PADDY HARVESTING

Date of Experience	15th October 2010
Venue Experience	Wasan Paddy field
Purpose of Experience	Learn how to harvest paddy.
What was the highlight of the experience? Before we start harvesting paddy, we’re giving information about the different types of paddy and insect. The owner mention that Brunei had it own paddy, which the name of the paddy is Padi Laila. It is the first paddy that produces and plant in Brunei. After that, we go into the paddy field. The owner gives us some explanation on how to cut the paddy and show us the correct way to harvest.
What aspect of the experience caused you the most anxiety? There were many different types of insect found in the paddy field such as root feeders, leaf feeders, stem feeders, sap-feeders and grain feeders. We’re lucky that there is no leach in the paddy field and no one get injure. As we go into the paddy field, I was worried about how will we get out from the paddy field which almost all both of my boots was stuck in the mud. But luckily the owner gives us some tips to prevent from stuck in the mud. The owner said that we can steps around the paddy as the land was little harder than the other land.
Was there any aspect of the experience that surprised you? Before I entered the Wasan paddy field, I thought that the paddy field was only in a small scale of land. But surprisingly it is bigger than I thought. The paddy field was planted in a very big and wide area of land. I can see that at the right and left side of the road was full by paddy planting. There were too many paddies planted at Wasan paddy field which had made us (our team) difficult to know where the exact paddy that we want to harvest. There were many different types of paddy at Wasan field such as Padi Wangi sari ( Pandan Wangi), Padi Pusu, Padi Bandul Berminyak, Padi Adan and Padi Laila. In the working of harvesting, we’re using sickle to cut the paddy. I didn’t realise that we had spent about one and half hour in the paddy field without any break. Surprisingly, we’re didn’t feel tired while doing the work. I feel just like normal and fun. May be just because we’re did it in a team and together go into paddy field. Amazingly, we’re harvesting the paddy until the two big plastic bags and a small one was full.
What were the three most important things you learnt from the experience? Team work. Because if we did it in a team work, it will make our work faster and easier. The easy way to get out from the muddy field is by twisted our leg, then try to lift up slowly until you feel free to move. The better way to avoid from stuck in the muddy field is by stepping on the top of the root of paddy or step on the surrounding of paddy. It is difficult to care the paddy until it can be harvest. In order to get a good quality and value of paddy, the most important thing is that the farmer has to protect their plant from insect (pest) and also from animals like birds.
Which aspects would you include in your future behaviour based on your learning from this experience? Growing paddy is not just that easy, we must have patient in order to get benefits. When I cut the first paddy and hold it in my hand, I feel that the paddy was like my own paddy. Just imagine if the land of the paddy is yours and you will see the paddy blown by the wind. You will feel satisfy because you have done well. This is not only to make money but also to help feed people in Brunei and increase the economy. As we know that oil is our main resource revenue, it is not impossible that paddy will become our second resource revenue. I will tell people who are interest in paddy about my experience of what I have Learned from this activity.

TREE PLANTING ACTIVITY

Date of Experience	10th October 2010.
Venue Experience	Around the water tank, at back of UBD campus along road from UBD library to back access to UBD.
Purpose of Experience	Learn to plant trees and reduce carbon dioxide.
What was the highlight of the experience? If carbon dioxide is increases in the atmosphere, it will cause climate change. In order to decrease carbon dioxide, we as human who love nature have to plant many trees and take care of it until it grows well.
What aspect of the experience caused you the most anxiety? I was worried about the trees that I plant on top of the hill. Which the place was very difficult to dig and hard like a rock.
Was there any aspect of the experience that surprised you? I was surprised about how to plant a tree. Before the tree is put into the hole, I’ll have to put the two fertilizers in the holes first (which I had already dig), then the tree will be place on top of the two fertilizers and lastly buried the tree root.
What were the three most important things you learnt from the experience? Planting a tree is not that easy without tools. By using tools it can make our work faster. The very important thing is that we have to know about the place first. Whether it is suitable or not for plant. Sometimes the soil is not fertile and we must give the fertilizer. The tree should have enough sunlight and water, so it will grow well.
Which aspects would you include in your future behaviour based on your learning from this experience? By planting more trees like this, I hope that the carbon dioxide will decreases and no global warming will occur. Also I will try to encourage my family and friends to start planting trees.

POLAR GIRL

Date of Experience	17th September 2010
Venue Experience	Mitsubishi Central Lecture Theatre, UBD
Purpose of Experience	To know about Polar girl experience and the environment in the South Pole.
What was the highlight of the experience? It is about the adventure of Dk Najibah Eradah PAM Al-Sufri with her team in the South Pole. She was the first woman and Bruneian people who went to Antarctica. She came back home safely on 30th January 2010 and made history for Brunei. She shared her experience and gives motivational to inspire youth in Brunei.
What aspect of the experience caused you the most anxiety? Before they start their mission, they have to pass all the tests given which including Physical. The preparation is important which they have to bring such as platypus, gorilla mask, spork, sewing kit, goggles, buff, windproof gloves, first aid, poo bags and etc. The journey was about 910km and takes 38 days to finish. There was no ozone and no animal live in the South Pole. The surrounding was very cold and very slippery, so they have to walk slowly. As there was direct sunlight without clouds above them, they have to use mask to cover their face and prevent them from sun burn. The only difficult time in their journey is they have to face the great storm. From her view, the storm is not because of the global warming but because of the hill and slope (dunes). The wind blow was so strong until their camp broke down. They come out and together help to built back the broken camp. Finally they reach the Geographic South Pole at 11.09pm on the 29th December 2010. Surprisingly there were no people get injure and they come back home safely.
Was there any aspect of the experience that surprised you? 1)    They didn’t left anything behind which can pollute the environment. Although their own waste, they use Poo bags to store it. 2)   Even she is in hard time, she still manages to get ‘Wudhu’. She does the prayer in the South Pole with the help of a device. 3)   There were no ozone and no animal at the South Pole. From the slide of polar girl we can see that the surrounding was clear. There were no habitant can live in such cold weather and the only we can see that the white snow.
What were the three most important things you learnt from the experience? Always work hard and get ready in whatever condition or situation (be proactive). Teamwork is very important. You will never feel alone when you in a group and have to help each other. They divided their work so that make it easier and faster. Never exist “give up” in mind and always think positive.
Which aspects would you include in your future behaviour based on your learning from this experience? This show that female can do what male can do. There no excuses for Muslim people to leave their prayer even in the expedition. We have to appreciate the nature and never pollute it even a single waste or rubbish. So there will no global warming and climate change happen.