2011年6月28日 星期二

Day 17 - ICSP @ Camp Grimes

Crazy Hat Day today!
The campers of this week had more crazy hats than last week. Actually, there was a troop which could win the name of "the most CRAZY troop!" I guessed their troop leaders did. When they took off their hats, everyone had a new hair cut! All the boys! Wowwwww! One boy had a "water course" hair cut (about 5 cm wide) crossing from his forehead to his afterbrain. One boy only shaved his hair for one side of his head. And, one boy with Asian face had his head like a Japanese Samurai. Hahaha! To get along with his purple and fuzzy hat. So cute!

Morning class
You bet. I was supposed to teach First-Aid this morning, but we had knots and fire making eventually... Fine, I had a good time today with kids. The kids needed to show us how to make a square knot by using the EDGE method.
E=Explain
D=Demonstrate
G=Guide
E=Enable
Some of the kids were really good at teaching, although they were only 10-11 years old. I was very touched by two kids' conversation then. One of them was too nervous to show me the EDGE, so I said, "relax, and I will go back to you later, okay?" The other boy, who had shown me the EDGE, came to him and started to teach him how to make a square knot. The teaching lasts at least 15 minutes, I was very impressed at the guiding boy's PATIENCE. That's awesome! Finally, the boy learned how to make it with any help. The guide and I were cheering for him! I gave them a small gift from Taipei Confucius Temple. There were some good phrases (in Chinese though) on it. X的,手殘把後面原本打好的英文稿刪掉了!我的天哪!好,反正,孔廟小卡是要鼓勵他們一個是很棒的小老師;一個是很認真不放棄學習的好學生!至於這麼好學生後來我才了解他才剛成為童軍,什麼都沒學過,所以完全對技能沒有一點經驗,我一直鼓勵他繼續嘗試(他後來還學會了雙套、雙半和營繩),希望他不要因為這些小挫折回去以後就再也不當童軍了!

*和其他童軍聊天,有一位團長曾去英國的世界大露營,他說他很喜歡該露營,我真不敢告訴他我很後悔付這麼多錢去那裡......XDDD
*有一位小童軍七月也要去瑞典世界大露營,到時候見了!
*營地工人群中有一位擁有三顆木章,簡單詢問後了解,美國木章取得制度和台灣差不多:兩階段露營、一大堆作業和承諾要做(18個月內要完成),然後就能取得!木章制度基本上全世界都一樣吧?

傍晚降旗典禮上終於把所有的"梗"都用掉了:場上說話的人要是說到關鍵字如Announcement, Points, Notes 所有的工人就會上前把那個人團團圍住唱歌做弄他,超好笑的,這個我喜歡~我一定要把所有的歌都學起來。上星期的閉幕營火,有一群小朋友學J說話說到這三個關鍵字之後工人的反應(衝上前去把人包起來唱歌),把大家笑得快死掉了。

晚上突然多了出來(本來要幫忙垂降的,結果說是暫停,因為授課者晚上放假),我和2G去玩射箭Archery還有散彈槍Shotgun。射箭這是我第二次玩,G幫我把弦調到剩約7公斤時我才有辦法把弦往後拉(一開始它讓我試10公斤,我拉都拉不動),我射得很...差,箭有些都飛不知道哪裡去,G說射箭要憑感覺瞄準靶心,哇勒,憑感覺哩!好吧,照他說的做,結果還越射越好哩,神奇,說真的我瞄的地方可是靶的右下角哩!(單憑左眼看時)。散彈槍就真的是第一次玩了,槍跟來福槍差不多重,不過瞄準和射擊的方式不大一樣。我一開始是搞不清楚S要問什麼,我以為他問我用哪一隻眼睛瞄準,結果他要問我是左撇子還是右撇子,兩個人位置因此換來換去,我覺得我真是蠢斃了。之後總算是要練習開槍了,目標是一個由機器射出來的飛盤,這也太難了吧,槍很重,還要將槍隨著飛盤移動的方向做調整,我整個人真得是很沒有這方面的天份,六七發都是亂打,慘不忍睹,還好S只在乎我有沒有覺得好玩,有沒有射到......下次再說吧。回房洗澡時我發現,右邊肩窩因為子彈發射後坐力的關係,黑青啦!有沒有這麼誇張啊!我好弱......

