The OHOP Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank the following people for making this trip such a success:
To God, for blessing this trip and keeping us safe and sound throughout the trip.
To our Principal, Mrs Lim-Tan, for her guidance and support.
To the teachers who helped in the planning of this trip, for their meticulous planning and coordination.
To the teachers who accompanied the pupils on the trip, for taking care of the pupils and keeping the parents updated.
To the tour agency and our tour guide, for their assistance in organizing this trip.
To the parents, for your kind understanding and support throughout this year.
Last but not least, to the pupils, for making this such a memorable and entertaining trip!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Reflections (Part 3)
Here are the last batch of reflections. As always, minimal editing has been applied to the reflections in order to retain their "original flavour".
"I liked tasting the tea, and it was very educational for me and my friends to try 5 different types of tea. My favourite was Pu Er tea."
- Claire Tan
"This educational journey to Xiamen, China has really opened my eyes of learning what goes on around the world... The people in Xiamen are friendly and approachable. China's weather was cooling and our group had to wear a few layers of clothing."
- Isabelle Tjokrosetio
"I really think that this is the best experience ever."
- Nur Ain
"I am now aware of how people live in China. I had a lot of fun in China and discovered that the pupils in China have different ways of studying than Singaporean pupils."
- Halimah
"My favourite place is the Xiamen Science Museum. It has a lot of interactive and fun games. I played a driving simulation game. I kept on crashing, but it was still fun."
- Terisha-Ann Tan
"I think that China is a good place to know more about our own culture and dialect heritage. It is good to know more of our own dialect culture."
- Chong Suet Ting
"After visiting China, I gained a lot of knowledge and knew more about my own heritage."
- Valerie Goh
"(Regarding Gulangyu)I do not know why, but old things always interest me a lot more than new things. On my way back to Singapore now, I am reluctant to leave Xiamen, but the time will come someday that I go back to Xiamen again. I am both happy and sad to leave Xiamen. Happy, because I can see my family and friends again, but sad, because I have to leave such a wonderful place."
- Ye Dan Ning
And that's all the highlights of our pupils' reflections! But we still have something in stall for you, so do stick around and visit us from time to time! For the less IT-savvy, you can add this blog in your favourites / bookmarks for easy navigation. For the more IT-savvy, you can scroll to the bottom of this page and subscribe to our blog. This way, you will receive updates firsthand whenever we update our blog. Hope to see you around!
"I liked tasting the tea, and it was very educational for me and my friends to try 5 different types of tea. My favourite was Pu Er tea."
- Claire Tan
"This educational journey to Xiamen, China has really opened my eyes of learning what goes on around the world... The people in Xiamen are friendly and approachable. China's weather was cooling and our group had to wear a few layers of clothing."
- Isabelle Tjokrosetio
"I really think that this is the best experience ever."
- Nur Ain
"I am now aware of how people live in China. I had a lot of fun in China and discovered that the pupils in China have different ways of studying than Singaporean pupils."
- Halimah
"My favourite place is the Xiamen Science Museum. It has a lot of interactive and fun games. I played a driving simulation game. I kept on crashing, but it was still fun."
- Terisha-Ann Tan
"I think that China is a good place to know more about our own culture and dialect heritage. It is good to know more of our own dialect culture."
- Chong Suet Ting
"After visiting China, I gained a lot of knowledge and knew more about my own heritage."
- Valerie Goh
"(Regarding Gulangyu)I do not know why, but old things always interest me a lot more than new things. On my way back to Singapore now, I am reluctant to leave Xiamen, but the time will come someday that I go back to Xiamen again. I am both happy and sad to leave Xiamen. Happy, because I can see my family and friends again, but sad, because I have to leave such a wonderful place."
- Ye Dan Ning
And that's all the highlights of our pupils' reflections! But we still have something in stall for you, so do stick around and visit us from time to time! For the less IT-savvy, you can add this blog in your favourites / bookmarks for easy navigation. For the more IT-savvy, you can scroll to the bottom of this page and subscribe to our blog. This way, you will receive updates firsthand whenever we update our blog. Hope to see you around!
Friday, November 27, 2009
Reflections (Part 2)
More reflections! All of the following are presented in their "original flavours" :P
"I really enjoyed the trip and hope to bring my family members here next time."
- Anthea
"For me, I really enjoyed the trip, the people in China are really kind... I also enjoyed the half-day school immersion because it is my first time going to another school in China."
- Halsted Kiri Ling
"The itinerary planned earlier in the year was that we could go to more parts of China. However, even though we could only go to Xiamen, we could cover more of it."
