Haven been blogging for some time now... Oops. I guess I've been busy with my Freshmen Orientation Camp. Juz came back yesterday, and memories I brought back with it were priceless. Although it's not as if I was really participating in the camp. As an Admin guy, me and my partner had a lot to do before the camp. And during the camp, I was busy editing the video footage some of us shot during the day. Well, sort of. So I didn't really have time to bond with the freshies. Let's see if I can explain all the days out.
On Friday, also known as Day Alpha, was the check-in day for committee members, helpers and facilitators of the camp. We went out for dinner at Al-Azhar at Clementi. Nothing much on Day Alpha, except that we went to survey the Nite Walk route as a group. We slept in bunks which were air-conditioned 24/7. Now that's what I call a camp! Although the night was a bit shaken up for me when I was told by a security guard that they did not approve of the camp, and I need to show them the approved proposal by the school to them (which was at home). Swell.
On the official Day 1, we welcomed freshies from 8:30AM onwards. We had helpers and facilitators to fetch them from the Convention Centre to the Cliff. I had a system designed for check-ins of freshies, something I designed specially for the camp. It was a bit cocked up at first, following the humble words of my senior,
Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. She always say that to me when I have a new idea for the club. Not that I'm saying she's wrong. It IS true. Trust me. But the thing is, I always try my best to overcome it. Although she never really talked about it once I overcame it. Geez. Seniors. Later that day at 10:30AM, I rushed home to get the approved proposal. Wasted 2 hours on that, including travel time and those I had to spend in the toilet (when you have to go, you have to go). When I returned at 12:30PM, the ice-breaking games were over and all I could see of them were from the video. I didn't really have anything idea of what games they had later on, 'cause I was busy with one of my Program IC to meet the security guards to get clearance for the camp. But I got feedback that the games were superb. Later that night, we had a game called "Zoom SP". It's something like "The Amazing Race", except that the clues given were pictures of places in the school taken in the day, but they had to find it at night. It was tiring for me and some of the other committee members, as we had 3 videocams and we split up and followed groups on their adventure. The trip was from one end of the school to another, and I gave up halfway. Lolz. Later that night, I went to sleep at the clubroom as the bunks were fully occupied by the freshies.
On Day 2, we had the "Food Hunt" in the morning. It was another race-like game going round the school to solve IQ questions and getting an ingredient in return. The ingredients will then be used in the later part where each group will have to cook up a couple of dishes for their lunch. The cooking part was the fun part. After they were done, I was chosen to be one of the judges. It was scary, really, tasting food cooked up by people whom you don't even know if they could cook. But boy, can they cook! Most o the dishes were incredibly tasty. Unfortunately, the committee had to be contented with Maggi Instant Noodles for lunch. After that, we had a telematch. It was fun seeing all the groups bonding within each other. At the end of the day, we had a talk where I was the one of the 2 guest speakers. Mainly to explain the life in polytechnic, I explained to the freshies how important it is to be independent and not to rely on friends so much. I've been there, and done that. Very painful. After the talk, the Zapin group had a demonstration, and I was chosen for the trial run. I did pretty well, I guess. Maybe I might join Zapin when there are no Kompang events.
On Day 3, the freshies had "Gender Games" after their breakfast. Guys get to play street soccer, and the ladies get to play Captain's ball. I watched the guys playing street soccer, and it was fun seeing all of them shout "OLE!" when one of them fell for a trick move in soccer.After that they went to SPGG for a bowling session. I didn't really follow as I wanted to edit the video footage of the previous day. But later that night, I watched the video of SPGG, and they had lots of fun. Bowling, and then some dress-up contest at the Function Hall. At night, the Dikir Barat team strutted their stuff, before the awaited event-of-the-camp, the Nite Walk. After going through the Blind Man's Trail and a brainwashing session, the freshie were released one by one (pair by pair for ladies) to walk along the routes prominent in SP. The Red Bridge and MLT 2 were most famous for their stories. And I was busy the whole night going through the Nite Walk route several times to videotape screams of freshies. One freshie broke down though, and couldn't continue. I had to bring him back to the ending point with some assistance from my Food IC and calm him down. The Nite Walk finished at around 3:30AM, way off our proposed time of 2AM. I slept like a log the moment I went back to the clubroom.
On the final day of the camp, we all headed for MLT 2 after breakfast. It was buzzing with ecitement. A great difference from the quiet, innocent-looking freshies you see from the first day. And each group were there to perform a sketch they had been discussing for the past 3 days. It was an exhilarating flow of performances. They really surprised me with their talent for storylines and acting. After that, we had lunch and then a prize presentation. When the first consolation prize for the group was announced, the group had to shout their cheer. Immediately after the cheer ended, I felt something different. Something... Emotional. I was starting to cry.
Sheesh, Control yourself... I thought.After the winner of the camp was announced, it came to the finale of the camp, and they put on a song called "Doa perpisahan", which means, "Separating prayers". Yes, the camp ended and we would go our separate ways. During the song I just couldn't control it and started crying. So were my other committee members. This was OUR camp, and it was a success. The emotional bond I formed was unexplainable. And I just cried. The other guys were surprised to see me cry. I rarely cry in public, but when I do, it is always tears of success. And the tears on that day would not be possible if not for the hard work put in by the committee and the helpers and facilitators. Kem?stery will always be known as the first camp in my life to bring me to tears.
Tears of success.