Bravo Group - Day 7

Aug 18, 2013 – Day 07

Today we were offered another perspective of Niagara Falls. To many of us it was simply a waterfall and a tourist attraction, but most of us had never even known of the city’s surrounding areas and the sights to see along the way. In the morning, we were assembled into our hiking groups from yesterday—Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and Delta—and then we set out for Niagara Falls. We pulled over in a little circle in Niagara-on-the-Lake and Billy explained to us our tasking for the day: we were to navigate to a few different points in the city, including the Skylon Tower, the Rainbow Bridge, the Horseshoe Falls, the Guinness Book of World Records Museum, the Duty Free Shop, Days Inn Falls View, and TGI Fridays. This tasking had to be done without the use of transportation and without buying a map, which made it all the more difficult.

Alpha group was told to start walking in that section of Niagara-on-the-lake, surrounded by farmland. Soon after, Bravo, Charlie, and Delta were also dropped off on various rural roads to make their own way into the city. Bravo group got the directions to the long (scenic) route. Charlie group felt that they took the easy route. And Delta managed to hitchhiked (with six people) to Niagara Falls. They got found out however, and were driven back by Billy to another different location.

Along the way, the four teams encountered many challenges which they responded to well and were able to move on from. Every team finished their tasking and took the necessary pictures as well as many extra ones that enriched their learning experience. Some of us even found Billy and Michael who were driving around to see how we were doing. We learned to communicate with people as well as effective ways of navigation, adding onto what we had learned the day before.

They got back to Markham at night for dinner at the usual restaurant before going back to the hotel and HQ and sleep for the night.

Having to work for something makes it more memorable, so this is one trip to Niagara Falls that everyone will most definitely remember. Remember, it is not the destination that is most important, but the journey that takes you there.

Edwin Chan

Today is our second day of the picture scavenger hunt  & Toronto hike, but this time we were put into the “middle of nowhere” and we had to find our way to Horseshoe Falls, Downtown Niagara. Apparently we all were dropped of in a straight line but since we were driving Billy made it look like it’s all random. Our timing to be at Horseshoe Falls to meet up with the others was at 5. Charlie group spent about 5hours walking in a straight line and we were the first group who made it to downtown Niagara. For safety reasons Billy and Michael drove around every street meeting up with the other groups but as for us apparently we went through a short-cut and as Billy pass by we stopped at Subways to eat lunch. It seems like we are trying to avoid them on purpose but its just the timing was bad or good I’m not sure which one works. Well I guess that’s it for now Have fun.

Kelvin Pan

Today was really cool we went to Niagra falls and took lots of pictures, with strangers. This is how it started. Billy and the Team droped us off a unknown place, then we will have to find Destinaions of the, well of the Destination. After that our final Destination was Skylon Tower, it was basically a tall tower  and Multiple elevation that brought us up to the tower many groups to do it the hard way but our group took it easy. Other groups took the Skylon tower picture up close but our group took it from afar. : >. I want to thank my group for cooperating with me and mostly thanks to me “Buddies” for buying items for me such as Iced Capp really enjoyed that. Nicola’s group told me that they went to the first LCBO but it was the wrong one then, they went and asked for another LCBO. Then finally we went home and ate at a restaurant called “Tasty Noodle House” but the thing is we didn’t have noodle. Finally we went back to the Monticle HQ. did our hygiene stuffs and went to bed but as I mentioned earlier I drank Ice Capp so I couldn’t sleep. The End

Edwin Cheung

Today, we walk through Nigeria fall with our team Chris, Terry, Tom, Kelvin, Jennifer and me. But this time without a map. Our team was all way able to ask person for proper direction. We also meet a lot of good Canadian and local people! We went to Tim Hotin for Lunch, I buy a Ice Cap and Boston Cream Donut. I was go, we go really quick to as people to take picture. We all has a really good time.

Nicola Huang

Today was a tiring day. But, it was one of the day where we gained so much experience and learned so much from ones mistakes. Billy dropped off each group at an unknown location where we are only surrounded by trees. We had to find our way to downtown Niagara Falls without a given map or a transportation. The walk for each group is at least 10km. Our goal was to learn how to do basic navigation, compromise and collaborate with our group, and to communicate with local people for directions. This was such an experience! We had dinner at Tasty Noodles House tonight. I was so happy! The waitress remembered me from last time. She redoffered me a orange for thank you today! Sadly, I was in a washroom when she asked me and my group was full so they declined it. Oh well… I’ll be back, for sure! Haha! She also promised she’d give it to me next time. Mom, Dad, Yaurra and Dorris, eat full and dress warm. By the way how is your foot Dorris? Are you feeling better now? Hope its better than before! Yay! Tomorrow we’re going to Muskey’s landing!