- Adeline Thong
"Throughout my whole trip in China, I enjoy going to the Jimei school village best! I was really surprised when I found out that the Primary 1 pupils from Jimei school village could speak their Chinese so well... And me, I'm not so good in Chinese!"
- Sherlyn Teo
"When I arrived at Xiamen, China, I was afraid as I never went overseas by myself before. As time pass. I learnt to overcome my fear and to enjoy my time here."
- Joan Lye
"After this trip, I have learnt to be independent as I had to pack my own things, take care of my own belongings. I also have learnt more about China and its past... I think this trip is very meaningful as it increase my knowledge on other countries. I would love to go for another trip like this again."
- Natasha
More to come!
"I really enjoyed the trip and hope to bring my family members here next time."
- Anthea
"For me, I really enjoyed the trip, the people in China are really kind... I also enjoyed the half-day school immersion because it is my first time going to another school in China."
- Halsted Kiri Ling
"The itinerary planned earlier in the year was that we could go to more parts of China. However, even though we could only go to Xiamen, we could cover more of it."
- Adeline Thong
"Throughout my whole trip in China, I enjoy going to the Jimei school village best! I was really surprised when I found out that the Primary 1 pupils from Jimei school village could speak their Chinese so well... And me, I'm not so good in Chinese!"
- Sherlyn Teo
"When I arrived at Xiamen, China, I was afraid as I never went overseas by myself before. As time pass. I learnt to overcome my fear and to enjoy my time here."
- Joan Lye
"After this trip, I have learnt to be independent as I had to pack my own things, take care of my own belongings. I also have learnt more about China and its past... I think this trip is very meaningful as it increase my knowledge on other countries. I would love to go for another trip like this again."
- Natasha
More to come!
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Reflections
Some highlights from the pupils' reflections:
"I learnt to be more independent as I need to take care of my partner."
- Yuki Ng
"I enjoyed this China trip because we got to visit many wonderful tourist attractions in China. This trip was fun and I learnt more about Chinese tradition and culture."
- Rachel Lye
"This Xiamen trip was meaningful, fun and exciting. Things there are good and cheap and I learnt to compare prices when buying things."
- Valerie Lai
More to come!
"I learnt to be more independent as I need to take care of my partner."
- Yuki Ng
"I enjoyed this China trip because we got to visit many wonderful tourist attractions in China. This trip was fun and I learnt more about Chinese tradition and culture."
- Rachel Lye
"This Xiamen trip was meaningful, fun and exciting. Things there are good and cheap and I learnt to compare prices when buying things."
- Valerie Lai
More to come!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Daily Updates from Xiamen (Day 5)
Welcome to another daily update from Xiamen! Well, actually, this update is from Singapore because we're already home! But let us leave the technicalities aside and get on with the update first, shall we?
It's our final day in Xiamen today, and one could feel the mix of emotions as early as during breakfast time: the anticipation of going home, the sadness of leaving Xiamen...
Our last stop in Xiamen is the Coca-Cola factory. Don't let the name fool you! There is actually an informative Coca-Cola Museum situated inside the factory. The museum chronicles the humble beginnings of the drink that eventually became the most recognizable drink in the world. It also elaborates on the projects that Coca-Cola has partnered with through the years, one of them being the Olympic Games. Funny how all the things on our trip just seem to gel seamlessly, eh?
After visiting the museum, the pupils had the rare opportunity to take a glance of the Coca-Cola production line. It's quite amazing seeing the bottles zipping to and fro throughout the production line at lightning speed. It sure made us appreciate the free bottle of Coca-Cola in our hands even more.
All good things must come to an end. We made our way to the airport and bid Xiamen farewell. Alex Ge Ge accompanied us all the way to last possible checkpoint he's allowed to follow. The pupils will surely miss him for his insightful introductions and quirky personality.
That's it for Xiamen. But wait! There's more to come! The pupils has each compiled their experiences into one last reflection while on the flight home. You can look forward to read their reflections once we have vetted them, so do check us out tomorrow again!
In the mean time, here are some photos for you to enjoy!
It's our final day in Xiamen today, and one could feel the mix of emotions as early as during breakfast time: the anticipation of going home, the sadness of leaving Xiamen...
Our last stop in Xiamen is the Coca-Cola factory. Don't let the name fool you! There is actually an informative Coca-Cola Museum situated inside the factory. The museum chronicles the humble beginnings of the drink that eventually became the most recognizable drink in the world. It also elaborates on the projects that Coca-Cola has partnered with through the years, one of them being the Olympic Games. Funny how all the things on our trip just seem to gel seamlessly, eh?
