Looking forward to a new day of activities, group 2 began their journey with an hour long bus ride to the location of their first activity. This included intense activities, such as biking and kayaking, as well as a more subdued evening arts & crafts class.

Most people were excited to get back on two wheels, since they haven’t had the chance to bike in a while. On the other hand, some students were nervous yet eager to face the challenge of riding a bike, something that they have not done before. Though, this experience of biking was different to what most students have done before, as this trail required the use of a mountain bike, as it was riding through different terrains, from concrete roads to dirt roads to rice fields. The leader showed the group how to use the mountain bike, which was challenging for them in the beginning, as there were a lot of gear changes that students have not used in the past. Luckily in the end, everyone was able to join in for the hour or two bike ride. While riding, the scenery was extremely beautiful and a great experience for the kids.

While biking exercised the lower body, kayaking exercised the upper body. This was a nerve-wracking experience for some, but all overcame their doubts and fears, able to participate with the rest of the group in riding the kayaks. It started off with an introduction to the basics of turning, paddling, and creating a “raft” with the boats. This “raft” activity created a sense of bond and teamwork, as it took these traits to not let anyone flip off their boat or drift away. Then, there were plenty of games, both on and off the kayaks; these consisted of swimming around the kayaks, tipping people off their kayaks, splashing each other, and most importantly, having fun.

The day ended with a light activity, and this happened to be arts and craft, which was on campus. After having dinner, group two headed down to the arts classroom and watched in amazement as our mentor demonstrated the technique and steps to completing our umbrella masterpieces. Using pots of slightly diluted acrylic paint, paintbrushes, and paper umbrellas, students were able to express their creative side by painting to their heart’s desire on their respective umbrella. After that, they learned how to make accessories using string and multiple variations of beads. The students made distinct embellishments of their own, like bracelets, necklaces, anklets, and rings.

Overall, the day was extremely energy-packed fun that left everyone joyful, tired, and enthusiastic for tomorrow.

Written by: Dylan Mckee, Eunice Cordeiro Hoi & Eliana Joaquim Ho