ECA Drive Day: Walking Brides, Dancing Zombies and a Witch
“If the Jonas Brothers said that it was lame to breathe, sixty percent of teenage girls would stop breathing.” That was how Taylor’s College Sri Hartamas’s third ECA Drive began on the 22nd of January 2010.
The Debate Club greeted TCSH’s 2010 A-Level and SAM cohort with a challenge ‘Men vs. Women – the better sex?’ Debaters were fired up and full of retorts and ideas, but in the end, being friends worked out better after all and they agreed to end the challenge with a friendly tie.
TCSH extra-curricular clubs have evolved since the first ECA drive just one year ago and an impressive number of 20-odd number of clubs managed to remain existent through survival of the fittest. The clubs were sited at the Alpha and Beta Theatre, where each club was designated a spacey amount of room to set-up their booths. By 12.30 p.m. most of the club booths had been set up, and Mr Rahul dropped by to ensure that all the club presidents had kept their promise to start as soon as possible. Due to the large influx of 2010 January students, the two theatres were soon packed to the hilt.
The Korean Han Guk Club won the second place for best booth, and who could disagree? Student advisor Mr Rahul, who is in no way a biased judge, said “After today, I feel like I know so much more about their country than I did before.” The Han Guk Club stole the crowd’s attention with their colourful food displays (which, though deliciously displayed and flaunted, was not open for tries), hot posters of popular K-pop bands ‘De-Javu’ and ‘Wonder Girls’ (anyone realize how many times ‘Nobody’ has been in Fly FM’s tops?), and the ever-attractive walking ads of Korean girls in their traditional Han Bok wedding robes of bright pink. President Park Shin Young says “Come and join us and we’ll teach you to speak Korean!” Free Korean classes? Attractive, very attractive indeed.
Speaking of walking ads, the Han Guk club was not the only club that came out the idea. TCSH’s Theatre Club was cleverly revived by the IB Diploma students, as they steered around their Witch mascot and the Anime Club wouldn’t admit defeat either as their girl-in-Japanese-school-uniform appeared at the very last minute and challenged everybody with her cuteness! Anime Club, one of the most alive clubs of 2009 offered their self-designed calendars for sale, which contains the best pictures of their fan-art competition in 2009, alongside TCSH’s Art Club, also selling handmade trinkets like snow-globes and origami. Taking advantage of the crowd’s awe at the ‘neat’-ness of the decorative art, former president Amalyna says “I'll teach you how to make it if you join my club!”
Another impressive club is TCSH’s LEO club, which proved fruitful for the young energetic college student in their activities throughout 2009. The only club to hand out personal business cards with the words “WE SERVE” professionally printed in the middle; trips to the orphanage, zoo-volunteering (which offers an admirable certificate at the end of the year) and student-exchange programs were among the club’s many activities set out for their members. In alliance with the ‘Father Group’ Lion’s Alliance (figures the Lion mascot!), the Leo club stood out fairly well with a gleaming gold and silver gong by the booth, which president Audrey Chong claims is beaten at the start of every meeting.
Amidst all the hustle and bustle of the competitive booths and mascots, TCSH’s centre hall did not stay calm. The Food Club, run by Education Counsellor Shiamala Paramaswam (for all its members had graduated) held a Desert Bar atop the steps of the hall, from which wafted delicious aromas of chocolate and parfait and other sinful unmentionables.
The Chek Quen Do Club put on a display of their skills there later, and had the crowd gathering to watch their fighting skills. There was much kicking in mid-air and poles waiting to be smacked back but it was an impressive show nevertheless, especially to watch the Chek Quen Do ladies slap their male members. The Capoeira Club brought in their instructor to host a show, where they played several contemporary songs with their traditional music instruments, and the Dance club danced along to this.
In fact, the Dance club never stopped dancing. A crowd had gathered gradually, and suddenly, a group of hip-looking dancers made a dramatic entrance, swinging limbs and flexing supple joints. They bounced and slammed along to the pulsating music beat, moving as a group. For their performance, they had prepared a mix of songs, and transitioned smoothly into Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face”.
