I Have to go to Class on the Weekend... Sort of.

Before we commence this week I wish to assure everybody, but mostly my parents, that despite my many ventures I am still in school. Mom, Dad. This is not just a year of random travelling and using Europe as a playground, I assure you I am learning so much and working very hard. I feel as if I have never been this busy. I had to get special permission to take an additional two credits here so that I can get the most out of my experience and have been doing additional work in order to learn the most from this year abroad.

Now. Enough of that nonsense, less talk more play.

This past week consisted of a few tests (I told you I still had school) which I believe I did fairly well on. After all its not incredibly difficult to do well when you can't do anything, at least that involves talking, without it reinforcing your studying. There are definitely benefits to that aspect of french immersion. This last Friday, the 11th of November, was Armistice day. And, yes, this meant a day off of school. Somewhat. My ESM (studies of mountain sports) class ended up having a class activity for this weekend though. Technically this means I was in class but I'll let you decide. This weekend retreat meant that we were to head out into the wilderness behind our school and pretty much walk in the woods finding clues to different points and rendez-vous. Having done things like this before, because I was raised right (thanks Dad), it wasn't as difficult as it could have been. All the directions and puzzles were in french though. Fortunately I had two other team mates who were fluent and definitely knew what they were doing. After multiple puzzles and clues we came to the place we were to rest for the night. It was magnificent. We stayed atop a mountain where the summit pushed through the thick layer of clouds that had been covering Collonges for the past week or more. It was beautiful, the only way to describe it was a sea of clouds with mountain tops for islands, truly amazing. Saturday involved more hiking and a good repel off the side of the mountain, using some knots and forms we had learned in previous classes. It was still absolutely beautiful outside and that made it all the more enjoyable. We spent another night camping out on the top of the mountain, where I will admit it was quite cold but definitely not worth complaining about. Sunday involved an early rise and a quick hike down where I spent the rest of the afternoon doing the mass of homework that was intended for our "long weekend".

All in all it was definitely a good weekend and I don't know that I can even convince myself to consider it as "class" but no matter I probably learned more french in those two days then I did all week. Say what you will but high schoolers are good teachers.

Well that'll be all for now. Keep reading and commenting. Next week comes some stories about what I'm sure is going to be an amazing trip to Austria with my volley-ball team!