4 Aug 2013: Country and Culture

At today‘s scout meeting we were sharing about the cultures and traditions of other places.

Leanne shared traditional dances from Italy, Japan, and Israel.  The Italian dance was called tarantella, the Japanese dance was Tanko Bushi, and the Israely dance was called the Hora. Leanne got everybody to try the Hora even if the boys didn’t want to!

Emily, Jeremiah and I shared a Singaporean game called five stones. Jeremiah and I used small beanbags, Emily just used pebbles!

Javier and Kayla shared about Taiwan. Javier shared about the Taiwanese scout logo, Kayla about landmarks.  They shared about Taiwan because our next activity was a meet-up with some Taiwanese Scouts at Gardens By the Bay.

Jayson and Glenn shared about an American game called Capture the flag. You need to have two teams to play this game. First, you divide your playing space in half. Then, each team hides their “flag” on their side of the playing space and decides where their “jail” is, then, you start the game. Each player tries to get the opposite teams flag. If you get tagged on the opposite side of the playing space, you go to jail. You can try to tag players from the other team that are on your side of the playing space. If someone tags someone on their team that is in jail, everyone in that jail can run away. The first team to get the other team’s flag to their side of the playing space wins.  We played this game and it was hard because it was not clear which way the field was divided.  Nobody won in the end.

Jedediah shared about a Singaporean game called Chatek.  This is a one player game.  The player has to kick the chapteh to keep it off the ground as long as he can.  I did not play it myself but I heard Kynan got 10 kicks in a row!

Kynan shared books in African language.  Kynan’s mum is from South Africa.  Kynan read the books in African and his mum (Auntie El) translated so we could understand.

We also learnt about the National flag, and our Scout flag, and participated in a flag-raising ceremony using a flag pole set up by the older cubs.  We also learnt how to fold the flag.

I enjoyed Leanne’s presentation most in this meeting.  We had fun too playing capture the flag.

- Isaac Lim