Every bit as theatrical as the artist, the group mimed the slow climb out of a swimming pool, before lurching along to the techno bleeps. They then scaled rapidly up the escalator, before surging down the other, much to a descending Mr. Ananda’s surprise! Members wore cool tank tops and other suitable clothes for freestyle dancing; if they were not pulling out their moves in the centre hall, then they’d be hopping impatiently at the Dance club booth. Dancer Lien Siaw boasts the group ‘Womenizers’ they had put on together while saying ‘If I can’t dance, I shall die.’
However, the centre hall wasn’t the only spot for demonstrations. The Yoga Club set up a yoga mat in front of their booth, where the lovely Lisa Marie called out to potential yoga practitioners, and the newly formed Body Mass and Weight Club too had their mat spread out in front of their booth. The newly formed club had already had their first club activity even before their first ECA Drive, as proven by picture on post-board, and true to their name and athletic vigour, the members were complete with fit figures and a sweaty stench.
The day ended with an exhausted crowd who were impatient for the formal speeches to end. The phenomenal success of the MUN (Model United Nations) booth with smartly dressed members won third-best booth, but did not beat the Tree Huggers Club who won a hefty RM200 for best booth; and interesting terms like ‘Zorbing’ from Sky Adventure Club and ‘boat member’ (Mr Rahul claims to be one) from TayTech Club were introduced. The Editorial Board’s application forms flew by as quickly as Shakespeare’s inspired quill and gathered an impossible bunch of applications from enthusiastic students; and the Sports Council fared well with many sport aficionados crowded around the booth.
TCSH’s third ECA Drive rejuvenated dying clubs and showed renewed interest and energy in extra-curricular activities, and these are precisely the things that make college life more interesting. Although there were minor complaints from students who still had classes: “Oh man the music is distracting me! I can’t do Bio like this,” says critique Sarkaaj Singh, the drive was a major success nonetheless.
By ADIBAH MN and YOULIN KOH
The Debate Club greeted TCSH’s 2010 A-Level and SAM cohort with a challenge ‘Men vs. Women – the better sex?’ Debaters were fired up and full of retorts and ideas, but in the end, being friends worked out better after all and they agreed to end the challenge with a friendly tie.
The Debate Club presenting their views
TCSH extra-curricular clubs have evolved since the first ECA drive just one year ago and an impressive number of 20-odd number of clubs managed to remain existent through survival of the fittest. The clubs were sited at the Alpha and Beta Theatre, where each club was designated a spacey amount of room to set-up their booths. By 12.30 p.m. most of the club booths had been set up, and Mr Rahul dropped by to ensure that all the club presidents had kept their promise to start as soon as possible. Due to the large influx of 2010 January students, the two theatres were soon packed to the hilt.
The Korean Han Guk Club won the second place for best booth, and who could disagree? Student advisor Mr Rahul, who is in no way a biased judge, said “After today, I feel like I know so much more about their country than I did before.” The Han Guk Club stole the crowd’s attention with their colourful food displays (which, though deliciously displayed and flaunted, was not open for tries), hot posters of popular K-pop bands ‘De-Javu’ and ‘Wonder Girls’ (anyone realize how many times ‘Nobody’ has been in Fly FM’s tops?), and the ever-attractive walking ads of Korean girls in their traditional Han Bok wedding robes of bright pink. President Park Shin Young says “Come and join us and we’ll teach you to speak Korean!” Free Korean classes? Attractive, very attractive indeed.
Korean food on display
Speaking of walking ads, the Han Guk club was not the only club that came out the idea. TCSH’s Theatre Club was cleverly revived by the IB Diploma students, as they steered around their Witch mascot and the Anime Club wouldn’t admit defeat either as their girl-in-Japanese-school-uniform appeared at the very last minute and challenged everybody with her cuteness! Anime Club, one of the most alive clubs of 2009 offered their self-designed calendars for sale, which contains the best pictures of their fan-art competition in 2009, alongside TCSH’s Art Club, also selling handmade trinkets like snow-globes and origami. Taking advantage of the crowd’s awe at the ‘neat’-ness of the decorative art, former president Amalyna says “I'll teach you how to make it if you join my club!”
