Wednesday, June 24, 2009

JIS Year 12 Information Programme : DAY ONE (Part 2, Activities in Empire)

So we got to the Marine Centre, where most of us changed. I wore shorts and all. Because we'll be getting into the water. So, here, we'll be doing 8 activities with our team. Mine was the Swans.

In any case, there was 4 physical, and 4 mental activities. But I had to say, ALL OF THEM WERE FUN.

I got to meet with Nurus and Zi, who were Mustaqiimah's friends. I went with them for almost the whole time, and they were in my team. There were 7 other teams, and we all alternate the activity we'll be doing.

For us Swans, we'll be going Tug-of-war at first. Okay, so one side, we had a LOT of girls. Just maybe three guys. And then the other end, there were a LOT of guys, and buff ones at that point. (But hey, almost ALL of the guys have a very good body... not that... I was staring)

For the first round, our side won. That alone made me very tired. Then after that, their side won and Zi actually fell! Then for the last round, we were very determined to win. Especially the girls. And we did! Against the side of guys. Man, it was so damn tiring that my arms still are sore from that!

For every activity, we actually took a short break where I'd go drink a cup of water. Yeah, it was hot like that.

After that, we had this sort of run-grab-run thing. Okay, so there were cones, and everyone has to run to get one. But the thing is, there are less cones, there are people. Which means, they'll be reducing the number of cones until there was one. But here's the HUGE twist. We were doing it on one part of the beach. And the sand was SO DAMN FUCKING HOT. This is what I did. I went.. and I ran to where we have to line up. Once I was there, everyone else was hopping and jumping cause the sand was very hot. How hot was it? Uhm. You know, when you cook something, then you'd need a cloth to cover up your hand before you grab the handle of the pot/pan, right? But if you don't use the cloth, it burns your hand, doesn't it? Yes. It was THAT hot. I was jumping and hopping like crazy before I realise that that alone doesn't help, so I actually ran back all the way to the side where a few of our team mates stood at. Because they didn't want to do it. Only half of the team played. /cough

Once that was done, we went into the water for some water volleyball. This HAS to be one of the most fun activity. We split our selves up and played as a team. I have to say that the guys were waaaaaaaaay better at it than the girls. I didn't do much for half of it, but they actually gave me a few throws. Yeah, my team was very nice. At one point, one of the guys was going to throw, but when he did, it hit his face before it bounced up, where he hit it again. We were all laughing at him. When I threw, I was like a newbie... where I AM one. I even tried to serve like how I would on land, but since the water was up to my waist.. or above that, it was hard. I actually sent the ball flying to the back. Then we all joked about it.

After that, was this sort of long.. float thing. We had to run from one end to the other within a time limit. But the things is, there were things.. you have to overcome on the float. If you fell out and into the water, you need to do it again. I didn't try it though. It was funny to see Zi and Nurus do it though!

Then it was lunch time. Empire food is good though! I ate with Mustaqiimah and the rest, but I didn't see Nurus around. I got to learn some of their names and all.

Once lunch was over, the swans had to do the mental activities.

The first one was 'tiles' where there's a lot of carpets that were laid down on the grass. Not all of the carpets were of the same size. The first one was big, and it decreases on like that. The rule of the game was to have everyone of the team to stand on the carpet, but our feet must NOT touch the grass. We went on to having everyone stand close together and all, where I even suggested that they stack up together. Which is sort of funny when they did. The teacher kept reminding us of the rules, and yeah. We tried like a LOT of times. In 8 minutes. I have to say that this is the first time I held a guy's hand so tightly... let alone stand VERY close in front of one. /cough Like I said, we tried a lot of ways that involved us holding hands with the person opposite of us, and also at some point, where we all hugged together. (Lol, don't ask) Then we were thinking about it, until we ACTUALLY got it. We sat down on the grass and put our feet on the carpet. Yes. That was all. We did NOT even have to stand up. Daaaamnnn, that made us look stupid!

After that, our next activity was the 'helium bar'. There's a sort of long metal 'pole' where we all hand to hold it on our index fingers. Boys took the left side of the pole, and the girls took the other. The goal is to put it down on the grass, but we mustn't drop it, or leave our finger. Unfortunately, you can use only your index, and you can't hook your finger around it. It took us some time at first, but then after that, it was actually easy! I guess that's when we started cooperating.

