Group 3's Entry!

Here are some of the photos that we took during the Amazing Race at Little India. The rain was heavy at the start of the race but it didn't dampen our spirits.

The group solving a picture puzzle. Challenging but fun.

A lot of hard work here. Thank God Ms Arul was so kind to us at this pit stop. The rain finally stopped too. Yeay!!!

The team trying hard to solve the puzzle. It was fun and we never give up!

Thosai making really makes Yvonne hot. However, it's all worth it at the end of the day.

Last pit stop at the Chappati Shop. Curry was good and we all finished the pieces in less than 10 mins. Bravo Group 3!

Team 9: Ready, Set, Go!

With secret, undisclosed ambitions of experiencing the Amazing Race just like the ones we watched on television, we embarked on our very own Learning Journey. The downpour caused immediate worry especially to the ladies in our group. Although there were no video cameras recording our every move, no one wanted to fall in the middle of Little India.

Armed with our umbrellas, we trudged on to find our first challenge. Through the clues, we realised that we had to move downwards to the furthest end. There we solved questions and even had the chance to shoot some arrows next to an Indian temple. Since it was our first station and also the station's first group, the bystanders' curiosity was piqued and we drew quite a bit of attention from the public. Very soon, they must have figured out that we, the teachers, were the participants in a game, and our students were our station masters. What a reversal of roles!

Throughout the journey, we learnt so much about the Indian culture. We also gave a pat on our backs for knowing some General Knowledge, like the colour of royalty and the flowers used in a garland, which came in useful at the Q&A section . As part of the stations' challenges, we also learnt how to tie a saree and still had to share a meal of chapati despite being full from lunch. The chapati station is our group's favourite because we all got to sit down after walking the length of Little India and we were able to encourage each other to gobble down the dishes on the table. It was also unique to see how chapati was prepared and served to us piping hot from the pan.

The station we found most interesting was at Ganesh Textile where we were neck to neck with another group. Although we were there earlier, the other group had Mrs. Julia Raj! She did not even have to watch the saree demonstration. All she had to do was grabbed the saree, twirled it around and voila! It was done in record time while our group was still struggling trying to comprehend the steps.

The two groups both proceeded to the Arcade, where we repeatedly circled the building to find the "Ness." We came to realise that since it was already 4.30pm, the station masters must have packed up to head back to the end point. That was our most challenging station because, 2 groups' attempts were in vain, trying to find the elusive henna station.

Through this Learning Journey, we learnt that the Indian culture may be similar in some ways to other Asian cultures. For example, we pass on our cultural roots through songs and nursery rhymes and that our ethnic costumes are bright and colourful to add on to the festive mood.

All in all, this was one memorable experience where we bonded as a team! A big thank you to the organisers of this Learning Journey. It was definitely a fruitful and meaningful journey!

Mr Zulkarnain (i/c), Ms. Mazlinda (2nd i/c), Ms. Diana Thomas, Ms. Chong Siew Sia, Ms. Malyanah, Ms. Tina Woon & OM Tan

Adventures of Team 5

It was a dark and stormy afternoon… It was certainly not the best climate to begin a quest for knowledge. The members of Team 5, Mr Taufiq, Ms Ng Kee Teng, Ms Shelon Tang, Mr Joseph Tan, Ms Siti Norbariah, Mr Jeremy Loy and our newest team member Ms Pradeepa tried to make sense of the clues given to them to decide the location of our first station. It was supposed to be somewhere near the Zhu Jiao Market (Old Tekka Market) but we had no idea where. So we braved the weather and headed in the general direction of the market as the rain pelted away at us with every step.

When we reached Zhu Jiao Market, we all stood unsure at how to proceed. Then our newcomer Pradeepa volunteered specialized information that was critical to pin-point the exact location – A Henna Parlour. There we had to have our hands painted in a certain pattern with a tube of henna so that we could receive the clues to the next station.

We felt that it was a lengthy first station firstly because the pattern to be painted on our hands took a long time and while that was going on, 2 more groups came by and told us this was their 2nd or 3rd station! The day just became more gloomy … Finally we completed our task and was given our clue to our next station which was thankfully not too far away.

When we approached our next station we were shown some strange symmetrical patterns. Our challenge was to replicate the patterns and apply colour with the use of some colored powder. We learnt that the patterns were called Rangoli. The two things we learnt at this station was (a) none of us had any talent in art, let alone putting colours to the Rangoli and (b) the ground coloured rice did not stick to the pattern the way coloured chalk would.

The next station required us to determine the identity of some exotic spices that is commonly used to cook a variety of Indian dishes. It was the only way to get the clue to the next station. Among the spices were, cinnamon, cumin and fenugreek. After completing the task, our clue directed us to journey to a spiritual place…

Our trek brought us to the gates of a temple. It was the Sri Perumal Temple. As we ventured inside, we wondered what challenges awaited within… We were greeted by the Priestess A-Rula-Rasi. She fixed her gaze upon us and began to speak. Soon, we were compelled to move to a set of rhythmic movements. A-Rula-Rasi had expressive eyes that looked left and right with the words’ tay-ee’ and some movements were accompanied by the words ta-ka-dimi. Having performed satisfactorily, we were released from her spell.