Another impressive club is TCSH’s LEO club, which proved fruitful for the young energetic college student in their activities throughout 2009. The only club to hand out personal business cards with the words “WE SERVE” professionally printed in the middle; trips to the orphanage, zoo-volunteering (which offers an admirable certificate at the end of the year) and student-exchange programs were among the club’s many activities set out for their members. In alliance with the ‘Father Group’ Lion’s Alliance (figures the Lion mascot!), the Leo club stood out fairly well with a gleaming gold and silver gong by the booth, which president Audrey Chong claims is beaten at the start of every meeting.
Amidst all the hustle and bustle of the competitive booths and mascots, TCSH’s centre hall did not stay calm. The Food Club, run by Education Counsellor Shiamala Paramaswam (for all its members had graduated) held a Desert Bar atop the steps of the hall, from which wafted delicious aromas of chocolate and parfait and other sinful unmentionables.
Delicious treats served at the Dessert Bar
The Chek Quen Do Club put on a display of their skills there later, and had the crowd gathering to watch their fighting skills. There was much kicking in mid-air and poles waiting to be smacked back but it was an impressive show nevertheless, especially to watch the Chek Quen Do ladies slap their male members. The Capoeira Club brought in their instructor to host a show, where they played several contemporary songs with their traditional music instruments, and the Dance club danced along to this.
In fact, the Dance club never stopped dancing. A crowd had gathered gradually, and suddenly, a group of hip-looking dancers made a dramatic entrance, swinging limbs and flexing supple joints. They bounced and slammed along to the pulsating music beat, moving as a group. For their performance, they had prepared a mix of songs, and transitioned smoothly into Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face”.
Every bit as theatrical as the artist, the group mimed the slow climb out of a swimming pool, before lurching along to the techno bleeps. They then scaled rapidly up the escalator, before surging down the other, much to a descending Mr. Ananda’s surprise! Members wore cool tank tops and other suitable clothes for freestyle dancing; if they were not pulling out their moves in the centre hall, then they’d be hopping impatiently at the Dance club booth. Dancer Lien Siaw boasts the group ‘Womenizers’ they had put on together while saying ‘If I can’t dance, I shall die.’
However, the centre hall wasn’t the only spot for demonstrations. The Yoga Club set up a yoga mat in front of their booth, where the lovely Lisa Marie called out to potential yoga practitioners, and the newly formed Body Mass and Weight Club too had their mat spread out in front of their booth. The newly formed club had already had their first club activity even before their first ECA Drive, as proven by picture on post-board, and true to their name and athletic vigour, the members were complete with fit figures and a sweaty stench.
The day ended with an exhausted crowd who were impatient for the formal speeches to end. The phenomenal success of the MUN (Model United Nations) booth with smartly dressed members won third-best booth, but did not beat the Tree Huggers Club who won a hefty RM200 for best booth; and interesting terms like ‘Zorbing’ from Sky Adventure Club and ‘boat member’ (Mr Rahul claims to be one) from TayTech Club were introduced. The Editorial Board’s application forms flew by as quickly as Shakespeare’s inspired quill and gathered an impossible bunch of applications from enthusiastic students; and the Sports Council fared well with many sport aficionados crowded around the booth.
TCSH’s third ECA Drive rejuvenated dying clubs and showed renewed interest and energy in extra-curricular activities, and these are precisely the things that make college life more interesting. Although there were minor complaints from students who still had classes: “Oh man the music is distracting me! I can’t do Bio like this,” says critique Sarkaaj Singh, the drive was a major success nonetheless.
By ADIBAH MN and YOULIN KOH
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