Saturday, April 26, 2008
This is gna be one long post.
I'm back from St John's Island! I don't know why I miss it so much already, despite the creepy crawly fly-y insects.
So on Thursday, we all gathered at school for the briefing and to get to know our instructors. I'M IN GROUP 17! Hahaha and Timothy is our instructor :D He's a really cool dude. And and a lot of people thinks he looks like Jay Chou.
Played icebreakers. Turn! Eee turn! Hump!
Celine had to do a forfeit 'cause she had 3 forfeit points. She had to put a cone on her head and sing 'My little pony, my little pony...' Hahahaha.
Before we know it, it was time to get on the bus to go to Marina Pier.
It was a really long wait to get into the ferry. So our group, Group 17 aka Anything, along with our buddy group, Group 16 aka Whatever, did our flag and group cheer on the floor there.
Doom doom doom
Anything
Doom doom doom
Yeah
Doom doom doom
We got a new dance called Anything
You can do anything
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
YOU CAN'T BEAT ANYTHING x3
EVEN SUPERMAN CAN'T BEAT ANYTHING
YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!
Aw yeahhh. *does cholo action*
Hahahah so awesome right. Oh and our flag is full of flowers. And Daphne's dragon.
Then it was time to get on the ferry. It was so much fun! Timothy said that we might be able to see white dolphins. But we didn't D: Maybe it's because the marine biologists on St John's Island were doing some tests on them.
My first impression of St John's Island was that it was rather beautiful, with the beach and all. I imagined it to be old and full of dirty looking sand with leeches everywhere!
Timothy led us up to our dorm, Dorm 15! It's alright la. Not as dirty as I expected it to be.. But the bedsheets were dated back to 1989. Imagine how many people sweated and slobbered on it already. But I'm sure they got wash la.
So then we were brought to the Cage for lunch. The Cage is like a central place where we all meet up for activies and meals. It's called the Cage because.. I guess it resembles a cage. Chief Veron was saying how the people standing outside were like zookeepers. Lol!
Oh and that's where we learnt our hungry cheer.
Chief/ Instructor: St Nicks Oei!
SN: Oei!
C/ I: SN, ARE YOU HUNGRY?
SN: Hungry hungry! *action*
*clap clap*
Very very! *action*
*clap clap*
Hungry very! *action*
*clap clap*
Very hungry! *action*
Chi-ka-la-ka-bi-ah-bi-ah x2 *action*
JIA! *action*
And we're supposed to do the Hungry Cheer before EVERY MEAL. Quite ok la.
The food is quite nice eh. Served in bento boxes somemore. At the end of the meal have watermelon also.
Then for the first activity on St John's Island, we played The Amusing Race.
We did this with our buddy group.
We were given a clue and we were supposed to find that place. Our first clue lead us to some place outside some dorm where we had to make a circle as big as we could. Then we had to take 2 steps back, and then try to grab hold of our friends' hands again. It was nearly impossible! Luckily for us, we could use stuff that we brought along with us, eg water bottle, bags.
The next clue let us to the mangrove swamp place. There, we had to grab the hand of the person opposite you then try to twist and turn back into an untangled circle. Group 16 did it reslly quickly. Our Group took foreverrrr! Rahhh. But we managed.
The third clue led us to the Pier. We had a few minutes to absorb our surroundings and we had to answer 5 questions. If we get even one question wrong, we won't be awarded any points. But obviously, we answered all the questions perfectly. Muahahahaha. Actually no la, we were having problems with the last question. How many dorms are there? We asked a couple of teachers to help us see the map and count (we weren't allowed near it). All of them said 14. But it wasn't 14! In the end, we tried our luck with 15 and got it right.
The fourth clue led us to the beach. We had to blow up a balloon and make sure it stays in the air and everyone must touch it min. 1 time, max. 2 times. It would have been much easier, if not for the wind. Rahhhhhh!
Fifth clue led us to a barbeque pit. A person from each group was blindfolded and they had to pick up sponge alphabets (Add points) and numbers (Minus points). It was really difficult to give instructions to Chloe (she was blindfolded) because everyone was just screaming their heads off and she couldn't hear what we were saying. In the end, we won by a little because she managed to get the bonus point leaf.
We thought it was over, but then, another group challenged us. But this time, our Instructors were to be blindfolded and alphabets add points while numbers, minus. We came up with a brillaint plan. Instead of saying front, back, right and left, we used numbers, like the phone type. So when we say 2, he will move forward. And so, WE WON. Yayyyy. Timothy is darn cute. Whenever he gets an alphabet, he will jump up and do a peace sign. Lol
Then we went to wash up.
The toilets are.. interesting. No doors. Thank God they were seperated but we could still see each other's head. So like, cannot bathe with tall people. If not.. BUT! There were also mirrors behind us. So we can't turn back, if not can see each other. A very strange bathing experience.
Then we had to gather at the Cage for dinner! Hungry cheer, bento boxes, pudding.
After dinner, we had a song session to learn our campfire songs. Chief Mojo became niang. AHAHAHAHHA. Darn hilarious. Then they said that each group need to send one representative to go outside for something.
