We are all one story
Multicultural was... amazing.
The night before I was getting so nervous, wondering what to expect. I said my goodbyes to the boys and the loft the night before I left.
Bright and early Thursday morning I finished packing up all my things and met up with the group. I was so happy to see atleast some people I knew and felt comfortable with.
I had doubts about multicultural:
could people really open up?
Would the friendships really stick?
Could we really get so deep in just three days?
WELL.
THURSDAY-
we got there, did this huge name game so we could figure out who everyone was exactly. We did this for a good thirty minutes to finally feel we knew eachother atleast on a first name basis. We did an activity where we had a one on one conversation with everyone for like 5 minutes, then got our "oooh baby" who pretty much is like a partner. We told them our goals for the trip and had to be there for eachother to make sure that happend.
"My goal is to come out of this with a greater respect of others and myself. To open up and have open arms to others. To say goodbye to old friends and make new ones here." I said.
We ate lunch, did activities then got in "small groups". The groups were made up of 10 people. We met up I think 5 times overall for 90 minutes. We had to bring up a topic we all agreed on, sit in a circle and talk about it.
Jake Safaren, Ryan Best, Kaelin Roberts, Maddie Jinkins, Anna V, Rhema, Eboni, CJ, Nathali, Paul Vanerman and Amy Voigt.
These people impacted my life greatly... some people I admitt I had previous judgments about. Some I didn't think would be accepting, I never met, talked to, etc. But after all the time we've spent together, after how open we were able to be, I honestly can call them a friend now.
In the first night alone I found myself opening up SO much. I can't really say what we talked about, but I felt I could just let it all out. I cried atleast twice in that conversation. I learned so much about people and myself.
We ALL go through some rough stuff. Even if someone looks happy and like things are okay, it's easy to put on a fake face.. people are the way they are for a deeper reason and we shouldn't judge them based on a bad first impression. We should get to know them before judging.
We ate dinner then played a lot of weird silly fun games to help get to know eachother, see how people live, etc. Then another group talk. The electicity went out so we ate dinner by candle light haha. It was so much fun! We played BS and charades.
Small group talk was goooood. Then we had free time to do whatever.
FRIDAY-
breakfast,
small group,
big group activities,
lunch,
then a THREE HOUR small group talk! it was soooo intense haha!
then we did this thing where you are all inside one big rope w/ your small group. we were on our way to a barn and they asked us random fun questions, like "if your house was on fire whats one thing you would save?" and somone had to rate the question on how good it was from 1-100. based on what they said judged on how many steps we could take to get to the barn so we had loootss of fun questions that really told a lot about people.
After our last talk that night I felt like... I learned more about myself, how others see me, etc. I cried AGAIN that night because I see myself a lot lower than others do lol. I was viewed as somewhat a quiet person so after group talk I tried being more outgoing which worked well.
then we had this activity that really touched us all i think...
it started with a ball of string.. we passed it around to one person who really touched us throughout the trip. we thew the ball around and held on to a peice so it looked like one huge cat's cradel. it was so beautiful and it was nice to see how people who never even knew eachother before effected others.
THEN BONFIRE!
It was so much fun! I got close to people I never used to talk to, sung, danced, got close to TEACHERS, did the jiggalo! SOOOO MUCH FUN by the way! We all sung songs we love, like Postal Service :] It was great to just all be together... and celebrate. To forget about the bad, the hardships, work, stress and just be so close together around a campfire, reflecting on this amazing once in a life time experience.
We all shared a lot of laughs in the cabin before finally passing out. Then it was morning and we had to say goodbye.
We had our last breakfast, our last group talk... it was SO emotional saying goodbye to the small group. Well, i shouldn't say saying goodbye, but saying thank you. Like I said, I can't really say what we talked about but... it was SO moving, inspirational and made me that much more thankful for this experience. I will NEVER be able to forget it. I feel so much more confident and happy with this experience in my life. We had our last big group activity and talk which got emotional also. Leaving brought a lot of tears... and hugs. Getting on the bus saying goodbye was soo hard. I'll never forget what I learned there.
