Absolut 2009

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Dear reader!

We have experienced several humps to clear in the past months and i regret to see everything delayed, but at the same time i'm glad to overcome it and learn from it.

The camp will now be a NON-STAYOVER one, although if you want to, can talk to me, see if i can arrange anything. :)

It will be held in NUS, from 10am-10pm for the first 2 days, and 10-2pm for the third day.
We are going to make use of food facilities on campus, eating our meals at canteens or eateries nearby.
As such, we've slashed the camp fees greatly! to $10.
which is still required and desired, for us to cover a mass dinner that is planned for Day 2 dinner (Sat), and for the logistics that is needed.

We have expanded our recruitment method too. We will be passing hardcopy sign up forms to our friends and their friends to sign up! and the SIGN UP VIA EMAIL option is still available and greatly encouraged!

Logistical and troubleshooting aside, the camp has not changed in its essence. We are still in awe of the things that can be achieved with our programs. I'm still greatly anticipating the sharing and greater understanding that can be achieved. We are still working hard at bringing the best we can to you. And now we really really hope to see you for the camp!!!

Dear readers,

I would like to formally announce that Absolut 2009 is being postponed to the new dates

Fri 8 May - Sun 10 May

We've met with several difficulties, especially with the clash between the original dates and make up lectures. To maximise the efforts put in by all the organisers and the facilitators who are volunteering a lot of their time for training, we think it would be best to avoid all the hussle of the ongoing semester and reschedule.

We hope we have not disappointed too many people with this change, and we hope that this will have make signing up a easier choice to make!

As usual, we are eagerly awaiting for you! and the time that we will spend together during this special experience!

Cherishing those insights

In social work, we learnt that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. And every individual that we meet is so complex and dynamic. We come with our own set of experiences, histories, values, ideas and thoughts, and with every interaction we have with each person, we catch a glimpse of that whole. A glimpse that allows, that peek deeper into the other person's being, as well as affirm what you presently know or help you to make new discoveries about yourself.

Absolut does not attempt to give you the full understanding of that whole. But with the many group sharing sessions and scenarios posed, it gives you more insight as to how much you understand yourself. It doesn't have the hit and run and big WHAM kinda fun that camps usually have. What it really is, is alot of talking, alot of processing, frustrating and challenging moments and fun in a different sort of way.

Well, if all else fails, i'm sure the friendships forged during the camp is also another attractive point to consider!


-Diana Ng, Camper of Absolut Camp 2007
Social Work Major, Class of 2007

I'm rewriting an intro to the camp. And I look back at the old post for inspiration.
Some things are apparent. We all change. I've changed. Progressed (i hope).

Inspired pioneers of the camp dropped the "e" in the name of the camp to symbolise that nothing is absolute. I try to understand this more as I'm re-organising the camp again. Being psychology-trained, i wasn't quite satisfied with the idea, and try to dig deeper. To be very brief about personality theories, i believe some parts of our personality are very core and hard to change, meanwhile, we can be very different in various domains of our life, or behaviour. This "difference in various domains" now helps me to understand why nothing is absolute about ourselves. And contributing to this unpredictability is that we have not fully understand what domains there are, how they interact with each other, or how various environment influence our domains, and perhaps, we do not have any insight that there are domains... We may never be able to know fully how our behaviour can manifest in the never-ending possibilties of situations. So how?

Doesn't mean we shouldn't try you know. Absolut Camp is one such tool that you can use. I believe the core strength of this camp is the opportunity for you to gain a heightened sense of self-awareness. A facilitator calls it a very Zen state. I think it's a state of very clear consciousness, where you can be very insightful, able to make meaningful relations or interpretations between ideas, and things you perceive. And for myself, in this state, i feel in control (of my emotions, memories, attention, decision-making, etc)

How is learning achieved in the camp? you are the key. it's self-directed learning. we might all be interested in you but we can only, most of the time, find out who you are already. To gain a deeper level of understanding, probably only you can make use of all your insight potential, memories, emotions, etc to gain that learning. There's no psychic or mind-readers in the camp. I apologise.

You are grouped, but why are you grouped? The group will be a resource for you. In such a setting, you can talk and discuss (clarify your thoughts, and self-disclose), you can gain feedback from others, you can gain choices and varied perspectives from these friends. The facilitative potential of a group is there. Just promise me you won't go around hurting your group members. Be open minded and be friendly. Savvy? (ha)

And let me introduce also the catalyst in your groups. We trained and assigned facilitators to your group, and they will try their best to help you and your group.

