Different from who we are

Had SC leadership training camp, and I have to say, it's one of the camps I love most! I enjoyed every single minute of it. It was more of a leisure camp though, and boy did I have a break and relaxed.

After youth day, Ben, Dinah, Cherie and I went to Parkway to have lunch and ran back to school. We had debates and Group 2,7 won! (We merged). Then after that, hilarious scenario training. Oh my MingShuen quite looks the part of a bad kid. Maybe. Dinner and then we had a nightwalk! Mr Yeo scared us by telling us about this and that, and then he said we're going to Kampong Arang. We'd be blindfolded and all, to walk in a line. But in the end we only walked around school. And irritating leaves and stuff keep brushing all over. Someone blew me in the neck and poked me in the back. And water kept spraying onto my hand. And someone's deep voice came close and said something. But hey, it wasn't scary or anything. It was fun! Walking up and down the stairs and all. But it was hot. And the people changed the person behind me 5 times! After that we had a screening of Patch Adams in the hostel reading room (we camped there for 2 nights) and many people fell asleep halfway, HAH. I stayed awake till the end and didn't drop a single tear. I'd like to find out the starting instrumental song though, it kinds of revoked certain feelings, like emotions rupturing out of your heart, making your heart feel achy and like it has a big gaping hole. I didn't drop a single tear too. Either I'm growing up, or it's just not touching. But I watched Devil Beside You today and I cried a lot, I was wailing :/

And then the next day, ECP games! I remember Grp 7 was 1st last year and that was our glory. This year we were tired of running up and down. We were unlucky cos our stations were and both ends of the trail. Tiring. So we took Grp 5's lead and figured we'd just rent bikes. But my bike was lousy and I could feel every muscle straining in my thighs. But we talked quite a lot while walking, and we were just enjoying the breeze and all. The stations were super fun and not the usual, 'oh this game is for communication and teamwork' sort of thing. I'm sure communication and teamwork was needed, but this time, fun was more of an emphasis. And I liked it. We were disappointed there was no chalet in the end, but I don't think it'd be as fun if we went anyway.

We had steamboat for dinner in the spanking newly renovated hostel canteen. It's comfy :D Mr Teo and his family came, Mr Low and his family came, Mrs Tan and Mr Ang came too. Looking at all the (sunburnt) faces sitting around in 2 huge circles, passing food, laughing, hearing the boisterous noise which was strangely comforting made me feel good and proud, and even contented to have such people in my life. I finally know what it means to feel like an organization is family. I finally do.

We had talentime after that and I swore I messed up the whole thing. I couldn't stop laughing and the part where Karmen and I were supposed to have a dialogue. I was just standing there looking and her and laughing, laughing and laughing until I had to squat down. So much for being composed. Then we had the friendship dance and all and it was good as usual, we had couples in the centre and all and we just had fun.

After that, people had to go home so we took photos! And I was caught in between Cherie and Ming Shuen and okay, so I'm not tall after all :( I had to tiptoe because my arms were around them and it was hard to just not to tiptoe. It was a funny moment :D And then the number shot down to a small group, so we started playing Splat! and I was the 2 times champion. HAH hail the Splat! queen. Alright after that MingShuen embarked on his funny, longwinded confusing explanation on how to play PolarBear and .. It took about 15 minutes I guess. And when he was near the end after countless repeats and rephrasing..

"Those who wants to watch soccer can go the the vistors' lounge now." I swore everyone was relieved to be relieved of the confusing explanations. And no one looked more exasperated then MS. Hahahaha.

Soccer was good. We were nowhere near hysterical though, and the teachers were very, very agitated. Which was kind of hilarious just looking at them staring at the game and taking it very seriously. We were just snacking, having heart attacks and roundly abusing whoever who lost the ball (Rooney most of the time). It was an exciting match, with Beckham's surprise injury and exit and Rooney having a wrestling match down the field. Rooney needs anger management I swear. And the game ended we decided to sleep in the lounge and wake up for Brazil and France.

"Wake me up ah!"

"Okay I set alarm."

And XingQi's.. "I'd wake you up if I'm not asleep or if I don't freeze to death."

And in the end, no one really did. Well, Ben did. But he fell asleep for most of the game and only woke up at the last minute. According to I-forgot-who, the VJ people also came in to watch. Hope I didn't snore :D

So in the morning we woke up and went to Mac's for breakfast, and back home sweet home.

x x x x x

This camp is more of a bonding session than a camp. It turned out fairly well I must say, and I got to know more people because I'm starting to take myself less seriously and breaking out of the self-consciousness that used to dog me when I'm with people I fairly know. I'd be careful with words, and think many times before I do or say something. I blocked the flow of my heart and mind, and blocked myself from the world. But now it's getting better. Don't think of "I" and what people thinks of "I". Don't force yourself to be what you're not and trust me, things will be so much easier.

We spent 3 days 2 nights together, like a family, eating round tables, having fun, discussing things, packing and helping each other in big and small ways. We sleep together even, watch movies and run through ECP doing nasty things. It's the way that voices and faces surround me, enveloping me in contentment and happiness. It's the way we understand each other and encourage, cheer on that makes me feel just right. It's the way we work hard for the school, for the students, for us that makes us cherish the times we have together. The journey for SC has just started last year and we have so much more to go, to learn, to improve. There has been major glitches, major problems here and there, but there's a first time for everything. The first step has been taken, and what we have to do is to persevere and make the coming steps easier.

Ohana means family

And family means that no one gets left behind

P.S: It's hard to pack when there are guys all around you. Cherie agrees :D