Taggie replies.

Just got back form Batam!!
haha....
first to reply than blog about the trip.


Nive: hi. I'm not sure if he has a blog lay. haha...

Shihui: lol... cos rumble no group photo ma...got meh?

Sirong: haha....u all happily tgt dun fight i happy le. hmm....really dunno sia... that time i'm prob doing my last camp before school starts.

Alison: ur alison from where? sorry, really bag with names. plus os many alison. see u will remember ba...

HuiMing: lol....of course. li hai rite? haha....cos zd keep saying " with a 'g'." lol... so i know lo. then saw ur name on ur shirt too. ya. i remember liao. haha... lol... wad pro...eh...y u not so "crappy" during camp, joke with u u always like blur blur one. now liddat?
u means u accidentially stumbbled across my blog? my group ppl wants the camp photo can i cant pass them man. though they gave me my blog. but nth lay. though they gave me their email(no chance to return them), i cant contact them. cos technically we are not supposed to keep in contact... but if they hunt me down then not that bad. stupid rite. but it's like that.

3-5th July 2008, Hong Kah Sec Sec 3 Adventure Camp.

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.

Finally went for my Kayaking 1 Star

Yeah!!
Almost 8 years of kayaking, and even doing KI for camps,
I finally got my one star!
On the 8th, the day right after my 5 camp streak ended on the 7th, 12 hours of kayak course!
lol....
I was quite tiring because I haven't got enough rest yet.
Nearly fell asleep a few times when the coach was explaining the theory behind certian things we need to do.
But the course was fun!
Out of 21 of us, 19 were trainers, roughly half from innotrek and half from trekkers.
As expected, many of us all very hyper and crazy. Lol..

The course was conducted by innotrek and since most of us are trainers, the course was modified and a little extras were thrown in. Things like observing current, familiarization of the waters and surrounding at Sarimbun/Jbac/Christine camp and slightly more rescue techniques.
It is to allow us to facilitate better in future, though many of the things some of us already learnt through experience.

We also cover ideal places to raft-up during high and low tide, dangers of drifting and capsizing near the fish farm.
Last activity to let's us practise rescue, the coach got all 21 of us to capsize and timed how long we need to get everyone back on the the kayak.
We took only 17mins plus. whahaha....
The practise was to let us know how to do rescue in an event where we ourselves capsize with our campers or when we go kayaking alone with a friend and bought of us capsize. It's roughly the same as when I do rescue in the water. hahah..

Company wants to push us up to level 1 coach.
Probably going for 2 star end of this month or early August.
Then Level 1 Coach course will be at the end of August, but it's only for selected trainers...
I WANT!! This way, even if I can't do full camp when school starts. I can at least do KI.

Taggie replies.

Sirong: Hey. About the bbq, i'm not sure if i'll be free. Plus, it's actually against company policy.
Really really appreciate the effort though.

annting: er...hi? Gan laopo? wad's that sia?

natalie: lol...ok...

claudia: Hi! liew....but y dumbo again....

Caroline: haha...y dun like mad spa.... you liked it rite? her group was the ONLY group that got to go to the water fall know. lol...

26-28th June 2008, Jurong West Pri P5 camp.

This post should have been up long ago...
Day one was written on the end of day 1 itself.
I brought my lappy to camp.
Part of day 2 also...
But later was too tired to write, I needed the rest and energy for my camp...and also some problems lately...so...
sorry for the late late late up date....

Day 1:
The school arrived late at Sarimbun.
Ice breakers where not done.
Took my group for the first activity--rock climbing.
The kids where lively all climbed really well.
West-side school.
I live in the west too...
hmm...maybe that's where all the monkeys come from....
Was expecting a great camp ahead, as the kids seemed quite enthusiastic at this stage....
but...Murphy's law proved itself....
speaking of monkeys, to my "horror", they really behave like monkeys!
They were really playful, had short attention span, on top of that, they were not cooperative and there where many conflicts with in the group.
Most of the campers in my group, esp the boys are really self-centre.
They only wanted to have fun and have many tried of the activities themselves and never considered that the other group members hadn't try.
Activity time this 1hr 30 mins per-session because they where did not cooperative and i had to stop sooo many times to tell them off, and wait for them to gather and settle down, actually time for each activity as actually reduced to less than 1 hr.

Rock-climbing, they climb and queued up for 2nd try even b4 everyone in the group tried.

Gladiator(boys vs girls), few of the more active and aggressive boys did of the tying of the catapult and the launching.
There was a lack of communication, or rather, they did not how to communicate,
when i said that everyone should be getting a try, these few boys actually started shouting and scolding the other boys for not helping.
When it's because of their aggressive and harsh ways that they other boys felt left out.
They where complaining that they didn't get to do anything and only the few boys are having fun.
They didn't get it even after I went over and told them their problem a few times.
They continued their selfish ways.

Command and Conquer, another game with water bombs.
The same few boys wanted to do all the playing.
One even snatched the plastic bags form the girls that was tasked to do the distribution.
same thing happened again.

River challenge, the boys want go for 2nd and 3 rd tries(sending the tubing and life vest back) even when the girls haven tried.
The teacher could no longer stand it and stepped in.
She gave them a good scolding, before my debrief.
I let the girls off to shower first and kept them as punishment.
Have to make them understand the importance of sharing and that when you're living in a group, it is only fair that everyone gets a fair chance.
They need to stop being so self-centered.

