AFS Malaysia Alumni: Pre-Departure Orientation 09

On the 19th till 21st December 2009 the Pre-Departure Orientation was once again organized in the effort to help orientate, educate and facilitate overseas bound participants of the AFS Year Program to get better prepared for their journey. Held in Singgahsana Hotel, Petaling Jaya, this time around we saw 47 hyperactive participants from all across the nation gathered together for 3 days and 2 nights, while the poor volunteers had only 7 people between them to handle the bunch of over-excited 17 year olds.

The volunteer facilitators were: Chong Cheng Yee, Chia Suyin, Suraya Zainudin, Edmund Chua, Dexter Yin and Chia Sze Jian.

The day officially began with an ice-breaking session, a time where everyone got to know everyone. As volunteers, it was also our job to try and force them to memorize each other's names. *laughs*

Going round the room with self introduction

We held various discussions on many important topics such as how to blend into a new community with minimal culture shock, the importance of being open minded and such. There was room for us volunteers to share our past experiences, as well as room for the participants to express their hopes, dreams and even concerns of what the journey overseas would bring to them and their family. Ultimately, it was important to instill the sense of responsibility as a young Malaysian ambassador into them, and that they understood this was not just a travel program, but a cultural one that will change their lives.

Much knowledge to impart

Being serious whilst in discussion...or maybe not so?

Edmund sharing his experience in Argentina

The country orientation took the bulk of the 2nd day. Technically, it was an extended sessions where each volunteer, who was a AFS returnee from a specific country, would speak to the participants who are on their way to the same said coutry. Here volunteers can share specific cultural information and experiences, do's and don't and certain how to's that applies to the country. The participants, eager to know more, would suck the volunteers dry of information with never ending questions!

But of course, it wasn't just all talk and no play. We at AFS knew how to have fun too! We played games and energizers in between sessions, had one too many photo taking moments and even had our traditional lets-cram-into-the-volunteer's-room-and-tell-ghost-stories time. :D

Everyone doing the "Funky Chicken"

Nothing beats a back massage from a friend

Each participant was also given an AFS bag, the iconic yellow AFS luggage tags and a free "Just Different-lah" t-shirt. Look how happy the girls are with theirs.

All in all, it was a good orientation camp where strong bonds of friendship were fostered, not just within the participating group but also between them and the volunteers. We hope that this camp had served its purpose in better equipping the participants and extinguish most of the myths, uneasiness and unpreparedness that they may have had previously.

Have a safe trip guys!

Oh, and here are more pictures to satisfy your need to see more pictures.