Friday 12th/Saturday 13th

THE LAST DAY! :O Today we were up early again for the flag raising ceremony, and then to our sabbaticals. At breakfast, it was a real shock because the girls were the first ones there, and the guys were rushing in late with shirts inside out and looking ragged. We were quite proud! :D At the Model ASEAN Summit, Ben and Aidan joined Ethan and I, and we introduced them to notes. Ben took full advantage of this sending notes everywhere, and so did Aidan. Unfortunately we only got to sit in the 'boring' part of the Summit's final day, with all of the presentations and the good stuff happening after we left. Overall our sabbatical seemed to be the most happening and Ethan and I created scandals which made everything more fun. After recess we headed back to the boarding school to finish off most of our packing, and then head off to the 'farewell lunch'. Our farewell lunch was very informal and I actually thought it was nice having it like this, however, not many others did, and most had hoped for a more formal setting, with speeches etc. I was glad that I wasn't volunteered for ANOTHER speech :P. We had lunch with the Japanese and Hong Kong students and all of the buddies, and got to chat, exchange gifts and have a good time. Unfortunately, Ethan and I had to say goodbye to our buddy, Yan Perng, at the lunch because he wasn't able to see us off at the airport. It was sad, but it was great to be able to meet him and knowing that he is coming back later in the year was helpful. Bryan and I ran around trying to get everyone's e-mail addresses (from the Japanese, Hwa Chong and Hong Kong) so that we could stay in touch with our new friends. We also interviewed our buddies, for some research assignment we're meant to be doing on the trip. No one really knew what was going on and what they were meant to do, so they all copied my notes. I just found it funny :P. After this, we headed back to the boarding school (again) to get our stuff to go to Bugis Markets for last minute shopping. Andre and Darrel took us to the markets and we had only an hour (by the time we got there) to shop. We were meant to go as a group, but we made a group decision that it would be easier to go in pairs. In actual fact the boys just didn't want to have to wait for the girls. Courtney and I went rushing around getting last minute present for friends and family, and Courtney finally bought something for herself. Basically everyone bought a watch....or 2....or 15, and we then had to head back to complete our packing and clear our rooms. Us girls had all of ours already done, so we just messed around for a while and took some photos that Courtney and Diane wish no one to see :P. I got to say a final goodbye to the girls from Japan and gave them hugs and got their e-mails to keep in touch. Darrel, Ooi and Jarret met us in the boarding school and came to the airport with us, along with Mr Rong Yeifei. It was really hard to say goodbye to the place that had been our home for the past week, but we had to get to the airport. At the airport, after we all checked in, we had some free time around the airport. I went off with Damon, Evan, Bryan and Jarret and we all headed to find something for dinner. I ended up buying the Australian guys their dinner, cause they all spent their money :P. Not that I minded, it meant I got to get rid of all of my Singapore money. We were able to have a really good chat together and with Jarret and it was cool cause it was our final meal in Singapore. The hardest part came next....the goodbye. By this point, only Darrel and Jarret were left and so everyone said their goodbyes, and gave hugs and then headed into customs. One by one we went through, with Jarret and Darrel waving to us the entire time. Myself and Aidan were the last two through and it was really hard not to turn back and just stay in the incredible country that felt like our new home. Things got interesting just after we got through customs. Evan stated that he felt like crying, but couldn't, and so this meant that Damon had to try and make him cry.....this failed.....however, it, instead, made me cry. Damon felt so bad, as I was welling up with tears. After I finally stopped crying, I told them not to worry, and that I'm just a sook :P However, then Mr Roubanis decided that he would, all in good spirit, joke that Jarret and Darrel were waving to us from outside....of course I turned around like an idiot and actually thought they were there :P This then made me cry again. We laughed about it later :). We finally got to board our flight at about 11:40pm and the plane finally took off just before midnight. Basically everyone slept on the plane, or attempted to. I got about 4 hours sleep which, I believe was more than anyone else. Must've been all the crying :P. When we landed in Australia there was a sort of sense of disbelief that we were really back home, but excitement to see our family and friends. Again most of the students showed true Heights spirit and forgot to fill in their immigration cards on the flight, so most people were left behind, while Ms Oakey, Evan, Ben, Aidan and myself went through. I was the only person to declare anything, yet I was the only student who didn't get my bag scanned or opened :P Ms Oakey and myself were the first through, and I didn't cry.... until I hugged my dad. Again, me crying :P. Everyone else took quite a while to come through, which made all of the parents nervous and anxious. Ben, Aidan and Evan came through shortly after me, but everyone else took a long time. Courtney's and Ethan's parents were getting very anxious to see their children after the time away. Eventually everyone came through with only one confiscation (of a honey no one realised was there). All of the students and teachers were tired and had mixed emotions of being back, but missing Singapore, but they would be visiting us later in the year, so we can show them our city, just like they did :). We are all really excited to see them again later in the year, and wouldn't give up the friends and memories made, for anything :D. Thank you to everyone who read all of the long blogs, it is reallyappreciated. Even if it is now a while since we've been back, but I thought I started this, so I need to finish it :) xoxoxo Sarah Williams SS24 (on behalf of Evan Day, Diane Banks, Courtney Roberts, Bryan Banks, Damon Hopkins, Ethan Tucker, Ben Geytenbeek, Aidan Sakovits and Keenan McKenzie)