Water, water, water

Today started off different than most other days: we actually slept!!! How late we woke up differs from person to person, but the schedule was flexible enough to accommodate for that. Thus our day started very relaxed with some breakfast (that we might want to consider calling brunch?) and a lot of still sleepy faces.

So our first activity started at 11.30. Actually it was not really an activity, but more the explanation of two well – known activities within the CISV world. Firstly everyone picked the name of their monito for the rest of the IPP. Their WHAT? Let me explain. Everyone got the name of someone in the camp who he has to spoil a little with nice things, some signs of appreciation: just to make that person feel loved. Ironically we picked the name of the person we had to kill afterwards, and the way we have to kill that person. Nice huh? We show our love for each other by killing… No worries; we will all come home alive, albeit as “CISV ghosts.”

Then it was lunchtime, and me and my delegate – Adrienne – were starting to run around to finalise the last things for our activity. It was pouring outside. After some slight adaptations we found that it wasn’t raining anymore but we did change our activity.

Finally, soaking wet from preparing the water balloons, it was time for our activities. We had four different stations. At the first questions were presented about the Netherlands – all water related. This is how we choose to interpret the theme: sustainable development. Where the Aetas are perpetually threatened by Mount Pinatubo, the Dutch have a constant struggle with the water; which is only going to get more interesting over the next couple years when climate change actually starts to show its signs… Back to our activity. After having tried to answer some questions there was a little pre – discussion about whether or not the Dutch should consider abandoning their country and all move to higher lands: Germany for example. I’m glad Dan said we are very welcome. 

After having taken some photos of important years in the Dutch “water – history” and having had some fun with the water balloons it was time for the real discussion: we got back to the Germany statement and talked some more about water problems in different countries. The second energiser was followed better than the first one. I’m glad to find out that you guys have really improved your Dutch!!

All these discussions fitted nicely with the next activity where we had to create a sustainable unit in different climates. During this activity we also found out that teachers are very organised and scientists are well, let’s say slightly chaotic and maybe too punctual?? ☺ 

Whereas the rest was preparing for dinner we the Dutch were running after the staff to find the ingredients for our dessert: Wentelteeftjes with Vanilla Ice-cream. It was a great success as quite some people wanted second servings…

All nicely filled up, we played an interesting variation of lifeboat, where all the characters in the boat were characters that were related to our IPP: such as a CISV volunteer, a NGO- worker and an Aeta woman. The Japanese tourist and Monica Belucci were just to spice things up a bit.

When you thought this would be a short blog you are mistaken, because even though we started our day late, it was still quite long. The last activity before going to bed was a get to know each other: We all sat next to someone and then talked for several minutes, after which we had to introduce our partner to the rest of the group. 

Some people (I will not mention any names) made it very clear that they wanted to know what we actually do here… Well, this was a CISV day at our camp site. Tomorrow another day that starts early, where we will work with the Aetas.

 

For now: good night.

- Ingrid Swagemakers (Netherlands)

For those interested in making Wentelteefjes, here you go: 

Ingredients

• eggs

• milk

• bread

• sugar (white)

• cinnamon

• vanilla icecream

• butter

How to make it: 

You put the eggs, milk, sugar and cinnamon together in a bowl and mix it. You dip a slice of bread in the mixture and melt the butter in the pan. You then put the slice of bread in the pan and bake it. Make sure the pan is not too on too high otherwise the mixture that it on the inside of the bread won’t be “done”. When it’s done you put it on a plate and add a scoop (or more if you like) of ice cream. Then: you sit back and enjoy ! ☺