Read this before you read the rest! Personal thoughts!
The SMKDK English Cultivation + Foster Program has became a ‘arrived and departed’ thing just in weeks, but I would like to make out some of my thoughts about it, which are the happy, sad elements that I found during this activity and my credits to some of my friends (Their name might not be in the post).
SMKDK English Cultivation + Foster Program was dealt in the early of August (as I heard it once in the meeting of pGURU) but mis-communication and certain conflict happens, it was delayed 2 times and held in 20th to 23rd November, when the semester break is ‘commencing’. I as an outsider (originally just a part of the committee) promoted to several posts and become a helper enables me learn a lot in this activity.
At the beginning of the event (before the activity), several meetings were held. I was appointed as Technical Director (I guess TESLIAN know the reason), as well as the assistant of the Transports & Logistics. There was no problem for both parts till 18th November, suddenly the admin department said that one of the dates has problem, as we cannot use both technical and the location mentioned at that day (such a piss off as a rejection of last minute), and as usual, when I and Garry went to ask about the availability of the location, the worker (let’s call him Mr Friday) not even checked the log book and told us “semua bilik sudah penuh ba” (it is not possible that all rooms in the school was occupied as that was non-weekend ‘are all used’ - LOL! Is it possible? Semester break all rooms are occupied?) What a joke! Then we asked him to check about the Tutorial room, it said that the room was available and it can be used at the 23rd. He asks us to write a formal letter about that too (No wrote that, what for? Originally taken Audi and at the last minute changed to BT, yet the school said “need to do it goodly because they are cluster school, make our school proud…bla…”) Technical part also face some issue too as the PA system , luckily the projector at BT 5 (tutorial room) that we use at the last day is available. Relieved…
…And the activity begins at 20th morning!
I do pretty love the element of suspense and surprise. You will never imagine what will happen at the beginning or any moment of the life. At the activity day, it happens that I have several elements of surprise (good or bad) at the same time.
1. At the same day, one of my TESL junior, Din was joining this committee group too (as I am the only guy in the whole activity, and one of my good friend, surely it is a great welcome!)
2. Only one bus was provided on that day and need to re-arrange the schedule for the first day activity as the committee members want to go to IP to clean the students’ and teachers’ house, therefore last minute planning was done for the transportation. Luckily I made a call to JPP, therefore at the same night, the second bus was provided as well. Phew! (At the moment I had 3rd job, including Technical Director, Deputy Transportation & Logistics Director, and a member of PR).
3. And, at the same evening, the technical matters and the school (I prefer the word “school” than “university” for some personal reasons) video (music that contains subtitle) were done by both of us (Din is a part of Technical Department too).
4. When all things are done at around 5pm, I and Din walked to 1 Borneo to have our dinner, and that time, my friend (also the Director), called me and asked me to be the informal MC (and this is a TOTAL surprise as that time I was drinking tea while calling, I was stunned for a few seconds when I overheard that). There goes my 4th job.
5. I totally forget about the foster brother and sister thingy! Well, Volunteered myself at the beginning to take 2 foster sisters and um… speechless as don’t know how to talk to them.
Any related elements (if any) will be mention at the end of the activity, I think.
Rushing on preparing the things (about pGURU and how to talk), not even able to think for the rest, the teachers and the students came >.<>
Brace myself and talk what is needed to talk in 15 minutes!
… 50 minutes later, at last, all finished, by making some sort of jokes and some arrangements, and of course – mistakes, it has been changed to the Ice breaking activity *fuh*! And that’s all for the first day activity. I was pretty relieved as the admin of JPP able to prepare the second bus to us therefore we committee members no need to walk back.
The second day, something bad happened…the bus was late for an hour due to vast reservations in that day, some people complaint about the lateness of the buss, therefore, at the post-mortem meeting, I need to suggest that to take all activates delay for 30 minutes for the 3rd day activity to avoid the bus issue. And my job for today is also basically the same but more into a PR in the morning (as I need to deal certain relationship with my job as pGURU) and then an additional semi-formal MC to the deputy dean’s briefing about the school. Still, lucky as there are no problems appears after that (imagine to deal with two major departments is a bit tired), and at that night, I need to ‘shoo’ one of my roommate away* (he finished his paper in 13 yet he is not returning, wonder what is he thinking…), as he always making noise and at those days, he recently making noises at midnight (3am by calling someone, duh!) and causes me feel tired at the second day.
