Task #46: Bouldering (Kim)

46.  Try Bouldering - Indoor Rock Climbing Without a Harness

I headed to Caribiner's, an indoor rock climbing facility in Fairfield, this past week to try bouldering.  Well, I didn't last very long on the bouldering part, but I attempted it a few times and took pictures of my friends' attempts.  The facility was an interesting place.  We stayed mostly on the lower levels - V0 and V1 - because those were tough enough for us as inexperienced rock wall-ers.  Anything that involved a jump from one part to another was risky because you don't wear a harness, so if you fall, you fall to the ground.  

Pieces of tape designated each path on the wall.  We purchased one chalk bag and had our first experience wearing rock climbing shoes.

Since the facility was practically empty when we went, the instructors helped us figure out how to maneuver different paths.  

My friends are considering returning again because it wasn't a very expensive adventure.  I would come again but mostly to witness their progress - it is fun to watch but I would rather just watch.  

Task #40: Wake Up and Watch the Sun Rise (Rachael)

40. Watch the sunrise

While brainstorming the final tasks, I realized I had never watched the sunrise so being the wonderful friend that I am, I forced my friends to wake up with me at 6:45. They definitely appreciated it no matter what they said.

Task #37: Learn How to Take Blood Pressure (Kim)

37.  Learn How to Take Blood Pressure

My mom has worked as a nurse for years, and she is currently teaching students at NCC in the medical assistant program.  Other than taking lifeguarding CPR and AED training classes and volunteering recreationally at a convalescent home, I have little medical experience.  Because my mom has so much experience in the medical field and I know very little, I wanted to learn a skill she teaches her students as part of my Project Explore.

Learning how to take blood pressure properly takes a lot of practice.  I practiced a few times prior to this video, but mastering the skill would take much longer than it seems on this video.  Prior to me practicing on the video, my mom filmed a short tutorial.  We were able to practice in her lab classroom at NCC on what is called a "sim-man".  Being in this type of classroom was a new experience too because it is clearly not a typical academic classroom.

Here is the short tutorial on taking blood pressure and me practicing on the simulator:

Task #34: Attend the Chinese Fair at McMahon CGS (Rachael and Kim)

33. Attend the Chinese fair at McMahon CGS.

As one of our tasks, we wanted to attend a language class at the McMahon Center for Global Studies.  Norwalk High does not offer the variety of languages and the same cultural experiences offered at McMahon, so we wanted to try it out for ourselves.  Mr. Karl put us in contact with a person at McMahon, and we heard about the Chinese New Year fair.

When we arrived, we were exposed to a number of things, including calligraphy, tai chi, paper lantern making, using chopsticks, dumpling making, and Dragon Dance.

I really enjoyed learning calligraphy from a Chinese student.  It was amazing because although we could not communicate well with one another, she was able to teach us so much in a short amount of time.

John taught Rachael how to prepare a dumpling.

He also taught Rachael how to fill the dumplings with a mixture containing scallions.

Making dumplings in the kitchen.

Signs denoted each station. 

We practiced picking up M & M's and marshmallows with chopsticks.

A Chinese student tried to teach Rachael and I how to write "Happy New Year" in Chinese.  

A Chinese game.  McMahon students kicked lanterns and tried to keep them up in the air. 

Tai chi taught by a Chinese instructor.

Calligraphy done by other McMahon students.

Rachael and I attempted to copy the calligraphy on paper that divided the space and made it easier to follow.

The calligraphy table.

Task #33: Go Paddle Boarding (Rachael)

Task 32: Go Paddle Boarding

We started our Project Explore in the summer, but we did not establish our blog until the fall. Needless to say, I am a little late posting this task. This past summer, paddle boarding was on my "bucket list". My friends Hannah and Haley have a house on a lake as well as a paddle board, so it was a perfect match. Results shown below (P.S. we didn't fall off!).

Task #32: Attend a Hypnotist Show (Kim and Rachael)

32.  Attend a Hypnotist Show

Hypnotist and mentalist Ronny Romm visited Norwalk High School, and Rachael and I decided it would be interesting to attend the event to learn about hypnosis and be entertained.  Hypnosis is all about the power of suggestion.  We wanted to decide for ourselves what to believe.  Ronny Romm asked for volunteers, and these are the brave people who volunteered from Norwalk High School.