2011年6月27日 星期一

Day 16 - ICSP @ Camp Grimes

I felt so bad for the teaching today. I'd never know when I would teach orienteering or what the schedule for today was. They said one schedule in the beginning, and then they asked me to teach orienteering next second! What's this!? Anyway, I felt very upset today. I realized that Taiwanese scouts are still very good in a way, at least, when it comes to giving a quality course to the scouts! (We are more and well-prepared!)

*There was a land turtle (15cm long) crawling to the shelter of Trailblazers today. Cool!

The waterfront was closed due to the continuous thunders! Oh. What a pity! I was planning to get some exercise today!

*There was a helicopter landing next to the assembly field in the evening. Kind of cool. Well, I hoped that the assembly could finish asap so that I could go to eat. However, the helicopter caught everyone's attention, also J's! Man, who cares about the helicopter? Give me food! I am starving!

I also helped the COPE this evening while other staff had "smack down" with other troop leaders. I tried the Zip Line today, super fun!

*There will be no picture on this camp journal, for the WiFi here is super slow! (It's killing me.)

Day 15 - ICSP @ Camp Grimes

New campers are coming! We are going to run a whole new week!
However, I can't feel the campers' spirit and energy yet. (Hello guys, what's up?)

The staff holds the welcome campfire to the campers tonight. I still like all the shows, except the effect of the microphones. Hey! Are the run out of  batteries? I can't hear you...

2011年6月25日 星期六

Day 14 - ICSP @ Camp Grimes

Holiday!

W and N took me to buy some food for the weekend. On the way to the destination, we had some sightseeing spots at a flea market (not very impressive) and a Chinese restaurant! The restaurant was named Chen's Garden. Ha! My garden! I was so happy to be able to eat (American) Chinese food, because we were served almost nothing (milk-I would have胃食道逆流, cereals-I don't like at all, cookie-super sweet=errrrrr... that's all. I didn't eat any of them then.) for breakfast this morning... Chen's Garden had its Grand Opening today, ohhhh, lucky me! This restaurant had exactly the same type of food I saw at other Chinese restaurant in US or in other countries, which means the portion was huge and the taste was more salty, sweet and fried. I had nothing to complain anyhow. I was just happy enough to see Chinese restaurant wherever, so that I could have them to cure my homesickness of taste. 

On the way back to the camp, we talked about the real estate in US, and W showed me a "Gated Community". To live in the community, you have to have your house the same as others and, be fenced. Crazy! I had no idea who would like to live here. However, the view here was gorgeous! (Saw a turkey!) The mountains spread in front of you.  You could see at least 100 km far, I thought, like at the top of 七星山.

It's chatting time for me and Anders during the weekend. I complained a lot about the weak internet. I became super upset that I couldn't speak normally. Thanks to iPad2 and The Fring, we finally could share our stories. I miss you... ~T_T~ 4 weeks to go. Heja på dig och mig!

Day 13 - ICSP @ Camp Grimes

I had a great achievement with my English speaking, hooray!!

I helped the merit badge for Citizenship in the world today, because one of the requirements is the scout needs to talk to a scout from another country about his/her culture/holiday/food/value, etc. I introduced Taiwan to them basically. I thought I only gave them a very short introduction, but I found out I could keep talking for 50 minutes! Wow! In total, I had 4 sections of introduction with different scouts, which means I have practiced my speaking for almost 4 hours. That's impressive!

I didn't know what to say in the beginning, for I thought SCOUTS would ask questions. But no? Okay! I introduced Taiwan from Geography to culture, political status, holidays, and much more. For the first section, I didn't prepare any visual material to enhance their impression of Taiwan. I then took out the stuff with Taiwan's special (Taipei 101, national flag, flower...) I bought in 2010 Taipei Int'l Floral Expo to appeal their attention. In fact, the stuff worked very well! Kids asked me more questions, and we also have better and better interaction! Next week, I will try to prepare more in advance, like the "Unit conversion" and more statistic facts, or even some films!

In the afternoon, I chatted with Bill and Billy (盲胞童軍). Bill said because of Billy, he started to stop to think what is more important in his life. Job? or Company with Billy and discover the beauty of the world? I was touched. So many people lived without happiness and enjoyment. Why? Maybe because they have their jobs at the top of the priority... They loved to travel, and they have traveled many countries and have listed a LONG to-do list. I wish they could come to visit Taiwan in the near future!

