The Family Spirit

They remind each other drink more water, constantly checking each other stamina and cheer for each other during the match.

Right before the event, we had a little “prep-camp” for IPOD 09. My task was to draw out the main score sheet. Judging the number of teams, I was afraid that me and my committee can’t handle the amount of teams. My two helpers were Jason and Alan. We were short of manpower. Imagine the 3 of us need to take care of 12 basketball teams and 3 referees.

On that day itself there are some problems regarding the teams. First, one of the basketball team from NP had insufficient people and they have split themselves up into various teams. As a result we only have 11 teams. My solution for them is either I disqualify one team from NP or 1 NP basketball team will represent 2 teams. I’m glad that the basketball players from NP are very cooperative as they took the initiative to discuss and make a decision. In the end, they choose to have 1 NP team represent 2 teams.

Which also make my job easier as I don’t really need to do a lot of amendments on the score sheet that we prepared.

I was glad to have my 3 referees and medic with me. They are Sheng Long, Dylan, Lionel and Yaohan. They’ve helped me explain the rules of basketball and remind me of what I should do.

After lunch, the weather was very hot and humid. Thank God I’ve a mipro with me. Or else I guess I would have lost my voice. The mipro was very helpful as I used it to remind the basketballs players to have ample rest and hydrate themselves.

I guess all of the basketball players had fun. There are no quarrels or huge disagreement found on the court. Everyone respect the referee decisions and play the game fair and square. There are no injuries too!

The most important thing is that, I can see each and everyone bond together as a Primers family. With no injuries means that the teams have take good care of each other during the hectic day. They remind each other drink more water, constantly checking each other stamina and cheer for each other during the match.

Jing Yi
Basketball In-charge

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From NP with love!

Well done SP Primers and next year we are visiting NYP, last but not least, we are looking forward for more of this bonding and interaction with you all again

The moment I step into SP, there are already people welcoming us to walk us in and it even more heartwarming when we receive the goodie bag with everything inside. Wen sze and partner start the whole event with a loud bang! Which really bring up the atmosphere for the event.

This event is very well organize with the adding in of the ORHLYMPIC game, it very cool and engaging. I was in the basketball team, though we didn’t win a single match out of all but as the match pass by, we even started some funny conversation together with the SP, NYP and HQ. It seems like winner is not everything but the fun and bonding instead. Though I had a very hard time trying to score and win at least one match but seriously there’s no chance, can’t admit that I have not been gaining weight and lack in exercising.

It really nice to start breaking some ice with the SP primers friends as all along we have seen each other during the NDP 2009 but it always just a few look and HI and wave. I guess the 7UP and Mountain drink did some very good work of communication for all us. Sitting down with those drink and did some good chit chatting.

The lunch really rock! We smell the chicken rice the moment we step into the field and start swallowing down packets of it when the committee says that there is extra to give away. It really taste good and of course, not forgetting the shirt! We keep repeating those words along our way home “Got fast one, got slow one, got win one, got lose one. Inter Primers Olympic day!”

It has been super nice to be warmly invited for the appreciation dinner and I thought it really a very good chance to interact with the primers family. Though we are in different school but no matter what, primers are still primers whether it NP, SP or NYP, when wen sze bring us to the mobaly (don’t know how to spell, haha) that have such good atmosphere and lighting at night and of course not forgetting the swing that hang on the tree! It my first time seeing such swing that hang on the tree, it Boomz! Hahahaa!!

Well done SP Primers and next year we are visiting NYP, last but not least, we are looking forward for more of this bonding and interaction with you all again. CLAP CLAP!

Yee Cheng,
NP primers president

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Afterglow 2009

Congrats to everyone who participated in IPOD and I believe everyone is a winner!

Sit back and relax as we share our experiences in the recent Overseas Service Learning Trip (OSLT). Ever heard our Primers family talks about OSLT and don’t have the slightest idea what this event is about? What are you waiting for? Join us for Afterglow! :)

“Afterglow” is an annual event showcasing the activities we did and what we learnt during our trip to Sri Lanka. Don’t get us wrong! It’s not about confronting the Tamil tigers but we would love to share the fruits of our meaningful work. It will be lots of fun! You are part of our family and we don’t want you to miss out on our sharing! Get a clearer picture so as to prepare yourself and be the next person to join OSLT next year. Invite your friends in Primers to join us!

What’s more? We will be giving out door gifts and CCA points will be awarded. Moreover, it’s free! What are you waiting for? See you there!

