By KyuHwi Han
On November 25th, the school campus echoed with the sound of suitcases rattling across the concrete road as the dorm students shuffled themselves toward the bus that would drive them off to their two-day retreat at Ipoh.
“The food. I can’t wait to have those buns again,” sighed Joycelyn Fung (12).
“With the condensed milk,” chimed in Micah Pickett (10).
After the four-hour bus ride, we clambered into the back of a truck, clutching onto the rusty metal rails, preparing for another bumpy journey ahead.
The mountains resounded with whoops and shouts of giddy students standing at the back of the truck. There were a few shrieks and “ow’s” here and there due to some of the leaves having the audacity to smack our faces. By the end of the trip, our hairs were in disarray, but our hearts thumped in excitement: we’d arrived.
But when we got off the truck, our hearts dropped with disappointment. It wasn’t the same Adeline’s we were used to. A simple house had replaced the beloved resort.
“Well, at least the food will be the same,” I said. However, none of us could spot the long table hosting the long-awaited buffet of our dreams. We trudged our way into the dining hall, hoping against hope that the food would taste just as well as we remembered. Luckily, lunch satisfied our ravished stomachs. Most of us lamented the loss of our buns with condensed milk, though.
After our meal, the girls prepared to head into the residence, readying ourselves for more disappointment. But when we walked in, the room filled with delighted gasps. It was a beautiful house with a tall ceiling, filled with cozy bunkbeds, each by a lamplight. The metal stairs spiraled up onto a wooden platform where there were more snug mattresses to sleep on.
“It’s like the hills are alive with the sound of music,” said Keilah Pickett (12). It really did feel like we had just stepped into a movie.
Some of us sprawled across the beds, tired from the journey, while the rest gathered to play some card games. The relaxing mood lulled us to sleep.
When we woke up, it was time for some white-water rafting.
We exhausted ourselves for the next two hours: paddling across the river, jumping off boulders, laughing at Uncle Keith’s spluttering face as he resurfaced from getting dunked in the water. The dorm retreat still retained the charm most of us held dear to our hearts. For the seniors, it was a moment of closure and appreciation:
Ellie Guffy (12): “It was fun. It also gave me a chance to connect with my younger dorm siblings.”
Sharon Kang (12): “I liked it. I’m glad I could bond one more time with my dorm.”
Joycelyn Fung (12): “Once again, the food was bussing.”
I’m thankful to have had this retreat, making lasting memories to take with me for when I leave this place that I called my home for the last four years.
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