Tonight would be the last night of the camp, which means campers parents would visit the camp, and the kitchen would run out of food in very short time. Yap, nothing fun to eat, errrrrr! I went back to cook my instant noodles instead... Poor me...:-(

At 8 was the closing camp fire. before it started, an man came to talk ma in Mandarin! He was born in China and had been living in Hualien in Taiwan for almost 20 years. That's why he could speak very fluent Mandarin. To my surprise, he was at the same age of my grandma, but he still remembered how to say. Awesome!!!
The camp fire was held at the side of the lake. I loved the show about Imitating John especially. That's so funny!!!! Hahahaha! Don't say "Announcement, points, or notes" at the Camp Grimes, otherwise... Kkkkkkk! The sunset was amazingly beautiful. A beaver swam casually through the lake. Fireflies held their small lanterns to celebrate this happy ending.
                                     Trailblazars and me!

2011年6月24日 星期五

Day 12 - ICSP @ Camp Grimes

Afternoon
The highlight was I helped the blind boy swim~ Basically, I just watched him, since he has learned how to swim by his father. He swam super much today. When he had rest, we also chatted with each other in the water. He had a very positive attitude toward his life. That's my impression!

Evening
I had a night-off every Thursday evening after the assembly. Other staff had promised to take me to hang around, so I dressed up and became very excited. We had 5 cars in total. We went to T.G.I Friday's first to have some "real food". I had a special price (12.99. 16.34 after the tax and the service charge) for three dishes. They were yummy and tasty, especially the angel hair pasta with chopped tomato. I loved it! It reminded me my favorite thin noodles! However, the portion was huge. I almost couldn't walk afterwards with my giant belly. Man~~ S's girlfriend had her birthday today. 2C and J had a small play: They held the brooms and asked different people, "Is today your birthday?" Then, finally, they went to her and sang the birthday song! Other guests in the restaurant turned to see what we were doing at that time. Scouts always try to catch everyone's attention, haha.

Finally, we arrived at the dancing hall. Wow! The hall was full of people! A live band playing the music, too! The type of the dance is called Country Dance. The MC told everyone how to dance and then we enjoyed the music and the dance. It's hard for me to understand what the MC said, because of the bad quality of the microphone. My partner emphasized that the MC was actually not good at instructing how to dance at all (everyone was complaining), which means if I didn't understand him, not my fault! :-) Anyway, I was the representative of Taiwan and I have been dancing for a long time. I could easily follow up all the steps without any problem. Of course I made some mistakes, but I didn't care! We only danced three songs this night, for we were late there. I really loved dancing with other people, I wish I could come next week! I Love Folk Dance! Hooray!

2011年6月22日 星期三

Day 11 - ICSP @ Camp Grimes

Today was Crazy Sun Glasses Day! Everyone wore funny glasses! (Yesterday was Crazy Hat Day)

Morning
I was told I should teach orienteering 20 minutes later. What? I thought we would learn knots and chopping today! Anyway, I tried to find required teaching materials from our poor teaching resources room ASAP. I didn't have everything I wanted, which made me stressed, "how can I teach without enough materials??". I was really nervous and didn't know what I was talking about in the beginning. I had a bearings game first. Second, I talked about the maps, like how to read a map and how to orient a map. I tried to explain as clear as possible with my poor English. However, maybe my speaking speed was too slow, the kids became sleepy. They turned to be alive until we had a small map legend/symbol competition. In short, I should speak faster; I should collect enough teaching materials before teaching, like paper, pens, camp maps, white board markers, corns, white newspaper, etc.; I should have more games and questions to the kids... Anyway, I have had a start, good for me! Nice job, Ching-Pei!

-Rundown for orienteering:
Introduction-Why should we learn orienteering?
Bearings game
What is a map? What can you see on a map?
Legend/symbol game
How to orient a map? Drawing your own map game
Knowing your compass. Something you can do and something you can't do with your compass.
Measure the bearings (practice one by one)
How to orient a map with your compass? (practice)
Closing and prize ceremony

After the orienteering, we had our chopping class, which the kids loved and expected most. I realized that USA had so many rules for using a pocket knife, a sawand an ax. To me, it was just complicated and confusing. I couldn't remember the different names and functions for knives and axes... In the end of the class, I also asked the kids to clean the surroundings up. I said, "Try to make the place better than you found it!" To my surprise, other staff was very happy that I announced this ( then we don't need to clean hard tomorrow morning!), and There were also quite many volunteers to sweep the floors! Good boys!