Date: 1st November 2009, Sunday
Time: 7.30pm-9.00pm (Please be seated by 7.20pm)
There will be a mini exhibition from 7pm
Venue: Touch Community Theatre – Joy Hall
Attire: BB Polo, Jeans & shoes

Meeting Details: 6.30pm at Redhill MRT Station



If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Benjamin Yong at 98373471 or King Kit at 97325287.

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Why do we avoid what we love to do?

Its been such a long time since I last posted!

This is something to start off my post!


Yes guys, I promise to post more often and I am starting to write again and consolidate some of my thoughts again. But here is a post to start it off that I read off the net!


When we create, we come alive; we’re making love to life. We use our unique talents, perception and skills and make the intangible tangible. Most of us generally know what we want in life. For every person, the answer to what brings us joy will be unique. For some it’s playing guitar or dancing. For others it’s writing, hiking, spending time with family, photography, or drawing.

So if we know what makes us feel alive, why do we resist it? Why do we avoid doing what we love to do?

I think there’s a number of reasons that can help us explain this elusive phenomenon. Hopefully in discovering the blocks toward pursuing what is dearest to us, we can overcome them.

So why do we resist?

1. The inability to accept imperfections. Do you think that Mona Lisa was Da Vinci’s first painting? We think, if it’s not perfect, why bother? But when we pursue the creative act, it’s crucial that we suspend judgment. After all, you can always cull the fluff and ridiculous later.

What to do instead? Resist your temptation to have everything figured out before you start. Failure is fundamental to the creative process. If you don’t fail, you’ll never improve. Suspend your judgment and remember that whatever you don’t like, you can always take out or re-do.



2. Not respecting the gestation of improvement. Say you have a passion for dancing. The only problem is, you’d make a blind man cry. Remember that mastery of any art or skill takes time. No one starts out being a natural Michael Jackson. And anyway, look what fame did to him. Are you sure you want that?

What’s a poor Napoleon Dynamite to do? Respect the fact that mastering any skill takes time. Instead of thinking about all the things that aren’t right, think about what you can do now to improve.

3. Not accepting your creative identity. All great artists, poets, musicians and creators, excelled by accepting their artistic identity. The truth is, we are all artists. We’re creating the story of our life in each moment. We’re not just humans living, we’re artists shaping a story. Accepting your identity as an artist is accepting your creative nature.

4. We’ve turned our passion into work. Anytime you feel that you must do something, you lose inspiration. You lose your sense of excitement. In our society and in general, we have a clearly separate work and play. “Work hard, play hard!” is a common motto people tell others to make them feel a little better about their drudgery. We don’t have to dread work, it’s a choice. That’s the problem when our passion has also become our work. We tend to think it’s our passion has become something we must do. There’s no fun in that.



The truth is, we’re often the most productive when what we’re doing has absolutely no dateline no pressure. We come alive when we’ve lost track of time, doing what we love.

Perhaps its not our weakness, but our greatness that we fear the most.

So question time, what is your passion? What is your dream?
Let me list you a couple of mine that I have at the start of my Primers Journey.

1. I would like to lead a team every year on an overseas trip
2. I would want a Primers event to be held at Zouk
3. I would want SP.Primers to be featured in news
4. I would want to do a flash mob in our YOUcampaign (thats why you see so many videos on flash mob)

Any idea which of these we have achieved as a family?

Kenny Foo

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IPOD Details

Hey IPODers!

As you all know IPOD is coming this Saturday!
So bring along all your sporting equipment and get ready for a day of fun!
The details for the event are shown below:

Date: 24th Oct 2009, Saturday
Time to meet: 9am
Venue: Singapore Polytechnic,Badminton Court (Above Food Court 3)

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Day 2, 14hr Ride - 22nd Sep 2009

there was no water for everyone of us to bathe n brush teeth so in the end, all of us didn’t bathe.

After breakfast in the hotel, we set off. I sat at the last second row in the van together with fang yi on my right and king kit on my left when we are seated in the van.

At first, we play “The Magic Big 2” followed by “Asshole”, which is like a bit like the previous game. After a while, Yao Han began to feel tired and he went to sleep so we ended the game and I began to feel bored.

Most of the time we started to sing songs. I was very impressed by Clare as she knows a lot of songs.

As Clare sings, I joined in. Some of them joined in too.

Throughout the whole journey in the van, everyone has at least slept for a while in the van except me. I was awake as the van was too bumpy for me to sleep in the van. During the van ride, I did not vomit in the van which is a very good thing. Once I wanted to vomit in the van but I ate a sweet to prevent me from vomiting.

