I never thought that directly after getting back from a week of vacation in Florida, I would be in for even more fun in a “work” environment. But that’s exactly what happened. After a week of travelling around the southeastern US with various stops for good times along the way, I met up with a group of Gala team members near sundown at a campground in western MD. There were 10 of us in all and we camped out, Gala-style (which means we had everything we could possibly need for a party and then some - including a hydrangea centerpiece!).
We played games, sang songs, and had s’mores, of course. And we bonded. Oh, did we ever bond! With such a diverse group, it was fun to have us all be able to let loose and enjoy ourselves in such an atypical setting for us all. I mean, most of us had been camping (not Tala, but she really took to it) but this was definitely not our natural environment. So, while we had a couple non-native English speakers and some who were not enthused about life without a hair dryer, we all came together and had a great time in the woods (too great, according to the night caretaker).
The next morning, after a fantastic breakfast at local greasy spoon, Cindy Dee’s, we headed to the tubing outfit. An interesting West Virginia local drove us upriver and dropped us off to head out. Luckily, it was a beautiful day and the water was cool enough to refresh, but warm enough to relax. Plus there were even some rapids that got us wet (and flipped a few of us!).
The best part was that we just got to all relax and enjoy the day together - a Monday no less. Many people, when I told them about how the company I work for was taking us on a retreat for some team building, were astonished that in this economy, we would take time away from the office. I responded to them that in order to keep morale up, build a stronger, more supportive team, and keep everyone fresh and interested, taking a little time off on a Monday was a small price to pay. We shared experiences and memories that will keep us laughing and close-knit for a long time to come. And Tala not only camped and tubed for the first time, but overcame her fear of drowning! I can’t wait for next time!
Front Row, kneeling (left to right): Milton, Christian, Omar
Ladies, crouching: Jaime, Tala, Laura
Back Row, standing: Russell, Howard, Tom
Back Row, sort of standing, sort of crouching, awkwardly posing: Me!
~Noah Steurer, Director of Operations
No comments:
Post a Comment