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Challenge day, which lasted for 6 hours at my first Amigos de las Americas retreat, was... honestly one of the most emotional things I've gone through. Also fun, but extremely eye-opening. I'll try to explain.
How about I start with what went on in the beginning?
So, for starters, our Challenge Day leaders were phenomenally enthusiastic, and I lovels them. Whenever either of them said "we are going to play a game", we were to LEAP out our seats and dance until the music stopped. Then we played the game.
We played games in which we had to pair up with someone who had different eyes, height, etc., and the first thing we did was link arms so we were back to back, and booty dance with a person we'd never met. Then introduce, answer a question said to us, then say goodbye. Many-a-times, and yes, it WAS amusing as heck. We played another game, where many of us kept having to sit on peoples laps. ((Move two seats to the right if you are wearing jeans, and sit, whether someone is sitting there or not! funny to see the stacks of people on one chair. XD)) hug tag (WITH SQUISHY THINGS!), got hug lessons, and various other games which have slipped my mind. XD Like, stuff where you run to find another place in the circle if you're 'wearing a striped shirt' or something. ((haveing 66 people flail running makes it HARD.))
Then, it grew more serious. A lot more serious. We got in random groups of 6 or so, and sat knee-to-knee in a circle. We all said 'if you really knew me, you would know that..." and said something very personal. Then the everyone re-clumped, and we talked about stereotypes, and the 'be a man' box which men have to deal with, and the iceburg image thing. You see only 10%... what's below that? Our leaders told us their stories. They... were hard... torment at 12 for being a Mexican immagrant.... the other being bullied then later beating up their younger sister who they weren't mad at even though he loved her because he had held in everything. Then we got in our little groups again, and all talked again, about our own iceburgs. At least half of our group cried, and I could see the other two were definately shaken. I found out things I would have never guessed... hit by parents, drug abuse in their families, death of a parent, near death of a relative... my story never got close.
And you know what? That wasn't the most intense part.
Not even close.
The next activity is one I shall forever carry with me. The 'Power Shuffle'.
A long piece of blue tape was placed on the floor, seperating the room mostly in half. Everyone stood on one side. One of our leaders would say "Please cross the line if you are/have ever....." At first they were things like are a girl/boy, are Latino, are Asian, are Black or African-American, etc. Things more racial. They would say things like "why do we separate like this? When did this start? Why do we have to judge by something like the color of our skin?"
Then came other questions. I can recall some examples.
Please cross the line if....
You have ever been held back from doing something just because you are a woman (applies to women only)
You have been told to suck it up, be a man, or anything of the sort (applies to men)
You have ever been harrassed, teased, or abused because of your religion
Anyone has ever used religion as a way to put you down, being it yours or theirs to say you were wrong.
You have ever been harrassed, teased, or abused because of the color of you skin
You have been teased or made fun of for being short or smaller
You have been called anorexic or skinny
You have been called fat
You know someone who is gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender
You have ever considered or ran away from home
You have ever been harrassed, teased, or put down because you are poor
You consider yourself to be poor
You have ever had a family member, or been yourself, homeless, or afraid of being homeless.
You have ever been teased, harrassed, or abused for the color of you skin
Your parents are devorced
You are adopted or don't know one or both of your parents
You are scared or have been scared about the physical or mental safety of someone close to you
Yomeone in your family has a disability or learning disorder
You have been hit by your family
A close friend or immediate family member has died
You have witnessed someone be beaten or killed
You have witnessed someone close to you be beaten or killed
Someone in your family suffers from drug abuse
Someone in your family is an alchoholic
You have ever been hurt or have hurt a family member physically or mentally
You have lost one or have lost both parents
Someone in your family suffers from a life-threatening disease
Someone you know has been killed by driving under the influence
Someone you know has considered, attempted, or committed suicide
This is a list that seemingly had no end, and that is probably only half of it. I intend to finish it if I can get ahold of the questions that were used. All the while, for those who reminded on and behind the line, we held up our hand or hands, making the international sign for 'I love you' and sending love to those who crossed. Sometimes, it was sent back. Rarely did only a few people cross... once or twice, only one person crossed. They received love ten-fold. Those who crossed held onto those who needed support, and I saw people cry I didn't think I would. Those who didn't, you could tell that it was their equivelant, that look in their eyes, and the way they held themselves. The final question was 'if you have ever been a child. If you ever had that chance to not worry about everything and just be yourself.'
Not everyone crossed. There were about ten people left. Those were the people.... who never had that chance to be a kid. They were forced to grow up too fast. So much love was sent back to them.
After, we got back in our little temporary families of six or so and talked about it. I.... I can't describe it. I found out a little more about the people in my group. I have some connection with these people that isn't as close with a lot of you, but something that's on a completely different level. They will never be close friends, but it is oddly relieving to tell things to people who you don't know.
After, we all thought about something we would take a stand for, and some of us stood and told everyone. By the end of that we'd all stopped crying, and were feeling a little perky-er, though emotionally exhausted. Of course, although later we used being tired to get out of another activity, we all stayed up way past 'bed time' to talk and hang out. XD Dinner was eaten, another activity that was rather... *cough* dull ensued, then we all begged for free time.
We woke up too early this morning, cleaned, had a hug circle, and departed. It was an amazing, emotion-wracking experience I'll never forget. *holds up hand in love sign* Never forget you daily dose of twelve hugs, got it?!
<3
 nwoy · Sun Nov 11, 2007 @ 09:41pm · 2 Comments |
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