The last weeks spent in the spirit of learning about myself and the methods of experiential education.
I have had the honour to participate on
the first OBR Staff Expedition organized this year, which was my very first OBR expedition.
It was a long weekend with shopping, days of walking in snow and rain,
getting lost at the night, searching for camping place, sleeping in a tent in
a cold wet weather, cooking oatmeal and lentils, trying out snowshoes, learning how to use the
compass and map, walking with heavy backpacks, seeing bear steps, splitting up and
unexpected meeting, searching for spring, debriefing and finally getting back and having a delicious lunch
and peaceful talk.
After the first night we woke up on a snowy morning.
Coming out from the tent after a cold night with a little sleep I was
just standing and wondering what am I doing here?! I really don’t
like being cold, feeling coldness that got under my skin was far away from my
comfort zone and it nearly paralysed me. Because I was part of the
food team I forced myself and started to make myself useful and we prepared something to eat for the team.
Afterwards continuing our expedition the sun came out and
everything seemed to be pleasing and likeable.
There was an another deep point for me: on the
second day the group split up into two parts according to the path we wished to accomplish. When I choose the shorter and easier route I didn't even
suspected that it will turn into the harder one. It became dark and started to
rain, my backpack felt heavier end heavier. We could only move forward slowly on the
path with slippery leaves, stones and branches. Than we noticed fresh bear
steps in the snow. I didn't wish to met any bear on that path, suddenly
I forgot my backpack and started to go
as quickly as I could and also singing to scare off the bear. After
a few hours of walking we were in the faith that we are near to our goal according
to the map and time, but we realized that we are only on the half road, so we
decided to get down of the ridge and find the asphalt road. We needed to go down on a steep
slope and in the dark we didn't know exactly when and where would we find the
road. Jocó helped me with my backpack which was heavy and wide. It was hard to
move on with that between the trees and bushes. At the beginning I didn't
want to accept help, but after we arranged our backpacks I admitted that it
was much easier and safe to move.
Finally we found the road and in that moment we met with the
others as well. It was a surprising and marvelous moment even if the others
were in the belief that we are already at the camping place cooking the dinner.
The real understanding of those deep experiences appeared
when I get home exhausted but still waiting for the next Training Of Trainers expedition with
new people and tasks. Being in a warm bed I realized how lucky I am: I was
sleeping outdoor just two nights knowing that after those three days I can
return back home. There are many people outside who have to live in this or worst
situation not know when and where does it end or even if it is ever ending.
A few days later the TOT –Training of Trainers began.
It was a memorable 10 day with circles, team building, activities,
tasks, feedbacks, debriefing, expedition, „earthquake“, losting and finding
each other, getting "slanina", rescue , spare food, chocolates from Moldova, ropes course,
belaying, knots, wall climbing, practical part, test, saying goodbye.. :)
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| Circles |
Yes it was long, exhausting sometimes even frustrating but mostly
exciting training with lively moments as well. There was a great group of
young people with various backgrounds, strong personalities, dominant characters. It gave us an opportunity
to learn not just from professional trainers but from each other as well.
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| we are going and going.. |
It was a bigger milestone in my life than
I expected, given me significant experiences. I am happy that I
could learn those things about myself and those details about the outdoor
education. I am looking forward to practic them on the OBR courses.
The highlight of the training for me was the expedition.
I was looking forward to it, but it wasn’t anything I expected. My shoes were breaking my ancle. I started to feel it on the beginning of the expedition, but
I didn't expected that it will become that serious.
On the first
evening it hurt but I hoped that on the next day it will be better.
Unfortunately on the morning I steel felt the pain, but I don’t want let it to stop me and ruin the expedition. During the day it was getting worse and
worse and I tried not to focus on the pain. I got a bandage on
my feet, but it didn't really help and in the afternoon every step became painful, fortunately we were passing on an easy path. In the evening I faced the
fact that a badly steep hill leads to the bears cave - our camping place
for that night. The others seeing how I move decided to take my backpack
and with the help of Eugene I get to the cave. As I could lean on him my
leg didn’t hurt at all and even the path didn’t seem so hard.
On the next morning I couldn't step on my leg and
I realized that I can't get down from that place. The team got
a task and we should go on quickly, so they started to solve the situation
how to get me down from that place. It was obvious that I couldn't make it even if I will
lean on somebody, it would be dangerous for both of us. So the real rescue had
started and I just stood there impotently, incapable while the others
tried to solve the situation. It was a strange, uncomfortable feeling. My
brain was full of thoughts about how to handle this, what would be the best solution.
After all David took me down from that
steep hill on his back and I was carried back to the OB center. I had
a rest and I was wondering, processing the last two day's events. I just couldn't
accept that my condition was so bad that I had to leave the expedition. After having a shower, sleeping
like a baby and in the evening still waiting for the others to come back I admitted that it
was a good choice.
Then with the help of the feedbacks I realized that I could
ask for help and maybe get back on the second evening to the centre, because I was
just injuring myself and it wasn't good for the team as well. During the
expedition it didn't even coming to my mind that I can say no and leave
it. I just want to be with the group, go on and don't give up. Although
this way I couldn't be there effectively.
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| the beginning of the expedition |
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| on the third morning of the expedition |
These powerful experiences of those expeditions and reviewing
the actions I have performed in the past showed me that there are
situations when I can say „no“. If I want to help others firstly I need
to find balance in my life and learn to accept help from others. In addition there
are no bad decisions. Once you make a choice
according to the circumstances you are at the moment. Later you should face all the consequences knowing
that it was the best choice in that situation.
The next step of my journey is to not forget what I have learnt and practice it in my future life .
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