We sat in the glow of the campfire, faces illuminated not by the fiery light but by the energy and excitement of our day. The sense of unity spread, sweeping along with every song. Around the circle all were equals, harmonizing atrociously but having fun nonetheless. Late night hikers cringed as they passed our camp and the birds complained loudly, but inside that little circle, the noise we were making was the most beautiful sound in the world.
This was only one of many wonderful memories I’ll have from Tioman Island. Malaysia Week is supposed to be the “Classroom without walls”, but it’s really so much more. Fun and serious learning seemed grossly disproportionate at the time. But now that I look back, I realize just how much I truly learned- and saw. It doesn’t matter how many times in the class we had recited the diversity in mangroves. Snorkeling through the brackish water, careful not to upset the delicate, muddy ground, life darted all around us. Who could overlook or be bored by diversity with that?
Along with all the information we learned, but I also grew socially. Living with a lovable mixture of buffoons, geniuses, and friendly average kids really taught me how to collaborate with everyone. Waking up every morning to the sound of farting noises made by our FAVORITE mischievous boys, my tolerance developed exponentially. (And our favorite boys should count themselves lucky that it did grow, as a grumpy, 5"7 teenage girl, red hair mussed up fearfully, chasing after them at 7 in the morning isn't in their best interests.) Spending time with my friends actually made me appreciate those few precious times of silence. The days were filled with work, the nights with laughter and conversation (and a bit of sleep). This Malaysia week I developed socially and my knowledge of eco-friendliness increased.
I didn't struggle with many things on this site. I was capable of the hikes, tough enough to overcome the grossness of composts and nature, and clean enough to keep up my health. Of course it was difficult to deal with hygiene complications, such as a communal hole in the ground for the purpose of a toilet, or sandy hair unwashed for two days. But in the end, everything contributed to the experience. I learned that all I really need to have a good time is some quality people in a beautiful place. The easiest part of Malaysia week was the snorkeling. I didn't really have to swim that often since I had a life jacket. It was also really fun to lay on the beach with my friends, both old and new. Socializing was overall the highest point for me.
