want one, get one

Batam OCIP: 24 Jun to 28 Jun
Hello readers! I'm backback from Batam and it was AH MAH ZING. Really and honestly. And I happen to be in luck because I forgot to hand in my reflection booklet, so I have a day to day breakdown of my entire stay there! :)
Day 1
We arrived at the Batam ferry terminal, from where we took a coach down to our Hotel! It's really beautiful, in the shape of a ship, our room was really huge (: I think many of us shared the same sentiments that it didn't feel like a OCIP trip at all, cos of all the luxuries we got, but heyhey who's complaining? Lol. First visit to the orphanage today in Al Jabaar. Met Arun for the first time today, who is this adorable kid bent to get a seat during Musical Chairs (he actually shoved Nick aside). He kept hi-fiving me each time he did something mean to Nick. Haha. Highlight of the day: Newspaper war (which wasn't a part of the games agenda) and back breaking piggy back rides for the children. What was most endearing was the fact that Arun gave us a Naruto card before we departed. Nightstudy: totally unproductive, we just ended up gg to Gabby's room to talk.
Day 2
Sore shoulder today, from carrying my heavy bagpack, and the kids. Couldn't really do much today. The children were really welcoming, Murthi came up to me and held my hand. Arun and I played scissors paper stone game (whack hand version), since it didn't require any verbal communication. We just resort to hand gestures and exaggerated facial expresions to communicate, since my Indon is rusty. Oh and I got hit very unceremoniously by the kids with the spare plastic bottles, which escalated to a full fledged war against the CJCians, which was funny (if you are not on the receiving end). Arun took my water bottle and refused to give it back to me. Nightstudy: Slightly more productive, even though we went down the lounge (!!!) and drank chocolate milkshakes. Chitchat for like 3 hours , then went up to sleep. Fripps and I had a go "playing" the piano, and Xavier came up and presented us with a vase of flowers. Lol.
Day 3
My roommates overslept today and we nearly missed breakfast buffet): But luckily, there was time after morning prayers so we had a record breaking 4 minute breakfast. If Madonna can save the world in 4 minutes, we can eat breakfast too. Shoulder recovered from Alex's panadol! (: First trip to the mall today for shopping! *bimbo*. Mich and I got the same shirt and I had curly fries from A&W's. Visiting the children was a tad depressing, cos according to Anas most of the village kids were attending a wedding, so they weren't there. In Arun's absence, me was sadded. But we still played frisbee and kite flying (which the children are much proficient at). Stuck-kite-incident was damn funny, because the guys' quick thinking and human pyramid formation didn't take into consideration the safety factor, hehheh. The boys asked me to chase them around, so I did. More rides for Putri on my back, merry go rounds with the girls and more frisbee. Nightstudy: Did only 1 Math qs, after pondering for so long. Distractions in the conference room didn't help either? Lol. Went up to our room, to watch 300 on HBO (yeah, the hotel has cable and our room has a balcony too). Got quite hungry, so we ordered room service. Had fish and chips, which was not bad, considering that we ordered at like 11pm plus and it was still warm.
Day 4
Today was the last day we would be gg to the orphanage ): Upon the school's request, LOM and SVDP helped to paint the fence and cement the floor. The work was accomplished just before lunch because of so many hands, big and little. Even the children, who were actually playing among the other half of CJ ppl, came over to help out and get this, one of them actually pointed out we were using the wrong proportion of water to cement. Haha. I carried some girls on my back, who directed me by pointing out the way and repititvely shouting random objects and people(Kaka, bunggi! =Big sister, go near the flowers). They plucked flowers and struck them in our hair, Xavier included. Despite the scuffle over the pencils and the mayhem that resulted, the farewell was quite emotional, and our dear little Arun started crying really hard, which was really touching. He kept walking up to Nick/Gabby/Fripps/Bel and hugging them. Plus I think another girl kept gg ard kissing us on our cheek, and everyone saw us up the bus. Bus ride back to the hotel was quite moody and forlorn, but we did perk up when we heard we were gg to another shopping centre. Heh. This time, it was an even bigger mall, so just bought coffee, earrings and hair accesories and walked around like tourists. Night study: Like hello, nobody studies on the last night of departure so I just ended up in Mich's room writing reflections cos too many people were in my room uploading photos on Anas's laptop/watching bball on cable/talking. Roommate bonding took place tonight (: over alot of issues/people.
Day 5
Had breakfast before checking out. This coach took us a polo shop (where we refused to get down), a dried goods shop, and a handicraft shop. Since we didn't spend that much time buying anything, lunch was super early (at 10plus) but it was really fun cos of the karaoke session by the teachers. And I think I ate alot. Oops. Then went to the mall for last minute shopping. I had to accompany some of the girls cos they needed help with the donuts. Mass ordering at the shop, jamming up the queue, waiting for the donuts to be baked, frantically looking at the time every few minutes; totally unforgettable way to end the trip. Rushed back to the grp, checked in and boarded the ferry back.

The Batam experience has increased my awareness about the disparities in living conditions; that while we enjoy clean potable water and proper housing, the kids at the orphanage only have 1 lamp in their dormitories at night, and are prone to constant flooding and water cuts. Moreover, to dine at KFC is considered a day's worth of salary to them, thus only afforded by the middle class and above. I learnt that we have much to be thankful for. Also, I learnt that the happiest of people don't necessarily get the best of everything, they just make the best out of everything they've got, and it was evident in their eager and carefree faces, delighting in a race across the school compounds, or getting a free snack, or a piggyback ride. Their joy is derived from the simplest of pleasures, instead of a swanky extravagant lifestyle, and I think that we have learnt more from them than they have learnt from us.

Thank you SVDP, LOM, friends and teachers, for making this an enriching and bonding experience, plus a much needed holiday.