Highlander Adventure: Day 3

We ran again this morning, which was depressing only because it means that we're probably going to have to run every morning. On the other hand, I felt like it was a little easier this time, so that was good. There are three groups of runners: cheetah (fast), llama (average), and dufflepud (slow and/or Narnian). I've been running with the llamas and doing all right. Zac encouraged me to join the cheetah group, but I didn't. I know my limits, and while I someday might be able to handle the cheetahs, I'm not there yet. I hope to do it at least once by the end of the week, and I'm sure I will.

Anyways, running with the llamas today meant that I got to run with Rob, Katie, Mel, Morgan, and Caitlin, which was nice. We then broke into groups to do various service projects. My group cleared debris from under a building. There was stuff from like the past 4 decades in there. Next, we canoed around Star Lake, which was just beautiful. After dinner, we played "Capture the Nalgene", a variation on Capture the Flag. My team won the first game. After that, the group leaders wanted to take on all the Highlanders. There were 49 of us and 12 of them, and we got slaughtered. It was amazing.

In terms of journaling, I could use some improvement. I keep falling behind and procrastinating, as Mel jokingly reminds me so often. I'm also just summing up what we did each day, and I know we need more. I'm going to try and be deeper and more introspective in the future.

Highlander Adventure: Day 2

I slept terribly last night. I was pillowless, hot, and crammed in a tent with three other guys, all of which I met for the first time yesterday afternoon. Jay accidentally rolled over into my spot and Rob wouldn't stop snoring. And when we woke up, we all had to run a mile! It sucked hardcore, but both last night and this morning were challenging, which is one of the reasons I'm here, so I won't complain (much). This morning, Mel and I did "Dangle Duos" on the ropes course. It was hard, but we made it to the top! After the whole Highlander group climbed a tall Findley-esque wall, we ate lunch, packed up camp, and hiked back to the campus where we got in a bus and were assigned partners. Ironically, mine was Mel. We spent the 6 hour bus ride filling out questions that involved us talking about different aspects of our lives. At first it was awkward, because we had only known each other for one day, but we both really opened up. From my end, I know it helped that she didn't know me beforehand and didn't have any biased feelings or expectations or anything like my friends from school who knew me and my personality. It was like a clean slate. After a much-welcome stop at McDonalds, we arrived at Star Lake, set up camp, and wrote a contract of goals and expectations for Gold Group. Then we went to bed. I slept a lot better this time.

Highlander Adventure: Day 1

Hey everyone!

Well, right now it's Orientation Day, and I've got a little bit of time until I have to go to the chapel for a dedication service. Adam is all moved in and is currently situating his side of the room. I got back from Highlander last night at about 10:00. It was a really good experience in which 50 incoming freshmen hiked and canoed through the Adirondacks. We were broken up into 6 small groups, with whom we did all the activities and camping. My group was Gold Group, and there were 9 of us. One thing that they had us do was write a daily journal entry where we had to sum up what we did each day and how we felt, so I'm going to post one of those entries each day for the next few days. That way you'll have a day to day picture of what it was like. If you've got any questions that I don't answer in the entries, feel free to ask them in a comment, and I'll post back when I can. I'll also have pictures up as soon as I get them developed.Take care, and God bless!

Dan


Highlander Adventure: Day 1

Today was the first day of Highlander. I'm really nervous, but excited too. My small group seems really nice. Our leaders are Zac and Bethany. After saying goodbye to Mom and Dad, we all had lunch outside Shenawana Hall. Then we hiked past the soccer field through these trails way back in the woods until we reached a high ropes course. We did a bunch of challenging activities, such as the Magic Carpet game from Camp Findley and this "poison yogurt" game. After tacos for dinner, the whole group played two big games together. Then Gold Group had a campfire and went to bed.

Hey, this is Dan. Next week I'm headed off to Houghton, starting with 10 days in the Adirondacks, and this spring I'm going to London. I really want to keep in touch with you guys, so I made this blog to make that easier. Hopefully I'll be good about updating this about once a week while I'm gone. I can even post pictures and videos, so you guys will be able to see my dorm room, the campus, and London. I also might post a few entries from my personal journal if I think they're any good. Keep checking back every now and then for updates, starting late August/early September.

This past week has been really crazy. In addition to several doctor appointments, cleaning my room and packing up to leave, I've been seeing a lot of my family and friends one last time before I take off. I've seen Andy, Jenny, their kids, Emily, Grammy and Grandpa, Aunt Jayne, Christina, Hayden, Carrie, the Delongs, Shawn, and Leah, Erin, Alex, and Joe. To everyone else that I don't get to see before I leave, I love you and miss you and will visit when I come home. Until then, keep checking this blog! Bye!