Lunch
I had a small interview by a blind kid and his father today. I was touched that the kid was keen to know my background and my story. He also told me that he would like to be in any international staff program when he turns 18. He was so strong and positive! Good job, Billy!
They went swimming in the afternoon. They had a very great time in the water. They tossed a ball to each other and swam within the beginner area... Waht a nice picture! He did have a very nice father to company and instruct him!

Afternoon
Water, water! I was lazy to put on sun screen... I would become dark anyhow. XDDDDDD I floated on an air bed. I kept moving my arms in order to get rid of my "butterfly upper arms!" (hopefully!) 

Evening
Because of the heavy rain, we canceled the outdoor activities. In stead, we had a small show at the Open Shelter with FREE ice cream! We had a great magic show, sweet songs, and nice instruments playing... What a lovely evening~~~

2011年6月21日 星期二

Day 10 - ICSP @ Camp Grimes

Morning
Our patrol went 5-mile hiking this morning. We had a quick look at what we should be careful with at the shelter, and then, it was time to go out. I didn't know how long was 5miles, so I just kept following. We had a small loop passing all cool activity areas (T introduced how fun they were and encouraged them to join at their free time.) and a big loop (still inside the camp). T kept asking kids to drink water in order to avoid getting dehydration. That's why we spent so much time on waiting for bottles filled up (This was killing me!) In my opinion, kids should also know how to deal with limited water (Holding a mouth of water for 1 minute and drink it very slowly down into your throat is a good idea to save your water), not just kept drinking water like this. Anyway, we are afraid of being sewed by their parents. Just follow up the right things they think. I don't want to try to change anything. The kids were well disciplined once again I wanted to mention, because they were only 10 to 11, they just kept walking and walking! Some kids of course became tired and started to complain how long have we walked or how many miles were left... As staff, the only thing I could do was try to encourage them, or told them the funny facts of the plants we saw. And never, ever, tell them we have walked xx miles or we still have xx miles to go. "You shouldn't let them expect anything", T said.

Afternoon
In the water again. The sun light was tooooooooo strong today! I must remember to buy Aloe Vera on the weekend... C observed the clouds (直展雲) far away were getting bigger and bigger. In the end, we had to go back to the shelter because of the thunderstorm warning! (According to the rule, once the thunderstorm is coming, the waterfront has to be shut down for 30 minutes until the waning is released. The kids and staff stayed in the shelter and had a short lesson about the advantage of fitness, which was good and very useful!
Ps. I lost my screw to the glasses. Shit! My most expensive pair! I will absolutely complain to the salesman when I go back!

Evening
I was helping watch the kids on belay, too. Some people in my group were missing. Why? Why didn't they need to come? They had night-off already? I don't think so!

2011年6月20日 星期一

Day 09 - ICSP @ Camp Grimes

More storms came this morning! Gloomy Monday... +"+

Later on, we started to meet and to teach our small campers. Unlike 國中童軍營,we didn't have any game or something special to split out the patrols, which let me feel a little bit pity. Maybe I could do something fun next week? (Need to prepare more for my English teaching... TAT~~) T and I had almost 30 campers this week. They are all 11 or 10 years old. In my opinion, they did have very god control and discipline. We talked about first aid the whole morning, and they just kept answering our questions and got involved in the courses. Wow! Brilliant! I didn't teach very much today. I couldn't talk like a machine gun as my buddy did. When it was my turn, in order not to talk so much (I really couldn't make it. Too many terms.), I got an idea. I split them into even small groups, and I gave each of them different topic(such as, blisters, small cuts and scalds, snakebite, stings, minor burn, frostbite, sunburn and so on.)  to discuss with each other. After five minutes, they needed to come to the stage to tell everyone their conclusion. That's great, wasn't it? I didn't need to say so much. They got chances to review what they have learned. They learned how to give a speech in front of everyone. And, they also learned more by being questioned by other people. Anyway, for this week, I could do like this. I just need to memorize more for the coming week, so that I can handle more fluently.

