NationStates Jolt Archive

Seriously, I need genuine advice.

Tomorrow, under severe duress, I'm going on an Outwards Bounds "adventure course" for a week. In regards to the exercise, thats not a problem. The outdoors, well, I could do with skin tone actually.

However, I have no idea what to expect pertinent to;

-other course members
-staff
-food
-activities

The crowning turd in the waterpipe is likely to be the fact that the course is centred upon "teamwork", and the fact smoking and drinking are prohibited.

Thus, assuming that I'm going, a fact I have no choice over, how do I approach the experiance, what do I do, and how I do interact in light of the fact that the other members will be chronically middle class, and, regrettably, socially retarded?

Relax.
Don't take offense at anything.
Be open to anything.
Try to have a "Can Do!" attitude.
And most importantly, relax.

Edit: I guess a better way to say it, is, since you have to do this anyway, choose to do it. It will be much more rewarding.

Well, for a start you could stop deriding these people as "chronically middle class" and therefore obviously "socially retarded" before you've even met them. That might be nice.

Well, for a start you could stop deriding these people as "chronically middle class" and therefore obviously "socially retarded" before you've even met them. That might be nice.

You do make a fair point. But then again, they're hardly likely to be uberalternative are they?

You do make a fair point. But then again, they're hardly likely to be uberalternative are they?
It's okay, man. Peace. Does it really matter what they're labeled as? You're going to get to know them at a whole different level than that.

It's okay, man. Peace. Does it really matter what they're labeled as? You're going to get to know them at a whole different level than that.

Firstly, yes it does matter what social label they are. I've worked damn hard to be a scene kid.:mad:

Secondly, thats what concerns me most. For some reason I find teamwork outside of sport to be bloody odious and straining.

You do make a fair point. But then again, they're hardly likely to be uberalternative are they?

It depends. Like I said, just wait until you've met them. Don't plan how you'll engage with them in advance, just treat each one as an individual and make it up as you go along. And yes, there is a good chance that they won't be uberalternative. But you might be pleasantly surprised. Have fun!

It depends. Like I said, just wait until you've met them. Don't plan how you'll engage with them in advance, just treat each one as an individual and make it up as you go along. And yes, there is a good chance that they won't be uberalternative. But you might be pleasantly surprised. Have fun!

Thank you. But the tone of "have fun!" fills me foreboding.

Do you know how long my threadmoan is going to be in a week?

Never even heard of such a trip so i'm probably not much help...But I've some experience with working in god-forsaken places in mountain ranges and wilderness.
Anyway, from what you've written (and sometimes with some real assholes):

It's only a week.
If you can't go a week without drinking, you've got bigger problems.
Smoke behind a tree.
Bad food is better than no food.
Again, if they're assholes, you only have to put up with them for a week, nobody is forcing you to make friends. If they're nice, you'll have a fun week.

Firstly, yes it does matter what social label they are. I've worked damn hard to be a scene kid.:mad:

Secondly, thats what concerns me most. For some reason I find teamwork outside of sport to be bloody odious and straining.

That's cool, too. You won't lose your sceneness. You might say this gig is a sport, too. After all, isn't it all just a game? ;)

That's cool, too. You won't lose your sceneness. You might say this gig is a sport, too. After all, isn't it all just a game? ;)

Nope.

I'm just concerned I'm gonna be surrounded by obnoxious spoilt brats for a week.

Nope.

I'm just concerned I'm gonna be surrounded by obnoxious spoilt brats for a week.
And they get to be around you for a week! It'll even out :cool:

Firstly, yes it does matter what social label they are. I've worked damn hard to be a scene kid.:mad:

Secondly, thats what concerns me most. For some reason I find teamwork outside of sport to be bloody odious and straining.
If you can figure out why you don't mind working as a team in sport, maybe you can apply that mindframe to these activities.
You can try and focus on getting the job done and succeeding/winning, if you're the competitive type, or if you want to prove yourself. If you like being the leader and organising people, try and take that role.

I don't think I'd expect much from the food... Go in with fairly low expectations, and maybe you'll get a pleasant surprise :p

Staff will probably be very cheerful and enthusiastic. Just accept that it's their job to be that way and try not to hold it against them, and sometimes they can actually be decent and normal folk.

With the people around you, I'd agree with advice given to just take them as they come, as individuals, as you should/would in any other situation.

Have a good time :) :fluffle:

And they get to be around you for a week! It'll even out :cool:

Me! I'm a breath of fresh air! A rose petal on the dung heap of society(ish)! How dare you insinuate I'm anything other than enviable company?;)

Seriously, I think I might just resign myself to a week of being open minded and open to "new experiances". It might actually be a positive affair....

Nope.

I'm just concerned I'm gonna be surrounded by obnoxious spoilt brats for a week.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/GermanNightmare/KillemAll.jpg

Oh. Wait. Don't do that! Just try to enjoy yourself, be open and relaxed - everything else will turn out fine. Hey, after all, if it doesn't work out you can still tell us next week, right? :p

Me! I'm a breath of fresh air! A rose petal on the dung heap of society(ish)! How dare you insinuate I'm anything other than enviable company?;)

Seriously, I think I might just resign myself to a week of being open minded and open to "new experiances". It might actually be a positive affair....
Yes, Grasshopper! Choose the inevitable! It might choose you back :)

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/GermanNightmare/KillemAll.jpg

Oh. Wait. Don't do that! Just try to enjoy yourself, be open and relaxed - everything else will turn out fine. Hey, after all, if it doesn't work out you can still tell us next week, right? :p
Yeah, try not to come back too gung-ho. Have a little misery to share with us ;)