After visiting the museum, the pupils had the rare opportunity to take a glance of the Coca-Cola production line. It's quite amazing seeing the bottles zipping to and fro throughout the production line at lightning speed. It sure made us appreciate the free bottle of Coca-Cola in our hands even more.
All good things must come to an end. We made our way to the airport and bid Xiamen farewell. Alex Ge Ge accompanied us all the way to last possible checkpoint he's allowed to follow. The pupils will surely miss him for his insightful introductions and quirky personality.
That's it for Xiamen. But wait! There's more to come! The pupils has each compiled their experiences into one last reflection while on the flight home. You can look forward to read their reflections once we have vetted them, so do check us out tomorrow again!
In the mean time, here are some photos for you to enjoy!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Daily Updates from Xiamen (Day 4)
How time flies when you are having fun! Today, on the itinerary is the island town of Gulangyu (Gulang Island), Xiamen Science and Technology Museum and Xiamen Olympic Museum.
We took a ferry to Gulangyu, and the chilly wind sure woke us up proper after the short voyage! There are many crumbling colonial mansions on the island. Some of the buildings are lived in and some are in disrepair. All the roads are paved and all the greenery is manicured, and all the rocks have steps carved into them. The sight evokes memories of Singapore’s Victoria Concert Hall area, where you can find colonial buildings around almost every corner. Gulangyu’s rustic charm could be felt everywhere as we walked down narrow alleys and passed quaint gardens. The Piano Museum was a true eye-opener, with its impressive collection of pianos from donors all over the world.
After lunch in Xiamen, we proceeded to the Xiamen Science and Technology Museum. Though the pupils had been to Singapore’s very own Science Centre, this place is truly a playground for scientific knowledge. The pupils laughed, screamed, gasped, and stared in awe as they experiment with the wide array of exhibits in the museum. By the end of the visit, the pupils looked like they did enough exercise to do without their winter clothes!
The next destination is the Xiamen Olympic Museum. There are only 2 such museums in China, one in Beijing, and the other one in Xiamen. The museum painstakingly recorded everything Olympics-related, like its beginning in Greece, its modern transformation, its significance to China, its paraphernalia ranging from torches, posters, badges, mascots, to memorabilia and much, much more. The museum has really changed our perception that the Olympics Games is just a sporting event. It is actually a movement that reaches way beyond sports arenas.
Let’s read some of the reflection excerpts from our pupils!
“今天，我们一共去了三个地方，它们是鼓浪屿、科技馆和奥林匹克博物馆。在它们当中，我最喜欢的是鼓浪屿，因为它有美丽的古屋和钢琴。钢琴博物馆里收藏着各种各样的古钢琴，有的大，有的小，十分好看。
真可惜，明天要回去了，我们都觉得依依不舍！”
- 叶丹凝
“Today, we went to Gulangyu island on a ferry. I felt really cold out at sea. On the island, we visited the Suzhuang Garden which was filled with beautiful flowers. Gulangyu is also full of olden day colonial styled buildings. We went to the Piano Museum where unfortunately, we were not allowed to take any photographs of the beautiful antique pianos there. I would love to show them to my cousin!”
- Emily Lau
“After lunch, we went to the Xiamen Science and Technology Museum. We saw a water clock which had water pouring down every minute. It was truly a fascinating exhibition. We took many pictures there. The tour guide brought us to a small model of a kitchen and told us to stand inside. He then explained that he was going to allow us to experience how an actual earthquake would feel. It was scary and exciting at the same time! He also taught us what to do it we were ever to experience an earthquake!”
- Adeline Thong
“My favourite exhibition was the diagonally slanted room. Using the force of gravity and the way the eye is tricked, we felt a falling effect once we walked into the room. Even though the room is tilted at only an angle of 18 degrees, we kept falling and it made me very dizzy! Altogether, it was a very interesting afternoon!”
- Claire Tan
“I learnt that when there is an earthquake, we should hide under a table to protect ourselves from any falling objects.”
- Jean Lye
“The Piano Museum is very interesting as it displayed several types of pianos. Some of them were beautifully crafted with wood, metal and gold.”
- Chong Suet Ting
“The highlight of the day for me was the Piano Museum! It had all kinds of interesting pianos from the 17th to the 21st century. It also displayed several portraits of famous composers such as Bartok and Debussy. Unfortunately, we were no allowed to take any pictures. Generally, I had a great time at Gulangyu.”
