Tortoise Territory: October 2008

Dear readers, warning bloody long post ahead!!! Hehe….I did plan to write on the pre final project acting students performance but I’ll hang on to that till I find a way to express the performance properly. Just two days from Hari Raya, was the last day we were at a bungalow stay somewhere along Penang Free School, McD and shell station where there was our venue for USM Local Leadership development seminar. It was a three days two nights stay through a lot of people say that it was kinda creepy but I enjoyed the mystery the place had installed for us…

Initially I planed not to go since mom needed me at home to prepare the house for Raya and I didn’t want to see her break her back bone cleaning on her own but then I realized that Malaysia Leadership Development Seminar will be held the same time during Raya Haji and we have been planning to go to Tawau for abang Lan’s wedding with Kak Yanti. Its kinda sad because I wished they made not during a pubic holiday because then I can go and it seems that they are not careful enough to realize the dates, unless they planned for it lar…which I’m not sure of.

Anyhow, I told dad about the problem and that he said it’s up to me to decide to go or not, (dad is very pro AIESEC stuff) and so since this is my last semester in USM I made a point to go just incase there is not to say no more opportunity but maybe less after I graduate. (BTW, mom had no idea I was going…dad said to keep it quiet and tell her last minute, and she said ok) I texted Ching that I was coming and paid the RM60 fees during our gym time.

Waiting at DUP Busstop

So on Friday, mom send me to the DUP which is the exam hall near the bridge, somewhere near 5pm, so there was all the so called “kids” waiting at the bus stand…so we chit-chat till the school bus arrived, by the way, mind you that I never pack light, everybody said that I’m going back home from camp…that’s why I’m the tortoise with the pink haversack shell. My house goes everywhere with me…and so we headed to the creepy bungalow.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by Ruby and Chan-chan’s new Liza Minelli haircut, so at this time we were settling down, and unpacking. Tina started stalking people by this time. Tina the fitness queen is so inspiring me to go to gym which before this I had never thought of going, so she said, if I can burn 100 calories in 10 minutes with one of the equipment forgot what the name is, I could loose a lot of weight by 3 weeks…Id do anything to loose weight and the epidemic on my face, so thanks Tina.

Square dance....bootylicious???

Some more Square dance

So for those who break fast, they had some rice first then ate with us. We had carrot rice with vege and chicken. Yummy! So, after that we had some square dancing while waiting for Emily to come. We played the games like chuckle belly where all had to lie on others stomachs and say a syllable but you can’t laugh or you need to start again. Then was the game where you pull someone in front of you game. I got punished for this. Hehe. The first group had to spell their names with their butts and we did the coo-coo clock. Its basically sitting in a line and moving yourself as like the needle of a clock. I had to move the most. Then I seriously do not know what was happening behind me. Then, it turned out that waiting would loose precious time so we did the last agenda for the night first which was sculling.

Dinner time

Please guys, if you want to do sculling next time let me know earlier so I can plan scarf colour, last time my purple new scarf became an ikky orange cloth. Good thing was this time was only Sarsi and not a punch made of unknown substances. I remembered last time that the liquid that we had to drink was a combination of corn juice, tamarind and perhaps something else…It was gooey, thick and something you drank that you’ll never forget how bad it tasted. So when I heard that there’ll be a next time and its gonna be bad. Who knows how badly?

Sculling for those never heard of it is an AIESEC culture whereby a group of people will drink what ever substance and that when each member finishes the next in line will continue and which ever team finished first wins. Sounds simple?? Because it is!! Just need to drink fast and efficiently, no dripping stuff la. The queue goes like this “thumbs on the table, chin on the table, eyes on the water….GO!” then the supporters will cheer weird tribal sounds (I feel like it’s a foreign language since I have no Idea of the meaning) “ikki, ikki, ikki,… eye,eye,eye” on and on till there is a winner.

You raise your hand when you're done

So being the team S.H.I.T (Super, Hot, Intelligent, Team) we did go to the semi-finals but due to the crappy cups, picking up was hard the next time so we lost the second round. Ooh, before that we had a session whereby we were broken into teams four to five students each, and then we were supposed to come up with role calls and name group. So mine was S.H.I.T-translations are as above, there was mamma mia, Vier, EDC, nutcracker. Dearie team is all guys and one lady (moi…hehe). OH Shit!

