OBBD Temburong Training - 1 hour (C)

Although this was mostly simple safety training to ensure nobody made a glaring safety-related mishap, it was still an important part of the trip. I think it really drove home the what the nature of the trip would be for me.

KK Trip - 6 hours (A), 8 hours (S)

Another very difficult experience which nevertheless made me appreciate some of the difficulties facing many people around the world, while also giving me a taste of basic construction work. We were all excited to be flying out to KK, and all of us spent some time in the city, shopping, eating, or just looking around. After arriving at the camp area by bus, I think I was not alone in despairing: the only accommodation immediately visible was a long row of bunks made from canvas and bamboo. To be fair, however, it didn't really matter that they were uncomfortable, a little dirty, and (for me at least) too small - at the end of a long day of hard work they were as good as any bed.

Getting down to work

A bit of relaxation

The Action portion of the KK Trip was composed of a bicycle ride through and around the camp and village where we were working, and, as a finale to the entire excursion, a short raft along the river. The bicycle ride was especially difficult for me, as I was completely out of practise (and never was too good at it anyway). Eventually, I had to give up riding the bike as my asthma was getting the better of me, and I wound up helping the other group continue with the construction in the village. The rafting, on the other hand, was thoroughly enjoyable while being quite difficult as well, and I'm proud to say I only fell in when I wanted to.

The finished project

The Service area of the trip revolved around us improving the local schoolhouse: building a fence around it, renovating the library area, and a host of more minor improvements. It was tough work, and the hot, humid climate did nothing to help. However, we all persevered, and while our friends were busy climbing a mountain we helped fix a school. In the end, we only barely finished the improvements in time before we left - the fence was completed, we took a few photos in front of it all, and then we returned to camp to pack up in preparation for the return journey. All in all, the KK trip was quite an experience for me, and one that I would not have missed for the world.

Cricket Match - 6 hours (A)

It was a difficult afternoon game, but despite our relative lack of experience, it being our first match, and an unsympathetic umpire we eventually succeeded. A fun afternoon with my friends, it was a glorious if hard-won victory.

Sailing - 6 hours (A)

Maybe once a month on a quiet weekend I would board my father's yacht with him and some of his friends, and simply sail around the bay or out beyond, to the ocean. It was a very pleasant experience, broken up by the occasional rushed pulling or ropes, or hauling something aboard. Over time, I learned more about a lifestyle and hobby which I had barely known existed before.

Cricket Training - 15 hours (A)

Many long hours of difficult training took up an entire term’s worth of Friday afternoons in preparation for the ISB cricket team’s very first game against another local team.

The ISB Cricket team

Georgetown University SFS Model United Nations, Qatar - 15 hours (C)

Aside from ISB BGIC, this is the second Model United Nations activity I have been to, and although I was away for only a week, it made a huge impact on my life. For one thing, it was the furthest I’d been from home ever, and I was going without my family, just some of my closest school friends (and the chaperones, of course). Several days of intense, thought-provoking, and occasionally heated debate ensued, although that was by no means the limit of this experience.

The ISB team

In the middle of debate

New friends and old

Just of few of the great memories I have include late-night conversations in the lobby of the Doha Marriott (the MUN’s venue), exploring Dubai airport with some friends, visiting the Museum of Islamic Art, seeing a whole new country in a completely different part of the world, and, of course, meeting all the new people with whom I still maintain correspondence. I don’t think it would be an exaggeration to call it one of the best weeks of my life.

Emergency First Response Training - 4 hours (C)

Being a fairly compassionate and idealistic type, I had always wanted to learn how to apply first aid in the case of an accident or disaster, and this gave me a chance. Although the work was light and the tests easy, it still taught me a lot about how to deal with situations where injuries can occur, and how to help someone who is hurt.