I like the fact that in this camp, learning occurs at all levels. Self-directed learning is not only for the campers, but also for the facilitators, and even for the organisers. I cannot attest for the many friends and comrades I knew from the camp, but for myself, Absolut Camp was a starting point of increased self-awareness, it wasn't just a 3 day camp for me (my 2007 testimonial).

I love to think that this camp will benefit you as much as it benefitted me. Hope to see YOU in this camp soon.

______________________________

If you are free, would you consider reading some testimonials from past campers and organiers?
Desmond is a beloved member of the Absolut Training Support Team now. He still helps out in training new batches of facilitators, and it's heartwarming to know that Absolut Camp was a spark in his undergraduate life and it helped him to take up more responsibilities and gained much more.

Also read about how Alicia gained something more for herself as she came out of her own comfort zone to fulfil her role as a facilitator. And why Wenqi enjoyed the group sessions so much, as I've said, the group was a resource for yourself.

Absolut Camp is a self awareness camp. Learning about the self is achieved through small group activities and personal reflection. Other challenging and interesting activities in the camp prepare to give you a broad range of experience and opportunities to indulge in self-directed experiential learning.

And more things I enjoy. I enjoy the feeling of sharing amicably with a group of friends, old and new; I like being listened to, and listening to others; and I like that heightened sense of self-awareness that allows me to know just more.

And now I extend this invitation to you. Join us in something meaningful.


If you are ready for a meaningful experience, do sign up now.

[NEW!]

For those who are still interested to sign up when the current list is full, please continue to send in your registration.

Please note that the Waiting List is still time-sensitive.
In the case someone pulls out from the camp, the first name on the Waiting List will be approached.

If response is still strong (as seen by a growing waiting list), the camp committee would consider increasing the camp size (at the expense of other arrrangements definitely).

Thank you all for taking notice.
Please do contact me (Zhisheng) at 98529470 for further enquiries.

[NEW!]

Here's some info for those who have signed up.
Everyone including the organisers are preparing for the exams.
Registration is still opened! so do ask your friends along.

When the exam is nearing its end, we will be sending out an Administrative Brief to every camper. You will find some introductions and information about what to prepare for the camp.
But you can feedback to us now what you would like to know in this Admin Brief so that we can modify it if it's suitable!

Yvonne from the Admin Team would also be meeting you then to collect the $25 and also settle the Idemnity Form with you.

Meanwhile, ALL THE BEST FOR EXAMS!

(I check this blog daily. Will still respond to any postings!)

The Chairperson's own Absolut Experience.

Things are picking up for us. Finally everything is starting to roll.
Thank you for all those who had signed up.
To all those who are still considering, you should!
take charge of your own time!

Myself.
I joined this camp as a camper during my first year in 2003.
I guess I was pretty much a confident character after stepping out of army. Because of the training I had, whether it was SWAPS's FOC, or that Absolut Camp, there were many things that I knew I was capable of achieving and winning. I ended that camp feeling rather disturbed by some of the activities. There was still some self-discovery, but I was pretty sure I didn't internalise much (I am admittedly stubborn).

I am one of those which Absolut Camp planted a seed in. When I lead the camp myself a year later, as Chairperson of Absolut Emerge 2004, I gained a rush of insights into unexplained dilemmas and complaints about the experience as a camper. I wasn't like other campers (who became my fellow organisers) whose self discovery occurred during the camp. I continued to be angry at some of the activities and I now know that at various parts of the camp, either I wasn't who I thought I was, or I really didn't know that I would be that competitive. I came to realise that my disturbance was a sign of a challenge to Zhisheng Version-22-years-old. After that was resolved, I felt I attained personal growth.

Besides being a convert of the camp, I am more open to experiences, and learning about life and differences has been great for me through the last few years. And as a learning point for people who might be like me, we probably do not realise that we build defences around who we are. We might have a bias to seek experiences that reinforce who we think we already are. Peeling that defence gives you a chance at advancing your understanding of who you could be. Peeling that defence first requires you to know that defences exist. This camp cannot promise that we will help you attain enlightenment, but we try. You have me, my whole committee, and the testimonials here to show you, we have a pretty good record.


-Koh Zhisheng Version-25-years-old,
Camper of Absolut-leeU 2003,
Chairperson of Absolut Emerge 2004,
Chairperson of Absolut Camp 2007,
Psychology Major, Current Graduating Class of 06/07