EDC

Vier

S.H.I.T=Super+Hot+Intelligent+Team

Mamma Mia

So the night came and we had the “I want to become a leader” section. I found out that I’m a strategic leader. As expected, I’m an introvert since matriculation…I find great pleasure in analyzing stuff, even in babies lingo, sleeping styles, you name it…freaky!! I know, but that’s how the way I am, part of it because that I grew up alone (some more living at UUM-the practically on a hill in a jungle from age 8-11, I’ve become one with the monkeys, scorpions and the huge lizards. Astro was not affordable yet at that time, but there were Thai channels though =)) so I have really interesting imaginations about what others will do and even in pieces that I play, I love playing with my imagination.

Strategic leadership basically are leaders who can break down visions and large aims into manageable chunks which are vital for an organization. Strategic leaders have the insight and focus to work to work out ways of achieving the vision, the “how”, are able to persuade the rest of the organization to accept this plan. Strategic leaders can bring common sense to a difficult task-able to help people see how the seemingly impossible can be achieved. However, like pioneers, they can less engage with the implementation of a task, preferring to leave this to others.

Hmm, I kinda have a problem trusting people doing a task sometimes. I rather do things on my own but sometimes I bit too much that I can chew so I get in trouble too. Delegating too, I have a problem. I can give task only that I’m 98% sure the person can do it properly. By chance I should be giving chance to others to prove their work but I get doubtful. I need time to absorb this.

I saw this in the cupboard....So sad seing the instruments been left to rot there

So the night came to an end then some of us, especially Angie needed the sleep; I wanted to enjoy next night but scared that I’ll be worn out the next day. So in to my sleeping outfit I pretended to sleep for few hours till I was really a sleep. I have a problem sleeping in a different environment sometimes. National Ambassador’s Camp (NAC) was worse, I couldn’t sleep. I was practically tossing and turning, the night air was freakin’ cold, and my roommate was terribly snoring. But during NAC too I found out that Ching has somniloqi, hehe….

So next day I woke up about 7.30am if not mistaken, I heard people moving up and down the room so I woke up. Eve woke at six so that she didn’t need to queue for the shower. I have no idea how scary Ruby would be if she would jump so to avoid heart attacks of being pounced at so wake up early will be the best choice. Breakfast was a slice of bread with jam. I wasn’t fasting so I asked Jessica to take a piece of bread for me so the three guys would not be offended. Next at 9am was the morning plenary. Here is where all the last night recap and feedback was been brought up. Not forgetting roll calls!!

Next was my traditional favorite part in AIESEC which was world café. Previously called challenge your world view, dad always does this in the car so I don’t sleep. Sometimes his questions are really tricky but interesting. Among the topics that we discussed are the media involvements in promoting violence in children, homosexuals transmitting HIV/AIDS, and should we legalize soft drugs. I found that smoking Marijuana is better than smoking ciggies because cigarettes have tar that is dangerous for the person and others while Marijuana small doses, well is considered safe. My friend had this brownie where they put weed inside and he said that it didn’t made him high immediately. Maybe it made a tingling sensation but not addictive. Government also could control the dosages too if it’s been legalized.

Then since the rest are not finished we decided to play poor Mrs. O’Grady died. After a long line of laughter and silliness, it was time for lunch. Nadia convinced me that It’s ok so I went down though I was curious that the Shell people was looking at me weirdly, maybe It’s only me.

Next was the simulation, cow or chicken. All teams were given RM 10,000. Then each team has to go to the “store” to buy the land, seed, fertilizer, hormones and stuff. Then once you bought the stuff, you need to plant them. So, we needed to the planting station and grow the food. Then once its ready, you need to buy cow or chicken depending on your choice. The food harvested needed to be eaten by the cow or chicken. Once the chickens and cows are ready to be turned into patties and nuggets, they are shifted to the working area where these nuggets are packaged and become burgers. Then you need to make profit outta the product so the burgers needed to be sold to the customers.