First, Ronny Romm demonstrated his powers of ESP.  He asked several volunteers specific details about their dream vacation, including the location, price, flight number, and airline.  He showed that prior to the show, he had written down exactly what they said.  This didn't exactly have me convinced because I figured he could have written it down some other way.

I thought the show became most interesting when he began the first phase of hypnosis - induction.  After speaking to the volunteers, periodically snapping his fingers, and asking the volunteers to focus on his voice, Ronny Romm asked them to stick their hands together.  After a lengthy description of the feeling of their hands being stuck, he told them that they would not be able to get their hands unstuck.  Sure enough, some of the volunteers could not get their hands unstuck.

From the stage, the show looked believable.  For the most part, those under hypnosis followed Ronny Romm's instructions.  However, I asked a few participants how they felt about it afterwards, and a few claimed they did not feel anything.  Whether or not the hypnosis was effective, it was an interesting show and entertaining to watch.  

Here is Ronny Romm putting the volunteers under hypnosis and a few of their actions during the experience:

Task #28: Attend an Overnight Retreat (Kim)

28.  Attend an Overnight Retreat 

With St. Philips Church, I was able to participate in an Overnight Retreat and spend a night with the Confirmation candidates and other members of the Confirmation team.  Though the pictures may look more like a pajama party, prior to taking these pictures was a time of fun, meditation, and prayer.  We sang songs, read passages from the Bible, and team members lead small group activities like the Water of Life activity.  In the Water of Life activity, candidates created a target-like diagram to depict what people are closest to them in their lives and can guide them through tough decisions in high school.  Along with a team member partner, I lead an skit activity within my small group.  Each group was assigned one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit which the Confirmation candidates will receive on Confirmation Day.  My group depicted wisdom in a humorous way comparing it to the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren.  Though many of the activities were humorous and light-hearted, the meaning behind each of them was significant.  It was not appropriate to take pictures for Project 52 during these activities; however, after the retreat part of the night was over we took some pictures back in our room.  This was at about 1 a.m; the candidates had gone to sleep, and we had just held a team meeting about the evening's accomplishments.  The next morning, the candidates' parents arrived for a support session prior to a delicious breakfast.  Then, tired but feeling good about the experience simultaneously, we all headed home.

Task #27: Singing Grams

27.  Buy Singing Grams for friends and teachers; record reactions.  

Singing Grams are a Norwalk High tradition on or before Valentine's Day.  To raise money for the Music Department, Chamber Singers dress up and interrupt class to deliver "singing grams".  Students pay to have classmates or teachers sung to in front of their entire class. Rachael and I bought singing grams for several of our teachers and friends.  Rachael also received several singing grams and two are in this video.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Task #23: Writing Experience (Rachael)

23. Writing Experience 

Kim and I are reaching the mid point of our project as we are coming up on our twenty third idea. Project explore had been pretty slow over the break, and we started to brain storm another batch of ideas in choir when we reached the conclusion that not every blog post had to be planned. This notion sparked when I began to tell Kim about what I had done the previous weekend. I babysat for an Orthodox Jewish Family and being the curious critter that I am, I bombarded the little rascals with questions regarding their faith and way of life.

When I walked in all of the children were cleaning up from what seemed to be the evening prayer. They were putting away the "Gartel" which Ellie explained to me as a mini Torah or a Prayer tool similar to a Mazuzah. It is used during the ritual of night time prayer. This was intriguing because I have never experienced anything like that.

It was also very obvious that God has a major presence in these children's lives.  When I asked the boys to sleep, Ellie remarked "But Hashem's not sleeping right?" This comment took me back in two regards. First of all, I did not realize that the word Hashem was a reference to God. I was also very shaken that this little boy had expected me to know the answer to a religion specific question. All though I do not remember what I responded I do remember that this comment put me very off guard.

It is very important to note the fact that even though there is such a difference in culture the children I babysat were very much children indeed! They begged to play games on my phone, asked me to read them books and fought with me when I asked them to go to bed up to the very moment their mom got home! The experience as a whole was very eye opening and interesting to be able to look at a home so rich with culture and religion.

Task #22: Snow Graffiti (Kim)

22.  Snow Graffiti

With the impending snowstorm Juno, I decided to look up non-traditional snow day activities.  Project Explore motivated me.  I tore myself from the Netflix and hot chocolate (after some shoveling this morning, of course) and went out there in the cold.  My neighbor Olivia DiMarco and I put food coloring and water in several spray bottles to make "snow graffiti".  A very unappreciated art form, in my opinion.

