Before Easter our class did a project week to Palfau
/ Steiermark. There were three focal points: to
improve class-community, sports activities, and English communication.
When we arrived we got our rooms and unpacked our suitcases. About two
o´clock we met outside and our activity manager Wolfgang explained what we
were going to do in the next few days.
We started with teambuilding activities, one of our focal points. We really
enjoyed the games but they were exhausting, as well, because we had to
manage difficult exercises.
At
the beginning nobody listened to each other´s ideas but the more exercises
we had to do together, the more we listened to each other´s ideas. It took
us some time, however.
After dinner we met outside again and made a campfire. Our English
language assistant from the US, Madeline, taught us a new game
„Werewolves and Vampires“. Before going to bed we sang some campfire
songs.
On Tuesday we met our second activity manager, Andreas, and did an
orienteering activity in the woods. It was raining heavily but it was
quite interesting because we used maps, compasses and avalanche rescue
devices.
In the evening we had dinner. As during all meal times we had to speak English but this time it was much easier than the day before, because we became accustomed to it. In the evenings we always had a special and really funny programme, which Madeline invented especially for us. Big thanks to her! This evening Madeline had prepared a “game show night”.
On Wednesday there was archery on the timetable. When we had complained about the weather on Tuesday, we didn‘t know how the weather would be on Wednesday. It was freezing cold and sometimes it was even snowing. We went outside, everybody wearing everything they got (and we were still nearly freezing to death!).
Before we finally went hunting we got inside again to warm up. Then we were ready for the “real hunt”: a parcour, where we had to shoot at plastic animals.
On Thursday we had to manage the high-ropes-course. We liked it best from the whole week because it was very high in the air and we were afraid to fall down. When we got used to the height, however, it was great fun. We had really modern safety-systems so we felt quite safe.
The highlight of the day was an about seven meters high pole. We had to climb up and stand up at the top of it. Finally we had to step back and let ourselves fall into the ropes which the rest of the group held. It was really great and nearly everyone tried it out.
On Friday morning we had a last special team-building activity (“Trust Fall”), where we had to show our faith in our class.
Unfortunately we had to go back to Linz after this.
Although the weather was not so good it was an amazing week. We liked the activities most and we were not bored anytime and always had a lot of fun. It was the greatest sportsweek ever and really too short but our class community improved a lot!
(Taken from different reports by Olga, Hannah,
Verena, Patricia, Lisa, Mimmi,
Hanna)