Interesting as it sounds, it was harder than it seems since we lost one of our group mates and that cost us labor power. So more moving up and down, other groups have specializations. Anyhow our group didn’t made any profits (we had loss actually) but I’m happy that we tried and made silly commercials during selling which if my course mates knew they might be laughing till they get flat abs perhaps. In between the whole thingy, the chicken became very confused and the cow got infected with mad cow disease, the store closed for Raya and immigration froze work permit. So these are things that could happen in firms I guess. Strategy is very important in this game.

Serena immitating Ruby's pain

Then finally we had a short break, bathe, some more sleep for Angie, basically some breathing time from all the brain storming of what to say in world café and the cow and chicken. Then we had the functional area where you learn more on the department. So for me, Ruby and Kugan was lecturing on branding and how to do negotiations and recruitment. The talent management my guess they did on the Global competency model like how to calculate the results of the survey and stuff. We heard them laughing so probably it was an interesting session for them. Ruby tried very hard not to make the sessions dry and was really interesting to me.

After dinner, we had the parallel sessions for skill building workshops. So I did first the presentation skills workshop. Overall to have good presentation, you need to know your materials well, know the audiences, be well prepared and stuff. Most importantly don’t crap if you don’t know. Obey PAMPERS law, Projection, Articulation, Modulation, Pronunciation, Enunciations, Repetitions and Speed. It’s good to come early and interact with the audiences so you can reduce stage fright.

Then was the re-brand yourself workshop. This was also interesting because I found out the laws of myself are totally visible to others, especially Serena. Chan-chan, thanks for letting me know. I thought that if I kept quiet nobody could see beneath my thoughts, hmmm…proved me wrong. So we discussed the dos and don’ts for the corporate world. I learned that there were researches that proved wearing lipstick actually creates some attention. The common thing that both this two workshops has taught me is to be you. We did like cutting-cutting and pasting-pasting things that you always wanted to do have which was interesting. I had curls, a shining white Siberian tiger tattoo at my lower back that I always wanted, a belly button piercing, sleeveless top with baggy cargo pants. Yup, that’s basically me stripped to the core.

In the same room the next section was creative thinking. I think I’m creative but I’m trying to push myself further. So we talked about the creators of Facebook, Leonardo Da Vincci, the smiley face and very interesting stuff that I sort of heard of but haven’t had the time to really absorb it. Then we exercised our creativity by creating products. I made a funky mug that I find the way you could hold it differently. Azri did an interesting candle. There was a card, toilet roll hanger and others.

Then back to Ruby and Kugan, was the conflict management. This is interesting. I hate conflicts, so most probably I’ll try my best to avoid them by agreeing on things that I don’t like, choosing to do things on my own, and some other ways just to keep me into a situation that I won’t be comfortable with. This means I have no stand for my ideas, and let others decide for me. It’s hard for me to accept a challenge in a group because of this and I feel that the session helps in coping with this problem. Well until now I would choose to do things on my own.

Surprise, surprise!! After we finished the session, we were all at the plenary. A scream from downstairs shocked us (mainly because the bungalow is quite creepy, I thought someone saw a ghost or a ghost send a love letter or any sightings) so we went downstairs and saw Serena and Nadia in a drama scene. I was curious what we were supposed to do. Peggy was bit unconvinced that this is a play; she freaked out a lil but then got the hang of it.

The story was Nadia was poisoned, so the whole story will be rewind and we need to find the killer. Serena was having trouble accepting that she broke up with Kugan. Nadia is the one clinging to Kugan at the moment so there was the affair going on. At the meantime, Nadia found out that Ruby took money from the LC and threatened to tell James. If its proven that the money was took LCUSM will be disband from operating. Emily was sent to spy on the LC. Mommy Ching-cai has a crush on Serena and would do anything to protect her. Matt is Ruby’s darling and he too is protecting her. Tjun Chye was a psycho secret admire of Nadia

A killer’s analysis (see, how much I like analyzing situations…maybe I should become a profiler…) Tjun Chye character is very flat, he doesn’t moves the story. So one down. Emily doesn’t have a killing motive, just to spy. Kugan won’t kill her lover after all the plans they made. So it leaves Rubs, Serena, Matt and Ching. All exept Ching have a prominent role showing their feelings towards Nadia, a good murderer should always distract others to not see them as a killer. In the end it was down to Ching and Matt. Both of them were fixing the drinks in the separate hall. I saw the part that Ching pushed the chair but didn’t suspect anything. However Ching was distributing the drinks and handed over to Serena. By right Serena could be charged for conspiracy because the drink handed by Ching was especially for Nadia alone. Serena was not suspicious about the special cup for Nadia. Conclusion: Ching killed Nadia to protect Serena feelings.

