EMI 08

I saw a firefly for the first time during Camp!:D

Fuddy, bama and me attended this EMI. I will not go tentatively what happened throughout the EMI camp. There are soo many activities, so I'll just write it from an overall point of view:)

The end at the beginning: Fuddy, me, bama at the end of the campXD

Basic Tentative:
The Camp was from Friday 25th til Sunday 27th.
Day 1:The first day, we spent the time at UIA and had all the 'lectures' at the Engineering Kuliyyah. We slept at the Masjid that night.
Day 2: Went to Raudhah Camp (which is right next to Rebutia). Slept in chalets (the girls that is:P). Had outdoor activities plus some talks as well.
Day 3: Some more activities and closing.

Intro:
Firstly, I have to admit that I was not interested at all when i read about the program because it was in Malay. Haha. I have a phobia of BM, in case I can't understand what they say and if they would laugh at me once i spoke in BM (which did happen many times). But then my brother saw it and he said to join it because sooner or later, I have to accept the fact that many things would be in malay and I just have to learn to cope with it. Secondly, Kak Nihlah put up my name when she sent the email, saying that she hopes I would go... Plus, I wasn't (and haven't been) doing anything much, so I decided to go. I know it's not the proper intention, but still, I'm glad I went in the end:)

People:
When I first came, I saw that majority of the girls were wearing baju kurung. I thought they weren't going and when I asked if they're going for the EMI camp, they said, "Owh, it's a camp?"
Lol. I was quite freaked out because all the clothes I packed were shirts and trousers. I mean, how would you go trekking in a skirt??
There were even some people who brought irons (are there any sockets in the jungle and would you even have TIME to iron your stuffs?). So it was really a one-of-a-kind camp. When I asked around, I found out that some people had already been to this camp years back (because this camp was like a follow up), and so they would know what to bring. And also, a girl told me that eventhough it's her first time, she said that this kind of camp deals with 'young adults'. It's not a military camp about discipline where we have to be ready at the first whistle. So okay, I learnt something new and thought that yeah, that's acceptable.
[Fascis] The program was fully conducted by the Karisma youths. They were students; still studying in University; but they were super nice:) Really understanding. Special mention to Kak Afrah, my mentor for helping us out everytime we needed help:)
[Protege Brothers] I admit, I was really impressed with the some of the brothers. Sometimes people would have to go up and present something at the front; and it's really so amazing that they can quote and ayat from the Qur'an and relate it to the topic on the spot. Their sense of analysis and critical thinking skills are high. For one activity, we had to present about "cinta dan cita-cita". Of course, majority's mindset is straight that either it's we get love or we get our ambition. But then there was this one group where their conclusion of this topic was, "Kerana CINTA kepada Allah, maka teradalah Sahabat yang berCITA-CITA tinggi." Well, I can't remember their conclusion properly (more so because it is in BM; but you get the main point right?)
[Protege Sisters] Eventhough we were all from different parts of Malaysia, throughout the camp, they all treated each other like they've known each other for soo long. Of course there were times when they asked questions like, "Dah apply utk matrik?" which of course what they mean is the goverment matriculation. So I would have to explain that I took IGCSE and everything... But it was okay:) They were really lots of fun and friendly:D

Activities:
[Talks] Despite the BM-ness, the talks were really interesting:) Well, the speakers spoke in simple BM, so it was really good and I could follow and everything; though my notes were all in English lol. Plus, the speakers were also youths (majority of them) and even those who weren't, they still spoke the style according to the audience. means, their presentation fit the audience:)
[Trekking] Trekking was tiring. It was the same route which we took when we were at Rebutia. Though one super cool thing was that before we began, we each were given a palestine flag and had to carry it throughout. We took a slight detour where the path was next to the highway; so then we had many heads turned because of the flags and many honked (hopefully, in support). It was a cool phenomenon.

Pictures courtesy of Brother Dhany; EMI Organizer

[CCC] Cergas Cetus Cerdas; a treasure hunt sort of game where we had to collect pieces of puzzles from 10 checkpoints. There were many new activities. For one of the checkpoints, they gave a cup with a raw egg and a plate with tempoyak, ikan masin, this vegetable thingy, halia, and cili. We had to finish them all up. I didn't think I can eat any of those things so i volunteered to drink the egg. Closed my eyes and my nose and drank the whole thing in 3 gulps. It was... slimy. Haha. Amazingly, the plate was licked clean. The rational behind it was that in palestine, some people do not even have anything to eat and sometimes they would have to eat grass or scavenger through the bins. So in eating these 'distorted' foods, we would be able to understand their feelings. I will always remember.

it's actually peria, ikan masin, halia, tempoyak, budu dan sambal belacan (egg not in picture:P)

[MANIS; Presentation Night] Each group had to do a presentation on the 2nd night. We were each assigned a type of presentation; among them were: Dikir Barat, Pantomine, Boria, Wayang Kulit; and for our group had to do Sinetron. For those who are clueless, sinetron is indonesion drama. I had to admit to my group that I've never watched a sinetron; because the only dramas i watch are korean and japanese. I messaged to the most professional indonesian actor I know, Amalia Afzan Saperi, and her only advice was: Let the Indonesian dramas be your panduan. It didn't really help specially because; again, I don't watch Indonesian dramas. So due to my English ability/malay disability, I was chosen to be the role of an English Professor. But still, I had to do it with an Indonesian accent. There were only two lines not in english which was the salam reply and like Slamat Maju jaya. But everyone still laughed because I think I pressed the slang too hard. Everytime I practice before the presentation, people around me would still laugh. But the star main character of the story is Nabilla and I really have to salute her for her excellent acting skills. aaand.. We won for the best presentation!:D

That's pretty much an overall view:) I'm really glad I went and owh, actually the objective of the program is for us to better understand life in the IPT; higher institution of learning. So that we can cope as well as be good muslims:)

InsyaAllah.

~nadhirah
one o two post meridiem
twenty eight april two thousand and eight