
It is really saddening to see them behaving they way they did. And seeing the way the class is divided.
Secondary school life, for many, would actually be the best time to make friends. No where else later in life as a student will you actually have chance to spend 4 years with a friend. Secondary school friends, for many, are actually the ones that you are going to be with till you grow old. As we get older, we get more busy and will have less time to actually make friends.
In JC, you only spend 2 years together, and because of the busy schedule many might not really have time to bond with classmates.
In Poly and Uni, because it not a "classroom teaching" style, it's not easy to make friends either.
So to 3C and all the readers and my little monkeys out there, really really treasure your time with your friends. Make more friends. Not enemies.
The objective I set for myself for the camp was really get the class to bond. And to help them learn to talk to each other and clear the misunderstanding. It was really quite demoralizing and saddening to see them they way they were.
But, I had to do my best. They need me. I cannot go "down".
Was actually mentally prepared for a "Cui" camp.
Was like hoping for the best, but prepared for the worst.
Turns out, it was actually one of my more fulfilling camps.
Things started changing a bit after I cut the Rafting to talk to them and during campfire prep time, they were sort of working together. Though there was a bit of hiccup along the way. The campfire performance turned out great.
They seem to be starting to learn to work together. Hope they really have...
Was reading SiRong's blog that day....
3C reverting back to the old ways again??
3C: Even though you guys might say that you guys will not get angry at each other because you guys already know each others style.
But do you really think it's ok?
It's not. Even if you are not angry, you'll lose the motivation to talk things out.
Think about it, how many times have that happened?
When there's a misunderstanding or when you guys want to talk things out, then because of the way you're talking to each other, you just think, "aiyah, it's pointless to reason with him."
I believe this has happened countless times.
Because so many things are left unspoken, then tension and misunderstanding builds on it and make the class even more divided.
Living in a group takes skill and tolerance. We all have to learn to tolerate each others differences. Learn to give and take. I'm not saying that the class have to give in all they way to Nive. Try to solve things the peaceful way.
And Nive, the guys need to do their part in understanding you, but should you do something about yourself as well? When it's not only a few people in class that against you, surely, there's somethings you need to re-think isn't it? You're not living alone. Remember.
3C and esp the 5 of you that I spoke to, remember what I said.
Hope you guys can really make you secondary school life,
The Time of Your Life.
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