Hello People!!! I'm in Sri Lanka now! Okay so I'll blog about my VIP experience here. (Wow you can expect a long and wordy post).

So yeah, I went for Contact Session 2 and was assigned to Bravo. My group mentors are Esther Ma'am and Si Ling Ma'am. I think you all know? Si Ling Ma'am is the one with the twin and I guess you all should know Esther Ma'am too. There were a lot of familiar faces around, so I managed to get myself integrated into the group. Then, we did some problem solving, discussions, and then AOP. My group planned for the Campfire, so we were in charge of the vetting as well.

For the next few days after CS, I've been meeting my group at Simei to do up campfire props, further discussions all and then returning home at evening/night. Really tiring! But it was fun at the same time. Basically, we have this secret hideout. Okay it isn't really a secret since many already know.

My groupmate Jeremy has 3 houses! On Sunday (day after Contact Session), we met up at Plaza Sing then went to pick up lots of cardboard from the bins needed for the handicraft session with the elderly. Next, we went to his First House (a condo) to dump everything there haha.

The next day, he told us that he has a Second House (a HDB) just nearby - which, he only found out about the night before. SUPER LOL RIGHT! We all couldn't stop laughing because he kept getting lost around the area. The Second House was empty because the tenant just moved out recently, so we had a lot of space to ourselves.

Then came the day before camp. We all agreed to stay over at Jem's house, but my Mom doesn't allow! Because Jem is a guy hahahaha. But in the end, I stayed till late night ard 10+, after labelling our utensils all and getting most of the props done. Well, at 10 pm, I was running across carparks with Jem and Adam because they had to chiong from the Second House to the First House to attend to some logistics urgent matters over the Internet.

(Anyway, we took group photos but my SD Card just had to die on me -.-)

Having to travel home after that was a disaster. I thought I could take bus 854 from Kembangan (yes at 10.30 pm I was back at Kembangan MRT) I was super lost because I just can't manage to find the opposite bus stop. I rubbed my eyes and my contact lens shifted to the corner, so I had no choice but to give up the 'bus stop hunt'. I walked back to the MRT and decided to just take circle line instead.

At Paya Lebar Circle line, some weird Osama-looking guy walked pass me and whispered 'TERRORIST!' I was freaked out for goodness sake but didn't show it. I was wondering if I should report him to the Control Station or just wait for the next train (so that I won't blow up together with him lol!) Yet again, I was too tired - all I want to do is to get home, get all the stuffs printed, pack my camp bag - so I just boarded the train in goodwill that I will perish together with everyone else.

Before that, I sent my groupmate a text. I described the Osama guy in as much detail as I could, to aid in police investigation in case I really died. And my groupmate wished me good luck. HAHAHA LOL. BUT!!! *phew wipes sweat off forehead* I'M ALIVE!!!

So after surviving the so called major ordeal, I got home, bathed, printed, packed, all the way till 3 am. I woke up at 4.45 am and got into a cab at 5.30 am to Simei. There were just so many props to carry (you guys have to agree that we put in a lot of effort in the campfire).

While mugging on our SOEs, singing our Red Cross song, we packed and got ready to go to the campsite. Sarah and I took 3 of the bigger props and went by MRT and on foot to the campsite. The rest fetched our stuffs by cab.

Alright... so...

CAMP DAY 1

Parade, Bunk allocation, cleaning, Fire drills, FA Lesson, Lunch, Evacuation Lesson, Outdoor Survival Cooking, Lesson Presentation, Platoon time - these probably sum up all (of course the titles don't speak a thousand words, but there're just too much to elaborate) You can go check out theunichannel.blogspot.com for photos.

OH! And we were introduced to Exercise Humanity. It came to me and most of us as a surprise because we didn't know we would go to Pulau Ubin. But anyway, we had this Disaster Preparedness Exercise to Pulau Ubin - to save the villagers from a flood (and lol! My groupmate Sin Wee thought it was real at first -.-)

We packed our food rations for the rescue mission as well. We only got to sleep at around 2 am or so, can't really remember.