There was a moment in the small group talk when someone brought up J.J... but it wasn't a sad talk. We laughed about silly things he used to do, remembered our last days seeing him, laughed and smiled. The amazing thing is that we ALL smiled. It wasn't sad. It was more like we knew he was in a better place, looking down on us right on that moment... and for once it felt like he wasn't gone. A realization hit that he's still here in our hearts and minds and we can go on continuing each day for him since he can't be here. RIP J.
Ugh, I miss multicultural so much!
Now I see people in the hall I met that weekend and say hi. It feels so good knowing that it worked! Whenever I see my multicultural loves it feels like we both get this smile like.. I dunno, like we have this connection. Haha, maybe this sounds so stupid. But... I'm so happy to have these people in my life now. Some are closer than others. For example, I think Rocky [who I NEVER used to talk to] and I are hanging out soon haha.
I will NEVER forget multicultural retreat. It changed my life, opened my eyes and my heart. I'm so thankful to have been chosen to go and wouldn't give that experience up for anything.
When I got home I had to work RIGHT away. My mommy came in to get food and give me a hug [WHICH NEVER HAPPENS].
Then I went to the office to see my boys and Amie [who i've gotten a lot closer to]. It was so cute and nice knowing they missed me :] I MISSED THEM SO MUCH. Later Kurtis and I watched Transformers [amazing movie and our fav] and we had a good in depth talk. Then NIKKI'S! I missed that food!
THEENN... :]
MY CARISSA! We went to Ted's NIIICE house and room!
We got SO much food! atleast i did hha. I got a hamburger, fries, two tacos and nachos! I was sooo hungry from MCR hahahaha.
It was so nice to catch up with my pink shoe and kick back with a girls night.
Even though i was gone for three days it feels like so much longer. it really made me appreciate home and school and friends more :] and even work... a little haha.
THANK YOU MCR!!!
I <3 YOU SKI BUMS!!!
The night before I was getting so nervous, wondering what to expect. I said my goodbyes to the boys and the loft the night before I left.
Bright and early Thursday morning I finished packing up all my things and met up with the group. I was so happy to see atleast some people I knew and felt comfortable with.
I had doubts about multicultural:
could people really open up?
Would the friendships really stick?
Could we really get so deep in just three days?
WELL.
THURSDAY-
we got there, did this huge name game so we could figure out who everyone was exactly. We did this for a good thirty minutes to finally feel we knew eachother atleast on a first name basis. We did an activity where we had a one on one conversation with everyone for like 5 minutes, then got our "oooh baby" who pretty much is like a partner. We told them our goals for the trip and had to be there for eachother to make sure that happend.
"My goal is to come out of this with a greater respect of others and myself. To open up and have open arms to others. To say goodbye to old friends and make new ones here." I said.
We ate lunch, did activities then got in "small groups". The groups were made up of 10 people. We met up I think 5 times overall for 90 minutes. We had to bring up a topic we all agreed on, sit in a circle and talk about it.
Jake Safaren, Ryan Best, Kaelin Roberts, Maddie Jinkins, Anna V, Rhema, Eboni, CJ, Nathali, Paul Vanerman and Amy Voigt.
These people impacted my life greatly... some people I admitt I had previous judgments about. Some I didn't think would be accepting, I never met, talked to, etc. But after all the time we've spent together, after how open we were able to be, I honestly can call them a friend now.
In the first night alone I found myself opening up SO much. I can't really say what we talked about, but I felt I could just let it all out. I cried atleast twice in that conversation. I learned so much about people and myself.
We ALL go through some rough stuff. Even if someone looks happy and like things are okay, it's easy to put on a fake face.. people are the way they are for a deeper reason and we shouldn't judge them based on a bad first impression. We should get to know them before judging.
We ate dinner then played a lot of weird silly fun games to help get to know eachother, see how people live, etc. Then another group talk. The electicity went out so we ate dinner by candle light haha. It was so much fun! We played BS and charades.
