Welcome to camp, El Rancho

On 02.08. we were picked up from the bus stop in Waikanae and welcomed on site with a Maori greeting ceremony called Powhiri. We were fed pizza, and everyone was then shown their living arrangements. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw how big my 'room' is, as I got a little trailer called Tiny House for the year. It was super weird to be completely alone in a room for the first time in 2 weeks and to hear my own thoughts. At first, I felt a strong need for a roommate. But once I unpacked all my things, I was infinitely glad to have my own space and privacy. The next two days we had off to settle in. I was very grateful to have the other new volunteers with me, as we were all completely lost and unfamiliar in the new shared house. I share a bathroom, kitchen, and living room with 11 other people. We all had no idea where to go, how to do things, or what to expect. Fortunately, that changed quickly because on Monday, 05.08., we had an introduction to how El Rancho operates, and every member was more than open to questions.

The rest of the week was about orientation and getting to know various activities.
We did activities (which we will later lead with groups), such as: indoor climbing + rappelling, crate-stacking, archery, and handling and caring for horses.
Also housekeeping, which means: changing beds + learning folding techniques and cleaning up the bathroom, kitchen, and living area for new guests.

On 10.08. (my day off) I went to Wellington with a few people to do essential shopping and to explore the city a bit.

So far, I have only met super nice and incredibly understanding Kiwis. The mentality here radiates warmth to me and is generally just relaxed, making me feel very comfortable in every situation!
I feel like I've talked about this a thousand times, but I still find it amazing that I've only been here for 2/3 weeks, and it feels more like 3 months. I'm super happy to have landed in El Rancho, and every day is filled with laughter, pure kindness, and the 10,000-step notification on my phone :)

You will hear from me!

☆Tine☆