Kem Cahaya 2006

It's taken me 6 months to get over Cahaya camp. Yep, SIX months. As in, to come to terms with it, make peace with it and actually blog.

I didn't blog about it before. Why? It was one of the worst camps I've ever been to. Make that the worst.

We went with the intention of making friends, having fun, learning first aid stuff. What did I come back with?

Anger.

First we had to elect leaders and asst. leaders. For some weird reason I was elected leader. Was the sole girl among 10 leaders. No problem with that. Next thing I realise, leaders get all the punishment. Not assistant, not the wrong-doers, but the LEADERS. So I had to do some pumping with all the other guys for some stupid reasons lah. Then later that night(1st day) I changed to assistant cause my group suggested it, they pitied seeing me being the only girl. I had no problem with it, less stress + my shoulder couldn't take so many push ups.

Next thing I know, that night the leaders are being lambasted for being useless people who can't control their groups. Next day the assistant leaders are ordered to take over their jobs. My goodness! It was as if, fate for me to be a leader during the camp. Mind you, I am no leader, I am a good follower.

As a leader.. wow it was tough man. I got an uncooperative group! Refused to speak up during group meetings, give suggestions and all. When I tried to appoint a secretary no one wanted! There was no way I could force anyone cause they wouldn't do the work anyway. So in the end, I was the leader com secretary. Was never so angry and frustrated before. I slept at 1.30am that night doing the secretary's job. Man, was I just wishing to go home then.

Next day, we temporary leaders for the day were called up, and as usual yelled at for not controlling the groups. Tell me, our people refuse to co-operate. Would you co-operate if there was no consequence for chatting with your friends?? Of course not! After all, we leaders take all the crap hurled at us for their mistakes.

We were given an egg, and as usual as no one wanted to take care of the egg I had to be the one. That was a good thing in a way. I made sure the egg was with me all the time. Suddenly all leaders were called up for inspection of the eggs. Those leaders without the eggs had to line up in front of the camp comm. and be yelled at. On top of that, they had to go to a really dirty stinking stagnant water sort of 'pool' filled with leeches(leaders were introduced to that first day as a warning) and dunk their head in it many times. Whole head, so of course by the time you've dunked your head a few times (about chest level) your whole body would be wet.

This was the part I really started to get angry. Had the camp comm. heard what I commented(thats a 'soft' way to put it) when I heard about the punishment.. who knows what could have happened to me? I was not really commenting to anyone, just spurting out my opinion on that matter aloud.

Then the groups supposedly were 'noisy' while their leaders were being punished(only my group had the egg, so I was the sole leader). So next thing he(camp comm) yells for all assistant leaders to go down. And they all got it for letting the groups get noisy. And were sent to the pool too.

So basically at the end of it I was the only leader among the leaders/assistant leaders not to get punished in such a stupid and humiliating way. Was saddened me was to see even the most out-spoken of leaders come back with a look of defeat on their faces. No one had the guts to stand out and scream at the camp comm. I'm not capable of doing that, so I did not.

Then we actually elected a 'lieutenant' the night before. This poor guy had to join all the punishments every leader went through. The camp comm. yells at him after he comes back from the pool. Yells at him to get down in a ditch and to lie there.

According to the camp comm, he said some people changed place with the assistant leaders to avoid punishment.

But to call that small guy who tried so hard to get us all in order to lie in a ditch?

I'm sorry, but when I signed up for this camp I was signing for me to enjoy, not a military camp. If I wanted to go to a military camp I'll join the army, not the Red Cross, a seemingly innocent society intent on 'helping people'.

So yeah, that was a really horrible camp. Don't know why people loved it. Of course, those none-leaders enjoyed it. Who wouldn't when someone is just taking punishment after punishment for you?

We assistant leaders were threatened to be forced to stay a night alone in the nearby jungle if we did not help our leaders. I've done that before, but again, not what I signed up for in this camp. I paid 50 bucks I would at least expect a tent. Anyway, don't know the people must have finally decide to pity us leaders/asst. leaders a bit and quieten down. They had better! Here we are running laps and push ups and dunking ourselves in leech filled pools just because of their indisciplined behaviour! While they were watching performances and all their leaders were called away. To do what? To pay for their crimes.

Anyway, at the end of it, we were all asked to write on an A4 paper our opinions, the good and bad part. Basically I wrote down my opinions of the whole camp, including the punishment, the degradation done towards a young boy(the lieutenant), having uncooperative groups members and all.

May I never step even a little toe into that camp again.

Btw, today was the 1st day of form 5 school! =) Not too bad, aim to study this year. hahaha!

God bless
Joanne Lim
Webmaster@joannetmj.tk