My new life

Just a quick post to say that although I will continue discussing ICC, I’ll also be talking about my achievements in The Royal National college for the blind. I will try to post as regularly as possible. However, time has been tight lately.

Day 6

It would be easier to list off the day’s events than write paragraphs about each, but I’ll try anyway.

It was excursion day. After a 45 minute drive, we ended up in Utrecht, Holland. After a tour in the morning, looking around the different parts of the city, most people went up a tower. I, however, decided to go shopping.

After buying souvenires, a lot of soap, and some chocolate, we had lunch in an old church building. This was followed by a tour around an old clockwork and musical instrument museum. I loved it. I could touch so many things, and listen to the tunes each artifact made. I even played a big street ohgan that had pipes to mimic the sound of a human veice in it. However, it just soudded like a goat.

After this, we listened to a blind man’s concert. We were either all bored, or fascinated. I was one of the fascinated. I wish I could play the piano like him.

Following this was a long boat trip which I enjoyed. Before coming baca to the campus, we got off of the boat and ate at a very nice restraunt. It was a very lively evening.

Day 5, Thursday

On Thursday we finished our second compulsary workshop. Mine, as I said, was Presentation. I carried out my presentation that day. I felt confident.

That afternoon was my first chosen workshop. It was makeup. As I did not know how to do makeup before, it was nice as now I know.

The only downside was, after the previous night’s excitement, I was exhausted.

That evening though, I had my first salsa class. My dance partner was fairly good. I think each session I improved a little bit more. We did the Marengay dance, I’m not sure if thats the right spelling. It was simple, and very fun.

The night ended with another nice evening at the ICC cafe.

Day 4

On the fourth day we continued our networking workshop, followed by lunch and a new workshop. As in a workshop about giving presentation which was very interesting. Dinner followed, and afterwards, I had a goalball session. For anyone unsure, goalball is a team sport for the blind. Sighted people can play too, if you have any useful vision you just have to wear a blindfold so that everyone is equal. I was net given a shield as my vision isn’t much use to me. Goalball was fun, but it hurt afterwards. I got hit quite a few times.

After this, the ICC held a speed dating session so that participants could get to know each other.

It was a good and busy day, finished off by a bit of time in the cafe.

But, then I went to a friend from another building’s room.A large group of people, who I already knew very well, then joined us. We stayed up very late eatinj Greek, Swiss and Polish food, chatting, and listening to my very gifted friend on violin. It was a perfect night, but I became very sleepy.

It was difficult for the partially sighted of us to guide the blind back to our own building. We ended up with a guiding train, everyone followed each other.

It was 2 AM.

But, I got lost in my owd building. One of the main ICC leaders found me wandering the wrong corridoor, and fortunately located my room for me. I tumbled in to bed feeling exhausted.

Day 3

The next day I woke up and readied before breakfast. That was the general routine. After breakfast we had to go to the assembly hall where we would be assigned our workshops, which, it turned out, we didn’t have. Instead we had an orientation game to learn our route around the campus using riddles, team work and a lot of clues. This was then followed by us creating a human mountain in each individual country group. Ours was tallest. We then logged on to the computers to make sure our personal login settings were all in order.

After lunch, the workshops Did begin. I had networking with my friend from Geormany, two people from Italy who I am now friends with, and also two new friends from Croatia. Luckily, our group was assigned a lovely workshop leader and we all enjoyed ourselves.

After a meal, we ventured out to our chosen evening activities. I had sightseeing, which was a very good experience. I ended up having a very good time with my German friend and one of the English staff members. I also felt I truly discovered Zeist.

The evening concluded in the cafe with a group of people. I had some very good company during my trip.

Day 2

The next morning our group rose early and went to the airport.I was terrified. We got to Departures and spent a lot of time buying food and sitting about. I can’t say I was very hungry. My fears were too piqued.

We eventually took our flight. It was a nice easy one. When we arrived the group went on a bus to the school we were staying at for the rest of the trip. I, along with one of our staff members, got lucky. We went in a waijing car to the school. The driver also carried my case for me and made sure we were in the right place.

