Trip preparation and cold swimming

The day began smooth with a visit to the village to buy food for our coming 2-day camping trip. Good food! Hotdogs, ham, cheese, Nutella, peanut butter and to drink, water. Yummy... After that, everyone had to share in carrying the shopping bags up the hill back to the residence dorms.
After lunch we were taken by bus to a place near Logger's Lake, but naturally we didn't take the easy way. We went hiking on a trail, up and down the woods, over a bouncy wooden bridge, down a dirt road and back on a trail until we finally got to the beautiful site. The water, that was meant to be a lot warmer than the other lake we'd been to, was around 12o C. At first there were few volunteers to enter the water, but Stéfano got others psyched up and at the end Lucas and Rafael joined in the fun. You can imagine only boys tried it out, girls just watched and enjoyed a bit of sunbathing. It was funny to wathch them all screaming as they swam or jumped in the water with a rope swing. On our way back, we took the easier way by the road to get to the bus in time.
Back to the dorms, we had some short time to ease off before dinner. Right now the kids are out on a scavenger hunt shooting photos of themselves, which they later will have to present to the counselors. I hear great cheering downstairs, so they should be having good fun.
Tomorrow our group splits in 2 so we can make our camping trips safely. My group will be going to Vancouver for the day and the other will be going on their camping trip to Cat Lake. I can still communicate with you tomorrow, but don't expect another post on Friday and Saturday, when I'll be out camping. Still, don't worry, I'll be back with great news.
See you then and wish us good fun,

Lia

And the real stuff begins...

When we thought we were just doing great walking to the lake, looking at bears or visiting the village for some shopping, well...the real adventure began today. Real stuff!
We started out rock climbing at a high rock wall about 15 minutes away from here by bus. Guess what? 100% of the girls tried it out and showed how strong and skilled they are. Boys also did great and managed to get all the way to the top. As for me, there was no time left to try, but I took the photos and did the good cheering back on the ground. I'll post them soon, it's just been so busy and I've been struggling with time and tiredness at night. But I promise to do it asap.
After lunch we started what we could never dream would be coming. We went up this really steep and high mountain with no trail until we could find snow. In other words, we practically reached the top. It was exhausting for us all and demanded more than just good will. We had to overcome bad thoughts, muscle pain, breathlessness and that irresistable desire to just stop and go back. Well, it was all worth it. Every time we stopped to rest, we would look back and see this ridge of snow mountains in the back and this grassy slope we had just climbed. A heavenly view! And when we finally hit the snow, it was time for snow ball fights and "skibunda" or tobogany down the snow with plastic bags or just your plain bottom. Great fun!
And when we thought we would go down headed home, we toook a left way and ended up at the ski lifts and why not, got a ride dwon on the lift with this undescribable view to look at, including a bear cub!
Now it's dinner and village, if we still have legs to go down and then up, up, up again.
I read your happy comments and will share them with the kids, now that I managed to install internet in my computer. Keep tuned for the photos I'll post most probably tonight.
Lia

Trip and arrival!

Hello, dear parents and friends,

Our trip was a bit long, as expected, but absolutely smooth in regard to airport, immigration, security, gates, terminal and everything that comes with traveling by plane. My buddies are just what I thought they would be: "descolados" and wired on everything that's around them. So, it was more me following them than the other way around. You should see these people going through Customs alone and very calmly talking to the officer, and some even getting these serious workers to smile or laugh at a funny remark. I must tell you, the only nervous moments I had were left in Guarulhos, because the rest was just smooth sailing.
We arrived in Whistler around 5 pm and went to the dorms to get settled in. At 6 pm we had dinner (that`s dinner time everyday), and after that we were taken by bus to a training field to play some games and integrate. We were really tired from the trip and all, but we had a great time.
OUR FIRST DAY!
We had breakfast and went hiking at Lost Lake, the most beautiful scenario, with this fantastic shiny lake and the snowy mountains in the back. Awesome view!
After lunch, we had to train for camping and put up our tents, got our backpacks prepared and that was it. I must say we were pretty fast with the tents; I'd say we're pretty skilled in that area. Girls were the best!
In the afternoon we went to the village, which kids had been dreaming about doing. And of course they bought all this junk food to eat back at the dorms. Rafael and his gang are cooking some pasta and hamburgers tonight. They say they want to eat again after 10 pm. Ricardo finally bought his Gold Fish snack he`d been endlessly been talking about. And the girls got make up and all, you know, although we`re doing adventure, looking pretty is absolutely essential.
Right now we`re at a school playing ball in the gym and writing emails. Everyone very active and every time more integrated with our Adventure Group - The Explorers.
I must go now but will try to get my computer hooked to internet soon and upload the pictures taken up to the moment.
I can only say it`s been amazing and from what I hear, the fun has jsut begun, so stay tuned!
Lia

A Hora do Embarque

Apesar das filas enormes, todos estavam dentro do avião ontem às 22:40. Boa viagem à todos! Será uma experiência inesquecível!

New beginnings!

And here starts an exciting journey for our senior students at See-Saw Panamby Bilingual School, just 3 days prior to our graduation trip to Whistler/Vancouver, Canada. I am their counselor, English teacher and from now on their safe shoulder in the 3 weeks to come. I’d like everyone to share in their impressions in this space, and that means the students themselves, their parents, people back at school, people who are on vacation, ex-dear-students and everyone who feels like taking part in our adventure.

As for me, I have butterflies in my stomach and can’t wait to be on board with my great 10: Lucas, Isabella, Victória, Guilherme, Mariana, Felipe, Rafael, Camila, Stéfano and Ricardo. With me that makes 11 and this is the year 2011. I guess luck’s blowing our way…

Lia Armelin