AOC Diploma Week

AOC- Monday: My group did the Ropes Course in the morning. This involved going up the Jacob’s ladder, which I did with one of the AOC summer instructors named Andrew from University of Victoria and Proma. We worked quite well because up until about half way I was able to use my long legs. From there we used each other’s thighs, heads, arms… anything to get to the top


Then we went up a wobbling pole one by one and did the leap of faith. Very adrenaline-inducing, my hands were still shaking the whole way through lunch. The afternoon we did a canoeing session in the outdoor pool, all games we already knew but were fun to do in the water as it wasn’t too cold yet. The Head-Shoulders-Knees and Toes, while standing on the kayaks while all the Surf Lifeguards watched us was the most memorable: I promised that one day I’d teach them how to be on my level.


Yesterday evening we went to good ole Marcross. There were about 20 of us and we all sat on a long line of picnic benches outside. I thought it was great.. Especially being able to come back to Morgannwg and have Open House, Norwegian Waffles and Brown Cheese (separately eaten for me). MMM.


This morning we went on a two hour drive to West Wales, West of Swansea to a place that escaped my mind as soon as I heard its name, to go rock climbing. (Checked: Gower Peninsula off of Boiler Slab). Though I never have considered climbing fun- I actually really enjoyed it! It’s much more fun on real rocks than on Climbing Walls. Simon set up three different ropes, each at a different difficulty. After about an hour of me lying in the sun with my eyes closed I did the climbing (on the easiest rope of course). It was very rewarding to get to the top  and abseiling back down was even better. I then got to have a great chat with Anantya, comparing India and Cayman and learning his life story (as I manage to do quite often when I’m given the chance to question someone with no interruptions). Also another great UWC-worthy conversation with Proma about being a ‘UN kid’, living in so many places and the stereotypes that come with the background, schools. We even managed to stop at McDonalds on the way back for Oli so he could have his desperately anticipated McNuggets.


********* Wednesday- Today we went to Pothole-Y-Ogof, supposedly in Glyneath. All these Welsh places sound so bizarre. Anyways it was to go Caving! After kitting up in a swimsuit, rash vest, wetsuit, hoodie, socks, wellies, helmet, flash light and one big one suit to go over the top to look like an Ompa-Loompa we were ready for action. I’d say we were under for about 2 hours. Some things I liked, some not so much. Going through small crevices isn’t scary in the sense of Claustrophobia to me, it’s just so restricting and feeling like a suicidal caterpillar wiggling along just wasn’t cool bro. Oli, Anantya and I stuck together as we had mutual feelings. When we were deep enough in, Simon got us to sit and get comfortable and we turned off all of our lights. Pitch Blackness for the first time. The whole waving the hand in front of your face and seeing naaaaathing. It was bizarre- I kept thinking if I turned my head I’d see the safety sign, or something.