Our team would like to welcome
Marije de Ridder
(pronounced Ma-khai-yeh)
from Utrecht, the Netherlands to Malaysia!!!!
Note: Marije is here under our exchange programme and she will be working with Agathians Shelter for two months.
Editor: Amy, thank you thank you thank you!! Hugs~ =)
Who is she?
Hint: Come join us next Tuesday morning and find out for yourself!!! Hehe…
It is a story of struggle and endurance. Oh not quite, but almost that bad.
……………………
OK that’s just to capture your attention. Worked didn’t it? Haha…
Anyway, the day really started off with obstacles.
We were scheduled to leave the orphanages by a certain time, but one couldn’t leave as planned due to schedulling conflicts.
Bus drivers were certainly not happy with the delay, as they needed to be at some other places for another job.
We waited, scared and anxious that our whole plan is ruined.
But thankfully we reached the destination almost on time, albeit slightly delayed and we were bracing ourselves for a fun and joyful rollar coaster ride!
We started off with a dark ride, anticipating the unknown, and landed in a land that promises endless fun and suprises. We breezed through the dinosaur periods (roar), then exploration of chemicals before we reached a helicopter simulator.
Kids were running everywhere. Oh no, we needed to control the crowd.
That’s when we set checkpoints. First up, the exit to the helicopter simulator.
All kids still here. Phew. Into the helicopter we went!! We flew across the South China Sea and landed at the oil platform.
Then we proceeded to the F1 car simulator, where everyone learned about the ins and outs of car racing, and went down the sliding tube (weeeee~).
We were getting mentally tired but the kids were still as excited as ever, and they were enthusiastic with everything they see.
Checkpoint 2 – Science Station 3, and the kids learned about basic principles of sciences (inertia, gravity, etc.. ) before they proceeded to the next station via a single pathway.
Then, photo sessions available for print! Boy the kids were surely having a blast, even with the mirrors. Everyone took photos despite the long queue since one of the machines broke down (yes, yet another obstacle).
Checkpoint 3 – before the exit through the dark ride.
Oh thank god it’s finished. But wait, the buses weren’t here!!!
So we stalled, and stalled. And then we received news that the Agathians hafta be back by 7pm for a performance.
Time was running short, and when we were out, because of the regulations inside Petrosains, we realized that we did not have any pictures taken (gasp!!). The only camera we had died on us, and Alie was the only one who had something that takes pictures.
Pictures turned out horrendous anyway because of the lighting.
Well but, by the end of the day, we saw the kids smiling and skipping two steps at a time while they walked, and thought that with all the setbacks and hollas it was all worth it.
A day well spent, with everyone satisfied with the outcome. It was an opportunity to have fun with Science, an exploration into one’s personal interests.
We hope to be looking at future astrologists, biotechnologists, pharmacists and researchers among these 71 children. Anything to do with science!
It’s been a challenging task to have a trip with 71 children, but a more challenging task to end it beautifully.
Credits to AIESEC UM for funding the tickets. Thank you also to Lay Geen, Robin, Feli, Rita, Kevin, Meng Lin, Rohene, and to all the caretakers of Agathians Shelter, Trinity Children Centre, and Assunta Children’s Society for helping out on that day. We would have died without you guys. Haha…
It was an exhausting day for us, but memorable nonetheless.
=)
Note: If you still wanna see those handful of horrendous pictures we took that day, brace yourself, and click here. You have been forewarned.
Invitation to Our Closing Ceremonies
Date: 30th May (Friday)
Time: 10am – 1pm
Venue: Trinity Children Centre
Date: 31st May (Saturday)
Time: 10am – 1pm
Venue: Agathians Shelter
It’s been a long run of activities, and we are officially ending our initiative with our closing ceremonies this week. This is the last time for you to join us, and meet the kids. Hope to see you there. =)
It’s been almost half a year since we started conducting activities with the kids. And sad to say that it’s now coming to an end. But WAIT!! Before all the closing ceremonies, we still have one more left!