Emergency Drill of LSS
Everyone is required to do this every Monday before the lunch. Once they have done this, they know what to do whenever they hear the warning alert.

Waterfront
In the afternoon, campers visit the lake according to their shift. We staff then had to WATCH them swimming. There were two shifts in the afternoon, so we kept in the water for two hours. The water was colder than last week though, G and I finally rested at the bank. G started to dig the sand. Guess what? He got clams! Awesome! the golden one! How come! Here in the lake! We collected a lot, and I almost wanted to cook the clam soup in the staff lodge...

Evening Assembly
When it comes to dinner, everyone has to dress up with their uniform. After the flag ceremony, I was introduced to all the campers. I said welcome to say 你好 instead of Hello and KONICHIWA (I have been thought I am from Thailand, Vietnam, and here you go, Japan!) when they see me. I heard 你好 everywhere then. :-D

Evening course was COPE. Rock climbing, Zip-line gliding and Belay. I observed the Belay carefully to see how they did. Basically, they did the same as I do in school. I just need to purchase more helmets and gloves to let the climbers and the person who helps on belay have more protection. Then, it should be Okay. One leader suggested one of the climber's hands should put behind the bottom to be the self/natural break. It could be an idea. Otherwise, you just ask someone else to do the lower check (The rope should wind through the person's left hand to back waist and out of the wight hand.).

2011年6月19日 星期日

Day 08 - ICSP @ Camp Grimes

Campers are coming to town (camp)~
The weekend ended at noon. All the staff put on their camp uniform to welcome the coming campers. Staff in group gave each troop orientation of this camp. I was not assigned to do this, but I followed P and J in order to see how it was going.

The orientation/inspection steps were like this:
The campers were interviewed one by one by the camp doctor to see if they were in good health condition.
Then, we inspected their tents and made notes. Once they broke anything afterwards, they had to compensate. 
In addition,  they needed to do the swimming test. They might get their name tag and would be educated the safety in Waterfront area.

Dinner
We had too many campers this week, so campers had to eat according to their shift time. Today was our (Trailblazars) turn to be the servants. We washed our hands and had plastic apron and gloves to make the tray. Working in a big kitchen like this? So fun!

Welcome party
The show was arranged by the staff. The campers just sat on the bench and enjoyed the show. On Friday, it will be their show time!

Day 07 - ICSP @ Camp Grimes

Lonely Saturday @ staff lodge with C and G.
We kind of did nothing the whole day. Well, we did chat a lot with each other. I therefore got some practice for my speaking at least! (My weakest part is absolutely SPEAKING... TAT~~) These two guys, one was qualified gun holder, and the other was very good at swimming. I asked if we could do something fun in the lake or at the range. They said NO! They needed supervisors(but everyone else was home now.) to watch them. Once they broke the rule, they would be kicked out of the camp right away! Ooook, sounded serious. So we kept staying indoors. In the afternoon, a big thunderstorm hit this place. Outside turned into gloomy in few minutes, and then strong wind and heavy rain everywhere! Horrible! It ended one hour later. I walked out and saw our ranger check the damage, e.g. fallen trees and power failure(!). All in a sudden, he looked at me and said I have something for you. Wowwww!! A whole new pillow and a set of cookwares! He was so nice~ I finally could cook my meal afterwards! I have ever used my element to boil the water for instant noodles. I also used the coffee glass pot to cook spaghetti this noon. My buddies and I decided we should have better meals for the next weekend, either Chinese food or, of course, American food.

2011年6月18日 星期六

Day 06 - ICSP @ Camp Grimes

Clean it up!
Staff was going to have vacations on the weekend, so we were asked to do the cleaning first. Trailblazars was in charge of the staff lodge. It's not a tough job though, I also learned some new words at the same time, like broom(掃把) and dust pan(畚斗。They don't have a handle/pole/stick for the pan. It's so weird. How can you collect the dust? Ask for another person's help? I don't get it.).

