Category Archives: Thoughts and feelings

Thoughts and feelings

A Platform… Thank-You.

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All good things must come to an end, or rather serve as a platform to launch into the future. This being one of those occasions. Singapore has been an absolute Blast! It was full of many ‘firsts‘, for me this included: visiting Singapore, blogging and windsurfing! Just to name a few. Being a first time journey blogging for all of us, I hope you have found it insightful captivating and apart of the journey.

So many things have happened throughout these past two weeks & I Continue reading A Platform… Thank-You. →

Reflections, Thoughts and feelings

From the rolling hills of Otago to Singapore where it’s go go go!

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Let me paint a picture of how my relationship with nature began.

The rolling hills of South Otago, NZ. On the farm every single day with dad. Mustering stock, fixing fences and tending to our crops rain, hail, shine or snow (come on, it’s South Otago remember). On holidays, friends would come over, we’d load up the saddle bags and head off on multi-night camping trips with my parents, on the far edges of our property. Sounds pretty idyllic right? It was, but it wasn’t very challenging.

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Thoughts and feelings

“…and then they surrendered.”

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This is not how the war story was meant to end. The whole time I listened to the war story in Singapore I was waiting for the hero to sweep in and save the day. “And then the soldiers fought back and repressed the Japanese….” “….then they had back up come in to fight….” But no. This story ends quite differently from any war story I have known growing up in Australia. Going on a war history tour of this small country it is amazing to hear the stories of survival and what actually happened that fateful week in Feb 1942 when Japan invaded Singapore and kept it under rule until 1946. Singapore has done well in presenting the facts and draws learning from it in a positive light. Growing up learning war history in Australia we are the victors. Japan tried to invade but we held them off, even in Gallipoli we emerged ‘Victors’ forged by our dogged determination and mateship. But here the story was different as the Japanese took hold on the ‘impregnable fort’ of Singapore, leading to the largest surrender of British-led forces in history.

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Reflections, Thoughts and feelings

So what is outdoor and environmental education exactly?

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My recent experiences with outdoor environments and outdoor education in the fine country of Singapore has taught me much. Even the two terms, ‘outdoor environments’ and ‘outdoor education’ have been examined.

Over the past two weeks I have learnt to alter my thinking and reconsider how I define a natural place. Previously, I considered a natural place to be a native place. That is one which has native plants, trees and animals. Although I believe these will be two continually growing definitions, maybe now, in my mind at least, a natural place is a place where natural things live, regardless of whether they were originally found there.

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Reflections, Thoughts and feelings

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot. Nothing is going to get better, it’s not.

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“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot. Nothing is going to get better, it’s not.” (Dr. Seuss, 1998)

This quote is one of my favourites. It reminds me that when I care about something, I need to act on it. Because if I do not, unless there is another person just like me, there will be no change.

Or at least thats what it meant to me before Singapore…

Continue reading Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot. Nothing is going to get better, it’s not. →

Reflections, Thoughts and feelings

a pause to say thanks

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There are lots of gifts you can give people. As a teacher I think one of the greatest gifts you ever get is to see students excel as a consequence of something you helped orchestrate. I want to take a moment to do two things.

First I wish to congratulate the group for what were and remain, an outstanding set of blogs. I have a busy job, but you guys sucked me right in! It was fun reading all you posted. I didn’t comment on all, simply from lack of time, but every single post impacted upon me. You made me think, hard sometimes! You made me smile, often. Sometimes you made my eyes moist. Mostly, you showed yourselves to be excellent ambassadors for the university, Australia and outdoor education. You were prepared to think about possibilities. You showed how a changed context, in this case a different country and openness to experiences, can elicit deep thinking, clear visions and profound dreams; and that’s real learning. Well done team.

Second, I’d like to raise one simple point. This changed context was itself very well planned. Heather and Geoff have committed phenomenal creativity, professionalism, energy and time to this project extending from the first conception of the grant application so many months ago. By now you are probably all completely exhausted, but pause just for a bit and join me in saying a heartfelt thank-you to two of the best and most committed outdoor educators you can work with. The Singapore trip isn’t conventional OE! That meant everything had to be developed from the ground up.

You have all demonstrated how great education happens when good people come together with shared passion and openness to learn. Great stuff team, I’m proud to be associated with you.

Finally, the hardest part remains – keeping your integrity and tolerance in that long return home while you are tired. Keep smiling.

Discoveries, Reflections, Thoughts and feelings

Travel with Fin, a man tall and thin.

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Travel with Fin, a man tall and thin.
In a place full of buildings, he finds beauty within.
Surrounded by those who look different to him.
Fin begins to realise that they are his kin.

Fin’s travels started as he stepped off the plane
Ducking his head to avoid the pain.
His first thoughts were “wow this place just isn’t for me”
“Ducking and squeezing, too crowded you see”.

Continue reading Travel with Fin, a man tall and thin. →

Reflections, Thoughts and feelings

And Not to Yield

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I distinctly remember thinking “what an interesting phrase to include in a mission statement” as we were watching videos about the history of Outward Bound Singapore. “And not to yield”, isn’t that implied in a program like this? Sure it is important but does it really need to be expressly written in the statement? Is there a more important outcome that could be in its place?

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Discoveries, Reflections, Thoughts and feelings

Of two minds

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Singapore prides itself on being the Garden City, and true to its reputation it has plenty of natural spaces scattered throughout the city. I can’t help but notice how different these natural places are to Australia though. In a way I am of two minds, one comparing how Singapore’s nature differs to that of Australia and one trying to understand how Singaporeans see and interact with these natural places. Through my experience over the last week and a half I have been able to see how both locals and tourists interact with spaces such as Bukit Timah, the Green Corridor, Gardens by the Bay, the Super Trees and the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

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Discoveries, Reflections, Thoughts and feelings

Same same but Different

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I know you so well but yet I don’t. Your touch is familiar but distant in an exciting way as you invite me into adventure. I step down into the lush green grass and am awed. I know this so well, but it’s different. The feel is familiar, yet not the same. The pockets of grass and tufts it grows in is different to what I’m used to back home. It feels deeper under foot, the grass blades somehow longer & thicker in this humid environment. A spongy sea of grass beckons adventure.
It does but not really. This is so normal and natural. I flop down on the grass as I would at home; comforted by the familiarity to lay and relax, to take in my travels. The sights of a night sky, the sounds of passing traffic, the familiarities seem so similar. Yet it’s not until I open my eyes I notice the Singaporean skyline. I
find it’s often the little differences that make the big difference for me. Maybe it’s this linking connection of curiosity I have mentioned before, drawing connections from what is known into new incoming information. Maybe it’s this that I enjoy and draw more learning from as I connect more to similarities I know of back home.

Things like the grass underfoot, that feels so familiar yet strangely different, or the pedestrian lights here; do you know some of them have a countdown so you know how long you have to cross? I enjoy these pockets of subtleties seen in the everyday travel of life that remind me of my travels. I think they remind me on some level that we’re all human in this world, no matter where we are.

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