Ryan Hoang

            Today is the 7^th day of our Me3 foundations Bravo formation. Sadly enough that means that we are halfway through already and once more the international people will be sent away and I will probably not see them again. Oh well. Today we were at the Niagara region working on tasking of tasking pictures. This is a lot similar to the one that we did yesterday except for the obvious reason that we are in Niagara region and this time Billy did not give us a pass to go on any vehicles. What I mean by drop off is when we entered the Niagara region Billy would drive around and kick a team off the car at seemingly random locations. My groups morale was pretty low during our walk which really sucked since the only one that seems to not have been as tired was the leadership and Rex. I hope they are not hurt to badly because tomorrow we will be going to do water sports which Billy has assured would be even more tiring then this walk.

Maggie Pan

Today was a complicated and tiring day. We first got dropped off to a random place, then we had to find our way to locations that were fairly close to Niagara Falls.  At first I thought we’d never make it, and we were only randomly walking, but then we got closer and closer and finally got there. The first location we got was the LCBO. Then we walked a little more, then it was the Days Inn, then TGI Friday, which was really funny because after we took a picture we started walking again. But suddenly Edwin says something like “Hey there’s a Sprinter! Oh wait isn’t that ours?” so we all rushed to take a pic of our sprinter

Jason Wang

            Today we went on our second urban hike, but instead of downtown Toronto we were at Niagara Falls. That meant that there wouldn’t be any marks of free transportation we could use ; such as the street cars we used yesterday. The six destinations which we were tasked with finding were Rainbow Bridges Duty Free shop, the Guiness World Records building, TGI Fridays, LCBO, Days Inn, Skylon tower and finally Horseshoe Falls. From our start position of the Niagara Corporate Building (besides Niagara College) this walk was a bit longer then yesterdays but without the fever and headache, this walk was a piece of cake. Tomorrow on the 19^th, we will be going back to Mucky’s for more water sports just like in Alpha Formation. Hope these kids have fun!

Lemuel

As I write this, I realize that many students seem half dead from the walk. Early in the morning, we were dropped in the middle of nowhere “close” to the Niagara falls and was tasked to find directions to Horseshoe Falls. My group as well as others walked in separate routes but all walked for approximately 20km or around 4 hours. As most of them don’t usually do this it is understandable that they would be tired. Overall it wasn’t that bad and in fact was quite entertaining to sightsee.

Calvin Su

            We only have 5 days left at the Bravo group camp. Many of them seem happy about their stay here in Canada. The last few days at the camp will be mainly water activities. I hope they adapt quickly to the water temperature or else they’ll be in great discomfort, Hopefully at Musky’s the mosquitoes wont be as bad as last time. Though nothing could be worse then that night at pancake Bay. Yesterday’s hike was wonderfully, my group actually made it!

Rex Lee

            Today was a fun and adventures day. We went to the Niagara Falls. The fall was very beautiful it looked amazing and specular. However the we use to get to Niagara Falls was truly an adventure. Because we needed to walk to there. Billy drove us to a random location and droup us their. At first we had no idea of where we are so I started to find so people to ask for direction to the Niagara Falls. We kept asking people to check if we were going on the correct path. Finally after 5 hours of walking we done the 20 km hike to he Niagara Falls. On the way we accomplished our 6 task which was to take pictures of the famous tourist destintion in there.

            In today’s trip I learn that although physical fitness is important, you mental is more important. Because if you don’t have determination you will never be successful.

            Today was a fun trip although me and my team had to walk 20 km, I learn a lost so it was worth it.

Ava

I’ve walked the longest way I have ever did! We felt… at least I felt lost and being abandoned. But once we have done it , it’s a sort of joyful!