We found out that there was lunch for us, which was luc’y as we were hungry. After eating we were shown to our rooms.I was with the other girl from the UK party.

We waited for hours until dinner began, followed by the welcome ceremony. The food was very good, and the ceremony was exceptional. We played games in groups and generally just had a perfect time. I then saw many of my friends from last year, and met a new friend who I am now very close to.

Amazing opportunity

I was supposed to blog before my trip to Holland about my expectations for the trip. But i became sidetracked. I came back on Wednesday from Luton airport after a fantastic time. I amgoing to post a series of blog posts discussing each day with you. I will begin with the first.

On the first Sunday of my tris, 26 July, we all rose early. Packing was done, and my mum and sister took me to Luton airport. I was staying that night with the rest of the group in the Premier inn. We were early so popped in to a shop for a look. I came out with a nice jumper, a rare buy for me.

I then met the group at the Premier inn. We met and ate dinner in the Beefeater. My family had already left, after settling me in to my room for the night and meeting a couple of our staff members.

After an average meal (and I’m not picky) my roommate and I decided togo to our room. We prepared for bed, but ended usp sitting up for hours on end talking about books that we loved.

My trip went off to a nice start, but it got better…

A fantastic Saturday

On Saturday I went out with Moorvision charity, a charity for visually impaired young people and their families in Devon, England. This Saturday, the event was just for post 16 students, or siblings of blind children who were post 16.

We had a very nice time. First, we went on a canal in a giant kayak where we all had to paddle at once. Tiring work, but fun.

We then went to the local Pizza hut where I admit, I ate just a little too much. The best part though was the fact that it was with my friends, some of whom will be in Hereford at RNC with me.

I really enjoyed this experience and I hope similar things will happen soon.

A time of my life: New Student Conference at RNC

As I have told you before, I am starting my new college for the blind in Hereford this year. Before I left, I discussed my many fears. These vanished when I first arrived.

I was taken to my room for the night, met staff and settled in. I then moved out on to the terrace to chat. I already know, and another couple who I didn’t. After a false alarm of being sent to the conference room half an hour early, at 6 we finally met up in the comferance room properly to have a welcome. A barbecue soon swung in to action, followed by a family quiz, whe+e a few families teamed up to make a team.

After socialising that evening, I got in bed to begin reading my welcome pack.

I rose early the next morning, readying myself in record time, excited. After breakfast on the terrace, we had a large welcome assembly led by a varity of staff. Two of my friends got up to speak about their experiences. All of the 18+ studentts (I will only make it in to that bracket, and hall by a week) went to make jewelry. This was followed by lunch, and a q&a session for us students. We ended the day with the under 18s doing jewelry, while we met in the gym to do icebreakers, and a very fun game of giant jenga. The pressure in the room built madly, while each loose block was slowly slipped from its tower. Our team won this event, and, despite never playing it before, I didn’t end up crashing the tower down.

After saying goodbye I was sad. I miss my college, but I will be there soon and my nerves are gone.

Big big steps, causing a myriad of fears

I will be moving away to college in September. The Royal National College for the Blind is amazing, and I cannot wait to go.

Yet, fear is beginning to wheedle its way in to my mind and chest, attaching itself, and gnawing away at my brain, making me worry.

My fears are too hard to explain precisely. I am afraid of leaving my family who I have never been independent from. Yet, I am afraid of the fact that the more they are around me, the more I want to spread my wings and take a step away from them. This feeling is very new, and scary as our family are a closely knit one.

I am desperate to make friends, yet, I have never, ever had a school friend. This makes me worry, irrationally, that I will be alone again with no one to talk to. I know this will not happen, as my fellow students are similar to me and will not be scared to approach a blind young woman as they have a form of blindness themselves.

I am very excited. I do not doubt RNC, as I know it is the place I want to be. However, sometimes the balance of fear and excitement can go off keel a little.

Now, I must focus on excitement. I will be seeing RNC for a new student conference this Friday to Saturday, so I will have a chance to rekindle my excitement, and meet others. Then, I have to focus on enjoying my summer, and feeling excited about this change.