Sunday, July 3, 2011

Introducing the 4 great teams that survived this
“Beyond Borders, Beyond Self” camp!
And not to forget, also an eye-opening trip for those who
Got to take flight or visit Vietnam for the FIRST time




And here was how the pokemon journey went …
DAY 1 
Flight from Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City.
Educational trip to know more about Vietnam’s rich history before embarking on other exciting activities!
Visit to the War Remnant Museum and visit to historical landmarks such as General Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral.
Check-in at Madagui Campsite for stopover.
DAY 2

Learn more about the plantation Vietnam is famous for: TEA PLANTATION!

Check-in at Tuyen Lam Campsite in Dalat!

Experience tent pitching, raft building, raft competition and new activity introduced by participants: DUNKING!

We even joined in the Vietnamese cultural dance at night!

What makes the experiences more unique was that, all these activities were done in 10+◦C aircon-like temperature!


DAY 3

After being greeted by the fog early in the morning, it’s time to stretch ourselves for a day of adventure!

First up, Razorback Trekking up the summit Pinhatt Mountain!

Next up, team building games and the challenging rope course (Zip Lining, Monkey Bridge, Leap of Faith)!

Our dinner was made sumptuous with the ever-so-popular fried egg!

After the meals, night walk was cancelled because of the rain. However, the camp spirit remained high!! Many had used the rainwater to shampoo their hair and we even opened our very own COR Club! The idea of the club was inspired by the group hugs to keep ourselves warm!


DAY 4

It’s time to bid goodbye to the scenic view and fantastic air-con temperature!

This also mean we’ll be having our last breakfast meal, our last group shot, our last ferry ride and our last look at Tuyen Lam campsite.
Back at Ho Chi Minh, it’s time to check in to Hoang Hai Long Dragon Hotel! It’s time to adjust back to the urban life and start our APPRECIATION NIGHT!
Kwee Fang’s Poi Performance with LED light and the volunteer’s musical with song sign and dance performance were splendid! And the HI’s pokemon performance was totally hilarious! Kudos!
The mood then turned slightly emotional when the HI and volunteers sharing sessions began. It was indeed a heart-warming session! Of course, a twist of event occurred and it ended off with what most of you had expected… TAUPOK!!

DAY 5

Time flies, especially when you are staying in the hotel! It was time to check-out and continue with our last 2 activities in COR’11!
First was the visit to the Hy Vong School for the Hearing Impaired and Intellectually Disabled. In the school, we got to learn the Vietnamese Sign Language from one of the teachers. It created an amazing scene of 4 languages (SEE sign language, English, Vietnamese, Vietnamese Sign Language) and 3 interpretations used to communicate ideas from the Vietnamese sign language teacher to the participants and vice versa. At the end, we presented the gifts prepared by the participants to the school’s principal in hope that the gifts will be beneficial to the students.
We then had our last COR’11 meal at LION Brewery and Restaurant followed by shopping at the famous Ben Thanh Market! Coffee, shirts, bags… … you name it, they have it!! This place poses another opportunity to go “Beyond Self”! It’s time for the participants to unleash their aunty/uncle’s side of them! Bargain or let your wallet down!!!
After 5 days of fun and going “Beyond Self”    
EVENTUALLY
   
WE RETURNED!!

BUT WITH MORE FRIENDS,
COURAGE AND EXPERIENCES!
The COR’11 camp spirit would not have been the same without each and every one of you. Thanks for joining COR’11 and I do hope that these 5 days of camp had allowed you to forge more friendships, create new experiences and also challenge you to go “Beyond Self”!
And also special thanks to the 6 facilitators: Stephanie, Adrian, Kah Wai, Baosong, Yanting and Jasper who joined the volunteer’s team in May. Without your effort and help, I’m sure the camp would not have run as smoothly. And definitely, we’ll hear less crazy laughter!
Last but not least, a BIGGGGG thank you to the 26 special individuals in the COR’11 organizing committee. On 23 September 2010, which is also our 1st meeting, nobody knows exactly where COR’11 will be heading to. Taking flight was merely just a vision and no one was sure if we could be the first batch of COR to bring 50 over participants up on flight.  The Program Directors were frantically coming up with alternative programs if flight falls through and the Business Managers were stressed up by just the look at the canvassing targets! However, with all of your trust and believe in one another and also your relentless effort in participating in every single canvassing (even the occasional paid surveys which sometimes yield little profit), WE’VE MADE IT!
51 PARTICIPANTS UP ON FLIGHT,
TO A COUNTRY WHICH COR HAS NEVER VENTURED TO BEFORE!
YOU’VE MADE IT HAPPENED!
Though the journey may be tough at times, I hope this is a good learning journey as well as fulfilling experience for all of you. Take a short time off your stoning sessions to reflect on the things that happened in the passed 1 year. There are simply too many significant events to state: DCCL, BS1, BS2, VOC, COR’11 photoshoot, sentosa & botanic garden outings with the HI, Garung Guni, Kukup committee outing, Recce trip, Meet & Greet, Pre-Camp.. ..  Regardless of scale and level of significance of each event, I hope there are things you can take-away from each of them.  And after COR’11, our respective learning & volunteering journey continues… but in different paths this time. Do keep in contact. Stay tune for Jason’s thank you message =)
In all, Thank you everyone for the wonderful journey!!

Smiles and Retires,
Ming Wei
Vice Chairperson
Camp OutReach 2011

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