12th of April to the 18th of April 2009
CAS element: Action
Time: 21 hours
I was very existed in the plane on my way to the vacation center. Firstly because I was going to spend a week in Corsica, which is a place I have only visited once and that I really like and would love to see more of it. Secondly I was going to go kayaking and rafting, which are activities that I truly love, but that I rarely have the occasion to do them.
Everything was well organized and the center, I was in, was very nice. It proposed all kinds of activities like basketball, football, tennis, pingpong and many others. On top of that it had access to its private beach. Although it was sometimes quite windy at times, we spent a lot of time sun baning on the sand, when we were not out kayaking or rafting.
During the first two days, we went kayaking in the sea. We played games and paddled along the coast. I liked it a lot, even though it was not easy to paddle straight, since they were a lot of waves rocking the kayak in all directions. On the second day, we even stopped at and climbed on enormous rocks that came out of the water, and jumped off them in the water. There were three jumps of different heights and I jumped all of them even the highest one that was 8 meters high.
The rest of the week we went rafting in the river. The water was much colder, but we had wet suits that kept us warm. The effort was more intense, we paddled more, so the current would not push us against the rocks. We also tried 'hot dogs' which are rafts that can only contain one or two person and that has the shape of a kayak. I especially liked the one that could only be occupied by one person. It was hard to keep your balance as you shot through the rapids. Consequently I capsized a lot, but it was also much easier to handle and zigzag between the rocks.
I discovered that I really like kayaking, especially in the river. It is a sport that does not damages the already present ecosystem, and that involves risk taking decisions and team work. It really challenged me physically and mentally and I wish I will be able to repeat this experience later in life.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
ELSA: Annual Teacher Development Day
Wednesday 18th of March 2009
CAS element: Service
Time: 8 hours
The school held today the Annual Teacher Development Day and hosted a multitude of teachers from all over France and abroad. School for students was consequently closed, however I volunteered to help the school organize this event. This yearly morning I came to school and puted on my name tap, that was given to me the previous day. Me and two other friends were given the supervision of room 21 to 23, as well as, the coat hanger booth. Our role was to take the host's bags and coats in exchanged of a numbered ticket. We also helped direct people to specific rooms where specific lectures were taking place. Some also asked for more complicated services, like an adapter and a projector. Throughout the day I also participated in other jobs. At lunch time, I helped set up the food and serve the snacks. I also briefely took care of the entrance table. I even in the afternoon caried botttles and drinks to the third floor and finished by moving over 50 tables and chairs from one place to the other. This last task was quit tirering and made me sweat. It had been a long day, however I am glad to have participated in this annual event as it made me feel I helped and made myself useful. It also was nice to see the school under another angle. The only thing I may regret is to not have attended any of the lectured held by the teachers. I guess they were not destined to me.
CAS element: Service
Time: 8 hours
The school held today the Annual Teacher Development Day and hosted a multitude of teachers from all over France and abroad. School for students was consequently closed, however I volunteered to help the school organize this event. This yearly morning I came to school and puted on my name tap, that was given to me the previous day. Me and two other friends were given the supervision of room 21 to 23, as well as, the coat hanger booth. Our role was to take the host's bags and coats in exchanged of a numbered ticket. We also helped direct people to specific rooms where specific lectures were taking place. Some also asked for more complicated services, like an adapter and a projector. Throughout the day I also participated in other jobs. At lunch time, I helped set up the food and serve the snacks. I also briefely took care of the entrance table. I even in the afternoon caried botttles and drinks to the third floor and finished by moving over 50 tables and chairs from one place to the other. This last task was quit tirering and made me sweat. It had been a long day, however I am glad to have participated in this annual event as it made me feel I helped and made myself useful. It also was nice to see the school under another angle. The only thing I may regret is to not have attended any of the lectured held by the teachers. I guess they were not destined to me.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Skiing in Tignes
15th of February to the 21st of February 2009
CAS element: Action
Time: 35 hours
For my second winter camp of the year, I went for a week at the skiing station of Tignes next to the extremely famous skiing station of Val d'Isere. It was easy to get to the place as the train was almost direct from Paris and all the shuttle bus were free because the skiing World Championship was taking place at this time in Val d'Isere. The only problem was that it was crowded everywhere I went. I made acquaintance with the o
ther teenager and quickly made friends. Everyone was very open and friendly. I believe holidays make people behave that way. Except from the second day, all the others were sunny. The snow was also plentiful and skiing was a real pleasure. In addition, we had access to the skiing slopes of both 
Tignes and Val d'Isere, which represented about 400km of skiing slopes!! In consequence, w
e left our place as soon as the slopes opened and stayed until they closed in the evening. I knew that a week would pass by extremely quickly and I wanted to enjoy it as much as possible. At night after a well deserved dinner, my friends and I would play all kind of games until late in the night. Keeping this rhythm for a week was a real challenge. When I got back home my all the muscles in my body were sore and ached from the many bruises. I was exhausted and had to sleep two straight days to recover, however I did not regret any bit of it and I cannot wait for next winter to do the same.
