I am back! The Conference ended on a good note. We had lots of fun mingling and hosting the event. The next one will be three years later, held in Indonesia, as voted and agreed upon by the Council Members.
The Conference started on the late afternoon of Thursday 7 October 2010, so I took half a day off and went to the YMCA Hostel, where we would be staying for the duration of the Conference. When I reached there, I had to quickly help in sorting out the Secretariat room at the back of the auditorium by setting up the laptops and printer in order to start my Secretariat work.
I was also given a good bag consisting of a black recycling bag, sponsored by the School of Dance, with the Conference booklet, a pen, memo pad and three T-shirts - a white dry-fit for Thursday, a black T-shirt for Friday, and an orange dry-fit polo for Saturday. We were already told to bring the normal black "chickpig" T-shirt for Sunday. I must say, I am quite proud of the fact that I can still wear the smallest size T-shirts!
The Conference started on the late afternoon of Thursday 7 October 2010, so I took half a day off and went to the YMCA Hostel, where we would be staying for the duration of the Conference. When I reached there, I had to quickly help in sorting out the Secretariat room at the back of the auditorium by setting up the laptops and printer in order to start my Secretariat work.
I was also given a good bag consisting of a black recycling bag, sponsored by the School of Dance, with the Conference booklet, a pen, memo pad and three T-shirts - a white dry-fit for Thursday, a black T-shirt for Friday, and an orange dry-fit polo for Saturday. We were already told to bring the normal black "chickpig" T-shirt for Sunday. I must say, I am quite proud of the fact that I can still wear the smallest size T-shirts!
The YMCA where we were staying
The reception area outside the auditorium
The theme of the Conference - "Witnessing With The Love Of Christ"
The goody bag
The front of the Conference booklet
The back of the Conference booklet
T-shirt for the first day (front) - Ladies S size
T-shirt for the first day (back)
T-shirt for the second day (front) - XXS
T-shirt for the second day (back)
T-shirt for the third day (front) - Ladies S size
T-shirt for the third day (back)
T-shirt for the last day (front)
T-shirt for the last day (back)I went to the room a while later to put my luggage down. Initially, I was given a triple room, but when one of the helpers decided not to stay, I shifted to a twin room after that. The room is pretty good for a hostel - there is full airconditioning, dressing table, bed with pillow, bedsheet and comforter, table lamp, attached bathroom complete with shower, towel and toiletries. There is even a small kettle for boiling water! The facilities and amenities are just like a hotel! What is best is that the room I was in have a pretty good view from the window too!
My name tag and welcome card - I found these on my bed when I checked in
My initial room - triple sharing room
The dresser of the triple room
The bathroom of the triple room
Welcome envelope containing breakfast coupons for all days
Breakfast coupons
The new room I was assigned - a twin room
The dresser
The attached bathroomThe delegates started streaming in around the afternoon on Thursday. The Conference officially started at four in the afternoon, with an Opening Mass, followed by instructions and announcements. Then each delegate of each country was called up to introduce themselves. We then had dinner, followed by the first session of the theme, presented by the Coordinating Committee Members.
That was when my work started, I had to note down everything in the slides, plus everything that was said. By the end of the session, my right arm was starting to become sore! The evening ended with a Praise and Worship performance, before we all called it a night. That was the end of the first day.
On the second day (Friday 8 October 2010), we had to wake up early for the Mass at seven in the morning. The mass was conducted by the Indonesian delegates. Then there was the group photo-taking session, with the photo-taking sessions of the individual countries, before going up for breakfast.
After that, it was the Morning Prayer led by the Hong Kong delegates, and the second session started proper. Again, I had to note down whatever that was being said and shown, hence I was typing away vigorously.
The morning coffee break followed. The coffee break had a pretty wide spread, as every country brought their own goodies, so we had a good food tasting / sampling session! I took the wife biscuits and mooncake from Hong Kong, as well as some local cakes from Brunei!
That was when my work started, I had to note down everything in the slides, plus everything that was said. By the end of the session, my right arm was starting to become sore! The evening ended with a Praise and Worship performance, before we all called it a night. That was the end of the first day.
On the second day (Friday 8 October 2010), we had to wake up early for the Mass at seven in the morning. The mass was conducted by the Indonesian delegates. Then there was the group photo-taking session, with the photo-taking sessions of the individual countries, before going up for breakfast.
After that, it was the Morning Prayer led by the Hong Kong delegates, and the second session started proper. Again, I had to note down whatever that was being said and shown, hence I was typing away vigorously.
The morning coffee break followed. The coffee break had a pretty wide spread, as every country brought their own goodies, so we had a good food tasting / sampling session! I took the wife biscuits and mooncake from Hong Kong, as well as some local cakes from Brunei!
Contribution from Singapore
Contribution from Indonesia
Contribution from Malaysia
Contribution from Brunei
Contribution from Taiwan
Contribution from Hong KongAfter the morning coffee break, there was Action Songs performance by the Hong Kong delegates, before we started on the third session of the theme, which means I had to resume typing furiously again, trying to catch every word.
Lunch, followed by Action Songs by the Malaysia delegates. Then the last session for the theme started in the afternoon. This time, it was a longer session, so there were more things to note down. After this, it was the afternoon coffee break, and the auditorium was shifted into a more "forum" style, as each country's Council Members would have to give feedback on the new learnings and their reports since the last Conference.
