Geog Camp

If you noticed, this entry for last week is late. I usually post them during the weekends. The reason behind it was we had a camp for my Geog 1 class for the whole weekend.

It was my first time to go to a place farther than Manila. My family and I just go to different parts of Visayas and Mindanao for vacations and outings. We have never reached places beyond Metro Manila and San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. So I was very excited despite the fact that my family is not with me. I really tried to be awake for the whole trip going there to observe the places we will pass. Fortunately, I was wide-awake. Before, I just sleep during travels since I easily felt dizzy especially when passing zigzag roads. But as I grew up, this feeling slowly vanished.

I don't intend to offend but honestly the roads, except highways, going there are small just like most roads in Visayas. Most of the two-lane roads looked liked one lane in Mindanao. I really think that this is because of the substandard construction due to the low budget of the government. I have said this since the Americans and the Koreans constructed most of the roads in Mindanao. This is really one of the things I want to observe during travels.

I was shocked of how far the camp location from the highway. It is part of a community but the community is small and very rural. There are no stores around. The phone signal is very rare. Good thing, our teacher already informed us about it so I didn't bother to bring my laptop with me. The place was so secluded that we were motivated to do the activities.

By the time we reached there, we were only given a time to fix our bags and take a lunch. After that, the activities immediately began. Knowing that we have many athletic classmates, we were very confident in physical activities. We were right. We almost won every activity that needs manpower. But when we had the activity that required vast knowledge in geography, we were losers. We did not expect how intelligent the other teams are. We got the last place in all those games. We really felt disappointed.

Despite having the feeling of losing, we still tried to do our best in the class presentation. For the first time, I really felt that we are united. This is because before the camp, we almost don't know the names of each other. I feel that every time I attend our class, my group mates and some course mates are the only people who know that I am in the class. Even landing on the second place, since the two other teams tied, at least we got the first place in the class presentation. It was a very good opportunity to know our classmates more.

In this camp, I experienced many firsts - like I said earlier, going to Northern Luzon; riding an ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle); watching a paintball fight; playing airsoft; doing and obstacle course; and many more. I really did not expect that I will achieve (yes, achieve) all of these this early. But I think it was better when I am with my family.

This really proves that having bonding moments will be a way for acquaintances to be friends. This will give them memories that they will remember. This is a chance for people to know more about the people around them. This will encourage unity that they never thought possible. This is a way to just enjoy the company of others.

I really love this kind of activity. It helps me to explore the country . It is a chance to discover things that I can suggest to anyone. I do hope that I will experience more activities like this.

Sacrifice

If you really want something, you have to sacrifice your time and effort just to achieve it.

I had been very busy for the whole week. Because of the suspension of classes for the past week, we had to make-up for the lost time. Another reason is it was our last week to get signatures from the members of the org. I also attended my advising session for the next semester and our org Sportsfeast.

One whole week of sudden suspension of classes is a very great loss especially for subjects scheduled everyday like math. We need to have fast discussions so we can cope with the original schedule. But since they maybe felt that they were pushing us too hard, the teachers decided to move our third long exam from August 31 to September 5. I am very thankful since the weekend before the original schedule, I have a camp to attend. At least with the changing of plans, I have more time to study.

If changing the original schedule is not an option, then a make-up class is the last answer. In my Geog 1 class, our teacher decided to have a 3-hour make-up class. It will cover the two meetings we lost. And for our convenience, since most of us will attend the Geog Camp, he will have it there. For those who will not attend, he will give them a separate make-up class.

For my other subjects, which I think are not really affected by it, the teacher just moved our schedule for a week.

Since last week was the deadline of our signature sheets, I doubled my effort in getting sigs. On normal days, I go back to our dormitory for lunch but last week, I stayed in our tambayan. If I'll eat lunch, I made it sure that I'll be fast. And during afternoons, I stayed there from 4 to 6:30. Every free time I had was very precious. I never thought I could reach the minimum one day ahead. It may already seem a success but no. If I could complete them until the culminating party which is also the deadline, I will. I still had about 15 signatures uncompleted. It is a good thing that the members were very kind and supportive at that time. In exchange for their complete sigs, most of them asked for letters which is somehow convenient for me. But, there are others who were very demanding and asked for a sing or dance number. Even I don't have a good voice, singing is something I can "confidently" do. But dancing is a different thing. I am not good at it. I don't have the confidence for it. I tried to ask to change her requirement but she didn't accept it. I just hope she will change her mind when I will see her.