After that, we had the... blind fold thing. There was a rope on the ground where it was curved and all. There was a lot of water bottles too beside the rope. So this is what we had to do. We had to walk and move, following the rope. But the thing is, we can't knock down ANY bottles, and that we were blind folded. I was paired up with Nurus, and I had to guide her. But we can't touch them. So somehow it was hard. We only got two people to finish it up without knocking down any bottles. Nurus finished too!

Once that was done, we had the spider volleyball where we there was this one 'net' where the strings are little, and there are holes that we had to pass through. But we had to go as a team to the other side without knocking the net down. We were the last team and fastest!

Anyway, we had time after that, but we went a bit earlier than planned. So yeah. It was fun, and the students were nice. I get people asking me for my name and asking me if I was enjoying my time or not, considering that I was a new student. So yeah. This was my first time being in a school where the people are nice and warm. Besides form 4 and form 5. But it took me time to open up, right? I opened up on the first day itself.

Well, tomorrow, I'll be having my second day of the Year 12 Information Programme thing. But we wouldn't be going out like this. We'll be having a Leadership/Teamwork thing, and a Higher Education/Career talk as well as our two other classes. For Business Studies, I don't know anyone, so yeah. I'll also be eating lunch there, so yeah.

JIS Year 12 Information Programme : DAY ONE (Part 1, Classes)

So today, 24th June 2009, Wednesday, I had my Year 12 Information Programme in JIS.

Its purpose was to give us a taste of how form 6 life would be like in JIS, and also today, we had a trip of Empire Hotel, as an activity to get everyone up and together. Especially for the new students! It'll go on for two days, where we'll have 5 classes, one period each, and they'll explain to us what we should expect of the subjects, and its syllabus.

Before I went, I was supposed to go with my neighbour's children: Nurul and Adam. Nurul is going to be in the same batch of Year 12 with me! So we talked for a bit as we were going to JIS.

Once there, she helped me around, and well, it was nice. I got to find out what class I'm in and had today. She was only in one of my classes, though she had friends to help us get around. /smile

When I was looking at my subjects and classes on the board, I met two other friends. Lynz, who had been in the same school with me for half a year before she went back, and also Natasha, who was my childhood's close friend. I've met her before, and I did not recognise her, until I saw her name!

They had two other guy friends who came with them all the way from Belait. I think they were in the same school before? Uhm. Their names were Nazmi and Wali. I'd have to say that Wali is nice, while Nazmi was a bit.. anti-social. But at any case, I went with Natasha and Lynz still.

We had to go somewhere for assembly and we were sort of early. When we were there, they gave us this booklet where it tells us what class I'm supposed to go to and all. Natasha is in all my classes, but one. So today we were practically together the whole time. I only have one class together with Lynz, and one with Nurul.

During assembly, they talked about our classes and all. It wasn't long, but I saw how many people there are. I saw Mustaqiimah as well! Apparently, they told us that they put us in random teams which is decided by the booklet you picked out. I was in the 'Swans' team, where I don't know anyone. /sadfaic

We'll be going in teams once we're in Empire, so yeah.

So after assembly, it was core studies, which is English. The ones who I know are in that class, but not Nurul. Mustaqiimah actually took me with her to English, but I... actually forgot about Lynz and Natasha.

We didn't do much since the projector needed assistance. So we weren't doing much. Natasha and Lynz came in late, but they didn't miss much. So my teachers for English were Mr. S. Denby and Mr. N. Smith. Apparently, for core studies, we only have 3 classes for each week. (One class = One Period = 45 Minutes) We'll be having assignments every two weeks, according to one my teachers. It's a one year course, and we'll only be doing two papers, two hours each. But also almost 2 essays per paper. So yeah. My teachers were rather... funny in a way. Which is great! ...then again, I always have a weird humour.

After that, we had Further Maths, where only me and Natasha was there. Apparently, I get to 'meet' one of the new students, Ian, who I'll be having 3 subject classes with. The teacher (Mr. E. Kyle) was interesting, though, I can't.. say he's funny. He tries to be, though. /chuckle

After that, we have Chemistry with Mr. T. Pluck and Mr. C. Kruger. Mr. Kruger was rather nice to me and Natasha as we were new students. Nurul was also in my class. We watched a few videos about chemistry (which is rather interesting), where after that, we made 'slime'. It was funny. My slime's name is Ambuyat. Because.. it looks like one. I was a bit... off.. since it's been a long time since I've handled chemistry... stuff.

Once that was over, we all gathered together to the buses. I was in Bus 3 with everyone else, but Mustaqiimah. I got to meet two people who asked me if I knew Fizah and Faizshah. /laugh

Then we were off!