And we’re off! The 9-month adventure has just started, and I’m super excited. We started out the week with basic summer-camp name games and awkward first-time conversations. It was a chance for us to meet everyone before starting this crazy journey. Our first day we went on a high ropes course at the YMCA in Colorado. I was so excited but nervous at the same time (I’m kind of scared of heights) that I didn’t know what to do. At first I was only going on the easiest routes but with the help of some friends I then began to challenge myself by going on the harder ones that at the end I really enjoyed it. I didn’t want to go down. That afternoon six of us went on a hike up to Bible’s Peak and the view was amazing. I have to admit though, the altitude got to me. I was out of air almost the entire time. The next day was filled with super FUNN (fundamental understanding not necessary) activities. I felt like a little kid playing playground games in the field, my body almost froze to death in the so-cold creek we went to, and laughed so hard playing an alternative way of mini golfing; which included replacing the golf ball with an orange, the put with your foot, and even hitting the ball blindfolded (which FYI my team got like 2nd or 3rd to last but we still won a water gun, so cheers for that). The next morning a lady from CSU gave us a talk about compassionate listening and gave useful communication skills to use throughout our gap year. Then we went on our first trip to the town at Estes Park. We ate some sort of fast-food Asian food, felt excluded for being the only ones not wearing a Colorado or Estes Park shirt, and laughed my ass off of animal puns written in pajama shirts. The next day for the evening activity we went back in time into a roller skating ring with disco lights and music. It was so fun seeing everyone trying to roller skate. I even fell on my butt trying to take a video of Chandler trying to roller skate. It was worth it. That brings us to the last day in Colorado where we split into two groups and did a low ropes course, which was more of a team work/communication/trust in each other exercise.
It’s a weird feeling that I get to travel for 9 months with this group of 22 people. I don’t know how to explain it, but I feel comfortable and excited about this journey.
Next stop: Lander, Wyoming
