Prelude

This Freshman Orientation camp was organised by the Current Affairs and Debating Club (CADC), some cca in SP. It was not really meant to get the campers to know each other, cos theres not much point to that. After school starts we'll hardly have chance to interact and stuff, cos we r from many different courses and schools. Its just in the name of fun and enjoyment, and maybe giving us a good impression of CADC so we would join it. I probably would, anyway.

In the process of signing up for the many FOCs offered, we had to go thru a series of rooms where the different clubs would offer their stuff. So there was this School of Business Club (SBC) that is compulsory for business students like me to join, and they told us about their FOC and gave me a brochure. It sounded quite good so i signed up for it for a fee of $15. That was about all i had in my wallet and i paid on the spot.

Then later i passed the CADC room, and i thought their FOC was really attractive. For just $10 we would spend 4 days 3 nights at St Johns Island. The impression i got was lots of time spent playing by the beach, with nice sand, coconut trees and refreshing waters. (well, it didnt really turn out as i expected. the water was murky, most of the shoreline was artificial, and hardly any time spent on the beach.) So i made no hesitation except to peep at my SB brochure; ... the SB camp was on 9 - 12 april, doesnt clash so i thought, and i proceeded to sign up for the CADC FOC. But my wallet was drained by the SB camp, so i couldnt pay on the spot, resulting in my place in the camp being able to be taken by others who pay.

Then i went home and looked thru all the brochures again, and i found this receipt that i was given for payment for the SB camp, and on it was indicated that the camp was actually on 2 - 4 april! it clashes with the CADC 1!! I decided that the CADC camp was better ( longer, cheaper, and held at an interesting new place, rather than in the SP campus for the SB camp.) So i told the SB camp IC that i wanna back out, but he told me he has problem refunding me, he will try find a way. ( and until now he hasnt.)

A few days later, a CADC senior called and told me that the camp had reached its quota of campers. there was no more space for me. I was just a bit sad cos that camp sounded like fun. Now im forced to go for the SB camp instead. Frustrating. If only the CADC room came first, i could have secured my place there and dun care about securing the SB camp.

Then just a day before the camp, i went to SP with a friend to collect some goody bag, and at the same time i went to look for Chung Heng, who was the vice camp chief. He told me when i signed up that he could secure a place for me even tho i didnt pay, so i wanted to confront him for breaking his word. But he wasnt there. Instead, some other CADC senior simply told me that they could easily squeeze in a few more, and let me in in exchange for payment on the spot. And yes, i brouhgt just enough with me. And i secured a place.

'Phew. that probem settled. Im going to st john's island!! ' But that coused a new problem - my refund for the SB camp. i just had to trust that the Sb camp IC would find a way to refund me, which seems very fair. But they couldnt. So i had to treat the CADCC as $25. A waste of money, but actually $25 would still be very cheap for the CADC camp.