I have been on many trips, but my favorite one was going to Arates with my class. It was my first time going on a three-day trip, so I was both excited and nervous. Before leaving, I hugged my parents so tight and didn’t want to let them go because I knew I was going to be without them for three whole days! I was a little sad, but also very happy because I was going with my classmates, not with random students.
Before we left, we visited the Holy Trinity Church, and then we all jumped onto the bus and the adventure started. I already missed my parents, so I kept calling my mom every few minutes to say “I love you” and “I miss you.” I think she was getting a bit tired of my calls. The road was long, but the view kept getting more and more beautiful.
We passed through Yerevan, Artashat, Yeraskh, Areni, Getap, Yeghegis, and Hermon. On the way, we stopped at Zorats Church.
Finally, we arrived in Arates. We explored the area, saw the kitchen, the cute huts for girls and boys, and the place where we would have our campfire.
When we arrived, we explored everything. The kitchen, the small huts for girls and boys, and the place where we would later sit around the campfire. After resting a little, we had a first aid lesson near the campfire area. We learned how to help someone if they got hurt, how to bandage wounds, and how to stop bleeding. It felt serious but very useful.
We also spent a lot of time playing sports like volleyball, badminton, and football. In the mornings, we woke up early for exercise in the cool fresh air, then enjoyed breakfast together. Sometimes we hurried back to our cozy beds for a short rest before the next activity.
One of the most exciting parts was the shooting practice. We learned how to aim properly and hit the target. Everyone did well, and it was a very interesting experience. We also went hiking to the northern waterfall and walked through the Arates forest. There, we had a training activity with practice weapons. We worked in teams, walked carefully, listened for signals, and quickly lay down when we heard a “shot.” It felt like we were in a real adventure movie.
Later, we collected wood for the campfire and carried it back together. In the evening, we cooked and even made pancakes. I was so happy to help with baking. We ate, laughed, and enjoyed our sweet little party.
When it got dark, we sat around the warm campfire, listened to stories, talked, and shared our feelings. Those moments felt calm, cozy, and unforgettable.
During this trip, I learned many new things, including some military-style skills, but most importantly, I created beautiful memories with my friends.
