Session 1 Update #1 pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis

 

With a few tardy hiccups, both English and the Outdoor gangs arrived here safely; with some kids raring to go, while others preferring to keep their juries out. 

 

And this latter group makes me chuckle the most, for they can’t resist the allure of the kindness up here. Sustaining bravado requires effort, and they can’t keep it up, melting into a group process where jockeying for turf just isn’t part of the equation..

 

In English, one kid, WAY too cool for school, held himself aloof during the intro talk, casting his Mona Lisa eyes upon his tribe, looking through them like ghosts.

 

Until Samantha, their teacher, broke the ice with the trivia question “What is the longest word in the English language?”. 

 

Now our generation of a certain age would knee-jerk the response of “antidisestablishmentarianism”.

 

That is so 70’s. And also incorrect.

 

The Mona Lisa lobbed the correct response into the collective laps of his team, adroitly defining pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis as a cancer resulting from the inhalation of silicone. It rolled off his tongue with an Einsteinian elegance, and his classmates’ mouths dropped to the floor. This genuine awe was like manna to his soul, and that’s pretty much all it took for the dude to buy in. These blustery dudes are falling like flies.

 

One gal in the outdoor cohort came up to me during dinner, allowed a hug, and told me she nearly had a panic attack upon arrival.

 

“Where are you at in this moment?”

 

“I’m 80% there”, she responded with her magnetic smile. 

 

There are no outliers in either group – I ain’t kidding. Everyone’s in the game. But about a third will need a few days to fully adapt to the pace and culture of Boundless.

 

If you don’t hear from me, that is good news. If you’re just dying to find out how your progeny is doing – simply email me. But remember you shall be judged for not being able to let go. What you should be doing is prancing about naked with your partners, trumpeting your liberty for 13 days.

 

We have drought conditions up here – its rained twice all month. The river is at late August levels – meaning the outdoor group will need to be careful to avoid what we affectionally refer to as “rock enemas”. A fire ban is everywhere. We’ll deal. So will your kids.

 

I’ll write again in 3 days to give you juicier stuff about what’s going on up here.

 

Thanks for sending your kids to us. It’s been a good day one. Your kids will own the place in just 72 hours.

 

Warm regards,

 

Steven Gottlieb

[email protected]