NYC CampusChangemaker Camp ✓
How many times have you heard of your friends saying, I want to volunteer, and they continue talking about it for the next 5 years, doing nothing, citing reasons like they have no time, or no avenue, don’t know how.. So I have been talking about for the LAST 5 years, and I finally did it, when I met Hui yi! ( gary’s brother’s girlfriend ). When you meet someone so enthusiastic like her, you feel like a piece of shit full of lame excuses when you don’t do something. After marking the event on my Google Calendar about a month ago, it has finally come true !
I guess I love to work with young minds, influencing them, and shaping their ambitions and of course, to guide them into the right path. I guess I could be a teacher if Hoovix fails. GG.
There’s just so much to write. The kids were from schools all over Singapore. I think about 150 of them. I was assigned to facilitate Group 4. We were all ‘stranded’ in Sarimbun Scout Camp, off Lim Chu Kang. The obstacles course, big red ants, thin mosquitoes, grass and the morning dew etc reminded me of the days when I attended a scout camp when I was young-er. Lol. Anyways, the camp was a blast.
I love the way the kids are so innocent. And you’re sure they’re not acting. It was a fair trade during 3 days-2 nights camp, where I absorbed their aura, energy, and innocence, and they took my advice and knowledge. Fair game. At the end of the day, the experience is like running a marathon. You won’t know how it feels like till you completed it. Like I have not known what it feels like to complete a marathon. I have finished a 10km once, but that was long time ago, and I have forgotten the feeling.
And of course, the fellow facilitators there. Sometimes you wonder what’s driving these people. Other times you just steal their aura as well. The complicated world suddenly shrunk to become a camp filled with 150 pre-adolescent kids with 20 facilitators. No internet, no outsider, no interference. Just that. And the game becomes very simple. Motivate them. Teach them. Make them happy. Most of the time, it’s not what you say, but how you say it. Your facial expressions are crucial. They study it as if it’s a chemistry book filled with equations.
So what’s the selfish reason why I’m volunteering for the camp? Firstly, like I said, I want to refresh my perspective of life. Repriotise. When you talk to the kids, their worlds are not complicated. Really. And of course, when you converse with them, you learn a lot of stuffs from them. Keep yourself updated with the newest Gaga song for example. They went crazy over ‘Bad Romance’ which I swore, I never heard of that song before. I’m not a dork. I have Paparazzi and Poker Face and most of the new songs which are playing on the radio. But somehow I missed ‘Bad Romance’. Haha.
It’s sort of my way of escaping away from the world. A break. You want a break? Without spending a dime? Volunteer here. Get in touch with nature again. Get beaten by those army ants and attacked by 20 mosquitoes when you’re naked in the bathroom, the irriration will remind you that mother nature can be very powerful. And ya, I forgot to bring my mosquito repellent. Breathe the clean unpolluted air ( I choose to think so, at least ).Eat less for your meals. Run around the whole day with the kids. Lose some weight. Get a nice tan. You don’t get that elsewhere. Other than a few phone calls with Gary regarding Hoovix, I didn’t contact the outside world at all. And it was a good break from the computer as well. And I learnt how to play bridge, I think. And I realize I am really good at Daidi. Haha.
When I reached home this afternoon, the kids' voices and yells were still screaming in my head. I kid you not. I have even more respect for teachers now.
‘I can confirm you’ that I’ll be there at the next camp. In March I think. RG.
Greenday concert ✓
I have only attended a few concerts in my life. My previous start up helped organise the Hoobastank concert back in 04, at the Siloso Beach. And of course we were there when they rocked the sand. Not bad, but it was small. And then LMF was in Dec 09. Even smaller. At Powerhouse. And then. Singapore decided to let Greenday here. That’s when they test the strength of the concrete at the Singapore Indoor Stadium with their punk music and emo solo encore. Our $128 was worth EVERY $. Their shows were always playful and edgy. This one is no exception. With the drunk bunny, saxophone, changing wallpapers, lots of spyrotechnics effects, and with 21 years of performance experience, of course it was mindblowing.
And we attended the concert with all our own band members. Attic Tractor that is. But Malcolm couldn’t make it because of his work commitment. I think we are inspired to play better as a band. And also really made me to think if I should take up the keyboard. For real. Maybe during the second quarter of 2010.
What’s the amazing thing about the concert ? You see everybody with in a very big range of age groups. You see angmohs bringing their wives, mid-30’s. Young punks. You see punk wanna-be’s like us. Haha. And most of them jam in their own bands themselves. (they were holding up their picks haha)
∞ ✓
Hoovix has been blessed with 3 very talented programmers who will be embarking on a journey together. Our first big meeting will be on Tuesday. All the preparatory work is ready, and Gary and I will briefing them about the expectations etc. And I’m meeting another guy tomorrow. Godspeed.
Reflections ✓
2 weeks of 2010 dissolved into blips of memories in our heads. The strikes on the calendar are now easily noticeable from the corner of my eyes. Some of the events in 2009 has been locked in the vault, but like smoke in a burning room, sometimes inevitably they escape it when triggered by other events.
When I blue-tacked the first 2 quarters of 2010 to the wall back in 2009, I wanted to remind myself that there’s not much time left. And a constant reminder like that pushes you to take action all the time.
GG ✓
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