Max

            Today is day 7, we ate breakfast ast in the hotel! I slept for seven and a half hour. Before I sleep, I washed a T-shirt and two underwear’s for the week at Muskey landing. Today, Billy didn’t give us a map, he just only tell us where we should go. Billy dropped off us at knowhere and told us to go to Niagara Falls by. Ourselves our group). We asked people where to get to Niagara Falls, but the peoples told us to go to visitor’s centre.  To see the way. We took picture of the map and draw the roads we have to pass to get there. Moon was a smart boy, he lead us to Niagara Falls in a correct way, we walked for six hours till we got there. We walked so slow and took lots of breaks. I told them, “get up, don’t rest! We go to Monticle is not sitting, we have to face our challenge!” we got there at last, but other groups. Already finished their destination when we got there. We was late for a hour, so all the other groups have to wait for us and get mad at us. Niagara Falls is amazing and terrific. I love it so much, because it is my birthday wish. Our group finished late, so we ate dinner at 9:00 pm. Now it is so late, I think I will slept a little. Forget it, it is bed time. Tomorrow we will all go to Muskey lanin, I am ready for it!

Jennifer

The last few days have been both terrible and inspiring to me. Terrible in that my lack of experience and shady critical thinking skills really shows (at least in my eyes they do). But also inspiring because of the words and actions of those around me.

I have been talking with Shirley and Xuan Zi more and more these past few days and they have been my source of inspiration and a fresh perspective on events transpiring. They’ve opened my eyes to the reality of the world’s current state of affairs by telling me of the desperation of students facing final exams and the anxiety that fills the air and the textbook and papers that rain from the sky and coat the ground in white as the school year ends. Telling me of the housing issues and comparing average salaries of their homeland to that of Canada’s. It’s been an eye opening experience of me to realize what I truly have.

On that note I have sopped complaining about how ignored I feel you never know what you’ve got until you lost it. And so... I’ve lost my voice. I never know how powerful a voice could make you… until I lost mine. Navigating a wayward group, no matter how gentlemanly, through the city of Niagara Falls, after losing my voice was near-hellish for me. It’s so strange being unable to speak is different because of choice, but being completely stripped of my voice has been terrifying because I’m so vulnerable and dependent and just so unbearably slow. Oh how swiftly my pen flies on the paper now- oh words! words! Yes, words! I speak, I live!

I feel like not having my voice really does affect my ability to lead and now what Billy said really does make a lot of sense – being sick is a criminal offense in the military because of that very same reason. And so, that makes the following all the more inspirational for me the thoughtfulness in the offer of Halls from Nicola, Billy, and Edwin, the offer of hot chocolate from Winnie (Edwin Cheung), the offer of a pillow from Calvin’s hotel room because our room is strangely lacking and the sweet Shirley and Zi offering to let me sleep on the pullout couch and who made me tea and taught me tricks to dry my hair to avoid colds. Thank you all for taking care of me. I hope you can trust me to take care of you just as well.

Alex

Today we went to NXXXX ( help me spell pls) Falls. By a very special way, which was walk to there. The village of the falls was so great I liked it very much. What a tired day!!!

Shirley

今天可真是”令人愉快”啊！真想不到，我夢想中的尼亞加拉大瀑布，竟然是走過去的。Billy把我們丟在了高速公路的入口處，和昨天最大的區別，今天沒有地圖、方向、交通工具，唯一的途徑是問人。可是我們去的那條路幾乎沒有人，還好中途在飯店發現了一張，但是完全沒有用。最後可以到達，已經是奇蹟了！我的腿已經疼得不像自已的了！！！

Bing

今天十分累，我們去了很多地方，而且沒有地圖地址，Billy直接把我們扔到一個地方，然後就走了，我們問了很多人才知道哪裏有地圖。然後我們就開始走了，從上午的10點左右一直走到下午5左右才走完，今天十分累，也學習了很多知識。

Tom Kun

今天天氣很好！心情也十分好，雖然在行程中出現了些插曲，但在辛苦的「長征」中，友情也在不斷地生長，兄弟們開始無話不說，一整天有說有笑，熱鬧非常！

在大半天的街頭闖蕩裏，我發覺在澳門時幫教會問問卷練出來的勇氣(膽識？主動？)起了作用，雖然在陌生的環境，但我依然用生硬的肢體語言加上語法不通的英文，成功地完成了今天的試煉！！:):):) 今天曬了6,7個小時，雖有用防曬用品，全身出現了手表痕、眼鏡痕和T-shirt痕，十分可笑…明天要準備再出郊外玩水上活動，心中充滿興奮和期待(游泳是我弱項)Anyway, 加油吧！Fighting！！

Ryan Liang

今天是來到Monticle的第七天。先說說今天的感受吧，很累，很開心。

我們今天要在Niagara Fall的某處我們完全不知道的地方被放下，分成四組，不同地方開始，沒有地圖，什麼都沒有。我們一開始就去敲了別人家的門，但是沒有人，我們看到有一個人在遠處時就馬上衝過去，并掌握了大概方向。後面我們去到一個加油站時問到了更詳細的訊息。在我們走了14km左右後，終於到了城鎮，開始一個個目的地去拍照，我竟然在Horseshoe Falls遇到了我的兩個同學，超驚訝，接下來一個星期都是水上活動，一定會很累。