Small group talk was goooood. Then we had free time to do whatever.
FRIDAY-
breakfast,
small group,
big group activities,
lunch,
then a THREE HOUR small group talk! it was soooo intense haha!
then we did this thing where you are all inside one big rope w/ your small group. we were on our way to a barn and they asked us random fun questions, like "if your house was on fire whats one thing you would save?" and somone had to rate the question on how good it was from 1-100. based on what they said judged on how many steps we could take to get to the barn so we had loootss of fun questions that really told a lot about people.
After our last talk that night I felt like... I learned more about myself, how others see me, etc. I cried AGAIN that night because I see myself a lot lower than others do lol. I was viewed as somewhat a quiet person so after group talk I tried being more outgoing which worked well.
then we had this activity that really touched us all i think...
it started with a ball of string.. we passed it around to one person who really touched us throughout the trip. we thew the ball around and held on to a peice so it looked like one huge cat's cradel. it was so beautiful and it was nice to see how people who never even knew eachother before effected others.
THEN BONFIRE!
It was so much fun! I got close to people I never used to talk to, sung, danced, got close to TEACHERS, did the jiggalo! SOOOO MUCH FUN by the way! We all sung songs we love, like Postal Service :] It was great to just all be together... and celebrate. To forget about the bad, the hardships, work, stress and just be so close together around a campfire, reflecting on this amazing once in a life time experience.
We all shared a lot of laughs in the cabin before finally passing out. Then it was morning and we had to say goodbye.
We had our last breakfast, our last group talk... it was SO emotional saying goodbye to the small group. Well, i shouldn't say saying goodbye, but saying thank you. Like I said, I can't really say what we talked about but... it was SO moving, inspirational and made me that much more thankful for this experience. I will NEVER be able to forget it. I feel so much more confident and happy with this experience in my life. We had our last big group activity and talk which got emotional also. Leaving brought a lot of tears... and hugs. Getting on the bus saying goodbye was soo hard. I'll never forget what I learned there.
There was a moment in the small group talk when someone brought up J.J... but it wasn't a sad talk. We laughed about silly things he used to do, remembered our last days seeing him, laughed and smiled. The amazing thing is that we ALL smiled. It wasn't sad. It was more like we knew he was in a better place, looking down on us right on that moment... and for once it felt like he wasn't gone. A realization hit that he's still here in our hearts and minds and we can go on continuing each day for him since he can't be here. RIP J.
Ugh, I miss multicultural so much!
Now I see people in the hall I met that weekend and say hi. It feels so good knowing that it worked! Whenever I see my multicultural loves it feels like we both get this smile like.. I dunno, like we have this connection. Haha, maybe this sounds so stupid. But... I'm so happy to have these people in my life now. Some are closer than others. For example, I think Rocky [who I NEVER used to talk to] and I are hanging out soon haha.
I will NEVER forget multicultural retreat. It changed my life, opened my eyes and my heart. I'm so thankful to have been chosen to go and wouldn't give that experience up for anything.
When I got home I had to work RIGHT away. My mommy came in to get food and give me a hug [WHICH NEVER HAPPENS].
Then I went to the office to see my boys and Amie [who i've gotten a lot closer to]. It was so cute and nice knowing they missed me :] I MISSED THEM SO MUCH. Later Kurtis and I watched Transformers [amazing movie and our fav] and we had a good in depth talk. Then NIKKI'S! I missed that food!
THEENN... :]
MY CARISSA! We went to Ted's NIIICE house and room!
We got SO much food! atleast i did hha. I got a hamburger, fries, two tacos and nachos! I was sooo hungry from MCR hahahaha.
It was so nice to catch up with my pink shoe and kick back with a girls night.
Even though i was gone for three days it feels like so much longer. it really made me appreciate home and school and friends more :] and even work... a little haha.
THANK YOU MCR!!!
I <3 YOU SKI BUMS!!!