DAY TWO (continued…)

The hardest part of that day was not about the letter sorting, but it was about that particular activity which almost drove me out of my wits. The students were supposed to be blindfolded in the dark while they sat and they would listen to the things which Brother J____ was saying. He told the students to visualize that their parents were dead. We were supposed to distribute the brown envelopes with their letters in it in their seats - - in the dark. The other adviser had to leave because he went with some kids to their church for mass, so I was left alone. Upon knowing that I was left alone and that I had to do those things BY MYSELF, I was on the verge of crying… good thing that our Division head came over and helped me distribute. There were just some funny things about this particular moment. I couldn’t see in the dark (FYI, I have night blindness) and I had to give a lit candle  to our head so she can light the envelopes with the students’ names so I can see them. The students were seated in such a manner that they are close to each other, and there’s only a little space which separates them from one another. I had to get in between those spaces and distribute the *heck* envelopes one by one… I can’t see their faces as well, so everytime that I would look at their names written in the envelope, I’ll look at their faces first. In short, sinisilip ko muna kung sa kanila nga yung envelope na binibigay ko.

Another funny thing was that those kids were so mobile, and they kept on rocking their bodies as they cry. Some of them would unknowingly shove me with their arms and step on my foot (and vice versa). I had to avoid the sway of their arms. Arrgh.

Oh yeah… before that… do you know that I wrote a letter for each of my students? I was only supposed to write for those who were not able to receive letters from their parents, but I wrote them all, anyway… baka kasi magtampo yung hindi ko sinulatan… Sumakit ang kamay ko dun…

We just watched a movie ("Joseph the Dreamer") after that activity and proceeded to sleep.

DAY THREE - Last day

The first activity for the day was all about giving the stones (which were given to them during the first day) to the persons which they want to say sorry to… Then, the students gave some messages for us (yeah, pretty touchy, except for one particular student’s message, which was really annoying) and then, we gave them some messages as well. Then, they all gave us a group hug (and I was literally crushed) plus the individual hug from each student. Everyone was asking me for a hug, but I really just could not bare to hug the persons who were really bothering me that I just tapped them on the shoulder… Yes, that was nasty. I know. Pero ayoko talaga.

Then, we went home… and when we arrived at Freedom Park, we still have to wait for several students to have their chaperones… We still went home at around 5:30pm (we arrived at the park at about 3:30pm!) after fooling around with the students, talking about sweaty men making buko pies, RR Herrera and LA Lopez, among other topics.

After the retreat, it was back to normal… It was as if the students didn’t have a retreat at all.

Told you that retreats were useless… but at least, the Seniors’ retreat was better than ours… at least I felt the sincerity of their feelings.