So in the end I convinced my group that Ching was the killer. None had any objections. Turns out my analysis was true. The others thought that Matt was the killer, one said both Matt and Ching. But I still Serena should be charged for conspiracy…sorry Chan-Chan=) Ching, next time you want to act please make sure your voice projection is clear ok?? Can’t hear you. More mysterious you are, more suspicious people get. Rubs and Serena are really spontaneous.

After that, we decided to head for McD. I was dying for McD because I haven’t had fast food for almost a month….hehe, too bad. I knew I shouldn’t, It was 3 am. By the time we actually settled to bed it was around 5am so it was like few hours to doze off. I woke up at 8.20. Late!! Need to queue for bathroom. So I made it safely without punishment to morning plenary. So we sang for roll call this time. Then those punished did the coin hug thingy.

Next we did some games with the murderer. We played the colors on body parts, Knight, mountain and cavalier, human letters, and then some suggested we try the second time the chuckle belly, and we did it. Yay!!

More simulations! This time was coming from the place called Derdia. The Derdians are really cultured people and they easily get offended if you don’t follow their culture. Hehe…When their old bridge broke, they could not have their favorite lobsters and good food, so they invited people from the experts’ community to teach them to build their bridge. The experts have the engineering expertise to build the bridge. So in our own community we got the briefing on how to be a part of the Derdians. Most of us are really culture shock at the start but then the culture was absorbed till I guess some really liked the culture.

Work on the bridge

The first few minutes we were able to meet a few members of the experts and they were also confused on what we were doing. They observed all the materials that we have and went back to discuss some more with their team. We made our strategies too by the second time. The derdian culture is greeting by kissing on the shoulder and the Derdians get offended if others give their hands to shake. We touch people that we like and well offend the people who doesn’t you touch back. If a Derdian doesn’t like a person he or she would not touch the person. Derdian men will interact with other men from different community if they are introduced by a Derdian woman. They have instrument genders (like the French?) ladies will use the pen and rulers, they guys will use scissors and the glue is neutral. The ladies will never ever touch the scissors and the guys will never ever touch the pens and rulers. When a Derdian is offended, they complain loudly. We made a loud der…der…der sound with hands franticly moving above the head. Plus a Derdian says no by saying yes with the head nodding, yes is saying yes without the nod.

The Experts

The experts were actually doing the bridge without any help from the Derdians. They should actually teach us to do it too anyhow our bridge was strong enough to hold two pens, two rulers and a glue bottle. So I can say the experts did a very good job despite us touching, touching, touching them all the time. Some had really good time der..der…dering Nadia and Ruby.

Derdians and the experts

Some more Square dance

After photo taking sessions we headed for the closing plenary. So after all thanking and stuff we handed a special surprise to the facilitators for the whole camp. It was eve’s laundry bag that we handed to them. So being all satisfied it was time to close the plenary and get packing to go back. I went to pick up my sugar cubes and put in my file so that I could read it when I’m alone.

The Sugar cubes

Satisfied Facilitators

One of Rubs funny poses

Serena's feel's like Sponge Bob here...It's a good thing that its on the right lenght
The Ladies

The dudes

Of the whole camp, friendship ties become stronger, scandals been gossiped and kepoed, never ending pillow talk, delegates been stalked and stalked, a week end full of self awareness and loving yourself, laughing your hearts out and overall a great change in everybody. Like dad said all the time everything has a room for improvement so grab all the opportunity and be competitive for a sustainable future. So I do hope to be apart in changing others in the future and realize my dreams and goals in life based on my life experience through out my seven semesters in USM and three semesters in AIESEC.