Before I had found out about the Caring Cancer Trust and got involved with their ski trips, going skiing is something I always wanted to do. It was one of them things on my bucket list.
My senior school did ski trips every year but we could just never really afford to go.
In year 9, a few of my friends went on the ski trip and I did want to go but I just knew we didn't have the money, but then I mentioned it to my mum when the opportunity to come up to go on the next trip and she offered to scrape some money together so that I could go, purely because I had never been abroad with the school and my sister went twice when she was in school so mum thought it was only fair.
Unfortuantly, I was late to get a place so I was put on the waiting list and never did get a place on that trip, but it meant I was guarenteed a place on the trip in year 11, and so I went..
I was so so so nervous because as much as I knew some of the people going, I wouldn't say I was close friends with them and I never really spoke to them much and none of my own friends were going. It was possibly the biggest step out of my comfort zone I have ever taken!
When I got on the coach, I just sort of sat in a seat on my own because I didn't know anyone to sit next to. Not long after, the two girls, Megan and Jodie, I knew most on the trip got onto the coach and Megan had her sister with her, Rhiannon, a year 8 who also didn't know anyone on the trip apart from her sister so she sat next to me and Megan and Jodie sat on the other side of the isle. It took a while to get talking, but after an hour or so we couldn't stop. All three of them made me feel so comfortable!
It took twenty-something long hours on the coach with long chats, uncomfortableness and a lack of sleep before we arrived in Saalbach, Austria and were greeted by these stunning views!
When we arrived at our hotel, I found I was sharing a room with three other girls, Molly, Aimee and Rhia, three girls who I'd never really said more than a few words to but who all already knew each other.. But they made me feel so relaxed and at ease straight away and I ended up really enjoying sharing a room with them!
Althought I did feel bad because I always got the hot shower and they all managed to get the cold shower.. (everyone in the hotel showered as soon as we got back everyday so the hotel's hot water ran out SO quickly but I managed to time my showers just right and get the hot water, I was just super lucky I guess).
Over the week, I became friends with a lot more people on the trip and become really quite close with Molly (in the picture above) and Rhiannon. I ended up having such a good week with everyone despite being really nervous and not knowing any of them at the start!
The teachers who took us were absoloutely amazing, especially Miss Nineham. I had a few shakey moments throughout the trip, being ill, mild panic attacks on the slopes etc, but she stuck by me the whole time making sure I was okay and she was my rock through that week. I had a really close bond with her back at school after the trip too and I couldn't thank her enough for the amount she has helped me really.
One main story that really made me laugh throughout the week is that some how a rumour (which I really wish was true!) had got out that I was a professional snowboarder and I had won gold medals in world championships and things..
I remember telling one or two people that I had snowboarded the year before and I was going again the day after we got home, but somehow that esculated into this story and so many people were asking me all different questions about it and I really really don't know how it got so big!
It did make my week though, it was so funny!
As well as skiing, we got to go to different places in the evenings such as a party, a big massive (and I must say amazing!) swimming pool and to watch a game of professional ice hockey.
The ice hockey was actually really intersting! Even though I can't remember who was actually playing and who won.. haha! It's such an underated sport in the UK!
Overall, as much as I was nervous and scared at the start of the week, I had such a brilliant week and it was spent with brilliant people and I am SO glad that I stepped out of my comfort zone and I said yes and went on this trip because it was an amazing experience and it has built me up so much and gave me the confidence to do so much more on my own!
One thing I did learn was I am a dreadful skiier and ski boots are the worlds most uncomfiest things.. I'll stick to snowboarding from now on!
Are you ever too scared to do things or go places without your friends? Don't be! It's really not worth relying on other people to go with. You can still have an amazing time on your own and meeting new people!
Don't be afraid,
Say Yes!