A while later, they told us that they have been kidnapped. WE NEEDED TO SAVE VALERIE!
It's very scary, walking aroung St John's Island so late at night. Ok, there were 20 boxes, two of which lie keys for us to unlock Valerie from her horrible nightmare. To attain both the keys, we had to complete a challenge to guess which box the keys were in. For every challenge completed, we could get one guess.
First challenge, we had to go to Dorm 13. It would be pitch black, if not for our torchlights. Then Timothy said we cannot shine our torchlights into the trees, if not.. Also, he said that dno why only that particular dorm the lights suddenly go off. Darn scary la. He's like freaking us out. Then we had to go in groups of 4 around the dorm. Huimin, WeiQi, XingJun and I went together. We ran as fast as we could! Nothing happened to us, phew.
The other challenges weren't that bad alr. We had to win Timothy at Scissors, paper, stone three times in a row and we were asked a few questions. Soon enough, we had both keys and we went to the rescue!
Tucked deep into the dorms, Valerie was found blindfolded and chained. She was so 'injured' that Timothy said that we had to carry her back to the basketball court.
Then we had debrief and found out how Valerie was 'tortured'. She said all she did was sit there and chat with the Instructors. 'Sit there for so long, my butt pain leh!' she claims. Then she found out she could cross her legs, with the chains on.. Lol. Also, Timothy told us a different story of the The Tortoise and the Hare. We learnt that yes, slow and steady wins the race, but fast and consistant beats slow and steady. We must also twist situations into our own advantage. I get it now.
Soon, it was time to go brush our teeth then lights out at midnight.
HOWEVER, some of us begged Timothy to tell us ghost stories and he did! He brought the 8 of us to some dark, dark bench place and told us about some of his experiences with the supernatural. It was very scary. He also told us a story about how 2 boys were possessed in this particular dorm 2 years ago, of which we must not speak the name. But we know which dorm.
Yup then before midnight, he shoo-ed us to our dorms.
Huimin, Angelina, Simin and I shared 3 beds. Hahah we slept 12+, woke up at 3+ together, fell asleep again and woke up at 5.45am to wash up, even thought we only had to gather at 7.30.
There were big dead bugs all over the toilets when we went in to brush our teeth. My goosebumps all came out. We found another less deadbugs-y toilet before washing up.
Since we were up so early, we decided to got to the basketball court early to play. Little did we know that the Instructors were sleeping in the Cage, which was right beside the bc. So we couldn't play D:
Then at 7.30, we had our morning exercise. It's darn tough. We need to count really loudly. If not loud enough, have to repeat. We did 80 Buddha Claps. It makes your arm ache so much that you could cry. Plus, we could only do when he whistled. Then some people never listen and clap. Then have to redo. Rahhhh! Also, we couldn't put down our arms the whole time.
Breakfast! Had some buns and soya milk.
Soon, it was time for Multi-Level Captain's Ball, where six groups competed together at one go. Nuts right. Everyone was like wrestling for that one pathetic basketball, which was worth 5 points. Then one by one, they would add in more items. A volleyball (10 points), followed by spongeball (20 points), and pingpong ball (50 points), and lastly flourbag (100 points). No kidding. FLOURBAG. An open flourbag. Utter madness. They had to throw it around some loads of people became white. Darn funny.
We then had lunch in the Cage.
We ate really quickly 'cause we needed to go change into dark shirts for water rafting later on.
The next activity was the casualty challenge, which started at the chessboard place. We had to fill a garbage bin to the bin with water and carry it all the way to the beach, while being linked together with rafia string which went through the collar and out of our right sleeve. Worst part is, the bin cannot touch the floor and we also had to collect wood along the way. Timothy wanted to cheat but we kena found out. Oh well. WE WERE THE SECOND TO REACH. First, actually, if you don't count the sports class (their bin was empty 'cause the water all leaked out).
THEN WATER RAFTING. We had to tie floats together, get on it, somehow paddle to some float far out in the sea, which had a bowl of salt in it, get a spoonful of salt, paddle back and pour it into a cup. Darn tough. But very fun. Xingjun and I both did it twice. Both of us were the back-kickers. The legs gets tired after a while, know. Hahaha. XingJun and I also sat at the edge of the waters to try and skip rocks on the water. I couldn't do it and resorted to finding seashells. Oh, and stupid sand got into our underwear and shoes (It was compulsory to wear shoes 'for safety reasons').
Then we had to do duty for dinner that night. So all of us ran back to our dorms, in our heavy-with-water shirts, shorts and shoes, which seemed a million miles away to bathe.
Thank God we were on time. We walked all the way to the Pier and carried food for dinner. Heavy man. Jomain and Puisan were singing like nobody's business. And what the hell la, they laughed when I put the box on my head like Melissa as it would be lighter. I didn't know, ok! Can't blame mee.
Something funny happened with Xiwen. She pushed the trolley with the bento boxes. She was screaming 'Ahhh reaching!' when the trolley jerked forward because the front wheel went into the drain and one box fell O: Hahaha idiotic man.
Then we went to Dorm 7/7A for prac for our Campfire item.
DINNER! There was nice jelly. Mmm.