Then, I became uncomfortable while everyone was waiting for dismissing. I mean, everyone will go home! How about me? Stay in the camp for the weekend? Awful!  But, do I have other choices? Well, I can ask for a ride to somewhere else... I think I am just lazy to ask. Besides, I have no idea what is fun in NC. Anyway, I was glad there were still some people staying during the weekend. We got no food on the weekend, so we went to town to buy some food then. It took us forever to reach the town, sort of. America is just huge, isn't it? Our destination was Walmart. Um, that's ALL. They said you got everything here in Walmart, but where was the fresh vegetable/fruits? Shit, I could only hang around with the cans and the noodles this weekend! Thanked God at least they sold INSTANT NOODLES and INSTANT RICE here. I got tons of them immediately! Other staff chose chips, cereals, candies, and so on for their meals. You can tell who is not American once you look at the shopping basket obviously (haha!). I wouldn't take those food as my meals. I would die of those shits, okay? Die! My short conclusion is Taiwan is the best food tasting destination. Everything is DELICIOUS and WARM and CHEAP and HANDY.  I want Taiwanese food... T_T~~~ I have lost weight within the five days... 
                                      Sightseeing hot spot in Marion(?)!

In the evening, I studied Safe from Harm and was certified in the end (Yahoooo!). The course is awesome. Everyone should study it. I just realize that in order to be a good teacher, I still have a long way to go. Communication should be more serious. Keep those points (from the web site) in mind.

Day 05 - ICSP @ Camp Grimes

Today is the last day for traing before the camp starts.
In the morning, some "somebodies" came to visit the site. One leader (troop committee) had a "long" stop at our area. He asked all the details about our preparation from how to separate the patrols to the equipment. Everyone even did the teaching demonstration again in front of him again. In short, he was keen to know how and what we have prepared during the week and encouraged us to do our best for the coming weeks. I like this mental support very much. When I work in a Taiwanese camp, we also have Mr./Ms. Big to see how we are in the camp. However, they seldom ask for the details like the leader did today, basically, if they see everything is fine on the "surface", they become satisfied and then leave. Mr.S told me why those people came to the camp afterwards. We could call these people sponsers of the camp. They have donated so much to the camp, and it's time for them to see how their money is used to. I kept asking, how and why did you have so many sponsers? We always had problems collecting enough money to run a camp, e.g. 國中童軍營. He answered, you should step out and talk to people. Once people understand how good Scouting is, you will get what you need in the end from those people. Wow, interesting! He has the same thinking as my principal! But, I agree with that, Scouting needs better PR in order to let the public understand us.

In the afternoon, we had a LSS training. LSS, Lost Swimmer Search. It's a very serious training. Once the waterfront staff realizes that someone is missing (No one is in the water, but its name tag is still on the check-in wall.), the camp has to collect people by playing the alarm to the assembly field to see if it's only the person who forgets to check its name tag out or we do have a missing person. If it is the second, then all the staff has to put on their swimming suits and starts to search in the water. The waterfront is separated into two areras, swimmers' and beginners'. The swimmer staff is asked to search in the entire area, while the beginner staff only needs to help search in the beginners' area. ( Thanks God that I am only the beginner!) To search in the swimmers' area, the staff has to stand in line with their right arm streched to the next person's shoulder on the dock. Then, it's buddy check! The people in pair need to grab the other person's hand and to raise the hands up with counting off. The staff glides into the water. First, they need to check if the body is stock in the bottom of the dock. They dive into the water vertically. Once they touch the bottom with their feet, they may float up with their one hand raised over their head in order not to hit the dock with their heads. The staff turns around and does again the buddy check. And then, they dive into the water. When their hands touch the bottom, they have to swim three strokes before heading up. The lifeguard on the dock asks everyone to stay in line, which means if someone doesn't swim very far, others have to swim back until being at the same line as the person. For the rest, just repeat doing the buddy check and diving until finding out the body. As for the beginners' area, the staff stands in a line, side by side, with their arms escorted. The staff walk forwards with their feet feeling the bottom of the water. Once you touch some thing, you may shout out, stop! Everyone is supposed to stop wand wait for your checking. If it is a body, mission ends. Otherwise, everyone will continue searching. I helped out the begginers' area searching. After 20 minutes, my buddy found a fake limb put there by the lifeguards before. We shouldn't say it's great that we found it! I mean, you know how horrible it will be once you are look for a real body! In short, I appreciate this training, and it is necessary to do once your camp schedule contains water activities. BSA takes this training very seriously. We even have the alarm gathering training with all the campers every Monday morning!