CAMP DAY 2

Morning Parade followed by breakfast and getting ready for Exercise Humanity. We went by bus to the jetty and boarded the boat to Pulau Ubin. I've not been to Pulau Ubin for 6 years already hahaha.

So we were given our map, a Silva compass to navigate our way around the designated route. Midway, our groupmates became the 'fake casualties'. Like... hm... just thump, fainted and we had to treat them those sort. (Oh yes, this reminds me, actually for Disaster Preparedness, we don't really require much manpower because we can keep reusing the casualties).

We were taught how to use an army stretcher the day before, so we had one with us and had to evacuate our casualties from point to point. It was tiring but yknow, bonding through hardships.

After much evacuation and all, we went back to the campsite. We did tent pitching (pitched and unpitched), followed by bathing and eating. We had Exercise Unity planned by Alpha. It was a game session on crisis management (some what like HappyFarm/Farmville), so we had to wait for our 'crops' to grow too. (Hahaha it was quite funny cos we just sat by our crops looking at the time). Next was campfire vetting, so I got to rehearse on the emcee script as well.

CAMP DAY 3

Morning physical training led by Charlie, followed by jogs and walks to East Coast Park from Campsite for Exercise Impartiality planned by Charlie as well. Over there, we ate breakfast and had our 1 minute speeches (everyone has to make a 1 minute speech during meals). Next up, we played station games. We built sandcastles at the end as well.

Walked back to Campsite, had lesson presentations again (for those who've not completed). Next was campfire preparation, setting up of the Parade Square, campfire vetting and all. Had light dinner and pre-campfire commenced. We tried out best to hype up the atmosphere.

There were a lot of VIs there (Ma'am Cx was there too, but I didn't see our other VIs). Campfire was called Exercise Universality (the namings were the same as ULP). The Campfire started and things didn't really go as planned, but at least Karesia, Jem and I managed to keep covering up (I think we're awesome la hahaha). Alright... so next was BBQ, had chats with the other VIs. (I was quite tired by then because I was so relieved that campfire's finally over so I didn't talk much).

After clearing up, we had trainees' debrief, followed by Platoon time. Our lights out time was the latest at 3.30 am that day. We woke up at 5.00 am (many people overslept though).

CAMP DAY 4

We had breakfast and caroling sessions (yup we sang Xmas songs) to prepare for Exercise Voluntary Service planned by Delta. Then, we went to an Elder Care Centre to play games and have handicraft sessions with the elderly.

The elderly were really happy to have us there. Anyway, the elders which I took care of were living on their own, so yeah... they probably feel lonely too. I'm glad I went! OH!!! And Ambrose Sir sang 我问天 hahaha. Awesome.

We went back to Campsite, ate lunch, packed up, did area cleaning, played Charades, had platoon time, and final debrief followed by home.

I had dinner with some of my VIP friends, and cabbed home. It was already 10 pm or so when I reached home. I was so dead beat, I bathed and slept till 3.30 am. Woke up and packed my luggage. At 5.00 am I was out of the house, on a cab with Mom to Changi Airport.

And poof! Here I am in Sri Lanka. Hahahaha with eyebags that drop to the ground and blackest of black eyerings. I hope you guys don't find this post boring, because I really am describing/telling all the happenings in camp in detail!

Anyway, we have a NCC Land and Band guy with us! The band guy's Sin Wee, my groupmate. Hahaha I think it's seriously cool. As in... if I were in band, I don't think I'll have so much of perseverence and all to embark on a whole new experience like this.

VIP seriously is very fun though exhausting. I wished you guys were with me! Alright, I'm going to visit my SL tutor later hehehe so excited. GOODBYE! (See you all on 29th!)

KISSES!
p/s: Anyone willing to help me do a $25 bank transfer? Heeheehee.

XOXO,
Mendi Almighty Ang

Labels: Mendi