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World Challenge Training Weekend
On Saturday, 10 and Sunday 11 November 2018 the World Challenge Team embarked on their first training expedition for one night to Ashdown Forest. Looking like turtles with huge rucksacks and armed with enough food to feed an army, we set up camp and met our expedition leaders. After completing a 6 mile walk on the first day and team building activities, we returned to camp to cook spaghetti and sauce (or half cook in our case!) After eating, the heavens opened and we were confronted with thunder, lightning, torrential rain and freezing temperatures! The tents didn't fair well in the weather, with many of us waking up sleeping in a puddle!
On the second day, some of us trekked 8 miles, with our half way point being Pooh Sticks Bridge from Winnie the Pooh, and we of course had a go. The previous night's rain was evident, with mud covering our legs and fields turned into bogs, a challenge for us all to negotiate without sinking, though we had some very entertaining falls.
After commemorating the two minute silence for remembrance, we practiced river crossings and putting up shelters, something we will have to use frequently in Costa Rica. We learnt more about what we will be doing in country, such as volunteering, and about the nature and wildlife we will be experiencing including monkeys which was very exciting!
Finally, when we arrived back on camp, we put down the still soaked tents, cleared up our site, and headed home after a reflection of the weekend. Although tired and muddy, we all agreed that the weekend was a great way for us all to bond, and experience the extreme weather we may be facing next year in Costa Rica.
Thank you to Dr Marchesini and Miss Derrick for accompanying their groups, and for Dr Marchesini for teaching us about what real Italian spaghetti is like (not very similar to our half raw and cold version we cooked!)