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Camping continues
Aug. 5th, 2009 03:31 pmEveryone knows that the Duke of Wellington always said that the Battle of Waterloo was in reality won on the Quidditch pitch at Hogwarts. I think I've gotten a bit of an idea this week of what he was talking about. Dad talked with me earlier this week, about how the decisions you make when you're young, the people you align yourself with in your formative years at school, can entirely shape the rest of your life. Perhaps the next generation’s most crucial relationships are being formed, right now, in a tent pitched in the uplands of Cornwall.
It certainly has been an interesting week so far. Quite inspiring, really, to see how gifted teachers can encourage teamwork. Professor Sinistra has been reshuffling the groups of students every day. Today Lana Sandoval and I have been paired off, and we're in charge of a group of mostly Ravenclaws, although we have Zabini from Slytherin, Jones from Hufflepuff, and Neville and Pavarti from Gryffindor. This morning we spent learning about myths and magical creatures of the moor, a very amusing and spirited session led by Mr Wright, who works with the Magical Creatures Department at the Ministry. It was most kind of him to lend us his time. This afternoon is free time: Lana took about half the group off to hunt for falcon nests. The rest of the group is hanging around here the campsite. (Several individuals, who will remain unnamed, chose to remain behind for fear that clambering over the rocks might cause an unfortunate catastrophe, like breaking a nail. This was regarded by others--also unnamed--as ridiculously poor-spirited, but I think Lana and I have managed to stop the name-calling for now. It is evident that not everyone takes to camping like grindylows to water.)
It's been quite useful, I daresay, to give people the chance to socialise with others outside their own house. After all, isn't that what we'll all have to do once we all leave school? Some are very comfortable doing so. Frequently, of course, these are the students from the more established families, although there are a few, from a more mixed parentage background, who are also doing surprisingly well. It is so encouraging to see our students rise to new challenges, despite the handicaps in their upbringing that some are attempting to overcome.
Star-gazing is planned for tonight. We will have perfect weather for it, as the sky is perfectly clear. Well, it'll be moon-gazing, mostly, as the moon is full, and so the sky will be too bright to allow us to see much except the very brightest stars.
It certainly has been an interesting week so far. Quite inspiring, really, to see how gifted teachers can encourage teamwork. Professor Sinistra has been reshuffling the groups of students every day. Today Lana Sandoval and I have been paired off, and we're in charge of a group of mostly Ravenclaws, although we have Zabini from Slytherin, Jones from Hufflepuff, and Neville and Pavarti from Gryffindor. This morning we spent learning about myths and magical creatures of the moor, a very amusing and spirited session led by Mr Wright, who works with the Magical Creatures Department at the Ministry. It was most kind of him to lend us his time. This afternoon is free time: Lana took about half the group off to hunt for falcon nests. The rest of the group is hanging around here the campsite. (Several individuals, who will remain unnamed, chose to remain behind for fear that clambering over the rocks might cause an unfortunate catastrophe, like breaking a nail. This was regarded by others--also unnamed--as ridiculously poor-spirited, but I think Lana and I have managed to stop the name-calling for now. It is evident that not everyone takes to camping like grindylows to water.)
It's been quite useful, I daresay, to give people the chance to socialise with others outside their own house. After all, isn't that what we'll all have to do once we all leave school? Some are very comfortable doing so. Frequently, of course, these are the students from the more established families, although there are a few, from a more mixed parentage background, who are also doing surprisingly well. It is so encouraging to see our students rise to new challenges, despite the handicaps in their upbringing that some are attempting to overcome.
Star-gazing is planned for tonight. We will have perfect weather for it, as the sky is perfectly clear. Well, it'll be moon-gazing, mostly, as the moon is full, and so the sky will be too bright to allow us to see much except the very brightest stars.
