College Spirit

It was the second day of our Orientation Camp. The Storyline carried on and the torch kept burning. We had fun when we learned the Batch Dance, Batch Song and school cheers, and our physical stamina was tested when we travelled out of the college for Operation EA. All these activities made me realise how senior Rafflesians carried out our school spirit, and I was really touched when they all went that extra mile to make us J1s feel at home.

During the Batch Dance, we had our dance partners assigned by senior OGLs. My partner was a Meris Stella guy. We cooperated quite well, especially due to the fact that Cheryl, our group leader, constantly told us how to twist our bodies. Anyway, maybe it's that my partner is from a male school, so he was actually quite shy at first. Thankfully the session was not over-taxing, so soon we carried on to learn the Batch Song, a "sweet"(as they called it) Dream Along With Me.

What really impressed me was the Cheers Session. It was supposed to be a time of "culture shock" when all Rafflsians clapped the beats and shouted out their cheers, but no! I was so touched when the girls taught me their cheers so earnestly and demonstrated the signals and beats so patiently and kindly. They were so considerate that I really felt at home, totally unlike the popularly adopted view of a potential "culture ultra-shock". So now I can proudly say that I've got the hang of all the learned cheers so far. Since they made me feel so included, I could do the Samba, Mat Rock and Raffles Jam (especially:P) just as well and enthusiastically as them.

The Operation EA was the highlight of the day. I could see that senior leaders really made a lot of efforts to make us feel fulfilled. Ryan Lee, our OG leader, was really "the best"! He did all the logistics so consummately and selflessly that I felt we could never thank him enough! With 4.5 kilo of water and drinks in his bag, two bagfuls of snacks in his hands, he walked at the front and displayed what Raffles spirit called for. Whenever we had problems with the task missions or we needed to consult station masters, he would take the lead and put our interests at first when everyone was so tired. He was the last one to have lunch when we enjoyed the air-conned environment and he bought doughnuts for each and every one of us when he was so burdened by his heavy bags and carry-outs. That was really how leaders should be like~(claps)

One great news: I've got my new school uniform, and it suited my hair fine^.^ Tomorrow I shall visit Nan Hua for video making and then got my luggage at NUSH. Life is getting busy, but just like what my House motto says, great people should "soar on the wings of courage".

G'alvea~

Good life~

First Day in JC

Today marked the beginning of my JC life in Raffles. It was a breathtaking experience. The Principal's briefing was really inspiring. I felt so touched at moments when Mrs Lim introduced the school values and how we should behave to be a Rafflesian, the one who "raises the flag when none flew before", the one who "stops competing and start excelling", and the one who is "original", who is "the change that he wants to see". It was my first time to sit in such a grand lecture hall, with my peers all with the same excited expression. I was in awe~

As for matriculation, I decide to take the conventional combo BCME. Though it is supposed to be tough, challenging, and mentally draining, I am prepared for it. Biology is a bold choice, because all the modules we learn will be closely related to molecular biology, which is what takes a lot of efforts. Another bold choice is Economics, a new subject which none knows its true colour. Despite these concerns, I feel so relieved when many others take the same combi as me, especially those in my House. They really make great companion!

It is really astonishing to feel that in Raffles you can freely exchange your minds and thoughts with others. I am allotted to Buckle Buckley House, and there are real interesting people! Three Vietnamese boys from RI, one Korean, one Chinese(which is me), and all others are RP people. They can play wonderful games and you never feel short of conversation with them. Maybe I just like the environment in JC, where everyone is willing to know anyone else. There is one problem here: most of them are RI and RGS students, and we are the few JAE ones scattered around them, which means I have to memorise a lot of names while they only have to memorise one, in the case like my House when I am the only newbie there. Thank God that I did not get any freshman trick!

Tomorrow we will have batch dance and Eat Out session at Orchard/Bugis, it will be a draining day so I must get over-hydrated for now, and have a nice sleep! Sometimes it is really sad to know that some friends won't be taking the same course as you, but, like always, you can always make new friends outside OG.

By the way, we had OG Dinner together at Junction 8 tonight. It was so cool and so near our school! J8 really has the potential to be our frequent hangout place~

Another exciting news: I am not the only one in my OG Group, a RI scholar is staying in the Morrison Dorm, just oppposite my lovely Moor. So I could just walk with him and not get lost!

Now I have to submit my matriculation online, bye~

Hope everyone enjoy their "first day" in JC!