Hello Everyone!! (Apologies for the late update!) Another Semester is near its end, and we have also spent our last day for this semester with the residents of BHID, which coincides with BHID 11th anniversary. Thus it was celebrated in a grand manner at Macritchie Reservoir. On that day, all the residents of BHID were present along with many other volunteers from other organizations. The whole Comm had come together several days before the event to plan and prepare activities for the group of residents that we were in charge of that day. Esther and Qian Wei did an amazing job coming up with the ideas on what we will do that day! (*Claps*) It was great to see the whole Comm along with other volunteers coming down to help prepare for the event. The day started earlier than usual for all of us. Everyone woke up early and irrespective of where we live, reached Macritchie by 7 plus with an outburst of enthusiasm, even though it was a Saturday. (Hey, how many of you have woken so early in recent years, except if u have 8am lectures?) Initially only the volunteers were present, and preparations started. The funniest part was preparing the small pool (the blown up kind that kids play in) that we set up, to give a more realistic feel of the “under the sea” game. First of all we had to inflate the pool with a small pump, and it took a lot of effort from most of the guys present there, and thanks guys from UPS who helped! However after the pool was inflated we found a leak! To mend the leak, all the experts gathered around the pool. These experts were of course NUS’s prospective engineers, physicists, chemists, and even doctors! 
The pool from which rubbish was to be fished out.
and to fill up the pool, some of us had to manually use pails to transport pails of water from a not-that-near tap!
Then the residents started streaming in. With volunteers from other organsiations holding the hands of the residents, the sight was actually very heartwarming. And although we were worried about the weather, the day turned out to be a beautiful sunny day. It was (perhaps too) bright and sunny, but it was better than rain. As beautiful Macritchie Reservoir is by itself, it was more so on that day as it was filled with people dressed in different colours – in green, orange, black (us!), red, blue... groups. It could be seen the faces of the residents as well as all the volunteers, that they were really touched by this huge gathering. Random passers-by could also be seen observing all our activities, and giving us all a pleasant smile. The events started off with a few formalities. After that, performances were put up by some of the residents, which really touched everyone’s heart. For most of us, it was the first time we see them perform, with so much sincerity and effort too.
 
Shortly after, the residents were divided among different volunteer groups. Among the residents who joined us, 20 were doing handicrafts under the shade of the trees while the rest joined us for games. In the handicrafts session, the residents were taught to make a vase and paper flowers using just paper and plastics bottles, courtesy of Esther and Qian Wei.
  
There 5 other games planned for the residents. “Under the sea” and “recycling” stations were made more realistic, with the help of actual rubbish, actual bins and water! These were two games, which the residents were really fond of, and enjoyed, and today was the last time we were playing these two games. (aww... ) Two other games which was introduced a few weeks back was the aeroplane game and the soccer game, which as well was appreciated by the residents. The last game was a new one, where a pair of residents will hold a handkerchief and a ball on the handkerchief and would have to go from one point to another. This was new, and it helped to residents understand team work. Overall the residents proceeded from one game to the other in teams, accompanied by other volunteers from another organisation and some of their family members as well. Hopefully the residents had also learnt the value of teamwork as it was a mini-competition between the different groups. Under the scorching sun, we should really applaud the residents for their enthusiasm in joining each activity!
 
 
After the games, the residents sat down together and gifts were distributed. The different volunteer groups were also presented with a token of appreciation of a photo collage and a bouquet of flowers. We were represented by Xinyi, our chairperson, and it was just like a trophy for most of us volunteers, as soon after it was passed among all us volunteers!
Then it was the long-awaited lunch time, and the volunteers helped the BHID staff in helping the residents have their lunch. Then all of us volunteers had fun of our own while munching on our lunch. (first time that i see there’s ice sherbet in catered lunch heh) It was soon time to leave, and everyone helped to pack up. We said our goodbyes to the volunteers and residents for now, and headed off home. Though it was tiring, it surely was a lot of fun for all the volunteers, and everyone was smiling when they left. We can’t wait to go back to BHID every sat when all finals are over! So to everyone, a big thank you for showing up and helping out, it was an amazing experience for us and, we hope it was for you too. Good luck on your exams..and JIAYOU...study hard! Till December, Good bye!!!
(AND pls visit our picassa album to see pictures of YOU!) =P
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