When we reached the camp, the people there had welcomed us. I felt bad as we reached there very late in the night. Later we found out that there was no water for everyone of us to bathe n brush teeth so in the end, all of us didn’t bathe. After we have settled in, it was already very late so I just message my mother and I went to sleep.
Rui ying



We reached the airport at 11:35pm yesterday and we were being fetched to a hotel to spend the night there. I shared the room with Siman and Yun ting. Three of us woke up at around 6:30am; breakfast was 8:00am. Our room was amazingly cold and I was shrivering even with the blanket covered till my neck. So, the three of us washed up and went out for a walk at the beach. The rest of them start to come down to have breakfast too. The food was better than I thought, I must say. And the room is better than I thought too. I didn’t expect the room to have air-conditional.

After we had breakfast, all of us went back to our respective rooms to pack our bags and meet back at the lobby because we are going to the village, Thirukkovil, today. And I heard that the journey would be very long so we have to set off early. We left the hotel and 9:00am, I did doze off for a while but I think for most of the journey I was awake, esp when the bus is driving through the Kandy Mountain. I’m so glad that I didn’t fall asleep. The beautiful scenery of the mountains was breath-taking, it’s like a dream come true for me, and the scenery is really WOW. I will never forget the scenery.

Throughout the journey, we had a live broadcast from Clare. She was singing during the bus journey. We reached the village at around 11pm, the journey took 13 hours. It’s shorter than last year, I heard. When we reached there, we can see the locals were waiting for us. I feel touched, very touched to see them waiting for us when they should be sleeping. They had a small ceremony for us, and after that, we had dinner which they prepared for us too.

The village is a very small village. It’s very urban kind. There are no tall tall buildings around, but cows, goats, and buffalo moving around, and cow dung everywhere. It’s very different from the city area, and of course, Singapore. We sat in a big circle and introduced ourselves because there were 2 colombo guys joining us this time, Mevan and Stephan. We set our house rules too. After that, the girls actually wanted to wash up but there wasn’t any water for us, so we are intending to sleep without washing up.

Tomorrow is the start of the work. Hopefully everything would turn out good and everything we have planned back in Singapore will be carried out as planned! Lastly, I pray that I won’t miss home! (: Thank God for keeping us safe through the bus journey.

Till then and good night!
Maggie

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Day 1, Arrival - 21st Sep 2009

Though my parents were not there, I knew I am in the midst of a family there

Today was the day that the OSLT team had been waiting for. I felt excited but at the same time there was a twang in my heart because I knew I was going to miss home. As I packed my bag and stuff, I sat in my room and just look around, trying to soak in as much memories before I leave for the airport. Soon I bid goodbye to my home.

Over at the airport I had my dinner and soon after that, we were doing our last log check before the flight. It was always heartwarming to see so many primers coming down to the airport just to send the team off. Though my parents were not there, I knew I am in the midst of a family there. We check in our luggage and spend a few moments with our friends. Those were the moments I treasure. Soon it was time to go into the departure hall and beyond.

With that we boarded the plane and flew to Sri Lanka.

The day had been exciting and fun but the key moment was knowing that I am in a family even as we entered Sri Lanka time zone.

Sebas

Countdown to flying off to Sri Lanka and that is something that I am looking forward to with all the preparations that the team has done for the trip. So Sri Lanka, Here I come!

At 7pm, all the team members begin to gather at terminal 1, row 13. Other than that, there are a lot of primers members came to send us off. It was quite a touching sight to see so many people coming down to send us off, wishing that we will have a safe trip to Sri Lanka.

So at about 8.40pm, we entered the departure gate and we headed towards the plane that we are going to take. Anxiously, we entered the plane waiting for the plane to take off however it dragged for quite some time. Then Wilfred suddenly said that,” Yeah! There will be money refund from the insurance”. Only then I know that if the plane flight is delayed, the insurance will actually refund some money, so it was like a new discovery for me. So due to the technical problem, we have to abandon the plane. The timing for the flight was delayed for an hour and so we just took some photo and talk while waiting to board the plane again.

When we were asked to board the plane in about 20minutes later, I realized that it was exactly the same plane. In my heart, I was thinking like is it really reliable? Will it breakdown halfway? But other than all the thoughts, I was looking forward to reaching Colombo.

During the three and a half hour of flight, I watched City Island and eat and sleep. So there is nothing much that can be done in the plane. But upon reaching Colombo, everything went quite smooth, we went out of the custom and went straight to meet the other two Sri Lankans who will be with us throughout the trip, namely Mevan and Stephan.

So after a long night, we went to settle down in Goldy Sands and have a good night rest there.

Wensze

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IPOD training

Hi folks, there would be an IPOD training this Wednesday(21 Oct 2009). All SP teams are required to come down to SP for training.

Venue : Primers Room
Time : 3.000pm
Attire : Sports wear and exercise shoes

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