CAS element: Action
Time: 35 hours
For my second winter camp of the year, I went for a week at the skiing station of Tignes next to the extremely famous skiing station of Val d'Isere. It was easy to get to the place as the train was almost direct from Paris and all the shuttle bus were free because the skiing World Championship was taking place at this time in Val d'Isere. The only problem was that it was crowded everywhere I went. I made acquaintance with the o
ther teenager and quickly made friends. Everyone was very open and friendly. I believe holidays make people behave that way. Except from the second day, all the others were sunny. The snow was also plentiful and skiing was a real pleasure. In addition, we had access to the skiing slopes of both 
Tignes and Val d'Isere, which represented about 400km of skiing slopes!! In consequence, w
e left our place as soon as the slopes opened and stayed until they closed in the evening. I knew that a week would pass by extremely quickly and I wanted to enjoy it as much as possible. At night after a well deserved dinner, my friends and I would play all kind of games until late in the night. Keeping this rhythm for a week was a real challenge. When I got back home my all the muscles in my body were sore and ached from the many bruises. I was exhausted and had to sleep two straight days to recover, however I did not regret any bit of it and I cannot wait for next winter to do the same.Saturday, January 24, 2009
Computer Mentoring
Saturday 24th of January 2009
CAS element: Service
Time: 4 hour
Today I signed up with friends for computer mentoring. It took place outside Paris. We were each assigned an adult to mentor. They were for the great majority housewives who did not or had a lot of trouble to use the computer. The one I had was particularly a novice, nontheless she was very nice. I tought her how to use word and write letters, how to use internet and I even opened an email account for her. At the end, she seemed extremely greatful for the mentoring. I was too very pleased to have helped someone like her.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Soup Kitchen
Friday 2nd of January 2009
CAS element: Service
Time: 4 hours
I went with friends to a soup kitchen as volunteers to serve dinner to homeless people. We were warmly welcomed and our task was explained to us by the supervisors. We set up the tables with water, bread, salt and pepper. We piled up the trays and plats and rolled the knives and forks in tissue papers. As the first shift arrived, we were each given a role in the line. I gave the salad, which was this time lentils. As they passed by I got rejected a few times as some did not like what I was proposing. We then served them tea and coffee. When they left we had to quickly clean up everything, so we would be ready to serve the next shift that came shortly after. We did that till late in the night. When I finally went back home, I was tried, but as well very happy that have helped all those homeless people. I also quit enjoyed it and I would be ready to come back another time.
Thursday 22nd of January 2009
CAS element: Service
Time: 5 hours
CAS element: Service
Time: 4 hours
I went with friends to a soup kitchen as volunteers to serve dinner to homeless people. We were warmly welcomed and our task was explained to us by the supervisors. We set up the tables with water, bread, salt and pepper. We piled up the trays and plats and rolled the knives and forks in tissue papers. As the first shift arrived, we were each given a role in the line. I gave the salad, which was this time lentils. As they passed by I got rejected a few times as some did not like what I was proposing. We then served them tea and coffee. When they left we had to quickly clean up everything, so we would be ready to serve the next shift that came shortly after. We did that till late in the night. When I finally went back home, I was tried, but as well very happy that have helped all those homeless people. I also quit enjoyed it and I would be ready to come back another time.
Thursday 22nd of January 2009
CAS element: Service
Time: 5 hours
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Waterfall Ice Climbing
Friday 2nd of January 2009
CAS element: Action
Time: 4 hour
After almost a week of skiing in the Aples at Argentiere, I was quit tired and I wanted to try something else before I leave the pure mountains and become again an intoxicated city dweller. Therefore on the last day I went with friends waterfall ice climbing. The walk that brought us to the waterfalls was perilous and almost made me regret to have signed up for the activity. However when we finally reached our destination the curtain of ice laid in front of me made me forget all the effort to get here. The rest of the day was just great. We were first informed of all the security precautions and then each led through a ice wall, first small ones then gradually bigger. This sport requires a lot of strength in the arms and legs and more importantly extreme concentration. I loved it and I wonder why I have not tried it sooner.
CAS element: Action
Time: 4 hour
After almost a week of skiing in the Aples at Argentiere, I was quit tired and I wanted to try something else before I leave the pure mountains and become again an intoxicated city dweller. Therefore on the last day I went with friends waterfall ice climbing. The walk that brought us to the waterfalls was perilous and almost made me regret to have signed up for the activity. However when we finally reached our destination the curtain of ice laid in front of me made me forget all the effort to get here. The rest of the day was just great. We were first informed of all the security precautions and then each led through a ice wall, first small ones then gradually bigger. This sport requires a lot of strength in the arms and legs and more importantly extreme concentration. I loved it and I wonder why I have not tried it sooner.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Skiing in Argentiere
27th of December to the 1st of January 2009
CAS element: Action
Time: 18 hour
I went to a week winter camp in the Aples in Argentiere. I snowboard and I went practically everyday skiing with other teenagers. We would leave in the morning with each our packed lunch in our bag. The skiing slopes were great as there were plenty of snow and almost all everyday had been sunny. It was quit cold but I had a good coat so that was not a problem. It was fun to ski with other teenagers. We helped each other and some showed off to us tricks we could try. When we were hungry, we would find a nice
place off the slopes in the snow to eat our sandwishs. On the last two days, I was tired however I still enjoyed snowboarding and tried new tricks. I fell many times during the week, but fortunately I did not get hurt thanks to my helmet. Personally I think the week went by wait too fast, as most things do when you have fun.
CAS element: Action
Time: 18 hour
I went to a week winter camp in the Aples in Argentiere. I snowboard and I went practically everyday skiing with other teenagers. We would leave in the morning with each our packed lunch in our bag. The skiing slopes were great as there were plenty of snow and almost all everyday had been sunny. It was quit cold but I had a good coat so that was not a problem. It was fun to ski with other teenagers. We helped each other and some showed off to us tricks we could try. When we were hungry, we would find a nice
place off the slopes in the snow to eat our sandwishs. On the last two days, I was tired however I still enjoyed snowboarding and tried new tricks. I fell many times during the week, but fortunately I did not get hurt thanks to my helmet. Personally I think the week went by wait too fast, as most things do when you have fun.
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