A group of us from the International Student House decided to go on a camping trip. We spent three days camping, hiking and canoeing in West Virginia. But the best part of the trip (thanks to the company’s mistake!) was the rental car we got. Even though it was shortly lived I had my very own Camaro for the weekend.
I was a girl scout for most of my childhood so I grew up fishing and camping but this time it was much different. To begin with we stayed in a beautiful cabin with glass windows all around. We would wake up in the morning to see a family of deers walking outside in the back yard. Something you would only pictured could happen in movies. We had great nights eating dinner as a family, playing board games, telling scary stories and most importantly really got to know one another in a different environment.
On our first day we went hiking and mountain climbing in Shenandoah National Park. We climbed so high that we all believed we had reached the clouds, even thought in reality it was just fog. It was amazing to be able to become one with nature and escape all of our day to day lives and the stress that follows.
On the second day we went cannoning at Blackwater Outdoor Adventures located on the Cheat River near Blackwater Falls and the Canaan Valley, WV. The view of the mountains and trees along side of the sunset was absolutely breath taking and empowering all at the same time. We were soaking wet by the end of the journey as we had stopped to swim in river. Being able to act like a kid again was something we were all longing for.
It is an incredible opportunity to go on an adventure with friends you’ve known for awhile and those that you have just meet. “Have new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other is gold.”, this is an oath all Girl Scouts are taught, and only now do I understand the real meaning behind this saying. It is the friendships I have made and continue to make at the International Student House that teach me every day about respect, cooperation and compassion for one another.
