ACS Day 2

By: Liana Safa and Celine El Hert

After an exhilarating ten hour flight we had finally landed in Sri Lanka; a beautiful and tropical wonderland. In Borderlands, we learn to work as a team, remain open minded, and to embrace the obstacles as they come. When we first arrived to Sri Lanka we were definitely struck by the heat wave that we did not exactly anticipate upon our arrival. Once we finally reached the camp site, after long lasting hours in the bus, we were extremely thankful that we were able to swim in the freezing cold river and to be able to spend some quality time with each other. As we felt the cold rush of water flowing between us, we finally realized that the true adventure had begun.

After finally regaining our energy, we were excited for what was to come. After a delicious and filling meal we participated in some ice breakers in order to really connect with each other. After spending around half an hour trying to figure out how to place a stick on the ground, we were given our room assignments. With only a few hours of sleep due to multiple insects (Editor’s Note: All insect were harmless) we had encountered our activities began. At exactly seven in the morning we were up and ready on our morning hike and stretches. With such humid weather a cool swim in the river was essential, and after basking in the sun for half an hour we had a healthy breakfast. 

Canyoning was the next activity on our agenda, and it was an unforgettable experience. Canyoning was the best experience we have ever had as a class and it created a special bond between us; we learnt to support each other, we learnt to trust our fellow classmates and peers, and we learnt to overcome our obstacles. All 46 of us went down the canyon, and all 46 of us put aside our fears and worked together. 

After an unbelievable few hours on the canyon, rafting was our next stop. This was not your typical rafting trip, the challenge here was to actually build our very own rafts that would take us across the river. With only 30 minutes to build a raft using inner tubes, wooden planks, and rope we began building. Once every single raft was in the river the racing wars began. As each team struggled to reach the finish line we were able to arrive to the riverbank safely. 

“Adventure is worthwhile in itself.” (Amelia Earhart). This quote hung on the wall in the lounge area at Borderlands. Here at Borderlands, respect, responsibility, and adventure are embraced. We are encouraged to try to things and to embrace nature as a whole.  The general principal here at Borderlands is to take the test first then learn from our experiences. With approximately three and a half days left Sri Lanka has truly began to altering the way we think and the way we perceive life for the better.