*Not really shoo him away, like asking him why he is going back late as his house is in Sabah too, and he knows that I always complaint him that he is noisy (but luckily improved, as he makes less noise for the moment though (fuh). Most people misses their home and wanted to go back early, but he is an exception (if say stay for a week it is normal, but stays more than a week). Sorry friend, those days I am tired and I forced to do so in order for me to have a good rest in limited hours…
The two days activity starts at the 21th. Just at the morning, something happened. I wake up late and more surprisingly, the bus availability also got some issues and it causes a massive delay on picking up the members from the school and the committee members. And well… 60 minutes delay on a planned bus sure will cause uproar to both students and committee members (but nobody expect these will happen).
And then there goes my 4th and 5th job, as a PR officer (unofficially) and guide. (formal MC considered one?) During the event of meeting with the foster brother and sisters, I receive a complaint from teachers and students about the delay (well, get scolded is not bad sometimes, you can know how to improve), and at that day I am thinking for the solution for the bus delay and revise the tentative. Visits on the places are quite cool (especially the aquarium)! And the other places are pretty… boring, especially the museum, gallery and library (we went to library pretty much, so what’s so special about that place? Gallery is located at one of the forbidden area by us students, and nothing much you can get from there though… museum eh… quite informative, that’s all).
After the visit, we have our lunch back at our school. Quite a good lunch that we have as this is one of opportunity to get closer with the students (our foster brother/sister). From that they talk more and learn something like their personality and secrets. The food is a bit spicy, but I think it is OK for me…
A slight briefing from our school’s deputy dean was done at that afternoon, and a coincidence that I was required to answer some of the questions (remembered that I had done the research when I was about to try to enroll to the university, who knows it is useable at that time). It is not bad when you have studied something more, other than subject related too.
Some Training in group game, or activity was commenced at the noon and night; the students created their own unique yell as well have some sort of treasure hunt. And some games for the whole group were done at that night – like some sort of quiz. The activity ends around 10pm and another post meeting were done at that night. A briefing about the activity and some issues were mentioned (like the time for the following day’s activity), and suggestion on delay all activity at the following day by 30 minutes was done by me as the reflection of the event today. (Like my case - I also cannot wake up at 5am something otherwise will collapse for sure as totally lack of sleep)
Who knows, extra work need to be done (cleaning the room) as I returned my room at 11… It is hard when you live at ground floor and the stupid orders to ‘evacuate’ all ground floor houses + cleaning up…
At the third day, I woke up at 5am something (I set 5 alarms starting 4am). And phew! Pretty lucky that I arrived the bus stop early this time. Still, we arrived at there before 7, even though it is a bit late than planned. There are plenty of outdoor activities today, like aerobic dance, tele-match, a study talk as well as some minor activities at the day, such as poster-making and preparation for the talent show at night. Some of us take care on the venue-decoration at the tutorial rooms and preparation on the night and following day, and I fall asleep at the office (too tired). The activity at night sure causes a lot of excitement. In a few hours, we had talent show (the drama), and singing, as well as after-activity comment. Everything finished on time as planned, except for us that have a post-meeting.
There is nothing particular at the last day – the formal closing ceremony of the activity. And the activity ends earlier than expected; therefore the students and the committee members have some extra time to enjoy themselves and taking photos. Some of the committee members (including myself), need to be counselor as there are some of the students cried at the end of the activity. After they returned to the hostel, we have another small post-meeting and re-set the rooms. Then, all activities end! (of course post report too).
I found out something as I went through the activity, like:
1. I had another two extra sisters to take care of (just need to make sure that I am able to keep in contact with them).
2. Such versatility! Even though it is not a huge activity, but I managed to handle several jobs at once. Hidden talent are found out at the same time though, quite happy!
3. First TESL Unite that involves all batch of students.
4. Experience on making things, obviously, especially in a tough situation that handles various jobs that are important.
5. A success on the activity even it had faced various problems, try to imagine -limited funds and restrictions on this and that, luckily the school association helps to solve some of the problem.
P/S: Please visit edulife.mioforo.com for fun too (it is a forum)!
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