Orientation- Part 1

I am back on campus, people. I survived the beginning of my first two classes of the year and I still have about five to go. I am done with Orientation and I finally have some time to put pictures on the blog. I think I have been going through some hardcore, intensive training with this Orientation and I would like to share some highlights with you of my experience in the last week. I arrived on campus last Saturday and finished Orientation on Sunday, which leads into Bishop Week this week. Since my Orientation experience was a week long, I went kind of crazy on the pictures. That is why you will be seeing this blog in three parts. The first part deals with the actual training portion of the trip. The second part deals with the actual Orientation. The third part deals with the adventure activity that I did- hiking. Without further ado, I introduce to you my experience as an Orientation Leader in pictures.

Delaware, Ohio. Home of my college, Ohio Wesleyan University. A lovely place, really. You just have to give it some time for it to sink in. I miss the streets housing the Small Living Units. Unique places that is a huge part of the campus community.

First day of Orientation. We got to know each other slowly and carefully. We did a lot of role-playing. Here you can see three of the Orientation Leaders acting out a skit about two incompatible roommates and their Resident Assistant. Funny stuff.

Here is another example of role-playing. I do not recall the situation with this one but the role-playing was interesting, to say the least.

Eazzy clean. Yes, this is a college laundry service. It is relevant to me though because all of my laundry is in my board plan. I was happy to hear that the laundry service was available to other people who may be less fortunate.

Day three was packed with adventure and excitement. The Orientation Leaders went to Recreation Unlimited, which is about 10 miles of Delaware. I didn't know what to expect when I first arrived. There was a lot of open, empty space. I realized that we had to hike into the woods for some of our more risky events. The trust fall and the squeeze box were more of the risky events. This is a sign I took of the occasions that the area is used for. Pretty eclectic, huh.

See what I mean? At first, there was nothing but empty spaces which we walked to. It got interesting after lunch and a game of 5-on-5 basketball.

Stream Trail were everywhere. I knew that we would be doing some hiking. That is one of the many reasons why our Orientation Team Leaders had us sign forms and provide medical information. This is one of the many trails you would find around the huge park area.

More space, wide and open for us to play on.

I saw this contraption near the end of the day at Recreation Unlimited. This is the high ropes course. Looks pretty intimidated. Of course! I have gone a contraption like that before with the tightrope walking and the zipline. Boy, what was fun.

A Picture of the Nature Trails Greeting near the woods.

Gotta look that up for more information.

Long story short, I was blindfolded for a game that required me to think without using my eyes. I had one hand in between a person's legs and one hand in between my own and there were hoops I had to navigate blindfolded. Team work, the best thing a fellow human can do for itself to survive. We did it.

Twelve foot wall. Nice touch to the end of our excursion to Recreation Unlimited. Everyone did the eight foot wall. I climbed up that easily. The twelve foot with a little help by the guys hoisting was also pretty easy. A wall in my way is nothing for me. Bring it!

The start of a very, very long night. Recycled Percussion was on campus at the beginning of the Orientation ceremonies on Thursday. Not a pleasant experience for people because of the heavy and constant lifting of awkward items and things of that nature. I did not go to bed until about 2 am the next day. It was all worth it just like the Demetri Martin show. The President of CPB, Griffin Waterman and Entertainment/Social Coordinator, Eric Wise, lend a hand to lifting an awkward piece of steel steps. Wrestlers must be in a world of hurt after getting with that big thing.

The night of Convocation was a success and Recycled Percussion was awesome as well.

To be continued,

Hasani Wheat

Class of '10