We talked about how to evaluate our activities afterwards. Campers/Troop masters are our customers. Customers are not alway right, but they are still the customers! In order to let the camp run well in the future, we just need to work as hard as we can.


In the evening, we had our camp fire rehearse. The fire was at the other side of the lake. I felt so good that the fire place was next to the lake, although it should be at the center of the arena according to my experience. We had MCs, master of ceremony, to introduce the rundown. It's just so fun and everyone was laughing all the time. It was super dark when the camp fire rehearsal ended. I followed another group to go back to our rooms. The leader was a little bit lost his direction, so we spent more than 30 minutes until the destination. I was scared...

Staff's free time
Football, basketball and frisbee. I joined the frisbee, since I hate to play balls. I am not good at it!

2011年6月15日 星期三

Day 04 - ICSP @ Camp Grimes

Now, I will use my iPad (show off) to post today's diary! (Thank to Anders!)
Work
We Trailblazars did voluntary work for Scoutcraft this morning. In addtion to that, Mr.D also guided us to review the knots and lashings. It's making me full when I tried to remember all the new vocabulary. You know what I mean... Keep fighting with new words.
In the afternoon, staff from three departments gathered together to have "teaching demonstration". That's so exciting! I was going to teach in English! My heartbeat turned into 130(?) immediately when It was my turn. My show was about orienteering: how to set up a map. It was the same as I had my demonstration at the Scout Association of China (Taiwan) two years ago when ICSP applicants went through all the tests. I was approved after all with many compliments. Well, orienteering is my strongest part among all the skills. If I failed, it would be no fun at all. I appreciated the activity very very much (more than I can say). I actually suggest Taiwanese camps should adopt this system before they go. You just want to make sure that all the kids can get qualified lessons, don't you? These program leaders were fantastic. They not only gave compliments to us, they also let you know how you could improve yourself next time. I was so touched and impreesed, for the leaders were still young. But, they absolutely knew how to deal with teaching approprriately! We sat down in a circle in the end. We took turns sharing which part we could be better next time, our greatest weakness and strength were, and so on, which made me reflect myself and made a wish that I would survive for the following 5 weeks!
Staff's free time - Song Feast
Everyone got crazy and enjoyed singing loudly at the Open Shelter. So fun! Although I only understood 50 percents of lyrics. = =; Never mind, you just opened your mouth to pretend you were singing and shook your body with everyone!

Murmuring - Orienteering
I read the merit badge book for orienteering today. I just don't understand why BSA wants scouts to know "how to use a compass" right after "what is orienteering?". It doesn't make any sense at all! What is more important when it comes to "Orienteering"? Reading a map or using a compass? When you try to navigate yourself, you don't always have a compass with you, but you do have a map. I need to talk to someone who knows the system here to get its logic.

2011年6月14日 星期二

Day 03 - ICSP @ Camp Grimes

Work
Lots of reading today, in order to know what we are going to do for campers. Thanked to iPad Anders gave me. I didn't need to struggle for words! Basically, I just clicked and looked it up! (iPad became a dictionary? Ummmmm.....)

Free time - Jogging
I got the camp orienteering map today. I decided to have a short exploring tour before the dinner. I memorized the route I would take, and then I went! The camp was big and steep enough for me to get exercise. I should do it more often to discover more beauties within the camp site!

Free time - Swimming
I became beginner for swimming today! Yahoo~ We staff had a swimming test in the evening to see who could be beginner or swimmer during the camp. Once you are certified, you can do the water activities based on your level. I was so nervous in the beginning. I asked for all the details with shaky body (The temperature was so low...less than 20 degrees out of water.) in order to get more time to prepare emotionally. I took off my glasses and became brave. I mean, I couldn't see well, I just needed to jump in. The guard said the water was not as deep as I thought anyway (2 meters). After some minutes, I jumped in and started to swim like a frog. Maybe 50-75 meters? Then, it's time for the last part: backstroke. Well, I do know how to float in My way. I failed to move my hands like a bird while I was swimming( never done that before). So I was only the beginner. The guard said I am welcome to learn and redo the test one day!

