Having tided over the worst, things are slooowly starting to picking up - social life, Buloh and the outdoors, and that jobhunt.
Pink-necked green pigeon and other critters at the Lower Pierce Reservoir…
The Singapore Fireworks Festival and the famous Merlion (my first shot of it after all these years)…
Scouts campfire at VS…
Other than the wildly successful bid to host the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in 2010, there is a lesser-known bid that Singapore is trying to win: WSJ 2015. The Singapore Scouts played host to the Chief and senior Commissioners of the various National Scout Organisations (read: countries) over the weekend, bringing them on a social and site inspection visit to where we propose the World Scout Jamboree 2015 to be held (mainly on Coney Island and at Punggol Point, but with activities taking place over the entire island!). Commissioners from over 100 countries attended, and were treated to dinners which over the nights were hosted or graced by the presence of Prof Tommy Koh, President Nathan, and Dr Vivian Balakrishnan. The packed itinerary included a stay at the Regent Hotel, visits to the Asian Civilisations Museum, OBS at Pulau Ubin, the NEWater plant, the Istana, Sungei Buloh, Singapore Science Centre, and the Botanic Gardens, and various other places like the heartlands or cultural districts. They were the most hardcore tourists!
I loved mingling around with the commissioners. They loved to joke, tease, laugh, and basically have fun. Young at heart indeed. I learnt much, about them, their countries, and as I went I realised how misplaced some of my knowledge about the world was. Even Imperial or the Model UN didn’t have this international a flavour. Looking at them at Burkhill Hall at the Botanics on the last day, in their own countries’ uniforms, how distinctly unique each country was in its culture and heritage, but all bonded by that common identity of a scout scarf and the World badge - we were all Scouts of peace, no matter our histories, no matter our current political stances. Here, where the peoples of countries formerly or even currently at war could talk freely, among brothers.
I think the Singapore Scout Association did great - the programme, logistics, efficiency, everything throughout those three days… were set to impress. At the risk of sounding like a brainwashed patriotic citizen, listening to the testaments of the commissioners declaring their countries’ support for Singapore, I must say that I did feel proud to be Singaporean… ironically, while donning the UK uniform!
During the feedback and debrief session, a question was posed to our Chief: “The Singapore government now is very supportive of the bid. But what if it changes its stance or the political structure changes in future, before 2015?” The hall erupted in laughter. The Singaporeans present chuckled with knowing confidence, as did the representatives from the other Asian countries. Overheard from one of the Asian commissioners: “How little he knows about Singapore!”
The Zambian commissioner made a moving speech on the call for peace, and how impressed he was with Singapore’s multiculturalism and inter-racial harmony. “We in Africa have been hacking each other, just because we are from different tribes. I will support sending our children here, so that they can learn, so that they can see, how people of different colours can live together in harmony, in peace, with a common vision for the nation.”
Later on, over dinner, I heard one of the African commissioners asked Minister Balakrishnan, “So can you tell me what is not well with your government? Really, you have good security, communication…”
The Ugandan commissioner was full of praises, assuring us that only positive reports from what he has witnessed first-hand in Singapore would be sent to the top ministers in his government and his President, and humbly admitting that Uganda has much to learn from Singapore, such a small country, but so advanced, and so ahead in so many ways - how is has developed, how it is governed, how we manage to balance economic and environmental needs, which was a running theme throughout - Prof Tommy Koh mentioned, it, our Chief Commissioner elaborated on it, Dr Balakrishnan again touched on it.
It was all over too soon, I’m sure we wished it had lasted longer, this unique experience - both for them, the visitors to Singapore, and for us the hosts. But I’m sure Singapore nailed it… at least, I hope we did!
The Polish and Mozambican commissioners posing for a photo
Prof Tommy Koh (Ambassador-at-Large for Singapore, Chairman of the Institute of Policy Studies, National Heritage Board and Chinese Heritage Centre… and an environmental champion)
Mr Yatiman Yusof (Singapore’s High Commissioner to Kenya, former MICA Senior Parliamentary Secretary), providing commentary on the bus
The rainbow underground fountain at the NEWater plant
The Tunisian commissioner speaks
The Saudi Arabian commissioner with Dr Vivian Balakrishnan (Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports)
One thing I learnt last Saturday was that the cheer really goes “Oggy oggy oggy! Oi oi oi!” and not the “Aussie Aussie Aussie! Oi Oi Oi!” that my ears have automatically been trained to pick up on and respond to, and which I found sounded out of place when I first heard it being chanted by the scouts at the Lord Mayor’s Show. As a few British Scouts have kindly explained to me, the English version came first, and the Aussie one is a variant. Ahh…
Live07 was amazing. The atmosphere and the spirit of it all… it’s one big Scouting party with 3000 in the cast, and even more from all around the UK gathered in the now-O2 Arena then-Millennium Dome to celebrate this last major event in our centenary year. Through it all, and especially through one of the items (Through the Years), I have come to appreciate more the history and the culture of Scouting. What had essentially started as a very British institution, encouraging the ideals of good citizenship and all, has now extended its reach into every single country in the world, save for four. The basic Scout Laws… honour, trustworthiness, loyalty, courage, usefulness, thriftiness… it is these that make good a man. But as an experienced Scouter had lamented, times are a-changing. In light of the modern society, it is tough to instil these values into young people, “How can we do so, when even the adults do not possess these qualities?” Even more so, the Movement’s purpose and principles remain ever so important today.
