Throughout this trip I got to know my fellow classmates better than I would have in school. This trip brought out a side of you that you wouldn't show in school because you are in the real world doing dangerous things. This helped you build up your confidence and it also helped to build teamwork because we were helping out the people you didn't feel like they could get something done and motivating them.
For me, this trip helped me to build my leadership skills, because I was the go to guy for the guides when they wanted the whole group to listen up. This is because I proved myself as the loudest person in the whole group when we were on the river rafting. I would yell "row" when we needed to row and so that we would all stay in unison so we would get the maximum out of our strokes.
This trip also helped me to build up my confidence. My confidence was tested when we went abseiling (repelling) down a waterfall. This is because of I have been scared of heights for as long as I remember. I could not show my fear in front of my peers, so I manned up and went down the waterfall with out any hesitation. It worked out really well and I learned that I can do anything if I believe in myself.
On our last day there, we participated in a service event. My group and I went to go and talk to the tea pickers at one of the tea plantations nearby. We learned that life there is really hard for them in that they do not get paid a lot of money. They get paid based on how much crop they can grow and sell. The manager told us that they don't get a lot of rain which makes it harder for them to grow the crops. But he did say that he loves his job and the environment that he lives in.
If I had a chance to go back and relive this experience over and over again, I wouldn't hesitate to do so! This trip was one of the most fun trips I have ever been on. I learned a lot about myself that I was not so sure I about before and I also learned a lot about my fellow classmates and teachers. This trip created a bond between us that will never be broken!