Evening lesson
We talked about Sexual Harassment after swimming. I just realized Taiwanese scout leaders need to pay more attention to this issue before their camp or so starts, since we rarely talk about this. This is absolutely a good way to prevent everyone, from children to adults, from harming (sexual harassment, bullying, abuse, taking drugs...) during the event. See, the 22nd WSJ also asks all the staff to get through http://safefromharm.se/ .

Ohhh, today was also a full moon day. So lovely when fireflies flew around.

Tradition of Camp Grimes
Yell/scream/shout out the sentence on your meal plate, and everyone should yell back! Very fun! ps. The sentence could be: Do not take drugs......

2011年6月13日 星期一

Day 02 - ICSP @ Camp Grimes

It's a long day today~~~~~
I woke up at 6:30 in order to be in the Open Shelter in time. Getting up so early is just killing me, and we staff need to do this for 6 weeks! Man! But I have no other choice... This week would be staff's preparation week, and we will struggle with kids for the rest of 5 weeks.

My first meal at the camp.
I was so surprised that we got so little food (Am I not in USA???). I became super starving at 10. I even had stomachache. Anders said it could be from the jet lag. I would absolutely try to save some bread later on to prevent me from starving again. XDDDDDDDD

First task.
We didn't start to work right after the flag ceremony, for we had to get rid of a wasp nest with D-BEE first. Wasp nest? As Johan said to me last year in Ransberg, "You just take it down with your hands and cast it away like pitching a ball!" we could do the same here! Haha! Anyway, we cleaned out our shelter in good order then. I was also oriented today so I knew what I would do in the future. Basically, I would hang around with Tenderfoot scouts. I should teach them Scouting skills or so. I was happy that I bought a book called Camp Out some years ago so I could do preparation for tons of Scouting lingoes and terms before the camp. I still needed to fight with them, however, because my CPU is out of space....

Staff's free time
In the evening, all the staff went down to have softball game on the beautiful grassland. Softball? I have never played that before, but I still took a try. And, guess what? I succeeded! I did hit the ball for two times!! Wow~ I thought I just had this talent. (kkk~~) I appreciated my team members' yell and greetings! You guys were just awesome!

Day 01 - ICSP @ Camp Grimes

All way shaky to CLT from CPH... That's awful! However, here I come, North Carolina!

Mr.D fetched me in the airport. Thank to him so that I could arrive at the camp safely and in "dry". On our way to the camp, there was a super heavy rain with lightening. Well, NC greets me in its way. I am sure I will be fine here for 6 weeks loooo (遇水/雨則發). Mr.D treated me the most popular and famous food in NC, pork BBQ with sour and spicy chopped cabbage. The restaurant was full of pig's stuff, such T-shirt, doll, pictures and so on. I would really like to take photos for my sister. She would fall in love in this place! (Her zodiac is Pig.)

Camp Grimes was just huge and green. After being introduced to everyone, Mrs.N showed me my future room, which had 3 beds inside. I would be only one using the room during the summer. Isn't it a super nice news? I have my own room and 3 beds to choose which to sleep on every day!

2011年6月8日 星期三

毛地黃為何有"黃"字在裡頭?明明花是桃紅色的啊?

四月時帶日本人遊士林官邸,當時被問到毛地黃花明明不是黃色的,但為何名字裡面有個黃字(我寫漢字給日人看)。這個問題困擾我很久,幸運的是,五月我參加了植物生態導覽訓練班,其中的講師解答了我的疑問,讓我不再困惑,以下是原因:

毛地黃名字由來:它為何被叫毛地黃呢?是因為它有著佈滿茸毛的莖葉及酷似地黃的葉片,因而有「毛地黃」名字;又因為它來自遙遠的歐洲,因此又稱為「洋地黃」。
來源網站

原來是因為其葉子長的像地黃的葉片故名,至於地黃是什麼呢?地黃是一種中藥材,依其炮製程度不同,屬性與用途也不同。更多資訊

我們來比較一下地黃與毛地黃的圖片吧:
地黃照










毛地黃照-花與植株














果然!葉子是蠻像的,因為上面覆滿小細毛故名毛地黃。毛地黃現在這個時後就可以在台灣的山坡上看到芳蹤,但小心有毒!不過她可是可以拿來作為心臟用藥,對人類有很大的貢獻低~

每日一花,到此為止,謝謝收看,咱們下次見。