SOCIETIES & EVENTS
World Challenge Vietnam World Challenge Adventurers: Caitlyn Abdoll, Ifeoluwa Alaba, Kristin Bellingan, Rachael England, Alexandra Heiberg, Kristen Naidoo, Emma Steyn, Ashleigh Voss, Josie Wissema, Phumzile Konile, Rachael Rumbelow, Kendra Saunders, Tara Panton
During the June holidays, a group of Rustenburg girls accompanied by Ms Zaandré Theron and Ms Brigid Ryan left a cold Cape Town for an adventure in Vietnam. Our first shock was the moment we stepped off the plane in Hanoi and were assaulted by the incredible heat and humidity that just sapped the energy right out of our bodies! There were more shocks to come: the noise, the smells, the buffalo! The food was delicious, but the teenage tongue still seemed to crave pasta and pizza now and again, although a few members of the team developed an addiction to Vietnamese iced-coffee. The initial challenge of the trip was trying to negotiate the noisy streets of the old quarter where the pavements were crowded with parked motorbikes and vendors selling anything from food to flowers and where the only solution was to walk in the street, Indian-file, hoping not to be knocked over by a taxi or motorbike! The girls took turns in being group leader and had to make decisions for the day about finances, accommodation, transport and food. They had to navigate, which is not an easy task in a city like Hanoi. For many of the girls the responsibility this placed on them was something new and perhaps even a little intimidating. The girls loved the much needed rest and relaxation at the end of the trip, at Halong Bay, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, but for most of them the highlight was the time spent in the rural area of Mai Chau. We trekked through the hills and jungles of the area, stayed in the homes of the village people, shared their food, and were sometimes even spoilt with a herbal footbath. We stayed in the same area for our project phase and came to love the site of the beautiful paddy fields on the way to the project, falling asleep to the sounds of thunder and the occasional buffalo noises and waking to the noises of
RGHS MAGAZINE 2014
the roosters and the neighbourhood children. One of the girls said, “I was humbled by the Vietnamese people. They work so hard and don’t expect anything in return, yet they are all so happy and content with life. I learned to be gracious and happy with what I have.” For the leaders and some of the girls the trip was tough as many had to deal with heat stroke and vomiting (which resulted in two trips to hospital, one in the middle of the night!). We were in constant contact with the operation centre in the UK, but it was a sleepless and stressful time. Fortunately the local hosts and translator treated our group as if we were their own family so we were looked after well. These difficult times seemed to bond the girls into an even tighter group and it was lovely to see them supporting and caring for one another. A trip like this was an incredible experience. Teachers often comment on the way in which the girls have changed after World Challenge. They come back far more confident in themselves, and this is reflected in their work and interactions at school. We were really impressed with the way that Alexandra Heiberg (Grade 10) coped with her diabetes on the trip. She monitored her sugar levels so well. The group was great about collecting the spare Milo boxes for her to take on the hike and keeping an eye on her too. She set a fantastic example of how to cope with something like diabetes while living life to the full. Finally, congratulations must go to Rachael England who won the international competition for the best photos from World Challenge 2014. She won a tidy sum of money and will have the honour of her beautiful photograph being on the front of the calendar that is distributed to participating schools all over the world.
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