Looking for River Teeth

At a late night Wednesday meeting on a sandy beach in B.C.’s Gulf Islands, we asked everyone for an observation or a vivid memory from the trip thus far. The responses were moving and often rather extended. Following are one scribe’s attempts at meaningful excerpts….

Jenny: First everyone did their own job – now everyone pitches in like a family.

Luke: In such close quarters for such a long time our “friend face” breaks down and we behave toward each other more like a family.

Sam: Sailing for the first time as a team with little supervision, showing Mrs. Powers what we could do.

Hope: Sailing itself – that the focus is a lot on the journey and not just the destination.

Becca: Lots of things – learning to laugh at ourselves – taking control of the boat as a team – being excited about something, as a group.

Lauren: Everyday there’s something new that I learn about myself, or a question I discover that I never knew I had. More than anything I think this is about learning how to work as a group while learning about yourself.

Kristen: Waking up before everyone else because it gets bright so early – the prettiest and calmest part of the day. Knowing that anything could happen that day.

Mr. Cole: Sharing my sense of place with you – the emotions that that brings up. The significance of this place to me and of being able to show it to you.

Michael: Falling in love with the sailing experience – the excitement of it. At the same time learning to slow down and reflect during our down time – having this time away from the rush of the everyday.

Rod: Sitting together at the end of the day and talking about the great events and the bad events. Laughing about all of them and knowing we’ll remember them in a year and still laugh.

Mr. Harris: Witnessing the family feel of the group and getting to feel welcomed into it.

Elisabeth: Learning to trust everyone – being able to put faith in their ability to take care of captaining a boat.

Spencer: Seeing Mr. Cole be so calm in stressful situations.

Adam: Seeing a different side of our teachers – outside of school – and existing as a family.

Grant: The laughter, the singing, and the dancing.

Ms. Pratt (Profe): Seeing my friend Mr. Cole as a teacher for the first time – and getting to know each of you.

Mrs. Powers: Everyone sharing their knowledge with me – and being in this place – the sights and the smells.

Mr. Patteson: The intense curiosity that everyone in this group has – kids and adults – the desire to learn more, to experience more, to soak it all in. Nobody here thinks they are too cool to get excited about moon jellies.