The day got off to a start under a grey sky—doubt and apprehension were in the air. The unknown and uncertain lay in wait.
First, the grey hit the parents who were dropping off their kids, their eyes tearing over at the thought of letting someone so close to them go. Then, a bit of grey hit the teens being dropped off, full of inner questions in the face of the unknown before them.
Then, we headed off on our budding adventure. We stopped at St-Hubert in Gatineau to fill our bellies with energy before the afternoon ahead of us. Everyone was just starting to get to know each other. Taking the risk to approach one another, slowly open up to one another, showing they could be both curious and vulnerable at the same time. And then came a windy road and DJ Loïs laying down some 90’s beats!
After about three hours on the road, we finally arrived at Camp Air-Eau-Bois at the Poisson Blanc reservoir. The day, still grey and foggy, seemed more welcoming all of a sudden. Birds singing freely in the sky, leaves rustling in the wind, water as far as the eye could see . . . A feeling of calm and soothing came over us.
The name ball game succeeded in breaking the ice that still kept us apart. We threw a ball around introducing ourselves and answering a question that would help the others get to know us better.
Then came the first mini canoe trip of the expedition. Full of courage, we headed out to brave the grey and the fog and practise our strokes. We went all the way to an island, paddled around it, and then headed back to our point of departure. We were so proud of ourselves on this first leg of the journey . . . until we had a look at the actual distance we travelled on a map. Our trip seemed much shorter on a large-scale map! What a great lesson about relativity. Everything is relative after all, and it’s our outlook that determines our way of seeing things. Despite everything, I chose to remain proud of our feat!
As luck would have it, despite Mother Nature’s forecast for “grey, grey, foggy, rainy” weather, it didn’t rain at all! We took a moment of silence on the lake to contemplate and appreciate Nature’s grandeur and beauty. How soothing it was to smell the budding spring, to feel the wind on our skin, to hear the sound of the waves gently rocking us. The grey fog around us was suddenly soothing and mystically charming.
As the day got on, personalities naturally started to emerge. I’d already gotten a glimpse of Ludovik’s courage, Mohamed Reda’s polite and chivalrous nature (he opened doors for us!), Loïs’s natural communication skills (poising him to be a leader of positivity in the group), and David’s patience and perseverance, which would also no doubt have a positive effect on the group. Our journey’s but begun and I can’t wait to see what this adventure will bring out in the fabulous personalities that make up this group.
Another touching moment: As Ludovik told me how hard it was for him to not know what time it is (they don’t have access to their cellphones during the trip) and to break from his routine, Loïs responded by saying it was a great way to live fully in the present moment. It’ll be interesting to see to what extent the notion of time is different in an environment where we’re not in a hurry and don’t have any responsibilities, other than cultivating happiness and sheer joy. Losing our bearings, which is integral to the adventure, is the luxury this expedition has to offer to us.
As a wise founding adventurer of the Foundation once said: “Nature brings out the good and the beauty in people.” It’s already quite clear that Nature is making the smiles contagious.
With these sweet words, I hope to have succeeded in sharing a few images of this simple paradise we’re in, where fun and joy reign.
See you tomorrow, dear readers!
Amélie-Ann, Smile-maker