- Isabelle Tjokrosetio
“At the Xiamen Science and Technology Museum, I saw 3 simulator cars which we could drive for 10 RMB. However, I did not try it as I felt it was a bit expensive.”
- Megan Lee
Here are some pics from the day’s exciting experiences. Enjoy!
That's all we have for today's daily update. Tomorrow, we’ll return to Singapore and the pupils will surely update their parents on the day’s events. Nevertheless, this blog will still be updated, so do remember to check us out tomorrow for another exciting update!
We took a ferry to Gulangyu, and the chilly wind sure woke us up proper after the short voyage! There are many crumbling colonial mansions on the island. Some of the buildings are lived in and some are in disrepair. All the roads are paved and all the greenery is manicured, and all the rocks have steps carved into them. The sight evokes memories of Singapore’s Victoria Concert Hall area, where you can find colonial buildings around almost every corner. Gulangyu’s rustic charm could be felt everywhere as we walked down narrow alleys and passed quaint gardens. The Piano Museum was a true eye-opener, with its impressive collection of pianos from donors all over the world.
After lunch in Xiamen, we proceeded to the Xiamen Science and Technology Museum. Though the pupils had been to Singapore’s very own Science Centre, this place is truly a playground for scientific knowledge. The pupils laughed, screamed, gasped, and stared in awe as they experiment with the wide array of exhibits in the museum. By the end of the visit, the pupils looked like they did enough exercise to do without their winter clothes!
The next destination is the Xiamen Olympic Museum. There are only 2 such museums in China, one in Beijing, and the other one in Xiamen. The museum painstakingly recorded everything Olympics-related, like its beginning in Greece, its modern transformation, its significance to China, its paraphernalia ranging from torches, posters, badges, mascots, to memorabilia and much, much more. The museum has really changed our perception that the Olympics Games is just a sporting event. It is actually a movement that reaches way beyond sports arenas.
Let’s read some of the reflection excerpts from our pupils!
“今天，我们一共去了三个地方，它们是鼓浪屿、科技馆和奥林匹克博物馆。在它们当中，我最喜欢的是鼓浪屿，因为它有美丽的古屋和钢琴。钢琴博物馆里收藏着各种各样的古钢琴，有的大，有的小，十分好看。
真可惜，明天要回去了，我们都觉得依依不舍！”
- 叶丹凝
“Today, we went to Gulangyu island on a ferry. I felt really cold out at sea. On the island, we visited the Suzhuang Garden which was filled with beautiful flowers. Gulangyu is also full of olden day colonial styled buildings. We went to the Piano Museum where unfortunately, we were not allowed to take any photographs of the beautiful antique pianos there. I would love to show them to my cousin!”
- Emily Lau
“After lunch, we went to the Xiamen Science and Technology Museum. We saw a water clock which had water pouring down every minute. It was truly a fascinating exhibition. We took many pictures there. The tour guide brought us to a small model of a kitchen and told us to stand inside. He then explained that he was going to allow us to experience how an actual earthquake would feel. It was scary and exciting at the same time! He also taught us what to do it we were ever to experience an earthquake!”
- Adeline Thong
“My favourite exhibition was the diagonally slanted room. Using the force of gravity and the way the eye is tricked, we felt a falling effect once we walked into the room. Even though the room is tilted at only an angle of 18 degrees, we kept falling and it made me very dizzy! Altogether, it was a very interesting afternoon!”
- Claire Tan
“I learnt that when there is an earthquake, we should hide under a table to protect ourselves from any falling objects.”
- Jean Lye
“The Piano Museum is very interesting as it displayed several types of pianos. Some of them were beautifully crafted with wood, metal and gold.”
- Chong Suet Ting
“The highlight of the day for me was the Piano Museum! It had all kinds of interesting pianos from the 17th to the 21st century. It also displayed several portraits of famous composers such as Bartok and Debussy. Unfortunately, we were no allowed to take any pictures. Generally, I had a great time at Gulangyu.”
- Isabelle Tjokrosetio
“At the Xiamen Science and Technology Museum, I saw 3 simulator cars which we could drive for 10 RMB. However, I did not try it as I felt it was a bit expensive.”
- Megan Lee
Here are some pics from the day’s exciting experiences. Enjoy!