Also heard God Save the Queen being sang out live with orchestral accompaniment for the first time. In the closing segment, when the symphony sounded out the first few notes from the anthem and everybody stood up from their seats, hands by the side and headgear removed, the sudden silence and respect I could feel they had for the occasion was immense. What a feeling…
More photos from the night here.
I’ve heard of guide dogs for blind people (’seeing-eye dogs’) but not of hearing dogs before. Aye, shame on my ignorance.
We had visitors today during Cubs - a representative from the charity Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, as well as a lovely hearing-impaired lady and her even-lovelier hearing dog. Very impressed with them dogs… they’re so smart! First time seeing the kids this well-behaved, and a few even did ‘good turns’ on their own initiative. I suppose it does help, meeting face-to-face with the beneficiaries of the funds we’ll be raising through the stamp fund.
On the morning of the 1st of August I joined the Singapore Scouts at their HQ in a simple ceremony in renewing our Promise. Little did I expect scouts from other countries - UK and Australia - to be present as well, and in their uniforms! Had a chance to talk to the Chief Commissioner, and others, about everything scouting. I am in the wrong side of the globe right now, missing out on the World Scout Jamboree (imagine - 40 000 scouts from almost every single country in the world, all camping in one spot!) and all those exciting events in the UK.
More photos from that day here, some courtesy of the S’pore Scout Association.
Scouting centenary celebrations don’t come any cooler than in the form of a street party / adventure activity day hosted by the Prime Minister. I went with my Group’s Beavers (the really young ones) to Downing Street for some good fun. While I was preoccupied with making sure that the kids didn’t spray paint into their eyes, a few of them suddenly dashed past me shouting “Tony Blair!” and sure enough, it was the PM standing behind me. I didn’t really expect him to turn up, but turn up he did. I shook hands with him, and when he asked, explained I was a leader with the Cubs, and then he went on and smiled at the cameras and everyone else and continued shaking more hands. He’s just like the Tony Blair that you see in the media… there was nothing different about him in real life as one might expect when meeting these big personalities. The Chief Scout was present too. So for the better part of the day we were camped outside door No. 10, and the rest of the afternoon was spent indoors in the Pillared Room for lunch. That was one unique experience, and the Scouts might just have to wait another 100 years till they get to set up a climbing wall or get pedal carts onto Downing Street again.
The young people stole the limelight, but if you look hard enough you might be able to see me in the background in this video! Chile-man (the other leader in my pack, a Chilean scout) was happy that his picture was published on CBBC’s website. 
Playing Warcraft till 5.30am in the morning, while knowing that the following day I had to look after a few dozen screaming children, was rather unwise. It was the Beavers’ and Cubs’ activity day up at Gilwell Park/UK Scout HQ, where they’d have a go at archery, rolling rock climbing, grass sledging and crate stacking. And we adult leaders had to go along to make sure that everything went ok. I hadn’t fully woken up when I was thrust onto the coach, my ears pounded by noncessant chatter and my energy spent trying to sort out the woes of some kid complaining that so-and-so was kicking him or so-and-so was saying rude words.
Not that I dislike being with the children. It’s just quite new to me… this… role that I’m supposed to fill. I’ve lots to learn - how to handle cases of bullying, how to settle disputes, how to tend to injuries and the little accidents, how to keep them entertained, how to be fair, how to keep them safe, but happy, how to build positive relationships with all of them, and understand their friendship systems and such. If I were a robin, my feathers would have puffed when one of the girls invited me to put my hand in the centre of their circle as they pulled off a friendship ring cheer thingy. Or, when I was teaching another cub how to tie a friendship knot (the knot that all adults used while at Gilwell, in place of a woggle) with her neckerchief, she told the others that I was a ‘real scout teacher’. There might have been moments when I just had to tolerate the intolerable, moments when I had to take charge and instill some discipline, and other moments like these which makes it all worth it.
I take my hat off to all teachers (and you too, ZF) for being such noble spirits. How you manage them all, day after day, year after year, I do not know.
| Singapore | 