Finally it was dinner, followed by the Amazing Race game. We had to go to three designation places and do three different tasks. We also had to find "time reversals". I headed one team and we rushed off once we were told to flag off. We could only take public transport, so there was quite a fair bit of walking to do!
We went back more than three hours later, exhausted. Still, each of us had a great time! Since it was not too late, my dear and I decided to go and watch a late show as the cinema is just across the street from YMCA. He said we had not actually spent time alone with each other for the past few days, so wanted to have some time alone with me!
The next day (Saturday 9 October), we woke up for breakfast, before proceeding to the auditorium for Action Songs led by the Taiwan delegates. Then, while the rest of the delegates went for a visit to Old Folks' Homes, the Council members stayed behind for the meeting. It was like a normal Annual General Meeting, with agenda, nominations and acceptance of office for the next Conference, and any changes to the Constitution. This was where the Secretariat have to take down the most points. Luckily I had two more helpers, but essentially, everything was more or less captured!
Finally there was a wrapping up of the whole Conference, before breaking for lunch. After lunch it was free and easy in preparation for the Cultural Night, before the Closing Mass at four in the afternoon. Hence, I took a little rest and then went to keep all the things in the Secretariat room as they were not needed anymore.
Mass was conducted by the Archbishop, then there was the Cultural Night. I never know how tiring these few intensive days were! Even though the entire Cultural Night wrapped up at ten in the evening (not that late), I was feeling so shagged that I just went to sleep after that!
Lunch, followed by Action Songs by the Malaysia delegates. Then the last session for the theme started in the afternoon. This time, it was a longer session, so there were more things to note down. After this, it was the afternoon coffee break, and the auditorium was shifted into a more "forum" style, as each country's Council Members would have to give feedback on the new learnings and their reports since the last Conference.
Finally it was dinner, followed by the Amazing Race game. We had to go to three designation places and do three different tasks. We also had to find "time reversals". I headed one team and we rushed off once we were told to flag off. We could only take public transport, so there was quite a fair bit of walking to do!
We went back more than three hours later, exhausted. Still, each of us had a great time! Since it was not too late, my dear and I decided to go and watch a late show as the cinema is just across the street from YMCA. He said we had not actually spent time alone with each other for the past few days, so wanted to have some time alone with me!
The next day (Saturday 9 October), we woke up for breakfast, before proceeding to the auditorium for Action Songs led by the Taiwan delegates. Then, while the rest of the delegates went for a visit to Old Folks' Homes, the Council members stayed behind for the meeting. It was like a normal Annual General Meeting, with agenda, nominations and acceptance of office for the next Conference, and any changes to the Constitution. This was where the Secretariat have to take down the most points. Luckily I had two more helpers, but essentially, everything was more or less captured!
Finally there was a wrapping up of the whole Conference, before breaking for lunch. After lunch it was free and easy in preparation for the Cultural Night, before the Closing Mass at four in the afternoon. Hence, I took a little rest and then went to keep all the things in the Secretariat room as they were not needed anymore.
Mass was conducted by the Archbishop, then there was the Cultural Night. I never know how tiring these few intensive days were! Even though the entire Cultural Night wrapped up at ten in the evening (not that late), I was feeling so shagged that I just went to sleep after that!
View outside my room window
View from the outdoor terrace of the YMCA Cafe (where we had breakfast)
The next day (Sunday 10 October), the last day of the Conference, I could barely wake up as it was, but in the end, I still made myself get up for the morning mass, conducted by the Taiwan delegates, followed by the final breakfast. The mass was at the rooftop poolside, so it was a different experience, surrounded by a nice view!
After that, we went on a half-day city tour. We did not go very far, just near the region. We went to three places. Perhaps because everyone was tired, or perhaps because everyone had been walking so much and the intensity of the Conference was taking a toil on everyone, most of us could hardly move after the second place and wanted to rest at the third place.
We went back to YMCA after noon, and said a final farewell to everyone before returning home. And that concludes the Thirteenth CHOICE Asia Conference. I can hardly wait for the next one in Indonesia, if I get to go that is!
After that, we went on a half-day city tour. We did not go very far, just near the region. We went to three places. Perhaps because everyone was tired, or perhaps because everyone had been walking so much and the intensity of the Conference was taking a toil on everyone, most of us could hardly move after the second place and wanted to rest at the third place.
We went back to YMCA after noon, and said a final farewell to everyone before returning home. And that concludes the Thirteenth CHOICE Asia Conference. I can hardly wait for the next one in Indonesia, if I get to go that is!
The rooftop poolside where we had mass
View from the rooftop poolside
This is actually Wesley Methodist Church, right across the street from YMCA itself.
2 comments:
Hi, I am Tracy Lau, delegate from Hong Kong. Nice to learn your shares here and photos with us. Stay in touch and wish to seeing you in next CAC 2013.
If you have any nice photo to share me, please add my facebook at tracylau@jwele.com so that i could share by there.
Have a nice day and God Bless!
Hi! I'm surprised to see you here! I have added you onto Facebook, so you can see all the photos I have uploaded. If you can find yourself, do tag! :-)
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