Camp Rainbow 2010 :)

Back from Camp Rainbow 2010 : Artitude! :)

It feels like i've just came back from a weekend sabbatical. Completely refreshed and at ease with the world. This year's camp was small yet cozy, with quite some fresh activities related to art and decoration. Planned and executed pretty well, too. From the past year of experience organizing Hall FOC, i could understand and appreciate more of the effort and planning that go behind everything. That plus we have some of the camp's most experienced and passionate leaders, like Poh Lin, Hui Jiao, Ben and Sham... i felt that everyone, kids and befrienders alike, thoroughly enjoyed themselves these few days :)

It's strange what a difference a few days make. We forged many close bonds between ourselves and the kids. My charges RJ and Sam were pretty easy to handle, because they knew when to behave (and when to let loose and play!) The other kids... HX was mischievous as usual, haha. Rachel was more mature this time round, but she still managed to have fun. YZ is still as cool as ever, and I'm glad he's with Ben now, who can talk better to him.

The new kids.. Khai was shy and well-behaved, but warmed up to us soon enough (and liked to tickle me till i got bowled over!) Fir was the oldest, but with our constant effort, he melded in and enjoyed the activities as well. And Al, well he always made my heart jump out when he went wild sometimes! But i think i got used to it after awhile, ha. Aaron, well i started on the wrong step with him and he called me 'Baddie' all the way (along with many others) lol. And last but not least, Bell was very, very shy but cute in her own way, and very nice towards everyone! I exchanged a lot of small gifts with her :) Sadly i didn't manage to get her to be bolder and open up her voice more.

It was tough, but the befrienders Ben, Sham, Luke, Ian, Felise, Shi Hong seemed matched to them like a perfect fit. Mature Ian for HX, seniors Ben and Sham (and I) to handle two kids each, first-timer Luke with the very easy-going Khai haha. Anyway, the kids seem to have a lot of fun. I wish they wouldn't bully me so much though! Haha.

But i'm really glad that i have visibly grown much from the last camp. I continually got the kids to warm up to each other and to us, I had great conversations with the other befrienders, and I got to know more people from the committee too. (when i had the time, a rarity mostly). I have the grueling training in JCRC and as FOC Chair to thank for this :) It's good to have a kind of benchmark, to see how i fare against myself from a year or two back.

Every single day was memorable, so maybe i'll blog about it later. I'm just bushed right now.

Three days of meaningful fun do get one worn out :)