Yesterday, I met up with my Sec 3-4 form teacher, Ms Richards, together with Russell and Joseph. It was great just meeting up over a meal and talk about those good old days. It has been 6 years since we left SJI but I must say those memories from Secondary school days were the best. Talking about SJI, the military band performance, Renaissance, will be on 21st July at NUS UCC. Will be asking around who wanna watch then maybe we can go get the tickets together.

Initially, Russ, Joe, Rosie and myself had lotsa plans for this weekend - from eating at Katong, to Settlers, to Ubin Cycling, to Novena, to over night mahjong at my place but we only managed to eat at Katong and go Settlers. We were kinda tired from all the activities prior to our meeting up and to make things worse, my nose started to leak like a tap. I even had to grab tissue from the toilet. Fatique was setting in and the fever started to come up. So much for all the plans but nevermind, I will organise mahjong really soon.

Finally, I reached a point where my body tells me that I really just needa spend a few days at home to rest. It has been about 9 weeks since exams ended, been on a trip to KL, Vocation Retreat, Artz Retreat, FOC and a whole lot of other activities. Looking back I think there isn't one full day that I just stayed home and slack. Probably today is the first day but its because I am down with fever and this time cant ignore alr. Oh well, its time to just enjoy the comfort of home and to recharge myself for more activities to come before school starts.

In the midst of recovering from FOC, I went ahead for my first Fiji OG outing last Monday. I must say Nicholas was really siao on to organise OG outing just right after camp, but it was really nice to see the freshies bonding well with one another. They actually missed each other after 2 days. We went to Miss Clarity Cafe for lunch. Finally had a chance to dine in there. I think the trick is to go there during lunch time and not dinner. Cos the cafe was relatively empty when we were there. We went to Minds cafe after that but Carmie and I left early for Artz Senior Farewell at Vivo. We had a nice cosy dinner at Vivo Marche but many of us were sick - the aftermath of FOC but we didnt really care. Had a prize giving ceremony for the seniors (thank you Fel for preparing the gifts for the seniors on behalf of Artz Comm) and photo taking session. We also played Polar Bear in the open area outside Marche. It was quite fun and comical.

Gomes birthday celebration was on Tuesday. I think we really surprised her. Things went according to plan although we waited about 2 hours for her. Actually we took out one item from her birthday gift - 3 fake cockroaches. We wanted to include the cockroaches in her birthday package but after seeing the strong reaction from the other gals, we decided to just do away with it. It was a good celebration with a fantastic Chocolate Indulgence cake from Secret Recipe. It was nice seeing her shocked, surprised and touched. We watched Fantastic 4 after that but it wasnt up to expectations. There was a lack of climax throughout the story. Perhaps the only good part about the movie was Jessica Alba.

Watched Oceans 13 yesterday with CSS peeps - definitely a better movie than Fantastic 4. We somehow got 10 complimentary movie tickets passes due to a 'boo boo' the cinema had made. We should use the passes for Transformers - a movie not to be missed! More activities in the coming weeks - Blood donation (long overdue), OG Cycling, OG BBQ/Stayover, Mahjong Sessions, Transformers, Artz Gathering (to welcome Freshies), Milk Run, Kushinbo Buffet and a whole list of birthdays coming up starting from 29th June all the way to 30th July. I need $$$$$, more tuitions needed to survive the coming month!

NUS CSS FOC 2007 - It has been a long six days, running on pure adrenaline but at the end of it all, it was all worth it - the joys, the laughters, the sharings and the tears.I have gained a lot as a facil from this FOC. It is different from other orientation camps or any of my church camps cos CSS FOC is a hybrid of both. Amazing isnt it. Having a Christ centered camp in the midst of all the fun.

DaY -1 and 0 - Facil workshop started last Sunday and Monday with all the facils and some befrienders coming together to know one another better, learnt the funky mass dance as well as to know the programme for FOC proper. Raymond, Salimah (Frances), Helena and I were co-facils. At the start, I really didnt know any of them well at all, didnt even know how Helena looks like. (maybe a bit more for Salimah cos I always ask her whether she got sweep the floor). All of us had different characters but through FOC, we made use of each other talents and weaknesses to assist one another. I have learnt a lot from Raymond and of cos getting to know Salimah and Helena better too.


