Never be complacent

That’s one lesson I’ve learnt through these 3 days.

No matter how many times I’ve organized a camp, no matter how similar the venue, the facilities, the trainers may be, I can’t be complacent to assume that I’ve got everything under control, that I’m already experienced, because every camp is a new challenge.

During the first camp, one of my colleague broke something in the training room we were using. He also managed to aggravate me to no end. Not to mention that the other trainers expected me to run around and solve every little problem, from “toilet door spoil”, to “room key can’t use”, to “is dinner ready?”…. I really felt like I was expected to be all-present and all-knowing.

For the second camp, it was slightly better, because all the students who were at the 1st camp were also at the 2nd camp. Nothing major (at least from my perspective)…. Of course the whole process of getting them to submit their passport and that sort of stuff was just as much of a hassle.

This is the 3rd camp I’ve organized, and the 1st that had a target participation number of 80. but of course, in the end, only 65 turned up. Because we had student helpers to assist in the administration and running of the activities, much of my pre-camp work load was reduced..especially the whole issue of getting them to fill in and submit their indemnity forms and contacting them to come for pre-camp briefing. (the student helpers were really a great help, esp Hazril. )

However, this time round there were unexpected situations. A student was bitten by a snake and needed to be sent to the hospital. Thank God it wasn’t serious, and thank God it wasn’t a venomous snake. Else I really don’t know what to do.

In one of the boys’ dorm, there was a hole. Not a teeny-weeny hole..but a hole as big as a fist..and it looks suspiciously like a “punch hole”. My colleague and I suspected that the boys must have been fooling around in the room and created that damage. But of course that wasn’t what they told us. They said they didn’t notice the hole until evening time….

Whatever it is… how can we prove whether what they are saying is true or not? Some investigation was carried out, and the cleaners who cleared the room before our group checked in didn’t report any damage at all.

There were also a lot of people falling sick. getting injured. And on the last afternoon just before we checked out, the ceiling light cover in one of the dorms actually fell and hit a student on her head. Thank God it wasnt made of glass..and she wasn't injured!

I’m actually very glad my boss is around because I realized she does make a good leader. She is able to make decisions and react fast. I think, if not for her, I’d really be at quite a lost of what to do.

anyway, gearing up for the next one in June.

i'm SO looking forward to it.