Beginning of DVC

I've just recently started working, as a camp leader for primary school science Discovery Vacation Camps (DVC). What an experience. Today's only my second day of work and i'm already dead-beat! Wow, luckily I've been trained in Myanmar last december. "Trained" as in having had the experience of kids climbing all over you, haha.

Myanmar children are much better behaved though, and they only hug you if they come close to you. Singapore kids are... er... they poke you, tickle you, pull off your cap, call you names etc. And they are only primary 2s and 3s! They basically climb all over you, but they are really scared of their teachers. As for leaders like us, gorgors and jiejies so to speak, we're like one of their toys, lol. Tuesdays and Thursdays are excursion days, so we had outing today, to Singapore Botanic Gardens, specifically the Orchid Gardens. And on the way you could hear "Jiejie i want air-con", "jiejie i'm very tired i want to sit down", "jiejie can you carry me i cannot walk already", "jiejie can you help me hold this i want to drink water", etc etc. Haha and each time there's not just one but a group charging at you. During the times we were in class or playing games they would give us names. "jiejie gohchern" becomes "jiejie Butt" and according to their theory they say its because "gohchern" sounds like "kaching" which is buttock in hokkien. Gosh. And then "jiejie gohchern are you older or younger than jiejie jiamin?"(jiamin is the other leader in my class i work with, of jianeng's age) "i'm 20, one year older than jiejie jiamin" and then they went "oh but how come you are shorter than jiejie jiamin?"... "i'm born like that haha"... "we call you old woman ok. haha u are our old woman!" and then after all the kaching... i decided to let them call me by the name I have on my first birthcert (the non-amended name)...so i told them if it is hard to pronounce gohchern they can just call me jiejie diana. And then they went "jiejie are you princess? but princess diana is dead already why are you still alive?" and i was like "wa. =/"

Actually, as much as the above made me and jiamin angry at some times and we really gotta scold them to instill some discipline in the class, I must admit, (and jiamin will, too) that we really had great fun. Even though it's been just two days, we've grown so close to the kids - really close. And i guess it's because we stick around 9 to 5 everyday, have tea and lunch together, played concentration game on bus together and hence there was all the time for bonding. Our teacher, jiamin, myself, and the kids really could build rapport. And even though the camp hasn't ended I'm already pretty sure I'll miss DVC alot. our teacher mdm latifah who's only 29, jiamin my buddy who is always the "catcher" when they play catching, and these 30 naughty but adorable kids.

Naughty ones aside there are a few who are really sweet. This boy called Seth actually asked if I was feeling ok after the other naughty boys all charged at me and poked me. And he kept asking if I was ok.. very sweet boy. And then there is this girl called yiling who drew me a card on bus today. On the card she drew a picture of a lady which she labelled it as me and on top it says "To jiejie diana, from nobody." LOL.

on a side note, i realise it's much more convenient to let others call me by the name of diana than 'gohchern'. many people will just need some time to figure out how to properly pronounce it, especially when i introduce myself to new people i meet like these kids..and while socialising it's impossible to bring out a pen and paper and write out my name for everyone. 'Diana' is a meaningful name too, and maybe I should really start using it. It serves as a reminder for me about the incident, the incident that changed my life, reminding me that i've been through that and should always cherish all i have in possession now. At this moment it might sound confusing...leave the explanation to another day ba. But for now this is something to share - that "Goh Chern" is actually my amended name on my amended birth cert! ;) and "Diana" is the name on the first and original one.

For the moment i shall keep it a secret why my name was changed years ago. XD

Okay off to the toilet for big business, and more of DVC tomorrow :D