Day 19: Mall Madness & the Talent Show Finale!
This morning kicked off with a cozy and casual breakfast as we finished up the last of our fridge food before heading off on our big camping adventure. There’s always something a little bittersweet about scraping the peanut butter jar and sharing that final carton of milk, but spirits were high as everyone packed up their things and tidied the apartments in preparation for tomorrow’s departure. Luggage lined the apartments, rooms were cleaned out, and a sense of excitement started to buzz — we’re officially in camping mode!
Once our bags were zipped and our rooms were gleaming, we headed over for one final lunch at the on-campus dining hall. It was a nice way to say goodbye to a familiar part of daily life here, and students made the most of the meal by chatting, laughing, and reminiscing about their favourite dining hall moments.
As a special surprise for all their hard work, excellent participation, and positive energy this past week, we took the students on a spontaneous trip to the mall! Whether they needed a last-minute camping essential, wanted to pick up souvenirs for friends and family, or just felt like spending some pocket money while living it up in another country — it was a hit. But this wasn’t your average mall visit. We turned it into a photo challenge! Students were tasked with taking five creative and silly photos during their visit. Needless to say, today’s pictures are full of quirky poses, unexpected angles, and student perspectives — a true reflection of their fun-loving personalities and creativity.
The day ended with one of the most anticipated events of the entire program: our Talent Show! From musical performances to magic tricks, trivia, dancing, and singing, every student had the opportunity to share something unique about themselves. The room was filled with cheering, clapping, and proud smiles. It was heartwarming to see how much confidence and community has built up over these past few weeks. Some acts were touching, some were hilarious, and all were impressive in their own way — it was the perfect send-off before our nature-filled week ahead.
As we head off on our camping trip tomorrow, please note that we will not be posting to the blog over the next week. We'll be in a remote area without internet access. We encourage you to check in with your camper in the morning to wish them safe travels and a fun, adventurous week. Communication will be limited, but we promise to return with tons of stories, photos, and memories once we’re back in signal range!
Stay tuned — we'll update you as soon as we return!!
