I'm back and feeling as though I've let you all down. Unfortunately I had no access to the internet while we were on our trip last weekend and even if I did, there would have been zero time to blog. At any rate, today I'm spending my day with my family. I think they still remember me. I have a couple days at home before I'm taking my staff away to a lake house for a couple of days to do some serious conversation about what the future holds for Northwood Student Ministry.
Here's a little recap of our adventure to Florida. I've done a lot of student trips in my time but this was one for the books.
Thursday: 5am - Everyone is on time except for the bus and it's driver. Bus arrives about ten minutes late.
Thursday: 1pm - Arrived safely in Florida however our four houses aren't ready to be checked into. five hours later we move in but one of our homes is a bedroom short of what we booked leaving us to scramble for places for everyone to sleep. Bus driver complains about our schedule and that he's staying in a hotel ten miles away (even though it's the nicest hotel in the area).
Thursday: 8:30pm - At Boggy Creek Airboat rides with a check for more than our balance. Wait for 30 minutes while our swamp boy friends figure out how to handle it. End up having a fun time on the Florida swamp.
Friday: Spend the day at Islands of Adventure. Great time, no complications. Bus driver complains once again about our schedule and what time we are heading home the next day.
Friday: 10:30pm - The two ladies' homes discover that while we were gone all day their homes were broken into and around $500 and six or seven iPods have been taken. Police are at the homes until 12:30am.
Saturday: Bus driver complains about cleanliness of the bus to a student prompting a frustrating conversation with him from me. Spend the day at Universal Studios. Almost no complications except for the Jaws Ride being so lame and having to go to guest services to retrieve two students who had gotten separated from our group.
Sunday: 12:15am - Arrive back in Charleston safely. Relieved that this trip is finally over.
All in all it wasn't the worst trip I've ever been on but it was one of the most unique. The kids were safe and well behaved. We didn't have to go to a hospital. I had a great time getting to know some students. I'm excited to see what we walk away with from our retreat this week. I'm quite sure we'll never have a trip like this one again.
Big thanks to my staff and volunteers for all their hard work and flexibility making this trip happen. I'd also like to thank the Sheriff's Deputies that patrolled our homes all night Friday. Let's hope that's the last time we have fingerprints taken on our trips.
Dude, you got me scared to go on my Breakaway next week!
Posted by: Sean Rheaume | July 28, 2008 at 04:18 PM
Hey...Sorry about all the craziness that happened. But I'm glad your here...even if it seems rough. lol. Keep at it philip! See you soon!
Posted by: Chelsie Brandhorst | July 28, 2008 at 10:11 PM
Sounds like a trying adventure. Glad everyone's safe.
Posted by: Randy | July 29, 2008 at 12:41 AM
omg i hope it was the last time with the whole fingerprint thing....lol
and i sooo cant believe the bus driver was complaining!! thats annoying....
but it was lots of fun && i cant wait for the next one!
we gotta have a winter breakaway or somethin....
lol
Posted by: karlee!! | July 29, 2008 at 10:33 PM
Thanks for all of the time and energy you put into this trip. The kids had a great time.
Posted by: Vickie Chapman | July 30, 2008 at 10:42 PM