Terry

今天是來到這個camp的第七天。雖然說是完了一半，但是接下來才是最大的挑戰。平常我都是寫英文的，但因為今天是走得最累的一天，根本沒打算用英文想任何事情，於是便用了中文。今天是最痛苦的一天，只有走路一種交通公具，而且至少要經過20多km的路才能完成我們的目標。我們組的同志們在走路的時候有說有笑，要不然我早就死了。但今天在Downtown Niagara Falls 玩得很開心，一開始是因為最先完成的組別能夠升職加薪，所以兄弟們(ok加上姊妹們)都十分落力，但是Jenn的喉嚨不太好，於是一路上一直有一個沙啞的聲音在不停說話，雖然我們有嘗試阻止她，但最後我們都放棄了。但是今天我們差不多是最快完成的組別，雖然應該沒有勝出，但我的伙伴們已盡了全力，雖敗猶榮:P，所以雖說很累，但也很快樂。

P.S. 我同Chris嘗試係Niagara Falls周圍搜尋美女的踨跡，但最終失敗，只找到一個(sosad)

Moon

  Billt昨天说今天的任务与昨天的差不多，但若是实践起来，就知道差多少了。

  昨天，给你地图，把你送到市中心，再给一张近乎万能的DayPass，却只需要找到六个地点，路上还有公交可乘。

  到了今天，没有地图，没有DayPass，不许乘坐交通工具，虽然也只需要找到六个地点，不过这次的起点是市郊。

  似乎一开始，我们就遇到了麻烦，没有路标，没有地图，不知道自己在何处，好在我们问了一位骑车的旅人，但他并没有给我们很大的帮助。这时后面驶来一辆车，下来一位胖胖的警官，告诉了我们附近有一家Visitor Center，这条信息真是我们的救命稻草，伸过来，我们便紧紧捉住他，他就把我们拉到了Visitor Center。

  这里，我们找到了很多有用的信息，甚至照下了一张地图，不过却浪费了很多时间，这个原因间接导致了我们没有按时到达集合地点。我们粗略地找到一条路后，就匆匆出发了。那条YORK RD似乎没有尽头，不过我想到一句话，一条路走到黑。我的坚持看了是对的，在接近路的尽头，我们看见了曙光----一张指向目的地，Niagara Falls的路标，不过现在已经一点。四点钟集合，我们却才行一半的路，甚至没有一半，因为，我们速度太慢，休息太多，这便是导致我们迟到的直接原因。

  最后，我们迟到了65分钟，完成了任务。

  刚过四点时，我们有过犹豫，中途，我们有过彷徨，路上，我们也曾想过放弃，不过，我们到底是坚持下来了，这种情况是一个好的团队，一个好的领导甚至一个好的个体必须具有的，也是难能可贵的。

  我想到这，便觉得今天的失败并不可怕，而可怕的是倒下却不敢站起来，而我们，就选择了站起来。

Christopher

今日話要行16K, 勢估吾到原來吾可以搭順風車，幹！預計1400到達的目的地系好心人幫助之下1030就到左，跟住又翻翻起點重新來過，fine，is ok！重新行過，老子抗擊打能力是超強的。

第二次去瀑布凈系留左一個鐘，依然吾系同容小姐去L . Terry話要Plan之後去北京玩，吾知有冇的攜眷呢？新年假實好凍！

兩個禮拜冇見煒智智，佢有冇問大哥哥去左邊？我個牛脾氣細佬點，有冇乖翻D？

下個禮拜要去山區養蚊！so worrying！7日6夜。

Xuan Zi

今日我们去了很多地方，而且我还学会了很多，学会了在陌生的环境要学会生存。从起点到终点整整走了5个小时，到达的时候我已经筋疲力尽。这一路上我也看到了世界有很多好心人。我非常感谢这次旅程。

Maggie Tin

·今天之後我們就要去別的地方了。

·我發覺笑的威力還真挺大的，就好像橡皮擦把被糊掉的陰影擦走，剩下鮮明的歷程回憶。

·釋懷，暢飲，一笑解千愁！

Alvin

今天去了很多不同的地方，也學了很多不同和有趣的知識，希望之後的旅程會更好會有趣。

期待著…