Alrighttt so i am back from Jakarta! I've got plenty to blog about!! But most of the photos on Lifen's camera ain't up yet so i guess i will only upload them when it gets onto FB. And sorry for the bad english because i just woke up.
Jakarta has been a really fun trip, yet at the same time it was fulfilling. It was good seeing and experiencing the things that others had told me about. I was apprehensive initially, but it was gone almost immediately as the indon coaches were the friendliest lot. And a shocker ... my group of participants were close to the best ever in my coaching time ... perhaps behind only the 'oldest' group i had in Kzhang's camp.
Went to the airport on the 19th, met up with Lifen, Max, Theresa, Andrea, Gary to fly down to Jakarta. We had to 'smuggle' stuff and each of us were given Blackberries to bring along too. The amount of pens that were stored inside the bag i was in charged of was scary. But anyway, the flight there was pretty uneventful ... Max was sharing with me stuff i should do and shouldn't do, which helped a lot. So at the customs, most of us got stopped and checked. The crazy amount of pens were found and we (theresa and me), or at least more of me were a bit uncomfortable. Reasons like 'we are drawing teachers' came up. Thankfully Theresa knew what to do, shoved 2 packs of pens to the customs officer and muttered something about our driver is waiting for us outside, and dragged me off.
Cynthia came down with her driver together with Kenny to pick us up to go to the office first. Apparently the coaches have been waiting for us for hours =p Sorry guys ... Ate lunch and then got onto cynthia's car and made our way down to lake lido. On the way, i was just observing the outside environment and how Indonesia is like. The thing is i THINK i've been to Indonesia before, but perhaps it was too long ago for me to remember. Chatted with Cynthia about the people there, about her driver and stuff before we fell into a slumber.
The disparity there between the rich and the poor is really very big. Young kids get chauffeurs and their own cars, and if they look old enough, licences are purchasable. I don't mean to sound stupid like i haven't heard this before, but coming face to face and interacting with them, getting to hear and feel how their lives are makes reality more real.
We arrived at Lake Lido and made our way to the briefing room. It was an eye opener for me seeing the size of the coaching team. There was about 30 of us there with the biggest ring i've ever seen. The PD was Igor, whom i've met at the office earlier, and Raymond whom i've met sometime back here in Singapore. Once again, excited and apprehensive, i just sat next to Max and Lifen to see how everything would be like. The coaching team was rather young, with half of them new. Alarm bells started ringing inside my head (it always does when i sense that things may go wrong). But it was good seeing them so hyped up and full of energy for this camp. Did a round of introductions before i forgot to mention how old i am. Led to me having to convince many of them over the next few days that i am indeed 24.
Told to do a briefing on two of the major segments ... and me being me, was always up for this kind of challenge as it has became a 2nd nature to me. But at the back of my mind, thoughts start to form about the 'effects' it would have on everything else.
After that we checked into our rooms. Bunked with Max and Bong which was great. One of the greatest thing in this camp was able to bunk with them (although it would be great to exclude the snoring). Lifen, Trina, Theresa and Andrea was next door, followed by Gary and Adam. Inside me, there was this warmth feeling knowing that we Singaporeans are all there together felt very comforting.
Then came our first meal there. Well ... like what they all said, the food there was terrific. Awesome. Buffet-style plus free flow of icecream sometimes. It was so good for the mouth. It wasn't that good for the stomach. Max had diarrhoea, and i had constipation. Funny though cos i whacked on the fruits and salad too. Thankfully they are all coming out now. =x
The air there is really bad too. Well the thing is this, smoking is all over the place in addition to the burning of trees or rubbish. Eyes get constantly irritated and throat gets dry really fast. The nose sneezes non stop and it's not flu. But it really saps your energy.
First day. Seeing the participants arrived and some of them had the langa-by-lorry-face. Once again, the language barrier problem surfaced within me. I don't know whether they would be able to understand me as much as i hoped they could, because just standing in the midst of Indon coaches whom rattled off in Bahasa, i was just feeling slightly inferior. Was prepping myself for a 16-17 years old group because i heard SG coaches usually get the older bunch, but my 'self-expectations' took a blow when i was given a younger bunch. Expressed my desire, but didn't get any changes. Got frustrated but eventually i closed my own loop.
Well, this thing about self-disclosure happened frequently in the first few days. I had to do it because i knew no one else but myself could deal with the frustration. Max's formation of the Chillax club did help but it was pretty funny how we took turns to fill the role of getting frustrated. Trust me, we love the place, we love the people, we love the passion that was shown, we love the fun ... but operationally-wise, there was definitely room for improvements. Lifen commented i was almost acting like a CA, which once again, brought out this struggle within. I was there as a coach, yet i wanted to help as much as i could. At the same time, i don't know them well enough to know how well they could take in the things i was saying, and also it would look bad on them. So it was a constant struggle.
Anyway, the days passed rather quickly. It was good to see Fai, Dejun, Edwin, and Aaron-nobody-but-you when they came on Sunday for the Junior camp. And hahaha ... Bong, Gary, Max and I were laughing at some comparison stuff which made me really glad i was coaching in the senior camp =x
As the end of my coaching time begins to be more obvious, i started testing out new stuff. Happened for sg senior camp, and for this camp, i decided that my group didn't really need me to go for any drastic measure. Took Max's style and put it into my TP on day 4. Glad that it turned out well.
After the camp, we had a free day for us to shop at Ambassador Mall. Bought some stuff and ate A&W!! Hahaha ... and on the way to the airport, me being a driver, went through a driving lesson. The amount of honking and high beaming was crazy. Drivers drive like no tomorrow and are freaking skillful. But i cannot imagine Singaporeans doing that back here. We will either get stared, honked, or middle-fingered. The thing over there is this, if you don't cut in fast, you get honked. If you slowly take your time, you get high-beamed. Too bad for you ... that's why i guess most of them are like, if you can't beat them, join them. The way they turn out from a small lane into a main road is fascinating. The car on the main road is forced to slow down for the small lane car. How awesome. And there isn't any patience to wait or give way because its like a car-eat-car world out there. If you wait, then everyone will be taking advantage of you ... and you have those cars behind you cursing and swearing at you.
To Max, Lifen and Theresa, i am really glad that you guys are there with me throughout this experience. All the laughter, all the chillaxing, and all the nonsense we had will be fond memories. CHILLAX!
To Gary, Bong and Andrea, i am glad once again to see all of you train, and also getting to know all of you better ... ah you know what i mean ...
To Cynthia and Claire, thanks coming down and really being our tourguides on the first and last day. Really appreciate all the effort you girls put in! =)
It was saddening to see the camp end and knowing that once again, another camp down, how many more to go before i hang up my boots. Really bonded with the coaches, especially people like Shar, Monica, Cynthia, Jason, Samgar, Claire, Jeff, Steven, Mario, Dimas and of course Igor and Raymond. Like what i said on the last day, continue to show the passion and spirit for your participants, continue to come back and coach, form the core, spread the experience, the future is all yours!
posted by LAH at
2:37:00 PM
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