That's all we have for today's daily update. Tomorrow, we’ll return to Singapore and the pupils will surely update their parents on the day’s events. Nevertheless, this blog will still be updated, so do remember to check us out tomorrow for another exciting update!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Daily Updates from Xiamen (Day 3)
Today, we took a road trip to Quanzhou. It is situated in the southern part of the Fujian province. Our Chinese forefathers were really so creative! For example, the Chinese word “fujian”（福建） is also known as “min”（闽）. The character has a “chong”（虫） in it, meaning slow but of a shrewd nature, which is the general perception of the Fujian people in ancient times. Highly interesting! And they have a saying for everything. The one that really caught our attention was this,“地下看西安，地上看泉州” which can be loosely translated to, “Underground, look at Xi’an. Above ground, look at Quanzhou”.
Well, Xi’an is the location where all the terracotta warriors were found buried underground. This meant that Quanzhou contained as much culture, art and history depth above ground as that of Xi’an underground. The Chinese certainly do have a way with words!
Our very first tourist landmark was the Maritime Museum. It was interesting to learn how the ancient Chinese invented boats of all shapes and sizes and that they were actually more technologically advanced than the west during that era. Admiral Cheng Ho, a great explorer at that time was said to have led several huge envoys to India, Africa and the “Maritime Silk Road”. It is indeed a feat considering the huge perils of traveling at sea and the lack of navigational instrumentation.
We were all mightily hungry after the museum tour and headed off to lunch. (Another wedding banquet-like feast!) Some of us were extremely happy to find out that we had to walk to our next destination as we were feeling heavy and very bloated by then.
The landmark was a very old mosque which was one of the earliest built in China. Filled with quaint architecture, it is built next to a temple. The early Muslims assimilated into the Chinese culture but still retained their religious practices. This is evident in the architecture of the mosque, where Islamic inscriptions can sometime be seen with Chinese architectural styles.
We headed to our next destination which was a monster fortress of a museum, the China Museum for Taiwan Kinship. Basically, it showcases the intertwining of the two state provinces’ history, culture, art, politics and traditions. It reminds us that no matter where we are geographically and of what dialect we speak, the Chinese people have shown through history that they have and always will fight together as one Chinese nation with fierce passion and loyalty to defend their national pride.
The weather was getting chillier by the moment and as we headed off to the next destination, we were all wrapped with scarves and jackets. We arrived at a quaint little village which is said to be very old (on our itinerary, it is called the Ancient Dwellings). An equally quaint old man welcomed us and he was to be our entertaining and animated tour guide for the remainder of the tour. He brought us through old wooden corridors and age covered rooms. The spacious courtyards reminded us of those olden day period dramas. What amazed us was that there are still people living there.
The people of Quanzhou are indeed proud of their culture and they have every right to be. Steeped in a few thousand years of history, the culture is evident in the stories told and the architecture of building roofs and stone wall carvings. The architecture of the Ancient Dwellings is also mind-bogglingly practical in every little aspect. For example, the suitors of a maiden can be invited to the courtyard by her parents for a drink. The maiden then can peep through the windows of the rooms that surround the courtyard without being noticed by the suitor. In our tour guide’s own words, the maiden can have a “3D” inspection of the suitor before deciding to come out and meet him, or simply drive him away!
After a long bus ride back to Xiamen, we had dinner in the hotel and headed to a nearby bookstore on foot. The bookstore occupied 5 storey’s of floor space! We certainly had a good time looking through the huge collection of books, which are all very affordable.
Here are some pics from the day’s exciting experiences. Enjoy!
And now, some after meal entertainment from our pupils!
A great musical in the making?
Our very own Subway advertisement!
Terisha-Ann want to show this photo to her parents:
"Best Friends"
That's all we have for today's daily update. Remember to check us out tomorrow for another exciting update!
Well, Xi’an is the location where all the terracotta warriors were found buried underground. This meant that Quanzhou contained as much culture, art and history depth above ground as that of Xi’an underground. The Chinese certainly do have a way with words!
Our very first tourist landmark was the Maritime Museum. It was interesting to learn how the ancient Chinese invented boats of all shapes and sizes and that they were actually more technologically advanced than the west during that era. Admiral Cheng Ho, a great explorer at that time was said to have led several huge envoys to India, Africa and the “Maritime Silk Road”. It is indeed a feat considering the huge perils of traveling at sea and the lack of navigational instrumentation.
We were all mightily hungry after the museum tour and headed off to lunch. (Another wedding banquet-like feast!) Some of us were extremely happy to find out that we had to walk to our next destination as we were feeling heavy and very bloated by then.
