Performance as a school team in Singapore.

I meant to blog about this for the longest time, as you can see from the picture above, this happened in early Nov 2013. That was like more than 2 months ago. There were so many moments I wanted to write down for remembrance, but as it is, my memory faded much and I can't remember what I wanted to say now! :)

For all I know, not only the 12 team members had fun, we, mothers tagging along for the show had so much fun too. I, together with another mom, were asked to be the "official" chaperon for the girls. We held several meetings to ensure our preparation was sufficient, of course with the guidance of their coach and the coach's boss, however, there were still some minor hiccups here and there. Nothing major fortunately.

One thing I was impressed with the other team from another school, was being prepared with some simple labeling of luggage. There were so many luggage and we could hardly identify which belongs to whom and at one time, we just need to move those luggage ourselves while the girls were doing the warming up and practice and the other moms away somewhere looking for lunch. Exhausting!

The girls had so many practices before the event, about 2 months before, for once a week. The coach had a very high standard, as she herself had been a national gymnast herself, so she was constantly shouting and training hard on the girls.

The hardest part was the 2 triangular formation throwing their apparatus to another and most often than not, one or two would not be able to catch it and clanking sounds would be heard. Not very impressive.

And they totally couldn't find their positioning like usual as they weren't doing the act on a mat, as opposed to what they had been used to normally. But overall, the girls had done impressively well, apart from the positioning all went havoc. We were all very pleased with them indeed.

Throughout the 3 nights stay, 6 of us mothers, with 2 girls in a hotel room respectively, each taking care both someone else's children. We followed the guide carefully with regard to timing, dressing, how the hair to be done and led the girls in and out of the hall as and when we need to.

On the first travelling day, we were very excited indeed. Had to go in the early morning as flight was 8+. Settled checked in process, chomped down our breakfast of plain egg sandwich (which was without butter, margarine or mayo), took group pictures, and marched the girls all the way to the plane.

Once there, we were taken to the hall venue in a bus and almost immediately the girls need to change and start to warm up for their one and only rehearsal that they were going to have.

The other official chaperon was stressed up as the girls had got almost everything wrong, but seriously who can blame them? It was unfamiliar territory, there were SO many gymnasts occupying every little space there was at the hall and music was blaring loudly for whichever team in the rehearsal. I just can't understand why she would be so stressed. Poor thing. I'm just the laidback type who feel it's not worth my time to be stressed up on.

After the rehearsal over, we were transferred to the hotel for checking in and there, we had to play the waiting game again. When the key for our rooms came, it was such a relief. All of us just couldn't wait to jump and lie down on the bed while waiting to take a good long hot shower. After which, we were just too tired to walk out for dinner and settle for the buffet dinner right next to the hotel lobby. It was one of the more relaxing times then as we ate and chatted and camwhored for the evening.

Every evening, the coach would be doing a spot check on the rooms on the girls' cleanliness. Then we would have to proceed to a lower floor for briefing. Lord knows how tired we already were each night when we finally passed out on our beds.

The first day of the event, it was an opening ceremony rehearsal in the morning. Though the team performance was only to be held on the 2nd day, we still need to get our butts there for its marching in ceremony and participating in the flash mob.

Being there initially was very exciting. We took hundreds of pictures and totally absorbed the experience and ambience. But I have to say, after a couple of hours, it was soon becoming daunting and dragging. I so wanted to get out of there!

There was an official dinner that evening, only opened for all the team members from around the world, their coaches and official chaperons. Waiting patiently was part of the skill we needed to get through the day. But lo and behold, it was disaster when we were finally shown to the dinner venue. It was supposed to be a standing cocktail dinner for gymnasts all over the world to get to know each other and there were only less than 10 tables there and certainly not enough chairs, for even the younger members to sit.

The 12 girls were already sharing 6 chairs and yet, someone from the hotel organizer for this dinner event asked us to share with the children from China! I normally don't blow my head off but I just couldn't swallow it anymore that time and told her off for not doing proper planning! They knew exactly how many people there were coming to that event and how many young children as well! huff!

Eventually the gymnasts finished taking their dinner in (which was strictly restricted as they needed to keep to their diet and closely monitored by their watchful coaches hovering around) and me and another mom (who took over from the pain-throbbing head of the other chaperon) finally get to sit back and relax. Good time to gossip as well. :)

Dang, when we got back to the hotel and had our shower, we still needed to wait for briefing. The briefings were getting later and later in time!

Finally the day had arrived for their performing moment. All of us were so kancheong! The girls, we could see, were all pressured to the max. Done the make up, waited for showtime to kick off and finally, our hearts pumping real fast to see their act. For the life of me, I myself don't know why we were so stressed. It was after all, not a competition and well, why??? beats me.

After lunch and seated there watching one after another performance from other countries, it was just getting too much to stomach in a day. We asked to be excused for the long dinner break and moved the girls out to walk outside to a nearby neighborhood mall. Just anything to take a breather! Really! We walked 15-20mins under the hot sun, only to eat some fruits at a food court, walked around aimlessly for awhile and then back to the hall already. wtf! But still, it felt better than continuing to sit and watch.

I then sneaked off (with permission) to go out for dinner with hubby (who drove over to Singapore the previous day) together with didi and korkor and my sis-inlaw in Spore with her family. Just feel glad to be away from the hall (for more breather!)

That night, bugger, we still need to wait up for the briefing which lasted way till almost midnight! dang! Though it was more like a small little party and rewards for the girls, all us moms were seen yawning away and kept looking at the time.

On the last day, the girls went to the zoo  in a coach bus after breakfast while I let another mom to go along in my place as she liked to take her younger son to join them. The other chaperon did the same, and eventually, we together with a few others, hang out in one of the rooms, then walked over to one after another mall, drinking coffee, trying to search for RG apparatus and reached back the hotel at the stipulated time.

Oh, did we have fun then. It was really one of the most enjoyable moment in the trip, chatting and laughing all the way.

Soon we were all in the airport ready to go home, but there were still several hours to kill there. Had our dinner, which was very yummy, and browsed a short while at the airport shops until the boarding time was near.

Good to be home again. Wonderful and memorable trip it was. Though a bit pricey (we paid for the entire trip for the girls and ourselves), but it was indeed memorable and amazingly fun. Am I doing it again? Seriously, I don't know. :)