Day 1!
Leadership Training Camp (LTC) started last Friday, on the 5th. Every 2 groups were to depart every 15mins. Group 10 (Phelps) and Group 9 (Bolts) trekked together. Being the 2nd batch to go, we set off for our 15km walk to Jalan Bahtera at 8.15pm. It was a tiring but fun journey, with Zijie and the boys singing and hyping up our spirits along the way. The map stretched to a length of 7 pages. When we reached the last page, we realised that there was a contradiction between the way we were heading and the path available on the map. Group 7 then caught up, we discussed and decided to go straight, as it was a dead end if we turned left. A right choice as we headed up a rocky path up to the camp entrance. It was definitely an achievement. I never thought I could survive the trek and feeling so accomplished about it. Good thing the bag that my cousin lent me had the waist strap; most of the weight was stressing on my legs instead of my shoulders, sparing my back from the pressure.
We were the first two groups to arrive, of course with group 7 and Armstrong (forgot their group number) who joined us. It was some time after 12 midnight, a 4 hours long trek. After a short bonding session and stretch, we found ourselves resting on our sleeping bags in the hall, waiting for the rest of the groups to arrive. Our camp commandant/president of the Student Council, Adam, woke us up and told us to head to our bunks around 3 am. Group 11 and 12 turned a wrong direction and had to turn back, so they reached campus around 4 to 5am. The bunks were 2-storey longhouse-style and you can hang your towels and stuff on the loose-hanging ropes. The toilets were like those of sentosa's, but cleaner and better.
Day 2!
Assembled at the parade square at 6.30am, did some stretches then a run down and up the rocky slope outside camp. Our first meal was nasi lemak. Programmes for the day were to learn the commands and techniques of belaying for abseiling, challenge ropes and rock climbing. Also to go through general stations, which taught us about our personal space, having commitment and trust in your teammates. It was fun with the belay commands: Am I on belay? (Belay on) Squeeze check! Climbing (climb on) Falling (fall on) It was interesting to see how the belay system actually allows you to support the weight of the climber when he falls, with the help on an anchorman.
After lunch group 9 and 10 were once again together, for kayaking! It was around 1pm that time, super sunny, loooooooved it! I partnered with See Ting, vice-cap for badminton boys. The way he commanded unison with his "left, right, left right" made me ask him if he's done this before. Indeed, he's been kayaking since primary 5. o: As kayaking was new to me, thanks to him I was able to learn the basics quickly. A group of 20 of us kayaked round the kelongs, where we saw dogs barking away at the edges of the kelongs. It felt good while kayaking in that enrivonment. A big open space with the smell of sea water and the luscious greens. Mr Kevin Ang then asked us to raft up, as a couple had to make their way across to another kayak.
& I think I've got the answer to my own question (Teach me the fastest way to get my tan back) Go kayaking at 1pm! Want darker tan, kayak longer! Maybe others can't tell I've become tanner, but of course I can la. Now I've got 3 different skin tones on my leg (or you can say the whole body la): my original skin tone, my previous tan, and now a darker tan from wearing fbt to kayak. woohoo.
After dinner, we then went through fire drills repeatedly, going back to our bunks and assembling in the parade square once heard there's a fire. After 2 hours of sleep the night before, we were allowed to sleep around 10pm+ after the drills, as lights out was at 11pm. For a moment it felt weird, as it has been a long time since I slept before 11pm. hoho.
Day 3!
The day where we put our belaying techniques to use as we get to abseil down the tower and make a full climb up the rock climbing wall! The trolley party was interesting, although I only did the last run. Abseiling! I was a bit hesitant to lean back to go down at first, but it was okay. Mr Michael Kwok told me that Roosevelt once said that ''The only thing we have to fear is fear itself". At that moment I almost threw back my history stuff. :\
After lunch we went for rock climbing! I challenged the yellow portion of the wall, as there was the blue one (flat surface), the yellow(with a little curve in) and the red one(with the challenging curve and small surface to step on, which makes it difficult). I was about to fall on halfway, cux i was damn tired, after failing to get on to the next step. But I leaned close to the wall and rested for awhile, and with the encouragement of my group members and the teacher in charge of the station, I finally made it to the top! Yes, it felt awesome. :D
General stations then taught us more about integrity, trust and communication with our group members, applying to our ccas. I would really wanna try the game again, whereby we gather in a circle and rest ourselves on each others' laps. We tried using one leg only, so it was rather streneous on one leg supporting the other person.
Campfire night! (still have to do av stuff) They brought over the portable speaker with mics in it. We had to station there in case anything went wrong. Loved the performances. & man, I always screw up during the actual performance. Orientation couple dance screw up, this time couple dance also screw up LOL. But the practices were definitely much fun. Incredible, as the storyline by group9 and group10 was able to piece together within such a short period of preparation time. Group 9 performed first, with the sound effects by 2 of group10's guys, made way for our girls. After sasheying in, group9 guys supposedly get seduced by us, then couple danced. They would throw us away, our guys would then step in. (for flirting with our girls you see hahaah) the mini fight among the 6 guys was hilarious. We then set in to bboy battle mode! After which we merged and sang the chorus of HSM's we're all in this together, which complimented Bolt and Phelps in the lyrics, ending off with an ''olympians!"
After the campfire, we were told that there were no lights out till 1.30am. It was quite early then, around 10+ i think? after our reflection session with Mr Goh. Returned to our bunks with Chrismin. Wanted to drink the milo for supper, but after showing wondergirls to her with my ipod, i laid beside her, ended up falling asleep. Took all these pictures while waiting for her.
Group 9 girls!
The parade square and canteen at a glance!
Oh and I love these granola bars Chrismin brought!
Crunchy & yummy!
Day 4!
Woke up at 3am+, found myself sleeping in the opposite direction of my sleeping bag, as both Chrismin and I were laying in that position last night. I shifted myself and not too long after I settled down, at 5am, people were shouting "Fire, fire!" I hurriedly woke up the girls, wore our shoes and rushed to the parade square. After which we were told to go back to our bunks, keep our stuff and change into our wet attire.
Locking arms and walking into the sea, we were half-submerged. Mr Ang made us sing the school song and recite the college creed. It was impactful, especially so as the lyrics of the school song was ''here i stand the dawning of a brand new day'' which was exactly what we experienced.
Ending off with a group picture.
Bolt & Phelps + Mr Goh!
We were stunned when Mr Ang told us we're gonna trek back to school. The time was 12pm. After filling our water bottles, some really did apply sunblock. I rolled up my sleeves, preparing myself for a tanning fiesta. We walked out of the camp, down the slope there were 3 buses, which started their engines as we walked past. But we didn't stop. Mr Cameron Yaw, who was beside me, told us don't be too happy, and said the buses were the ones who drove the secondary school students here, and they parked here because they were given lunch. ): After walking a further distance down, we saw the people infront u-turning back. We all cheered! air-con, wooooo!
As the bus drove on, conversations about the distance we actually covered from school to the campsite could be heard. As most of group 10 ppl had something on, the rest of us went for lunch at lot 1. It was hilarious when we reenacted the lunch/dinner scenes: 10minutes more! grab your utensils! haha. What I'm gonna miss from LTC is the sweet, hot milo! The bunking experience was nice and definitely not forgetting the punishment that we had when we arrived late! (push up position, change! leg raise position!) This camp was indeed a memorable one. :D