Night debrief, sense of urgency was missing again and
Teachers stepped in.
This time, there were 4.
The group was separated into 4 sub groups as suggested by the teachers.
The 4 more aggressive boys, who were also the trouble makers are made the group ICs.

The teachers commented that after scanning through the students in my group, they saw that all those with attitude problem, short attention span,....etc are all in this group.
Only 2 or 3 were "ok" ones.
That explains....
After so much prep talk today...really hope they will learn and get better...

really wanna find a way to change these kids...
it's a challenge to myself...
an achievement to help them.


Day 2:
Though day one was some what demoralizing. but had to pull myself together.
Whether the campers learnt and whether they have fun during the camp depends one me.

The day started out quite well actually.
On the first actvity, nature rumble, really saw them starting to work together and looking out for each other by helping each other up and down the steep and slippery slopes.
Praised them for it, they got change into their clean shoes/ washed their shoes pretty quickly too.
They did really well for outdoor cooking too.
Listened and cooperated with the staion Ic, Yimin, who's also our groups 2IC.
So there where actually one of the few groups that got to enjoy the fruits of their labour.
Hotdog with bread stick and baked banana with chocolate.

But after lunch they seem to reverted back to their old ways.
2 of the boys fought and one of them refused to tell me what happened when questioned them.
Not wanting to hold the group back, I sent the 2 boys to the camps Ops.
For next actvity, with the 2 boys taken out from the group, I realised that the group was much more cooperative and the game went on really well.
Through 2 days of observation, actually out of the 4 boys, 3 really understood what I've been telling them and are really changing.
Only that after all, they are primary school kids and they need consant reminder.

During the last activitythey were very lower energy. Guess all of them are tired after a long day.
We still had our campfire item to practise but many of them just kept asking when is it wash-up time and kept saying their not interested in the game.
Something that happens very often in primary school camps as they generally have lower tolerence and will power to go on once they fell uncomfortable and tired.
During campfire preparation, all of them were not motivated to do things properly even though I told them there'll be time for wash-up.
But the I told them it's the last practise, do a good one then they can all go shower, suddenly they did everything nicely.
Hope they realised when they all put their hearts into doign somethign togetherr, thing cna be doen really easily.

Day 3:
As usual, last day of the camp is for area cleaning. My group had to clean the girls toilet.
After area cleaning was the final debrief. After the debrief I brought 2 of the "problem-kids" a side and spoke to them.
Could really see the change in them. It's a pity I couldn't make one of the boys "wake-up". These 2 that I brought out realised the problem too.
I challenged them to help their friend change as well. They agreed.
The most touching thing is that one of the boys actually wanted to give me Strepils before leaving on the bus because he knew they made me shout alot and I lost my voice.
He said, "Thank you for improving me."
It was really touching.

Lesson:
The importance of Ice-Breaking sessions within a group before they start working together.
On of the factors contributing to the conflicts in the group and the fact that they are unable to work well togther migth be because the school got to the campsite late and no proper ice-breakers was conducted.
Many of them did not even know each others names. And as they are only primary school students, not many of them actually made and effort to ask for wach other's names.
It's really difficult to work when you are calling each other "eh".

Also, this camp has reminded me once again. Never give up. Don't jump to conclusion.
Never give up half way. Because if you do, you'll never know what greatness is waitinf fro you at the finish line.
Many times during the camp, I was really almost at the verge of breaking down. But I kept tellign myself, I had to go on.
The kids are depending one me. Luckily I managed to push on. Seeing the happy faces o nthe kids and the improvemnet in them was really fulfilling.
All the trouble was worth it.

Of course I need to thank Baoyun, Jarred and forgot who's the other instructor.
See you all when I was conducting TP suffle was really nice.
Sort od an energizer for me.
Hahaha....



I'll reply taggies in my next post.
need to go out now...

Taggie replies.

Ok!
Back to blogging.
First, to reply tags.

Guo Wei: sorry man...i had a camp straight after we break camp on had lunch on sat.
so couldn't make it. you guys saw instructor potato and yuanshan rite?

Caroline: hey....that name rings a bell! i checked my name list and, yea! she's in my group.
lol....small world. Cant remember her face though form her name though. got pic? lol....wad did she say abt the camp and me? she had fun?

kayying and vanisa: thank you. lol...

Jiahui: o. got vid r? show me hor. haha...

natalie: wa sia? jestyn's camper?? lol....how did u get my blog address sia??

Huisi: wahhaah....liddat i must see! CLASSMATE, SHOW ME HOR!!

kayying: swee! show me show me. lol...

si rong, shi hui, sok kee, jia sheng, weehong, karthick: hey...haha...will post on ur camp soon. but gotta wait awhile. cos stil lgto a few camps b4 urs to write abt. ^_^ speaking of running ard the campfire....i just sprained my ankle during my last campfire jumping ard the fire. lol...stupid man...

vanisa: lol...thanks....cos i away in camp for like 2 weeks ma.



will finish the post on Jurong west pri asap...
Grrr....
I need more discipline!!! and endurance!!!

Finally back!

BOO!!
Finally back!
My 3 camps back to back was extended to FIVE camps. lol...
SHAG~
but SHIOK~!
lol....
sorry for the delay posts.....in camp all they way,
will bw taking a short break for now to recharge...
will update the blog...
so many camps to write abt...
But still going for kayaking course tomorrow, 12 hours. WOOT!
haha...
will update asap!
ciao