Words from Yingfan Bai
Greetings!
Welcome to the blog for the second week of the experiential program! My name is Yingfan Bai, and I had the privilege of embarking on a week filled with unforgettable adventures. Join me as I recount the thrilling days of rock climbing and the fascinating experiences of visiting a local farm.
The week kicked off on a Monday morning, where we set out for BoulderHouse, an indoor rock climbing gym in Downtown, Victoria. With 40 climbing routes to choose from, we were in for a day of bouldering that promised both challenge and excitement. As a beginner rock climber, I found it very challenging, yet a very good learning experience. Although the walls were relatively low, the climbs were tough. They required a great amount of technique, such as hand and foot placement, which we learned more about as we did more climbs.
Tuesday was a relatively calmer day in the classroom. After a busy week in Tofino and rock climbing, we were finally able to settle down and relax. Most of the class was spent doing self reflections and evaluations from the trip, which helped us learn our strengths and areas of improvement.
This remarkable Wednesday, we had the privilege of visiting Ms. Beeston’s local farm behind her house. She shared with us her love of gardening and her garden-to-table lifestyle. We learned that she mostly eats the produce from her garden in the summer, and that she plants and gets ready for the next growing season in the winter and spring. As the day went on, we learned about many plants and participated in gardening tasks such as digging out potatoes and carrots. Ms. Beeston showed us the composting system, and while digging, many of us found worms of our own! However, in my opinion, the real treat was when we tasted her farm's delicious produce, which included pesto, mint tea, and other homemade jams. However, the adventure didn't stop there. We visited the garden of Ms. Beeston's neighbor, who also shared the garden-to-table concept, although it was a little more "wild". There, we enjoyed tasting the special hidden rose apple, a rare kind of apple that has a red interior.
Thursday brought us yet another dose of exhilaration as we visited the CARSA climbing facility on the campus of the University of Victoria (UVIC). This time, we faced higher walls, pushing our limits to new heights. It was also a day full of learning, as we learned how to belay. As someone who has never rock climbed before, the knots and sequences were very confusing, but after many failed attempts, we finally learned how to prepare for a climb both as a belayer and climber. Many of us reached the very top of the climbs, including me, and I can say for sure that the thrill and rush of excitement when looking down from the 55ft climbing wall is one of the best feelings ever. Next week, we will be bouldering more and doing an outdoor climb at a beach. I'm already looking forward to it!
To end off the week, we had a day in the classroom, filled with lots of learning. Using our experiences and learnings from our trip to Tofino and Clayoquat last week, we started an inquiry project to dive deeper into a topic that Joe and Gisele Martin talked about. As an example, I am diving deeper into the language that Gisele talked about; the Nuu-chah-nulth language. It’s a very unique language, and there is lots to learn about it.
As we close the second week of our incredible experiential program, I'm grateful for the growth and adventures we've shared. Thank you so much for joining me on this incredible week. Goodbye for now!
