Geog Camp

If you noticed, this entry for last week is late. I usually post them during the weekends. The reason behind it was we had a camp for my Geog 1 class for the whole weekend.

It was my first time to go to a place farther than Manila. My family and I just go to different parts of Visayas and Mindanao for vacations and outings. We have never reached places beyond Metro Manila and San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. So I was very excited despite the fact that my family is not with me. I really tried to be awake for the whole trip going there to observe the places we will pass. Fortunately, I was wide-awake. Before, I just sleep during travels since I easily felt dizzy especially when passing zigzag roads. But as I grew up, this feeling slowly vanished.

I don't intend to offend but honestly the roads, except highways, going there are small just like most roads in Visayas. Most of the two-lane roads looked liked one lane in Mindanao. I really think that this is because of the substandard construction due to the low budget of the government. I have said this since the Americans and the Koreans constructed most of the roads in Mindanao. This is really one of the things I want to observe during travels.

I was shocked of how far the camp location from the highway. It is part of a community but the community is small and very rural. There are no stores around. The phone signal is very rare. Good thing, our teacher already informed us about it so I didn't bother to bring my laptop with me. The place was so secluded that we were motivated to do the activities.

By the time we reached there, we were only given a time to fix our bags and take a lunch. After that, the activities immediately began. Knowing that we have many athletic classmates, we were very confident in physical activities. We were right. We almost won every activity that needs manpower. But when we had the activity that required vast knowledge in geography, we were losers. We did not expect how intelligent the other teams are. We got the last place in all those games. We really felt disappointed.

Despite having the feeling of losing, we still tried to do our best in the class presentation. For the first time, I really felt that we are united. This is because before the camp, we almost don't know the names of each other. I feel that every time I attend our class, my group mates and some course mates are the only people who know that I am in the class. Even landing on the second place, since the two other teams tied, at least we got the first place in the class presentation. It was a very good opportunity to know our classmates more.

In this camp, I experienced many firsts - like I said earlier, going to Northern Luzon; riding an ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle); watching a paintball fight; playing airsoft; doing and obstacle course; and many more. I really did not expect that I will achieve (yes, achieve) all of these this early. But I think it was better when I am with my family.

This really proves that having bonding moments will be a way for acquaintances to be friends. This will give them memories that they will remember. This is a chance for people to know more about the people around them. This will encourage unity that they never thought possible. This is a way to just enjoy the company of others.

I really love this kind of activity. It helps me to explore the country . It is a chance to discover things that I can suggest to anyone. I do hope that I will experience more activities like this.