17-18 January 2009-Uth Campus 04/09

Never imagine a camp can be so enjoying. I made the right choice in attending this camp.

Day 1(17-01-09)

I took 169 and arrived one bus stop early. Suprisingly, I reached 5minutes early then those who took the transport to here.

I came with the mind that I am here to learn what is Trapartism and what is Union based on the previous experience of City Campus 1 day camp.

We were addressed by Sis Sharon after everyone arrived with bags full of clothes and necessities. We were roughly briefed on what is going to happen. Soon after, the person in charge of Focus Adventure took the mike and brief us the highlights of today's programme.

First, we were told to push all chairs side by side in the center and he tested our energy level by asking us to do the Kallang Wave... Haha... We did twice as he said first time was only 30 marks out of 100. So disappointed. Luckily the second time we were very energetic.

Next he told us to put all chairs to the side of the room leaving the centre space empty. We were told to form a circle and than he began to tell us a story of how he walk at the beach and met the fisherman, the woodchopper and the milk maid( I forgotten still have what). That's where he introduced many other hand shakes. Very fun. Everytime he introduced a new hand shake, he will asked us to go to 25 new friends and shake hand with them and say good words.

Then was Captain on board where he introduced many codes for us to follow and those who failed to follow will do cat walk. :P

Then we were told to break into groups where we were given balloons to blow and draw a picture of us on one side and the other is our favourite pastime. We also have to think of a group name. Our group name is Carabao (Ox in Thai). :P

Other group names are: Group 2-Wu Di (Unbeatable in chinses); Group 3-Gam Gam Ho (Means Just Nice in Hokkien); Group 4-Citus. After which we have a short break and then back to the hall for Understanding Union. After which is short introduction for what we will be doing later.

We were told to deposit our bags in the bunks we were be staying for a nite and then come back for another break after which we took 3 snaps of group photos. Then we were split in groups again to try those games for team building.

First station we came is Balance the See Saw. We were broken onto 2 smaller groups and first group went up to try. They took less than a min to balance and broke the previous best records in the longest balance timing.

Our group did not manage to balance and was asked to come down to discuss what should we improve. After analyse, we made another try. Sad to say we did not make it. Than the game master asked all of us to stand at one side and when everyone is at the board, we have to think how we can balance it again. This round none of our tries passed. We were told to come down and discuss why it failed.

As time is running low, we moved over to another station, Walking on Wire. First we have to stand in two circle and do the washing machine role to test whether we can trust as a team. :P

Then we proceed to walk hand in hand and passed the first wire. But we failed when we tried to walk through the second wire. Times up and we have to do swopping where the other two groups will switch over and we go to do high and exciting games. Before this, we had a short break then we went over to try the walking on the wood/string/wire at high level. :P

I did not try as I scare of heights. I hope next round when I am given a chance, I can be brave enough to give it a try.

After all this, it is time for us to rest and we were back to the hall to receive instruction to go back to our bunks.

We were brief that we are given ample time for wash up and unpacked. After which we will have our BBQ session and then followed by Campfire session. By Campfire session, all the groups must come up a short skit or rap to show the Vision Message of Young NTUC.

We decided to bath after all the activities so we chit chat in the room and happily doing our bed, unpacking our bags. :P

Then we were going for dinner after which we will practice for our short skit/rap for later's Campfire.

It is my first time having campfire. So excited. In the end, my team won as the judges commented that they could not find relevancy in other groups' skit or rap. They able to see team spirit and vibrant in our rap and cheer. We won tibits for supper.. Haha...

The night ended at 9plus where we will be showering and some went out for short walk. I followed Sis Jerica to chit chat with the rest at coffee shop and we went back to bunk at 11plus where we slept and end our nite...

Day 2 (18-01-09)

We were told to wake up for breakfast at 7:30am and check out time at 9:30am where we will take a bus to e2i for some workshop before we end our camp at 2:30pm.

Some already awake at 5am plus. I was awoken at 6am where I went for shower before I packed my bags. By the time I finished shower, everyone had woke up and was chatting away.

We were then busy taking down contacts and exchange conversation. Through this chit chat session, I heard of the Free Hug event. Sounds very interesting. But was a very difficult decision for me to decide to follow as I am very afraid of hugging people. OMG. Haha..

We went for our breakfast as told, after which we have to finish packing and shift all the items to the hall where we were briefed and then waited for the bus to arrive. This ends our stay in Focus Adventure and ends our camp.

We took the transport to Red Hill-e2i where we were brief on what is in store for us. We were break into 14 groups where each group will have 5 members and all members will have to be tied together to act as the constrainted of what the unemployed workers met. We will have different scenarios and with differrent qualifications, age group and last drawn salary. Our job is to complete all stage's games and successfully be employed and earn back the last drawn salary.

This workshop shaken me most. I had a taste of how difficult it is for someone to lose job just like this. The anxiety and the difficulties they faced and might faced.

Thank god that we have government's help and e2i's training. There is light for the unemployed to find at least a job for them to survive. After this game, we had a heart to heart talk with Sis Josephine and we discussed a lot of problems faced by our fellow union members. We hope it will be resolved soon.

It was a wonderful and fun filled camp that I will certainly go back again and again. I met lots of new friends and that is where I came across YCIS. I had signed up for their Pulau Ubin Cycle Trip on 7 March and looking forward for exciting and fruitful trip. Thanks friends of Uth campus. Without you guys, it will not be a success. :P Thanks....