The landmark was a very old mosque which was one of the earliest built in China. Filled with quaint architecture, it is built next to a temple. The early Muslims assimilated into the Chinese culture but still retained their religious practices. This is evident in the architecture of the mosque, where Islamic inscriptions can sometime be seen with Chinese architectural styles.
We headed to our next destination which was a monster fortress of a museum, the China Museum for Taiwan Kinship. Basically, it showcases the intertwining of the two state provinces’ history, culture, art, politics and traditions. It reminds us that no matter where we are geographically and of what dialect we speak, the Chinese people have shown through history that they have and always will fight together as one Chinese nation with fierce passion and loyalty to defend their national pride.
The weather was getting chillier by the moment and as we headed off to the next destination, we were all wrapped with scarves and jackets. We arrived at a quaint little village which is said to be very old (on our itinerary, it is called the Ancient Dwellings). An equally quaint old man welcomed us and he was to be our entertaining and animated tour guide for the remainder of the tour. He brought us through old wooden corridors and age covered rooms. The spacious courtyards reminded us of those olden day period dramas. What amazed us was that there are still people living there.
The people of Quanzhou are indeed proud of their culture and they have every right to be. Steeped in a few thousand years of history, the culture is evident in the stories told and the architecture of building roofs and stone wall carvings. The architecture of the Ancient Dwellings is also mind-bogglingly practical in every little aspect. For example, the suitors of a maiden can be invited to the courtyard by her parents for a drink. The maiden then can peep through the windows of the rooms that surround the courtyard without being noticed by the suitor. In our tour guide’s own words, the maiden can have a “3D” inspection of the suitor before deciding to come out and meet him, or simply drive him away!
After a long bus ride back to Xiamen, we had dinner in the hotel and headed to a nearby bookstore on foot. The bookstore occupied 5 storey’s of floor space! We certainly had a good time looking through the huge collection of books, which are all very affordable.
Here are some pics from the day’s exciting experiences. Enjoy!
And now, some after meal entertainment from our pupils!
Our very own Subway advertisement!
Terisha-Ann want to show this photo to her parents:
That's all we have for today's daily update. Remember to check us out tomorrow for another exciting update!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Daily Updates from Xiamen (Day 2)
After a good night’s rest, our day started at Jimei Primary School. It is situated in a district called the educational district. Besides the primary school, you can also find the middle school, high school, university, teacher’s college… it certainly is a massive place. And the man responsible for the development of such an impressive educational infrastructure is business philanthropist Mr Tan Kah Kee. A respected man who gave his heart to ensuring an equal opportunity for all to gain an education, he donated to several school building projects in Jimei. When he died, Chairman Mao personally penned a beautiful phrase for him, describing him as “The banner of overseas Chinese and the glory of the nation.”
After touring the memorial area and Mr Tan Kah Kee’s final resting ground, we were all hungry and proceeded to General Restaurant for lunch. By then, the weather had taken a turn for the worse and it began to drizzle. After another feast, we boarded the bus to our next destination which was a tea appreciation session at a place called Dr Tea. China is famous for its tea and we were in for a real treat as we sampled 5 different kinds of tea. It seems there is more to the art of drinking tea than simply putting it in your mouth. We felt truly cultured sitting there sipping our Pu Er tea. Needless to say, the pupils gained great exposure to a wonderful piece of Chinese culture.
Our last destination was the Botanical Gardens. It is very different from the one in Singapore. Our bus wound up a mountain and when we got there, the weather was simply miserable. Still, we huddled into a hut and got an opportunity to get our hands on in Seed Art. The girls were truly creative! After that, we were taken on a tour through the Desert Garden and their Science Exhibition Hall. It was all very detailed and enriching but one wonders how much did the pupils absorb??
After the one hour tour, to say that we were ravenous was an understatement. Poor Megan was clutching her tummy and when we asked if she had a tummy ache, she responded candidly, “I’m hungry.”
It was a great second day and we can’t wait for tomorrow when we visit Quanzhou. Here are some photos for you to enjoy!
Some examples of our work:
Terisha Ann would like to show her parents these photos:
That's all we have for today's daily update. Remember to check us out tomorrow for another exciting update!
After touring the memorial area and Mr Tan Kah Kee’s final resting ground, we were all hungry and proceeded to General Restaurant for lunch. By then, the weather had taken a turn for the worse and it began to drizzle. After another feast, we boarded the bus to our next destination which was a tea appreciation session at a place called Dr Tea. China is famous for its tea and we were in for a real treat as we sampled 5 different kinds of tea. It seems there is more to the art of drinking tea than simply putting it in your mouth. We felt truly cultured sitting there sipping our Pu Er tea. Needless to say, the pupils gained great exposure to a wonderful piece of Chinese culture.