Day 1 - Initially there were only 4 freshies in our group (Fiji) - 3 gals (Serene, Yvonne and Joyce) and a guy (Nicholas). We were kinda worried that Nicholas will feel left out in the midst of the gals. But thankfully, He sent another person - another Nicholas. And both of the guys already knew each other in JC. At first, the freshies were really quite quiet. When other groups had already started 'Ra-Ra-ing' away, they were still very much reserved. At that point in time I felt a bit disheartened. However, during the session where they had to design their own group flag, I saw how they opened up to each other and they co-operated really well. They also came up with cheers by themselves. The best thing was that they did it all by themselves, we their facils didnt suggest anything at all. I felt they have bonded really well with one another and I am sure the other facils will agree with me as well. And I learnt something important, not everyone is 'Ra-ra' by nature, what matters most is how people bond together through the various activites and learn to love and care for one another.

Day 2 - The team-building games were really fun. Got really wet (thanks to Carmie and her team of gals at her station). Fiji bonded really well and the cheers were getting funkier. This day was faculty day also. We had faculty lunch at the forum. It was great seeing all the Artz freshies. Most of them were gALS with only 2 guys. Faculty sharing at night was really good. Though sharing at first was supposed to be just a general sharing about FOC, I am glad that it became more than just that. From the sharings, I came to realise that I really love this Artz community a lot man!

Day 3 - By this day, the facils were all becoming zombies and moving around in auto pilot mode. Nonetheless, seeing how the freshies were bonding and enjoying themselves, it gave me the energy to hang in there. Competitive games were fun under the blazing sun. I enjoyed the game of soccer cum captain ball a lot. Maybe we can organise such games in future. Was nodding off during the Choice Talk as well as Taize.
Of cos, the best part of every catholic camp I think will be recon night. This time I had the opportunity to be in one of the praying over teams. At first, I was worried that I wasnt spiritual enough to pray for others especially when I was terribly lacking of sleep. But I decided to just try. I got paired up with Piglet and the experience was good. While praying for those who came to us, I could feel the Holy Spirit working through us especially Piglet when she started praying in tongues. This is the first time that I witness someone speaking in tongues. Though kinda uncomfortable initially, I realised that it is actually such a wonderful gift. It gave me more encouragement to go for LISS.
After night reflection with my OG, they had to start preparing for their skit. I was really impressed at how they already had come up with a rough plot and a song for it. It was a great skit and I enjoyed rehearsing the skit with them a lot esp all of those bimbo moments that they had included into the skit. All of us started getting really cranky and I realised that the gals in my group really got potential to be excellent bimbos. Can join Steph and Fel bimbo club already.

Day 4 - Solemity of Sacred Heart - Archie came to celebrate mass but many of us were really nodding our heads away. As we were about to head to Sentosa, it started raining heavily. We gathered as one community to pray for good weather and sang How Great Thou Art. At Sentosa, the rained stopped and we were blessed with a good sun. All the groups displayed their skits and of cos Fiji got the best skit. :) Played with water bombs and threw people into the sea. And guess wad, we saw two rainbows in the sky. During last year FOC, it also rained and we also saw 2 rainbows in the sky. I remembered how Steph was exclaiming about how great God is by showing us the two rainbows. Back then, I just thought it was just a coincidence, but this time, I knew that it wasnt. I really felt that HE was watching over us throughout the whole camp and has bless our community abundantly.

It was really an awesome FOC. I came to this FOC without expecting anything but in the process of it all, I have gained so much. I have got to know many other seniors better from other faculties like Science and Law. I am sure other seniors will feel the same as me when our freshies affirms us that they have never attended a camp like CSS FOC and how they felt the love from everyone. It is also nice to know that the freshies really miss camp and the community like ours. Amen!

'I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed... How great thou Art!'