Volleyball
When going to OPERS is an option for evening activities, I and many others find ourselves walking towards the field. Although activities such as ball tag are the ones actually advertised, a different game ends up being one of the main events — beach volleyball. As we walk towards OPERS, many people laugh and chatter about cluster happenings and other fun occurrences. But as we near the field, talks of past games and splitting teams becomes prevalent as everyone gets excited to play volleyball. Though many of us (myself included) have almost never played volleyball before these trips to OPERS, our lack of experience only adds to the awe of a great sequence of shots, while also lightening the mood of the game.. Whether your team is losing or winning, getting to have fun with friends is always a good excuse to keep playing. Finally, as the sky darkens and it becomes time to head back to our dorms, we end our last match and start the walk back, talking about the game that just ended, and about the games that we will play in the future. Whenever the opportunity arises, I and several others will surely find ourselves walking back to play volleyball again.
By: Advaith Mopuri
By: Advaith Mopuri
Kayaking
As a finale to our exciting first week at COSMOS, Clusters 10, 11, and 12 went kayaking at Santa Cruz Beach. With our neon green COSMOS shirts, we gathered in the quad waiting for the event that would be the highlight of our week. Provided with various options of snacks including turkey and cheese sandwiches, salads, and other fruits, we excitedly got on the bus. Although the ride from the UCSC campus to Santa Cruz Beach did not take very long, we felt a sense of excitement during the entire bus ride.
The chilly, salty sea breeze swarmed us as we got off our bus onto Santa Cruz Beach. There were not as many people on the beach as it was still early in the morning, and the fog made the weather quite cold. Before we went kayaking, we had a chance to hang out on the beach while waiting for other clusters to finish kayaking. Though the water was still very cold, students enjoyed their time on the beach while playing volleyball and wading into the ocean. After our time on the beach, it was time to kayak. We were instructed by the guides about the rules we have to follow before starting kayaking, such as staying away from wild and endangered sea otters and following the safety guidelines. After putting on our life jackets and sunscreens, we got on kayaks and started sailing. Though some of us were having trouble balancing ourselves and propelling forward, everyone slowly got the hang of kayaking. As we sailed away from the beach, we encountered many things that were quite rare for us to witness directly from the beach. There was a huge area covered in kelp, a group of wild sea otters, and the honking of sea lions below the boardwalk. We stayed on the ocean for about an hour and half, after which it was finally our time to go back to land. It took significantly less time to sail back as this time since the wind blew along with us and carried us towards the boardwalk. Although a few students became seasick and had to come back early, it was a refreshing experience for those of us who were tired from adjusting to the new environment. By: Michael Lee |
Crochet/Embroidery
Our second week at COSMOS was coming to an end, and there were numerous interesting evening activities to choose from. Students were faced with a dilemma when picking an activity to attend. The crochet/embroidery event was a popular choice. A number of students filled out the activity form as soon as it was made available, since there were only enough supplies for 40 students. Students waited with anticipation, hoping their name would be called for the event.
There was a lot of excited chatter on the walk to the Namaste Lounge. Students were already planning what they wanted to crochet and embroider. Some wanted to crochet scarves, while others wanted to embroider small designs on their own clothing! As we entered the Namaste Lounge, students rushed to the lines to grab materials. The room was filled with both experts and beginners who were eager to learn. The students who were experienced taught those who were new to the art. At first, it was a little tricky to get the hang of, but as time went on, we got better. Students munched on the provided snacks and talked to their new friends as they crocheted and embroidered. Coming into the activity as a beginner, I was very impressed with the purple flowers I embroidered! Later, I realized that flowers were a popular theme with embroidery. Sitting in the lounge reminded me of the American Girl Summer Camp I went to in elementary school! There were numerous conversations going on between the students about their experience at COSMOS, the favorite part of their week, and what they learned. The activity was very calming, and students let their creative juices flow. Some even made friendship bracelets for their new friends at COSMOS. The two and a half hours went by quickly, and students were sad to be leaving. Many took extra yarn and string to finish their creations later on. On the walk back to the dorms, students excitedly shared what they made with their friends. We were all impressed that everyone made such beautiful art, despite many of us being inexperienced. Overall, it was a relaxing and fun way to end our second week at COSMOS. By: Sneha Narayan |