Our last destination was the Botanical Gardens. It is very different from the one in Singapore. Our bus wound up a mountain and when we got there, the weather was simply miserable. Still, we huddled into a hut and got an opportunity to get our hands on in Seed Art. The girls were truly creative! After that, we were taken on a tour through the Desert Garden and their Science Exhibition Hall. It was all very detailed and enriching but one wonders how much did the pupils absorb??
After the one hour tour, to say that we were ravenous was an understatement. Poor Megan was clutching her tummy and when we asked if she had a tummy ache, she responded candidly, “I’m hungry.”
It was a great second day and we can’t wait for tomorrow when we visit Quanzhou. Here are some photos for you to enjoy!
Some examples of our work:
Terisha Ann would like to show her parents these photos:
That's all we have for today's daily update. Remember to check us out tomorrow for another exciting update!
Daily Updates from Xiamen (Day 1)
It was an awesome first day in the beautiful city of Xiamen. The city has a population of about 2 million people and is rich in culture and history. The city isn’t exactly bustling with activities and there were a lot of constructions going on. Xiamen is considered as one of the five special economic zones in China and there is evidence of its infrastructure development. Still, the city has a quaint and serene quality about it. Our tour guide, Mr Alex “Ge Ge” brought us to our first meal of the day which was at a halal restaurant. The food was staggering in its quantity but the pupils were hungry and we managed to finish most of the food.
Our first tourist attraction visit was at the Hulishan Fortress. It is an old fortress built in the mid 19th century at the mouth of Xiamen River. It boasts of having the world’s oldest Krupp canon. It is massive in size and has enormous firing power. We were fortunate to arrive just in time for a live firing demonstration of one of the canons. Even though it was just a show, it was impressive and we could just imagine all the pomp and revelry that went into every time they had to fire the canon!
Our next activity was a pleasant drive along Huan Dao Lu. It’s basically a scenic stretch of road that winds along the coastline of Xiamen. Our tour guide told us an interesting story of the special relationship between the people of Mainland China and Taiwan.
After a long and tiring day, we finally headed back to our hotel for dinner. Here are some of the pupils’ reflections of the day!
“Today was a fun day as we got to visit Hulishan Fortress and learn how the soldiers and generals live.”
- Rachel Lye
“When we reached there (Hulishan Fort), we were fortunate to catch the exciting demonstration of the Qing soldiers operating the Dutch canons. The Qing soldiers marched up to the cannon on the rock and somebody started commands. After a lot of commands, the canon was shot and there was a loud explosion.”
- Valerie
“It was an awesome day altogether!”
- Claire
“We arrived at Xiamen Airport. It was big! We had lunch in a restaurant and the food was delicious. For the first time, I actually took some vegetables and I ate 6 bowls of rice!”
- Halimah
“Waited over an hour for the bus but it was worth the wait. I enjoyed Hulishan the most, especially the dummys. I can’t wait for tomorrow!”
- Terisha Ann
“I am extremely excited as this is my first time being on an overseas trip without my parents!”
- Megan
A photo slide show of today's activities:
And here are some messages from our pupils to their parents:
"We went to a Chinese-Muslim restaurant. The food was delicious, especially the chicken. Though one thing everyone could agree on was that the rice was the best. The orange juice was good too."
- Terisha-Ann
"(Back in Singapore) I have never eaten so much food before!"
-Halimah
That's all we have for today's daily update. Remember to check us out tomorrow for another exciting update!
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Itinerary
Here’s the latest itinerary.
| 日期/DATE | ACTIVITIES / 活动内容 |
| 第1天 | SINGAPORE / XIAMEN 新加坡 / 厦门
|
| 第2天 | XIAMEN 厦门
|
| 第3天 | XIAMEN / QUANZHOU / XIAMEN 厦门 / 泉州 / 厦门
|
| 第4天 | XIAMEN 厦门
|
| 第5天 | XIAMEN / SINGAPORE 厦门 / 新加坡
|
Note : Under unforeseen circumstances, the actual sequences of the itinerary might be altered for the smooth running of the tour.
