Adventure | A Weekend of Fun, Friendships, and Learning

This past weekend was amazing. I met so many great people, made lots of new friends, and have memories that I'll never forget. Today is the beginning of the International Leadership Conference; and after changing dorm rooms, lots of the mission trainees leaving, and a little bit of shopping (when in Rome!), it's time to start the next part of my trip here.

But first, here's a recap of what happened this weekend:

Friday I had expected a lie in, but even though my efforts were to stay in bed longer, the light coming through the window was just too strong for me to get back to sleep. I woke around 6:30 am, tried to sleep for another half hour or so, then decided I just wasn't going to be able to fall asleep again. So I watched caught up on social media (even thought at first the internet wasn't working in all but one corner- which happens at a certain time at night until the morning), watched Pretty Little Liars, and got ready fro my day. 

We went on a drive around, stopping at the beach for about 10 minutes (it was breathtaking), and then going to The Old Spaghetti House for lunch (just- yum). We even passed by the convention centre, where Comic Con is on every summer (this week, actually). I can't believe that many of my favourite TV show casts are going to be in the same city as me later this week. If only it had been a week later, I could have gone! 

Friday evening I got to meet my room mate, and we sat through a few presentations, as well as playing the infamous name game (it was a long game!).

Saturday was a great day. We learnt a lot of great skills and information regarding our training, as well as sitting on the grass eating delicious ice-cream, and getting assigned our missions. Just the thought of the memory of lazing about after lunch, sitting in the sun with our melting ice-creams (luckily the fact that I got ice-cream on my top doesn't ruin the memory), makes me smile.  

In the evening we had a barbecue dinner, where we posed for pictures, dressed up, and had fun.

After that, we found out where we were going to go on missions. And I'm excited, because I am going to China! Having only been to two continents and only two countries outside of Europe, this is pretty exciting!

Sunday wrapped up the end of our training. It was a bit of a longer day than Saturday, and we were all a lot more tired. Nonetheless, we had both lunch and dinner on the outdoor patio, which looks over a pool and an amazing view. We also went bowling in the evening, and had a blast, despite my fail at striking (the one time I did really well, it wasn't documented on camera). We said our goodbyes, as only three of 11 of us are staying for the ISLC. So it was a little nostalgic, but we're all going to stay in touch, which is nice. 

This weekend I met some of the nicest, most wonderful people, and I hope to continue friendships with them in the future. One of them is actually going to study in Dublin, which is great, and I just hope more of them decide to come to Ireland some day (one of them might be next summer, I do hope so!).

Today, I went shopping (of course) and ate lunch in Chipotle, whcih was a first for me. I had a chicken burrito, and it was really tasty! I also did an interview for a video this afternoon, so that was pretty fun to do, considering I make videos on YouTube!

So all in all, I am going to miss this past weekend. But I am ready for the excitement that is the ISLC!

It starts in about an hour, so I can't wait to see what this year brings. I'll be singing in the talent show, so that'll be lots of fun.

I better go get ready for ISLC now, but I hope to post more during the week, but it all depends on time. If not, I will post when I get home.

Sarah xxx

Operation Smile U-Voice Training Group 2016

Hanging out at the barbecue on the Saturday

Team China!

Irish Mission Trainees (Two "high school" students, an adult sponsor, and me- the U-Voice student)

The view at dinner.

Bowling! Team U-Voice 2016.

Getting our certificates.

Adventure | San Digeo Day One

Today I began a trip that I have anticipating all year. Ever since I decided during the last few months of my first year in college that I was going to apply for U-Voice mission training this year, I have thought about this trip non-stop. I can’t believe I am already on my way as I type this, sitting on the plane, eating nachos from those little snack boxes they hand out.

That’s one thing that’s great about long-haul flights, you can never go hungry cos they’re feeding you all the time! Another great thing, I suppose, is getting to do things you’re usually otherwise too occupied to do; like writing in your diary (something I almost never do anymore- I never have the time!), watching movies drawing, reading a book or a magazine, writing blog posts (obviously), and believe or not, a snooze (which can be hard to get in when you have a hectic lifestyle, sometimes it’s difficult to get enough sleep at night!). Apart from all that, it can get tiring and rather difficult to be cooped up on a plane for so long.  So here I am, trying to occupy myself whilst doing something productive. The only downside is the fact that there’s no internet (there can be on some airlines), so I can’t post this blog straight away, or check my emails for anything important, or contact people to pass the time. But it’s alright really, the time does seem to go by quick enough. Another downside can be the food- when they run out of the one you want and only have the one you don’t, or when you’re not fond of a certain type of chocolate, and they hand that very one out…. And the list could go on, but you get the gist. The food isn’t always great. But there’s nearly always at least something you’ll like in the tray or snack box!

Right now I am passing over Hudson Bay, and have roughly four and a half hours to go. It was written 10 and half hours of air travel at the beginning of the flight, but I think it’s definitely been longer than that…. Or at least around that long. So, it’s not 100% accurate. But at least there’s only a couple of hours left before I land in the sunny land of California! I cannot express how excited I am! There’ll be people from all over the world, and funnily enough, I get along better with foreigners than Irish people (not every Irish person, just in general I do get along with foreigners more, maybe it’s my Belgian side- yes, I am half Belgian for those of you who don’t know- that overpowers when making friends), so it’ll be great to meet new (and old) people from different corners of the world over there!

Anyway, I think it’s time to change activity and stretch my legs a bit too (and finish off my snacks, I’m on a cereal bar now; oats and honey!). I will write again soon, and hopefully when you’re reading this, I will be ready to get comfy in bed in San Diego!

Sarah xxx

P.S. It's the next morning when I'm posting this, I can't believe I'm in San Diego now! So surreal. Those of us (out of the Irish group) doing training have a few hours free today, so I think we're going to the beach or something! It's going to be a great trip!  Let the fun begin!

Last night's view from my window.

The view this morning.

Adventure | Operation Smile: Trip to San Diego

Next week I am off to the US for mission training (to be a student journalist on a medical mission) and the International Leadership Conference. I am extremely excited, as I haven't been to the US before, aside from Atlanta airport when I went on my last mission to Mexico.

Operation Smile is extremely important to me, and being able to get involved with lots of people from all over the world in a completely different continent is very exciting. I get to spend 11 days with people who share the same passion as me, while having fun and gaining beneficial skills that will last me a lifetime. It's a charity that gives great importance to their Student Programs, ensuring that young people learn the important skills needed to lead in the future. The conference is a fantastic opportunity to gain these skills and for us, as young people, to make the world a better place (one smile at a time!). 

I have been to three conferences, two local Irish ones (2011/2012), and an international one in 2014. I love how everyone there is so willing to help and are so invested in it. To me, there is no question about volunteering, it's almost instinctive, as I have grown up involved in the charity, and as I was born with a cleft myself. Operation Smile is amongst my favourite things in life (next to musical theatre, fandoms and chocolate of course!), and I don't know what I'd do without it! It's true that sometimes I think that my life would have been easier without being born with a cleft, but then I think about how I wouldn't be volunteering for Operation Smile, at least not to the extent that I do now. Maybe I would have gotten involved in another charity, but, like everything else, there's no knowing what my life would have been like. It is then that I conclude that without my cleft, some of the most amazing experiences I have had have been with Operation Smile.

I am especially excited for my trip next week, and everything OpSmile have to throw at me. I will get to be in a whole new country, and get to meet new people, and some old ones. I will learn things, brush up on some things I already know, and come home with skills that I will have for the rest of my life. Most of all, I will have fun doing something I love. It's going to be a great experience, and I can't wait to see all the terrific surprises they have for us!

Sarah xxx