Visit to Petrosains, KLCC
Date: 24th May (Saturday)
Time: 11.30am – 5pm
Participating orphanages/shelters:
Agathians Shelter
Assunta Children’s Society
Trinity Children Centre
Entrance fee is RM10 for volunteers who are interested to join us. Please tell us earlier if you wish to come. =)
Invitation to Our Closing Ceremony
On another note, we will be kickstarting our closing ceremonies starting this weekend. First up, it’s gonna be held at Assunta Children’s Society from 2-5pm on Sunday, 25th May.
In the midst of all the Nintendos and PSPs, we sometimes forget about the simple pleasures in life. Remember how we used to have loads of fun playing with sticks, stones and rubber bands?
Thus, the previous week’s activity was a homage to the good ol’ days; the games that all of us used to play (with our own set of rules, I might add!) almost every day in school, in our neighbourhoods, in our homes!
The boys at Agathians, being their usual active selves, warmed up with a game of football, a game that has been around for many centuries..Boys will be boys indeed!
Kick off!
And then we played Blind Man’s Bluff..(Where the person being blindfolded had to guess who’s the person that he has gotten hold of. If he’s right, the person who was caught had to be the ‘blind man’ instead.) The boys were so excited over the prospect of running around in a world of darkness that they willingly let themselves be caught.
Which made the game all the more interesting. Haha…
Me!Me!
Windows to the World was about Sweden!
We solved jigsaw puzzles of the Swedish flag..
Voila!
Group pictures!
After which we had a short learn-to-speak-Swedish session and some Swedish snacks afterwards. =)
Some random shots..
Over at Assunta on Sunday, we had a game called Bola Kaki Tiga which involved 3 slippers, 2 balls, 2 groups and a lot of laughter! (Though we modified it a lil’ and replaced slippers with bottles instead!)
All sweaty and tired from all the running and shouting, ice-cream was a welcome break..
Then it was time for indoor games – Congkak, Batu Seremban, Bottle Caps galore!
We played the ever-famous A-E-I-O-U, which was a blast with Nisha’s antics which made it hard for everyone to maintain a straight face..
Since it was Mother’s Day and all, we squeezed in a session of card-making..
It was a sweet blast to the past! A bit nostalgic at times too, remembering all the games we used to play not too long ago..=)
Sometimes, old is indeed gold.
Note: Special thanks to Feli, Rita, Hon Keong and Yee Shan for joining us last week! Click here for more pictures on our previous activity.
My aunt forwarded this mail to me today, and I find it interesting and worth sharing with everyone. =)
The following is the philosophy of Charles Schulz, the creator of the ‘Peanuts’ comic strip.
You don’t have to actually answer the questions. Just read the e-mail straight through, and you’ll get the point.
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade’s worth of World Series winners.
How did you do?
The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields.
But the applause dies..
Awards tarnish.
Achievements are forgotten.
Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.
Here’s another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special!!
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
Easier?
The lesson:
The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards.
They simply are the ones who care the most.
Pass this on to those people who have made a difference in your life, like I did.
‘Don’t worry about the world coming to an end today. It’s already tomorrow in Australia!’
Note: Pictures taken from The Official Peanuts Website. According to snopes.com, the above did not originate from Charles Schulz but still I think it’s worth reading nonetheless. Hehe…
Hey E-V-E-R-Y-B-O-D-Y!!!!!!!
We’re baaaaack with more activities!!!
And this weekend, it is
Traditional Games/Sports
Date: 10th May (Saturday)
Time: 10am – 1pm
Venue: Agathians Shelter
Date: 11th May (Sunday)
Time: 2pm – 5pm
Venue: Assunta Children’s Society
On another note, we will be having a replacement for one of the activities we’ve postponed earlier:
Learning English the Fun Way
Date: 13th May (Tuesday)
Time: 2pm – 5pm
Venue: Assunta Children’s Society
So come join us and have some fuuunnnnnn!!!!!!!
(Well we figured you might be having plenty of rotting free time during the holidays so whadaya waiting for?)
=)
Disclaimer: The editor is suffering from a celebratory moment as she’s passed all her exams and is looking forward to graduating soon. Muahahaha…
This is waaaaay overdue, but here’s a recap of what we did at Agathians Shelter and Trinity Children Centre two weeks ago.
Special thanks to Goay Imm, Ruben and Feli for helping out during that weekend.
Click here for more pictures on our last activity.