Dorm 7/7A again for last minute prac!
CAMPFIRE.
It was very cool. They slowly announced for groups to come out two by two. When it was our turn, we came out screaming and jumping like crazy monkeys, like Timothy told us to.
Then the campfire items started. Our class was third or fourth to perform, I think.
Mi, fa, so, doh!
Ahh, ahh, ahh.
WE LOVE x3
THIS CAMP!
WE LOVE x3
THIS CAMP!
Love love (camp!) love (camp!) love love..
(volume control with kumama cheer)
Doom doom doom
Anything
Doom doom doom
Whatever
Doom doom doom
We got a new dance called Anything
You can do anything
YOU CAN'T BEAT ANYTHING
YOU CAN'T BEAT WHATEVER
YOU CAN'T BEAT UNITY
EVEN SUPERMAN CAN'T BEAT UNITY
*Timothy comes and flies around*
UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUnity!
*U action*
Aw yeah. *cholo*
It's so funny laaa. Then Timothy, Willy aka Diamond Bling and another instructor came out to do their item. 'Magic trick'. They kept hitting each other's heads la O: But it was hilarious. 'Eh fake also must act real what.'
WE HAD NEW ACTIONS FOR lights, camera rolling and action. Timothy says that dno what, it's old school. So instead of doing lights like other people, we did spotlight. Our cameras were digital, and our action, was doing the action figure action. lol
When it was ending, they did some reflection thingy and asked us to close our eyes. I cried laaa. Omg I'm freaking emotional. Then when we could go already, Timothy brought us to the nice scenery place. It's really really beautiful. Then he still go play sad song. I cried even more. Lol. We stood there for quite a long while, looking at the waters. Dno who so anti-climax talk about football.. So the few of us asked Timothy to tell us ghost story again.
He brought the 8 of us to the back of Dorm 7 and told us that long ago, loads of people were killed here, in the dorm behind us. The people were killed by the chinese. Their bodies were thrown around and eventually burnt. There was this officer who was considered nice compared to the others who were killed. The killers decied not to burn him, and instead, buried him. Rumour has it that he was buried right where we were sitting. I was so scared when he said that laa. He also said that everytime a chinese walks by, the buried officer stirrs. Then he counted 1, 2, 3.. 9. There are nine chinese people here. Then I suddenly felt this slight breeze. I was thinking omg.. omg.
Timothy also told us that his friend once saw a guy up in the watch tower. It's impossible to climb as it is sealed at the bottom. He said that his friend saw the guy pointed at him and gestured to him to come to him. At this point in time, Timothy suddenly pointed at me and did the 'come' action. Ahhhhhhh omg darn freaky. Then he suddenly got up and said 'Ok, bye!' and ran. The 8 of us screamed and ran too. Urghhh stupid D:< So then we went back to our dorm to wash up. Then when we were walking back, Timothy came and gave us Twisties. He's so nice laa. He already gave us a lollipop each and bought us coke. I think our group got the nicest/ best Instrcutor la. Then lights out and I fell asleep like a log. Today, we woke up late! We were suppposed to gather at 6.30 but we woke up at 6.05! We choinged and quickly packed our bags and ran to the basketball court. We weren't late. We had breakfast! After breakfast, we had to do area cleaning. Our group had to go the logistics. We had to keep the beach beds into the storeroom, get the air out of the floats, tie the floats, put the lifejackets together, carry the water holder and make sure that the bins used for the casualty challenge didn't have stuff in it. The storeroom is darn cool. I think they used to lock prisoners there. There was dried blood on the wall and there was even some picture of a jap soldier stuck on the wall. I wonder why they didn't take it off after such a long time.. Next up, the teachers' air-conditioned dorm. So unfair la D: Hahaha we were supposed to go there to collect the beach beds, but other groups already take. So we act dumb and went in anyway. Hohoho. Glorious aircon. They even have tv! Rahhhhhh! Then we had to leave the aircon to go back. Timothy suggested that we take a longer route because once we go back, we can't walk around anymore. We took the SUPERRRRR long route. We were literally walking down memory lane. From the water rafting place to the nice scenery place. When we reached back, we had to do an evaluation form. I strongly agreed everything! Hahaha. Heidi wrote, uh, comments and so did Bernice. Poor S. But they are constructive comments! So don't feel bad. Before we knew it, it was time to go D: We walked all the way down to the Pier and got on the ferry. Soon, St John's Island looked like Molly's hair in a distance. Took pictures with Xiwen and Huimin. Thanks Chio bu! Ok, this picture is totally candid. I wasn't adjusting my ___ strap.
Reached Marina Pier in around 20 minutes.
I MISS ST JOHN'S ISLAND!
The bus came and we got on. Timothy followed us while S stayed behind.
Reached school!
I waited with Xiwen in the sun. Then we walked over to the shaded area. Melissa suggested to take a picture with Timothy.
[insert picuture from jean's cam]
Rahhh I would've taken loads of pictures but phones and cameras weren't allowed.
What a long post, I shall end off now.
But first,
ST JOHN'S ISLAND ROCKS! Muahahahahahah.
2:47 PM she's got style
