Upper School Amazing Race at Chinatown (20 January 2012)

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CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS @ HCIS 2012
 
The Chinese New Year celebrations started off with a literal bang, thanks to the HCIS Percussion band drumming away to the beat after the flag raising ceremony. Everyone was jolted wide awake by the lively performance, and this was followed up by the prize giving ceremony for the Chinese New Year decoration competition held for each individual school – Lower School, Upper School and Senior School - which everyone was looking forward to with bated breath. After several rounds of anxious yet excited cheering, the results were announced and all the winners took their gift hampers with bright smiles plastered on their faces. The loud clashing of cymbals then shook the euphoric state out of all of us, signaling the start of the traditional lion dance! The two lions bounded about the sports complex, jumping, spinning and even peeling mandarin oranges to bring good luck and prosperity.
 
But the celebrations did not end there. After the entire mini ceremony, the schools were dismissed as according to their respective levels to start the Chinese New Year activities that had been planned for us. The Year 1, 2 and IB students stayed in the campus to play games while the Year 3 and 4 travelled on to Chinatown to continue the festivities in a Chinatown Amazing Race.  Being in Year 4, we were promptly given our tasks upon arrival, which was to answer several questions in the shortest time possible. The answers to the various questions could be found all around Chinatown, which meant we had to move from place to place. This challenge was especially daunting as we only had about an hour to complete our tasks. Nevertheless, we took it up with enthusiasm, visiting places like Maxwell Food Centre, the Sri Mariamman Temple and many more.
 
There was much laughter amidst the confusion and everyone was extremely participative in the event. Many were sad to leave once time once up, and although we reluctantly boarded the bus for the trip back to school, we had happy memories and strengthened friendships to last us even beyond the day itself. Even though it was an exhausting journey with all the rushing from one area to another, it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
 
By Anneka Hon
Year 4 (Resilience)