In the spirit of Project 52, we used the remainder of our food coloring to splatter colors around 52.  

Before we splattered the remainders of the solutions around it!

We also used sprinkles in the snow to fill in drawings.

Task #21 Completed: What Advice Would You Give to a Large Group of People? (Humans of New York Inspired)

The Humans of New York blog was a big inspiration for our project.  As part of Brandon Stanton's posts, he often asks people: "What piece of advice would you give to a large group of people?" because his blog has such a large following and impact.  Brandon Stanton's page can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/humansofnewyork.  (Note:  He has recently raised over $700,000 for an underprivileged school in Brownsville, New York after interviewing one of the students for Humans of New York.  The campaign is still going on and a link to donate can be found on his page.)

Our project will be seen by many Norwalk High students and teachers, and we want them to take away something from it.  At the end of our project, we plan to share our advice from completing 52 new tasks.  But on the journey, we wanted to take advice from others.  We planned to only ask ten people this question.  However, after answers ranging from comical to profound, we continued to ask other students and teachers because it was simply interesting.  (side note: these pictures were taken with an iPhone and the glare was pretty terrible as I'm sure you'll notice, so the black and white edits are an attempt to mask the glare)

What advice would you give to a large group of people?

Michael: Everyday is a challenge, but if you look at life with the glass half full instead of empty, you realize the beauty of it.  Because in the end...there is still something in the cup.

Olivia: Don't poke the sleeping bear.  Watch as it naps cutely and pretend that it won't bite your head off and then leave before it wakes up and everyone is good.

Mr. Foldeak: Remember that everyone sees the world a little differently and that doesn't mean your way is the right way.

Madame Graf: Never give up.

Catherine Robinson:
See things from other people's perspective.

Cara decided to write out a quote on her cell phone, which is next to her portrait and reads: "Never hide your scars because they show that you are stronger than whatever decided to hurt you."

Madison Pia: "Don't screw with Mr. Couture!"

Mr. Couture: "To Madison, I concur.  But as for the piece of advice, I say never settle for mediocrity."

Rimon (left): Don't do drugs.
Amanda: Eat green olives.
Jacob: Join Seniors Helping Seniors and help the elderly.

Izzy (left): Don't park next to white vans.
Sabrina: You get out what you put in.

Lindsey: Live life better than its fullest.

Janique: The grass is always greener on the other side.

Emily (left): Everything happens for a reason.
Alyssa: Don't talk to strangers.

Liza (provided photo): Gym is like prison, and you're a delinquent: it's mandated, and you have to undress.

Mr. Von Arter: Never settle for less than your best.

Janai: It's okay to let people go.

Mr. O'Shaughnessy could not produce one phrase as a piece of advice.  When I initially asked him, he asked me for a specific audience to address because he had so many pieces of advice to provide.  Although Brandon Stanton keeps his question vague and simply asks for a "large group of people", I told him the audience would be high school students.  We are hoping this project will have an impact on high school students.  When I returned, Mr. O' Shaughnessy had generalized and printed out a letter he wrote to a student preparing to enter teaching.  Mr. O'Shaughnessy's thoughtful response and very intellectual and well written letter reminds me why I care about this project.  I want to not only have unforgettable experiences myself but to be able to use them for good in the future.  Mr. O' Shaughnessy advised the student to connect love with wisdom, "establish and maintain such personal relationships because [the students] are ever-changing and enduring."  He reminds this student never to forget the passion that brought him to teaching and to admire and "seek counsel" from "people who excel in other professions and colleagues in other academic disciplines".  I find Mr. O's letter to be practically a guidebook for becoming a great teacher.  But it is also a reminder to us working on Project Explore to be diligent and precise because we want our 52 things to make a difference in other people's lives.

Maria: Don't dwell on the past and live for the future.

Mariah Smalls:
If you're going through something, this too shall pass.

Our Project Explore mentor, Ms. Morris:
Take one day at a time, and make sure to really live that day.

Angela: Stay strong and believe in yourself.

Gracie Bradley: Carpe diem!

Hannah: Do what makes you happiest.  And don't eat yellow snow.

This was one of my favorite tasks so far because it not only raised awareness for our project but got people involved and made them really think about this weighty question.  It also got us thinking about what our answers will be after we finish this project.

We will share our pieces of advice at our Project Explore presentation in May, after we have had 52 new experiences.

-Rachael and Kim