Dear Boundless Families:
The weather is perfectly normal for the Amazon rainforest. A gazillion millimeters every day. But for English students, this moist madness is a blessing. It’s as if nature herself obliged your kids with endless scenes for imagery and poetic expression.
Two nights ago a borderline tornado (I do embellish – it’s an English course after all) struck us at point-blank range with thunder and lightning that made me think of the tragic Dresden bombing in 1945. Check out the attached photo, barely 50 meters from the Ranch classroom. That orange line is the wrath of Zeus himself.
I congratulate two winners of the trivia salmon mousse question. Both responded within minutes of each other, so we figured what the hay, lets have two winners.
In fact, winners abound all over this property.
Tianna won the speech contest with a two-minute rant against God, who, she claimed, had the temerity to make her five-foot-two-point-nine, instead of five-foot-three.
The Elders are all winners simply because they grooved together so well. It is rare to see a group just basking in the mere presence of each other. I do declare that lifelong friendships may have been formed. Their life here was a simple one. Learn, volleyball, collapse. Repeat.
The Young-uns somehow survived their male-female schism, and in doing so, became huge winners for the salvation of humanity. The gals tried to school the boys about how to speak to women like human beings. The boys doth protested too much, yet I do believe they learned something meaningful. This group of acne prone and hormonal lovelies found its stride like the Elders. Their heads were so immersed in books we decided to give them a break and literally throw their bodies into the rapids two days ago. They adored this. Many mused they want to come back for the outdoor adventure courses next year.
But the biggest victories were the triumphs over the many small battles. Coming out of your shell. Deciding to stop hating English. Speaking in front of a group. Getting reacquainted with the art of socializing. This last point cannot be over-emphasized. These kids came out of their metaphorical basements and were thrust into a tribe. They all succeeded. Every last one.
It’s been a lovely session. I sincerely hope you enjoyed the absence of your kids. Parents need and deserve breaks too. Thanks for being part of this lovely learning adventure. I hope you enjoy your reunions tomorrow.
Steven
