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Imagine this: A yellow school bus waiting in the Hamilton
parking lot. It is only 6AM on a Saturday morning, and the bus is packed
with skis, snowboards, duffle bags, sleeping bags, pillows, boom boxes
and cartons of food from Costco. 60 University of Oregon students are
forming a straight line right next to the bus as they patiently wait.
They are tired, sleepy, groggy, and they shivering in the rain. They are
also multicultural and they represent many ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
Korean, Japanese, Filipino, Hmong, Latino, African-American, Chicano,
and Caucasian, one by one, step on to the bus and check their names off
at Executive Historian Ma Vang’s attendance sheet. Through complaints
and yawns, they slowly manage to smile as they see the looks of excitement,
anticipation and enthusiasm from nine Asian Pacific American Student Union
(APASU) executive team leaders.
&All right guys - Mt. Bachelor, here we come!” Programs Coordinator Aaron Lee's voice echoed through the bus. Among those in attendance were non-APASU members as well. There was representation from student government, members of various campus organizations, as well as friends from Oregon State University. The students crammed their bodies onto the packed bus. Some were even squeezed three bodies to one seat. Others sat and even fell asleep on the bus floor. The minute the bus halted, ending the four-hour drive, students became little children once again. They ran off the bus, hovered over the snow and threw snowballs at each other. From the first day, various activities were planned by the executive leaders to remember Martin Luther King Jr.’s influence and to get to know one another. We covered everything fun and educational,” noted APASU Office Manager Hang Huynh. “We held group discussions on racism and talked about September 11th and terrorism, next thing you knew, were playing Pictionary. We also ice-skated and had hilarious ice-breakers.” Huynh added, “That was a great way to kick off Day one.” The second day, however, turned out to be the opposite of what students were expecting of the ski retreat. Students dressed warmly and loaded the bus with their snowboards and skis, but on the way there the school bus broke down twice. Finally, when they arrived at Mt. Bachelor, they were saddened to find out that half of the ski lifts were closed down due to severe weather conditions. Students were confined to the bunny slopes which ignited many groans. Despite the disappointments, students took this time as an opportunity to bond and get to know each other better. They played card games, truth or dare, and laughed in unison. They talked about the issues and shared each other’s life experiences. The group had a very positive vibe,” Co-Director Jeanice Chieng said that everyone came together nicely and even those who didn’t know anyone at first were very open and friendly. One of the highlights of the ski retreat was to enjoy a full day of skiing up in the mountains. Even though that is not exactly what happened, everyone returned back to campus with positive things to say about their three-day experience. Rebecca Wyland, signed up for the ski retreat with high hopes, and she returned to campus with a smile.” It’s amazing how three days in a cabin can bring together students of all different races, ethnicities and backgrounds. Even though I didn’t get to snowboard, I had the time of my life.” |