Day 1 -- Leadership

Group 1 Olivia Poon 3A (20)

Today we visited the campus and are now more familiar with Clare Hall, where we are staying in. Compared to people in Hong Kong, people in Brescia are kinder for they demonstrate a spirit of sharing. Apart from enhancing our familiarity with the surroundings, we have also learnt the definition of leadership. Good leadership entails friendliness and inclusiveness. To take the first step in being a good leader, we think that it is important for us to learn to follow the rules discussed today, including going back to our own rooms before lights-out and keeping spaces clean.

Group 2 Anya Chan 3A (2)

Today is our first full day in Canada and we have  learnt a lot. We started with the discussion of the meaning of leadership and agreed that it means to influence everyone towards a common goal and to achieve it together in a group. After that, we walked around the school campus and got to know more about the history and structure of the school. Then, we had a crafts lesson in which we created an artwork resembling an animal. Through the lesson, we learnt to cooperate with one another, working towards a common goal. Afterwards, we had a short reflection with our counsellors. We expressed our opinion on what activities or lessons we enjoyed the most and suggestions for improvement. At last, we had a campfire which was the most enjoyable part of the day. We made crispy marshmallows by the campfire and they tasted very good. All in all, despite feeling quite tired, we all enjoyed the day very much.

Group 4 Sylvia Leung 3T (16)

Today was our first day in Brescia. After having a delicious breakfast, there was an introduction about leadership, conducted by the counsellors. We understood more about how a leader should be and the traits of being a good leader. Being a good leader is not easy!

In the afternoon, the counsellors introduced us to the facts of Canada. Our group also built a Totem Pole, which is a very unique Canadian culture. Our Totem Pole was made of different animals representing ourselves.

After dinner, we had a campfire and ate some delicious marshmallows. The sparklers we lit were also very beautiful. We spent a very fun day with our friends and the friendly counsellors.

Group 5 Hermione To 3L (24)

After the long flight from Hong Kong to Canada, we have finally arrived Brescia University College! Although today was our first full day in Canada, we were already very excited and jolly! Our camp was started with a lesson discussing what leadership is and how it has influenced us in our lives. We have also learnt more about the country we are located at right now in the workshop “Introduction to Canada”. The most impressive part of the day was making a totem pole with our home group. We have learnt to be a leader in this activity, since we were required to be cooperative, tolerant and helpful in order to reach common goals. Campfire was also the highlight of the day, as we had various fun activities, such as playing badminton, having a barbecue, etc. It was satisfying to end a day like this in such a beautiful and peaceful place.

Group 6 Meko Cheung 3P (7)

Today was our first day in Canada upon arrival! During the introduction of ‘leadership’, we discussed the difference between comparison and influence, which we had never thought of before. As the saying goes, ‘Comparison is the thief of joy’, comparing yourself with influential figures such as Michelle Obama, Malala, etc. doesn't help you to be a better leader like them. There isn’t actually a ‘better’ leader, since everyone is different. We can all lead in our own way, in our own capacity.

We had lots of fun chatting with our counsellor on the grassland under sunshine, and we enjoyed the relaxing leisure time that we seldom enjoy in Hong Kong. We really hope that life in Hong Kong can be as relaxing as it is in Canada! Also, there were lots of tiny frogs hidden in the grass, and we all got very excited catching them!

We had a fun time working in groups, making totem poles and playing group games during the campfire. It was a nice and refreshing experience lighting the sparklers. The Canadians’ lives are so relaxing and joyful!

Group 7 Gladys Choi 3T (5)

The first full day in Canada has been great so far. After having our breakfast, we had a short introduction to leadership, during which we found out the true meaning of leadership -  the process of influencing others to achieve a common goal. Apart from this, we also realised that a good leader should be confident, efficient, caring, kind, patient, friendly and definitely inclusive. During the introduction, I have learnt some good qualities of good female leaders, such as Emma Watson, Malala Yousafzai and Michelle Obama. I really hope that I can learn from them and be a great leader as them in the near future.

All in all, I think the most impressive event during the day is the 'Scavenger Hunt', when I got the chance to explore the campus and sit on the grass, playing games with my counsellor named Leora. We got to know each other better in this event. I hope that the coming days will be as fun as today and I am looking forward to my stay in Brescia in these two weeks!

Group 8 Chloe Tsoi 3T (31)

Today was the first day of our Brescia Leadership Camp. Since Hong Kong is 12 hours ahead of Toronto and we arrived at the dormitory quite late the day before, most of us suffered from jet lag and felt exhausted. However, we had a lot of fun in different activities, especially the TOTEM POLE CRAFT! Our totem pole failed to stand but we tried various ways to fix it. Though we still failed at last, we had already tried our very best. Through today’s activities, we learnt more about leadership and the importance of being more cooperative and united.

Group 9 Letitia Chan 3P (3)

Today is our first day of in Canada and we can already feel the difference between Canada and Hong Kong.
The first thing we noticed is the different weather.  In Hong Kong, summer is usually very hot and humid, whereas in Canada, it is cool and dry. Our plane arrived in the evening, so we didn’t get to experience the sunny weather. However, we saw the sunset on our way to Brescia. It was absolutely stunning!
The second thing concerns the cultural difference between Hong Kong and Canada. Unlike those people leading a fast-moving lifestyle in Hong Kong, Canadians are more relaxed, friendly and welcoming. Everyone wears a smile which spreads happiness.
Our favourite activity today was the campfire. During the campfire, we even taught our counsellors some games that we used to play when we were younger and had tons of fun! We then lit fireworks and saw fireflies to our amazement.
We had so much fun today and we cannot wait for the exciting program in the coming days!

Group 10 Nicole Yip 3P (31)

Today is our first full day in Canada, and we were all looking forward to it. In the morning, we took a stroll around the campus before we went for the scavenger hunt. This activity enabled us to learn more about Brescia University College. One of the tasks was counting the number of steps taken to get to the Ursuline Hall, which was quite fun. After lunch, we made a craft – the totem pole, and learnt more about Canada through watching videos. I was quite amazed when I heard that about 70% of world’s maple syrup is exported from Quebec. At night, we all gathered around the campfire and played with sparklers, the scene of which was just gorgeous. We also roasted some marshmallows and played the game ‘Sardines’ with Madison, the assistant coordinator of this program. Although there were not a lot of activities today, we still had a great time.