So... I disappeared for a long time, and now I am back in Toronto. How does it feel? Peaceful. Maybe I have matured over these 8 months, or just travelled too many places. Each place had great people and sweet memories. In the past, I would have been so broken down, because I hate endings... Yet, now I know that without these endings, where would the new beginnings be? I am happy to be home because I want to absorb all that I experienced and learned and make it a part of my life now. Yes, I miss many people, but currently my life and home is here.
From July 21 - Aug 4, I went to an Outward Bound exprience in Hong Kong where I got to learn how to live and sail a yacht with 11 teammates, 2 instructors, a skipper and boatman. Challenges included: jumping the harbour into the ocean, rock climbing, ropes course, hiking, abseiling, training on a ketch, throwing up in the storm, hoisting sails, pumping water, living with rationed fresh water, not being able to shower, showering included pouring water all over yourself with your clothes on and then saying you showered washed your clothes and are now drying them, cooking in the badly ventilated boat, sleeping on the cramped deck and waking up freezing and wet, having anchor watches in the middle of the night, sleeping for approximately 5 hours a night, solo-ing on an island where you cant talk to the next person and fasted for a day and set up your own shelter, 12 km jog while legs were totally sunburned and still needing to jump the harbour, pumping the toilet at leats 50 times to ensure no blockage because if one toilet goes down that person must clean it out with their hands, winding the winches, getting reaty to tack or gyve, cleaning very dirty equipment, learning how to navigate the waters of Hong Kong, eating in the wind. We had sharing after each activity or day, and it was great to see everyone grow to understand themselves better, and to be encouraged that these people (aged 17 - 47) were supporting them and will be great friends forever. I think the reason why Outward Bound brings people together is, when we are there testing ourselves in nature, we just see each other as people, we dont care about age, status, intelligence, we freely open ourselves to these people. We are vulnerable to each other, and thats why we can openly share and learn. I think everyone was so encouraged to face the real challenges in life.
Our slogan was "FACE, Face A Challenge Everyday" because as we learned from jumping the harbour, we must face our challenges, and each day is a new beginning to do so. Each time I jumped, I always felt so afraid, the moment when I looked down, and just wanted to step back, but each time after taking the step and hitting the water with everyone cheering and the sense of satisfaction felt amazing.
=)
From July 21 - Aug 4, I went to an Outward Bound exprience in Hong Kong where I got to learn how to live and sail a yacht with 11 teammates, 2 instructors, a skipper and boatman. Challenges included: jumping the harbour into the ocean, rock climbing, ropes course, hiking, abseiling, training on a ketch, throwing up in the storm, hoisting sails, pumping water, living with rationed fresh water, not being able to shower, showering included pouring water all over yourself with your clothes on and then saying you showered washed your clothes and are now drying them, cooking in the badly ventilated boat, sleeping on the cramped deck and waking up freezing and wet, having anchor watches in the middle of the night, sleeping for approximately 5 hours a night, solo-ing on an island where you cant talk to the next person and fasted for a day and set up your own shelter, 12 km jog while legs were totally sunburned and still needing to jump the harbour, pumping the toilet at leats 50 times to ensure no blockage because if one toilet goes down that person must clean it out with their hands, winding the winches, getting reaty to tack or gyve, cleaning very dirty equipment, learning how to navigate the waters of Hong Kong, eating in the wind. We had sharing after each activity or day, and it was great to see everyone grow to understand themselves better, and to be encouraged that these people (aged 17 - 47) were supporting them and will be great friends forever. I think the reason why Outward Bound brings people together is, when we are there testing ourselves in nature, we just see each other as people, we dont care about age, status, intelligence, we freely open ourselves to these people. We are vulnerable to each other, and thats why we can openly share and learn. I think everyone was so encouraged to face the real challenges in life.
Our slogan was "FACE, Face A Challenge Everyday" because as we learned from jumping the harbour, we must face our challenges, and each day is a new beginning to do so. Each time I jumped, I always felt so afraid, the moment when I looked down, and just wanted to step back, but each time after taking the step and hitting the water with everyone cheering and the sense of satisfaction felt amazing.
=)