Rooming List and Grouping
Here’s the latest rooming list, as well as the grouping of the pupils.
| No | Name | Class | Room | Group |
| 1 | RACHEL LYE HUI MIN | 5 DAI | 1 | MDM WOO SIOK HWEE |
| 2 | LAI ZI QING, VALARIE | 5 DAI | 1 | MDM WOO SIOK HWEE |
| 3 | LEONG JIN YI, FRANCES | 5 IXO | 2 | MDM WOO SIOK HWEE |
| 4 | TAY JIA YING | 5 HIB | 2 | MDM WOO SIOK HWEE |
| 5 | LIM WEN HUI, ANDREA | 5 HIB | 3 | MDM WOO SIOK HWEE |
| 6 | SEE TOH WEN XIU,SAMANTHA | 5 HIB | 3 | MDM WOO SIOK HWEE |
| 7 | THONG HUI PING ADELINE | 5 HIB | 4 | MDM WOO SIOK HWEE |
| 8 | NG YUKI | 5 HIB | 4 | MDM WOO SIOK HWEE |
| 9 | ONG HAI ROU | 5 HIB | 5 | MISS NG SIOK WEE |
| 10 | SHERLYN TEO YI ZHEN | 5 HIB | 5 | MISS NG SIOK WEE |
| 11 | HALSTED KIRI LING | 5 IXO | 6 | MISS NG SIOK WEE |
| 12 | NATASHA PUTRI FIRMAN MISSON | 5 IXO | 6 | MISS NG SIOK WEE |
| 13 | CHIA QI EN | 5 LIL | 7 | MISS NG SIOK WEE |
| 14 | ANTHEA YEO CHYI YIN | 5 IXO | 7 | MISS NG SIOK WEE |
| 15 | LYE ZHI HUI, JOAN | 5 LIL | 8 | MISS NG SIOK WEE |
| 16 | LAU XIAO HUI EMILY | 5 LIL | 8 | MISS NG SIOK WEE |
| 17 | LYE MIN HUI, JEAN | 5 ORC | 9 | MR ON TAI JIM |
| 18 | CLAIRE TAN SU YIN | 5 ORC | 9 | MR ON TAI JIM |
| 19 | VALERIE GOH YUE NING | 5 ORC | 10 | MR ON TAI JIM |
| 20 | LEE WEI QI, MEGAN | 5 ORC | 10 | MR ON TAI JIM |
| 21 | CHONG SUET TING | 5 ORC | 11 | MR ON TAI JIM |
| 22 | ISABELLE CHRISTINA TJOKROSETIO | 5 ORC | 11 | MR ON TAI JIM |
| 23 | NUR AIN BINTE MOHAMAD ISNIN | 5 ORC | 12 | MR ON TAI JIM |
| 24 | HALIMAH BINTE RAZALI | 5 ORC | 12 | MR ON TAI JIM |
| 25 | TERISHA-ANN TAN HSIN YEE | 5 ORC | 13 | MR ON TAI JIM |
| 26 | YE DAN NING | 5 ORC | 13 | MR ON TAI JIM |
| 27 | MDM WONG FOONG LI | TCR | 14 | |
| 28 | MISS LIN QIUYAN | TCR | 14 | |
| 29 | MISS NG SIOK WEE | TCR | 15 | |
| 30 | MDM WOO SIOK HWEE | TCR | 15 | |
| 31 | MR ON TAI JIM | TCR | 16 | |
| 32 | MR DOMINIQUE TSE | TCR | 16 |
The OHOP Carnival
The OHOP Carnival was held on 25th September 2009. The event was graced by our S4 Cluster Superintendent Mdm Lee Tee Choon, as well as guests from St Joseph's Institution International and Viriya Community Services. There were cultural booths, exhibition boards, food from different dialect groups, an activity room featuring the 4 arts of Chinese scholars, quiz, and songs! The carnival was very well received by the participants. Now, you can relive the moments from the carnival with this photo montage we made. Enjoy!
Friday, November 13, 2009
Our Heritage, Our Pride - The Short Film
While you are waiting for this exciting trip to commence, sit back and enjoy this short film made by our very own teachers and pupils. It sums up what the OHOP project has organized throughout this year. Again, feel free to leave your comments / thoughts / encouragements below!
Part 1
Part 2
Part 2
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Welcome!
Welcome to the launch of our blog! This blog will be used to post daily updates, as well as some short messages from our pupils to their parents. There are also some useful links and widgets on this blog. So, enjoy your time here! Check us out daily!
p.s: You are welcome to leave comments on our blog! Just FYI, anonymous comments are disallowed.
p.s: You are welcome to leave comments on our blog! Just FYI, anonymous comments are disallowed.
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