The 9th-grade retreat, August 28th-30th, led them to a foggy setting that was the site where reportedly nearly half of the grade last year was reported to have been sick. This misfortune occurred in a hotel in a mountainous part of Gunma, a 3-hour drive from Tokyo. As we arrived at the lodge we were met with humid and wet weather as typhoon Shanshan approached. The students looked past this issue and still embarked on the adventure of rafting, canyoning, and hiking. As Zen(‘28) remarked, “We knew the forecast was rough, but they weren’t going to let it ruin the adventure!”
The students also participated in activities such as hiking, rafting, and team building. They split up into four groups, groups A, B, C, and D where they cycled through activities.
Despite the heavy rain and thick fog upon arrival, the group embraced the challenges ahead. Rafting through turbulent waters was a highlight, as the typhoon’s approach made the river wild and unpredictable. “It felt like we were rafting through a hurricane,” joked Kentaro(‘28) after barely surviving the swirling waters.
Canyoning proved to be one of the most exhilarating parts of the retreat, with students sliding down waterfalls and navigating through rocky streams, The heavy downpour turned the natural slides into fast, rushing currents, adding both excitement and a hint of danger to the adventure. Drenched but undeterred, students laughed as they plunged into pools of water, their screams of joy echoing through the foggy canyon. “It was like a natural water park,” one student remarked.
As the final day’s hike approached it turned out to be the toughest yet, with muddy trails and slippery terrain as trees fell, rivers started following through the trails. Even though the hike was grueling, the students’ spirits never faltered, and laughter was heard despite the constant rain. The group powered through, their resilience shining through the thick fog. The sense of camaraderie grew as they encouraged one another, determined to avoid the fate of last year’s group.
At the end of the retreat, the students returned to the lodge, tired but triumphant. Unlike the year before, everyone stayed healthy and cheerful, marking the trip a major success. “We took on the typhoon, and we won!” Arihant(‘28) proudly declared, summing up the group’s feelings as they boarded the buses home, drenched but smiling.
