As promised, a post for the girls about the girls :P
again in no particular order
The Photographer
Julie was there for the entire trip, documenting every single moment on camera of course, from the Popes arrival to our games nights, nothing was to be missed... not even us sleeping pilgrims. When she wasn't snapping shots, she could be found talking to giggle gutz or praying somewhere in deep concentration. This girl is someone who sees the world through a different lens, she could find a way to capture your soul and preserve it in all it's glory. She's a bubbly, enthusiastic but sometime contemplative person and I couldn't have thought of a better friend to make the trip with.
The Loud Girl
Melinda, oh where do I start with this one, she knows everyone and can retain basically every bit of information that's mentioned about anyone else. I've named her the loud girl because she is exactly that.. if ever you become lost with her, it wouldn't be long before you were found... all she has to do was open her mouth and we all know where she is. Not only was she loud when awake but also when asleep *snores* granted she did have a terrible cold that
loud night but still, who knew! She's not all about the talking and the attention, she's actually a wonderful listener and very good with advice, she's the first to notice when something is not quite right and is there with a joke or story to correct your sadness.
The Vegetarian
Jacinta was in someways the life of the party, sometimes intentionally, most times by default. The default attention came on the second week of the trip... if you've been to Spain before you'd know that their main diet consists of meat and bread, bread and meat and some more bread, by the second week poor Jacinta was running low on energy, iron and just about anything you can think of.. so after a few fainting spells she was indeed the centre of attention. Apart from this she is a simply hilarious woman, who could honestly talk to you for several hours about nothing or anything or whatever you please and when this time is up you'll feel well informed about the world and it's many wonders. To this day I can't help but smile when I see her cheery face
even though she hates photos and her pterodactyl face always makes me laugh.
The Musician
Mary Gale, the violinist, this girl is simply as quiet as a mouse and has a heart of GOLD... literally and angel in my eyes and her beautiful music filled our trip with song and dance, particularly the airport terminal jigs! This lovely girl is in fact on the road to the sisterhood.. leaving for the US very soon!
The Wonderer
Mary E, the leader of my group and yet the last to arrive at every destination. It was her first time overseas and so it was understandable that she simply felt the need to stop every 5 seconds and take a picture of the surroundings. Another quite one to add to the bunch, but could pack a punch of authority when needed. She's became a sister and a friend to us al by the end of the trip and her voice often filled the chapels with song.
The Love-Bird (1)
Shelby, the other half of the love birds, a simply gorgeous girl.. no kidding I don't think she ever had a hair out of place and she has the most lovely skin
coughsuperjealouscough. This girl was on the lookout for everyone and anyone at all times, she was all about getting to things on time with the right clothing and supplies and with enough time to return back before the next activity but not at all in a controlling way. When she wasn't helping one of us out she could be found with her boyfriend, being cute and stuff.
The Face-puller
Clair is a girl of very many faces, for someone that was home-schooled she sure knows knows how to make a group crack up, also for someone so gentle and seemingly quiet you don't every really expect her random photo-bombing. This girl could also be known as the lucky one, out of all the very many people who came to Madrid for WYD and out of those many thousands who are from Australia and even Sydney- she managed to score the most awesome deal... A meal with THE POPE as in the big guy, yes Le Pope, how lucky?!?!?! But honestly they couldn't have chosen a more humble, kind hearted and loving person to represent us all!
The Sister in Christ
Sister Rachel, ohh she is so sweet and believe it or not, really down to earth. I'm pretty sure she surprised a lot of us with how in-tune and up-to-date she was with everything that was happening with us the "youth" (
as i'm writing this and re-reading it I keep making the " " gesture with my hands- i'm so weird ). So after my breakdown @ the Vatican, she was there to comfort me with many words of reassurance and wisdom, that set me at rest in the craziness of it all. Our bus rides and conversations of marriage and the sisterhood have not been forgotten and will not for a great deal of time.
The Quiet Girl
Hazel was probably one of the quietest on the trip, I often forgot she was there until she popped up in photos or in the kitchen in the morning for breakfast. If ever she spoke it was only ever a nice comment or a short and sweet line of wisdom drawn from who knows where. Indeed she is a very kind and open person, who probably wouldn't mind listening to you and never shutting you up.
The Mum
Chrissy, our second mother and when I say this, i'm not kidding in the slightest, she cared for us as any mother would.. as though we were all her 1st borns. She has a laugh that could tear down a building and bring down a house, in the nicest way possible, honestly you could hear her laughter for miles if you needed to... and if you didn't, well i'm sorry but you'd still be hearing it. This lovely woman has the heart of a thousand and would never leave you in the dark, or cold, or out of the loop if it was in her power.
The Lost Girl
Kate is our little lost girl, we met her basically at the end of our journey and although the time spent together was not long, we adopted her as though she were family. Kate is a cute, fun, giggly girl from England who was left out in the heat after we were all sent away from the final masses of WYD. We took her in with her brother and a few friends and gave them a home in our accommodation, spent the evening playing games and sleeping on the floor.
So that's the girls... only took me like 1 yr to write this brief reflection... good job Elle! :P