The slight physical exertion made us hungry and it was fortunate that our next clue brought us to a food establishment that served traditional Thosai. The kind owner took one look at us and quickly led three of our team members to the kitchen to prepare the thosai while the remaining team members answered the questions that might lead us to the next station.

After our refreshments, we thanked the kind owner for his generosity and headed with renewed vigour to our next station. Our short journey brought us to the gates of another temple. This time, we had to piece together some jigsaw pieces. When we completed our challenge, we were dismayed that our next clue would require us to journey back up Serangoon Road. As the time limit was fast approaching, the team decided to proceed to the gathering point and to take stock of our learning.

When we compared notes with other teams, we realized that we missed what would be two very interesting stations. One of the stations would require team members to dress in fine traditional garments. The other station would give us knowledge on the preparation of flower garlands…. Oh well, maybe next time…


Team Leader

The Amazing Race through Little India by Group 8

The members of the group are (left to right) Melvin (Leader), Li Jing, Edward, Gladys, Arlene, Wah Sing, Wei Lun and Clement, and a handsomer group there never was in Little India on that day, perhaps never ever be!




Rain did not dampen the spirits of the octet as we raced down Seranggoon Road and across its side lanes on the lookout for the stations (some of us sheltered by $1 umbrellas) that had been pre-determined for the Staff by our teacher-organisers. It was fun, while it lasted, as we unravelled the clues and arrived at the various stations by careful deductions. Having many heads solved most of our problems as we successfully cleared seven stations out of ten, partook in the activities planned and spewed forth answers to questions posed at each station, tasted food, made designs with henna on our hands, donned/ helped don sarees and ‘veshti,’ drew the ‘kolam, etc. It was an afternoon of discovery and learning for most of us – an afternoon that showed us just how special, culture specific and different every race is, and yet just how alike we all are, regardless of our race divides, in the way we think, act, help one another and enjoy the activities we were all involved in, as we strove to make the efforts put into the Amazing Race by the School and our esteemed organisers meaningful and fruitful.

The group enjoyed most the dressing up in 2 different styles of dressing in sarees and veshtis (North Indian and South Indian). As you can see from the photos below there weren’t handsomer couples in Serangoon Road that day.

Clement and Arlene

Li Jing and Weilun

All the stations were interesting but one – the one near GGS Stationery – had us stumped. Imagine us singing in a group a Tamil nursery rhyme and using Tamil alphabets to form EVG’s values of Respect, Integrity, Commitment and Enterprise! With effort, we managed the former but the latter was beyond us.

The bridal design on Gladys’ right hand was magnificent. She wandered around with her right hand held high protectively. I wonder if she risked a bath that night!
Thank you Evergreen Secondary School for the experience!

Team 4 Blog Entry

UNDER CONSTRUCTION...

Team 6 blog entry

HI! This is team 6 led by Mr Tan Lee Sze. We had an awesome time at the Little India amazing race; but most importantly it was truly educational. We covered a total of six stations. Our easiest station was our very first stop at Ganesh Saree store where we tied sarees in the Northern and Southern style for Mona and Wei Ling. Two other members wore the dhoti. It was fun learning to tie the saree and we were impressed to know that Anne already knew how to tie a saree! After our models were ready, we took some photographs and headed to our next station at the arcade.

Our next station was our most difficult one in the entire race. We spent the most amount of time at station 6 as it was so difficult figuring out how to write RICE in tamil! However, being the “never-say-die” team we are, we accomplished this ‘mission-impossible’ in the end! Wee!

Though showers of rain and gloomy clouds overcast the amazing race, our team spirit remained un - dampened and we remained upbeat throughout the long walks. We had fun chatting and joking during our walks from one station to another. The most fun station was the one where we had to dance the Indian classical dance. Arul is a really good dance teacher! Hmmmm…. We also realized that there are a few hidden dance talents among our colleagues! Hmmmmmmmmmmm….


There were some general things that we already knew about the Indian culture but we learnt more interesting facts, like
1) how to make a crispy paper tosai,
2) the similarities between the English language and Tamil language and
3) the ‘kolam’ was initially designed to feed ants and birds outside the house

Indian culture is also similar to the western culture in terms of using consonants and vowels in their languages and is similar to Malay culture in terms of having many delicacies and putting henna body art.

We had a really enriching experience and this could not have been possible without Sabrina, Amu and Fiza. We took note of the enormous effort put into organizing the amazing race and how they even looked into every single detail like creating witty clues, including Indian related props, souvenirs etcetera and of course a yummy lunch.

Thank you so much Sabrina, Amu and Fiza for putting in so much effort and creating a wonderful time for all of us! We love you! We love you very very much! (so can you let us win the best blog entry plssssssss)

EVG Staff Amazing Race 2010

Dear Colleagues,

• Upload your group's pictures.
• Diary entry of the different activities of the day. May include
  - The station that your group likes best
  - The station that is the most challenging
  - The station that is the most interesting
• Group Reflection
  - How do you feel about the Learning Journey?
  - 3 things that your group learnt about the Indian culture
  - Give 2 examples of how the Indian culture is similar to other cultures
  - Comment(s)on your group dynamics

Cheers
Sabrina, Amu and Fiza.