Fall: Bonfires, Waterfalls, and Home-Cooked Memories
We usually take students to enjoy North Carolina’s mountains, but this year we enforced a strict no phone policy and sat by the waterfall for 20 minutes, no talking or texting! Sometimes, our own answers and opinions are muted below the distracting and loud opinions of the people in our phone.
Mindfulness practices help remind us that constant mental stimulation can be an addiction we use to avoid the discomfort of being with ourselves.
Many students told us that fall traditions were a highlight of the semester. From haunted houses to hayrides and warm bonfires, these experiences helped them connect with local culture in a fun, memorable way.
Nearly every week, the cohort gathered in the kitchen to cook and share regional comfort foods. With so many different flavors and traditions represented, each meal became a moment of connection, laughter, and growing friendship.
Spring: Hard Work & High Ropes
At the ropes course we engaged in several team building activities. We learned about the three zones:
In this team building game we had to communicate and move across the log without speaking, relying on pressure and creativity to achieve the goal of arranging ourselves in order of our birthdays. These are the moments that bring lessons of trust, risk, patience, and holding connection from the comfort zone to the growth zone.
The difference between the growth zone and overwhelm line was tested too. On the ropes course, one very difficult obstacle had us jumping far to get to the wooden planks that we could stand on. The class learned what it was like to be in “overwhelm” as one student missed the jump and couldn’t get back up on the log. They needed the assistance of the instructor to belay them back to the group, but persevered and stayed calm despite the fear of being helpless and suspended above the ground!
For the final outing of the year, we joined the NC State Intensive English Program’s (IEP) Celebration where we traded textbooks for laser tag vests, bumper cars, and arcade games. After a semester of hard work, it was meaningful to simply play together—cheering each other on, celebrating small wins, and enjoying a break from the routine in a relaxed, fun setting.
One of our students Leo (pictured above playing the game) is a amateur photographer and captured some wonderful moments in our trips this year (see below). Leo will go onto matriculate into NC State next semester, and bring with him all of his exceptional curiosity and dedication!
Leo and Mia’s posters they made for class are below. The IEP asks a lot from their students, with long hours, constant practice, and the courage required to learn a second language far from home, and we’re incredibly proud of the perseverance they bring to this work.
