Thursday, June 15, 2006

(Caution! Long entry ahead. Lucas is not responsible for any exhaustion,
blindness and related illnesses from reading this entry)

I love staring out from the window of my
house. The view of the sea, the city skyline,
the trees, the moon... always comforts me.

I've never really shared with anyone how I
ended up in the team, and grew to love
and treasure it.

I remembered staring down at the booklet
introducing the various JCs. Having
already decided to apply for SAJC with
one of my closest buddy many weeks ago,
I didn't really take much notice of other
j's.

Then it happened.

(This is as I remembered)
Me: "Hey Bryan"

Bryan: "Yeh? So when are you applying"

Me: "Hey, wait. I want to join canoeing and dragonboating, I still remembered
sec 3 camp when we did it and I love it."

Bryan: "Sounds like fun! Maybe I'll join too, I didn't know SA had canoeing"

Me: "er... yea, that's the problem... I think I'm going AC"

Bryan: "But I thought we decided to go SA long ago? How about our deal to go
school together?

Me: "Sorry... But I think I really want to try this"

Bryan: "... ..."

Me: "I promise to go to SA if it doesn't work out ok?"

Bryan: "Ok then..."

And so I applied for AC and got in

During orientation, I remembered once when we
were supposed to introduce yourself, one part
being the CCA you want to join. Of course I said
Canoeing..

orientation Leader: "Wow... Are you sure? Its really tough... Maybe you might want
(Name censored) to reconsider..."

Demoralised.

CCA open house. Remember the scene. Weiling
and Margy was stationed at a tiny booth.
The canoeing booth. Weiling was holding a
Brasca paddle. Wow... they look... tough.
I'll give a shot anyways.

Me thinking: "Hey! Why is there a slot for previous CCA? Let me take a look...
NCC, Scounts, NCC, Basketball, Track n field... oh man... I'm
like... from choir for 4 whole years..."

Demoralised.

Fast forward to Day before Training.
Nardim and Ben came on stage.

Nadim: "Hi, i Nadim from Canoeing and I would like inform all the people who have
signed up, or are interested in joining canoeing to meet at 4.45 tomorrow
outside the gym. Please come in your orientation attire and have plenty of
rest!

Ben: "You'll need it!"

Demoralised.

Training Day. The place was crowded. 90 over people came.
Being on the small side, I found myself being overwhelmed
by the people who looked so much stronger then me

Demoralised.

Training started. Pushups!

Me: "Hi! I'm Lucas, you seem to be keeping up up quite well!"

Fellow J1: "Hi, you are quite strong too :)Oh, and I'm Desmond!"

I made my first friend.

And I survived training.
(pullups was tortureous, I couldn't even do one)

And I went back for the second one. And the
next... and the next...

There started the best years of my life. The
training, the sun, the heavy grandmother boats :)
the kallang salt water, the stinky mud that sank to
my waist, leaping out of the dragonboat into the cold
salty sea after a hard day's rowing with everyone
laughing away riding, the waves from the coast guard vessels,
ever encouraging seniors and ted, learning of Ks,
the canoeing table, pullup bar sessions, the glorious
sunrise at kallang early in to morning... the list
is endless...

To the people who say that ACJC canoeing and dragonboating
is a tough CCA to be in, I just have to say that you are
wrong. Why is it tough? it is the pushups or
pullups? the numerous and long training? The diet?

When all the team members are pushing together with you, shouting
out encouragements, supporting you through every moment,
when friends are never superficial but like family,
when grandseniors often come down to help out despite
busy timetable, nothing is ever too tough.
I love this team, this feeling and the spirit.

I hope this never ends.

Lucas Out!