Also, last week, I had a schedule for advising for the next semester. Even I need to get sigs, I attended this. This is very important because it will somehow guarantee me a slot for the subjects I chose.

The last event of my week was the PsychSoc Sportsfeast. It was just a 4-hour event but for me it was still tiring because I have many things to do. When my friends decided to go home even the event was not done (they were still heading home to Batangas, and Pampanga), I went with them so I can go home early. And besides, I still had many things to do.

If was not for an org I really want to join, I won't have that very busy week. I really hope that my sacrifices will pay off. 

Destructive Monsoon

For the past week, all our classes were suspended. It was because of the heavy rains caused by the southwest monsoon. Most of the National Capital Region and the nearby provinces were severely flooded. No one thought that the seasonal monsoon would cause a major disaster in the country.

As a toddler, I already came across this once. But I cannot remember the feeling and I was still unaware of the happenings. So I consider this as my first. Before, when I was still in the province, I haven't experienced it. Our province is surrounded with mountains so heavy rains cannot penetrate. Every time, I heard about typhoons and floods, it was not a big deal for me. When I saw the victims, I just felt sorry for them but not really thinking about them. Then, by the time I was already facing it, I have never thought that I became very worried. When I found out that the monsoon's rainfall exceeded Ondoy's rainfall last 2009, my anxiety grew more. The high floods also made me troubled. I have never imagined that I experienced it this early. But this incident taught me how difficult it is to live in a place frequently visited by storm. I also realized how lucky I am to grow in an environment where strong storms don't come.

My experience was a little bit scary particularly knowing that the places around me where flooded. I have never experienced flood or walking into it. I don't know how to deal with it if it reaches my place. That is why I salute those who deal with it every time the rain will be strong. If I were them, I think I will really find a new place to live.

In addition, I was very bothered by the intense lightning and thunder. I have never encountered it before. I have seen and heard them but they were not that powerful. We only have moderate and occasional lightnings and thunders. I have not thought that they will be very scary. They were like big flashes and loud bombs. I was always shocked by them to the extent that I woke up early morning because the thunders were very loud and terrifying and they occurred continuously. Since I'll stay here for a while, I think I'll be used to this.

With what happened, I realized that even how divided our country most of the time, in moments like this, we will always try to help one another. I am very delighted of those who sacrificed themselves just to save others. Also, I am pleased to those who donated relief goods and assisted in distributing them.  I am very proud that even only in these situations, we felt that we are one. I just hope that someday it will not be just during calamities but it will be permanent. It maybe impossible but who knows.

Pressure and Exhaustion

One of the things that will always be a part of a college student is stress. Most of us refer to stress as a feeling of being tired and a loss in interest. But, this perception is wrong. According to what I learned in PE 1, stress is the mind and body's response to a threat, event or change. Also, stress is not always bad. There is distress or the bad stress and eustress or the good stress. 

In the past week, I experienced distress. I think it is because of the many things I have been thinking. I was thinking of ways on how to manage my time and of choosing on what my priorities are. It was very hard especially when you think that they have almost the same importance. Most of the time last week, I was just contemplating about it that I did not accomplish anything. Even I am only a college student, I believe that this kind of problem is one of the hardest one can encounter. 

What happened last week is my first encounter with that kind of problem. Good for me, I always have a conversation with my parents even they are very far from me. Despite that I don't really tell them that I have a problem, I was able to express to them that I was having a hard time. They gave me words of encouragement. They said that I can do it. They always believed that I will overcome every challenge I will encounter. 

Because of it, every afternoon, I had headaches. So, for two consecutive days, I didn't stay at the nook of the org. I will still not sacrifice my health over the org. When I reached my room and before doing anything, the first thing I do is sleep. I know that this is the best medicine for my tried brain. After it, I started doing my tasks. With just a little time, I only finished my academic assignments. I cannot study for the org challenges. For me, academics will always be my first priority. 

As what I said, choosing our priorities is one of the hardest things especially when we all consider them as important. It is hard that you only think about it throughout the day. You are not able to concentrate on what's happening. So, I was trying my best not to think about it because it will ruin my mood for the day. That strategy somehow kept me calm. But after each day, I again remembered my problems. I always pray that everything will be fine. 

My post for the week is just short since I cannot share my problems. I can only describe how it affected me. I am just happy because most of my problems are solved. I will not give up. I know that the end will be good.