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.
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
