Just back from four days in an idyllic setting; much the wiser for the experience. Our school decided to send all the students from grades 8 - 12, along with 23 staff, to a resort in order to bond at the beginning of the year. The Malibu resort: http://sites.younglife.org/camps/MalibuClub (sorry if link doesn't work) is located along the coast of BC between Jervis Inlet and Princess Louisa Inlet. It's a destination for sailors around the world, both for its beauty and for the challenge of timing the tricky passage through the rapids.
We took a 45 minute ferry ride from Horsehoe Bay to Langdale, where we boarded buses which took us to Egmont (about an hour and a half ride). There we got on a boat, the Malibu Princess sent from the resort, for a three hour cruise to our destination. Just before our arrival, we were greeted by small boats towing water skiers and wake-boarders and a demonstration of a couple of their staff zip-lining into the ocean.
Most of our staff had been assigned to groups of students and given a colour to identify with. Over the course of four days, the teams participated in scavenger hunts, went on a night-time obstacle course, performed in a talent show and generally engaged in as many water-oriented activities as possible. Meals were eaten together and bedtime was late each evening. The weather cooperated beautifully - there was only one evening of drizzle, and no one seemed to mind as it was the last night and most of the group was in the pool, clothes and all!
The next morning when we left, there was a cacophony of coughs, sneezes and hoarse voices signaling colds coming on. I guess bopping around with a hundred others in a warm pool late at night is not too conducive to good health.
Assigned to be a part of the "work staff" I absorbed the news in a somewhat dilute manner and concentrated on all the benefits of Malibu that had been touted over the last year. I have to say that I have a new respect for dining staff in large restaurants. I learned how a kitchen works and how to respect the flow of tasks even though they made little sense to me in the beginning. By the last day, I feel that I, and the staff that worked those shifts with me, was quite qualified in the myriad duties required to run meals at a camp. My arms are definitely stronger and my legs and feet are recovering from long hours standing and waiting. I recently discovered that I have had plantar facsiitis for the last several months, which of course was further aggravated by all the walking and standing. To add to the drama, one of the staff in our cabin of twelve, woke up on the second morning with what she thought was hives. Because we had worn fake moustaches as a costume the first night, she thought that maybe she was allergic to the masking tape we used to attach them. If only that were the case...
During our (precious little) free time on the third day, the members of our cabin were all summoned back to meet with a woman who broke the news to us that our cabin had evidence of bed bugs, and for the next two hours we were burdened with the procedures that it entailed. We had to bag all our belongings in plastic bags, put all our clothes through the dryer at high temperature and move to a new room, without contaminating it. As it turned out, we needn't have worried, as the next morning several of the ladies had been bitten anew. Probably the whole building was infested!!
Back on home ground we all had to ensure that we didn't transmit anything to our own abodes. What a hassle. Apparently the issue of bedbugs is an epidemic; they are found in five-star hotels and on buses.Check this out for more information:http://pestcontrolcanada.com/INSECTS/bedbugs.htm
Anyway, its back to the usual routine on Monday, so hopefully I'll manage to make it to the next break at Thanksgiving without any more untoward occurrences!!
Most of our staff had been assigned to groups of students and given a colour to identify with. Over the course of four days, the teams participated in scavenger hunts, went on a night-time obstacle course, performed in a talent show and generally engaged in as many water-oriented activities as possible. Meals were eaten together and bedtime was late each evening. The weather cooperated beautifully - there was only one evening of drizzle, and no one seemed to mind as it was the last night and most of the group was in the pool, clothes and all!
The next morning when we left, there was a cacophony of coughs, sneezes and hoarse voices signaling colds coming on. I guess bopping around with a hundred others in a warm pool late at night is not too conducive to good health.
Assigned to be a part of the "work staff" I absorbed the news in a somewhat dilute manner and concentrated on all the benefits of Malibu that had been touted over the last year. I have to say that I have a new respect for dining staff in large restaurants. I learned how a kitchen works and how to respect the flow of tasks even though they made little sense to me in the beginning. By the last day, I feel that I, and the staff that worked those shifts with me, was quite qualified in the myriad duties required to run meals at a camp. My arms are definitely stronger and my legs and feet are recovering from long hours standing and waiting. I recently discovered that I have had plantar facsiitis for the last several months, which of course was further aggravated by all the walking and standing. To add to the drama, one of the staff in our cabin of twelve, woke up on the second morning with what she thought was hives. Because we had worn fake moustaches as a costume the first night, she thought that maybe she was allergic to the masking tape we used to attach them. If only that were the case...
During our (precious little) free time on the third day, the members of our cabin were all summoned back to meet with a woman who broke the news to us that our cabin had evidence of bed bugs, and for the next two hours we were burdened with the procedures that it entailed. We had to bag all our belongings in plastic bags, put all our clothes through the dryer at high temperature and move to a new room, without contaminating it. As it turned out, we needn't have worried, as the next morning several of the ladies had been bitten anew. Probably the whole building was infested!!
Back on home ground we all had to ensure that we didn't transmit anything to our own abodes. What a hassle. Apparently the issue of bedbugs is an epidemic; they are found in five-star hotels and on buses.Check this out for more information:http://pestcontrolcanada.com/INSECTS/bedbugs.htm
Anyway, its back to the usual routine on Monday, so hopefully I'll manage to make it to the next break at Thanksgiving without any more untoward occurrences!!
Wow, what an experience! Recovery indeed:) It sounds like a remote and beautiful spot. I was bitten by bedbugs in Belgium once. Not fun. Yes, they are everywhere these days, very tenacious beasts.
ReplyDeletePlantar Fascitis is so painful. You'll need some orthotics or special shoes with arch support to help that.
I was wondering what you were up to.