Welcome Days 2021

Welcome Days 2021

Looking for the 5th element

The Fifth Element. That was the theme for the Welcome Days 2021. None of us had any idea what that meant. We knew that the four elements were fire, water, air and earth. But the fifth one? Only question marks in our minds.

The first day

We met at Shilquai bus station on August 18 at 9:00 with our luggage and sleeping bags. Three large buses were there waiting for us – apparently, we were going on a slightly longer trip.

All the apprentices jumped on the buses and the journey started! After about hours of driving, we stopped in front of an area with several buildings. The compound was located on a hill surrounded by fields, trees and vineyards – with a breathtaking view of Lake Neuchâtel. Vaumarcus Le Camp was the name of our destination. We got our luggage back and marched to the main building to unload it there for the moment. The leaders of the Welcome Days greeted us warmly and explained the process and rules. However, they did not tell us what was on the agenda.

After lunch – we were all starving –, we had to get our rooms ready. There were almost two hundred apprentices at the camp, so of course we had to get to know each other a little. Caroline gave us different tasks to make sure that everyone had the opportunity to meet more people. We had to arrange ourselves according to height, then according to age group, occupational group and much more. And then we were able to enjoy our free time. There was really something for everyone. We could go swimming in the lake, hold ping-pong tournaments, play soccer, basketball or volleyball or go for a walk. In the evening, everyone gathered in the main building and dinner was served.

We were able to get an overview of who was present and which career paths were available. After dinner, we had some free time again, and even though many of us didn’t think it would be, it was quite chilly. People were walking around in long-sleeved clothes, which looked a bit funny since everyone had been complaining about the heat in the afternoon. It was lights out at 23:00. Felix said we would need some rest for the following day.

The second day

When Felix is right, he really is right. It was good that we went to bed early, because we needed all our energy, and things started right after breakfast: We were divided into groups of four. Many didn’t know each other, so it was a good way to meet people from other professions. The four elements were introduced to us through workshops. In the morning, we started with the elements of fire and air. For the element of fire, we used fireworks letters and shapes that we pasted onto cardboard and grids.

Air. It was time for some color. Large sheets, brushes and paint were laid out in front of us. Our task: To paint a team flag that reflects the values of Sunrise and UPC. Passion, one, bold – these were keywords we could use for inspiration, since this is the motto of Sunrise UPC. We had just a short time to do this as we were going to the lake in the afternoon. Everyone was completely immersed in the task, time literally flew by before we had to hand over our flags. We recharged our batteries with a quick lunch, packed our swimming gear and drove to the lake by bus.

We suspected we might be doing stand-up paddling. That turned out not to be quite right. A group of adults welcomed us and told us why we were there. Have you ever heard of dragon boats? No? Dragon boats are long, narrow boats for around twenty people to sit in and row. There are also dragon boat races, and that’s exactly what we did. We were divided into groups of twenty people and rowed out onto the lake. To get some practice, we got a few tips from the organizers on the fastest way to move forward. After about 45 minutes, all the boats stood at the starting line and were waiting for the starting signal. The race was a lot of fun for everyone, but we were completely exhausted by the time we got back onto dry land. When it came to the earth element, we were able to do as we pleased, because earth is also associated with rest. Many went to buy something to eat and some went for a swim or sunbathing. Towards the evening, we boarded the bus again and drove back to the compound. There, freshly grilled sausages, skewers and salad were waiting for us.

We all gathered in the small arena at dusk to enjoy the last evening. The homemade fireworks were set up in the correct order and were waiting to be lit. The whole show started with a fire performer. It was quite impressive. He created art with burning chains and torches as if it were the simplest thing in the world. At the end of his act, he handed Felix a flame thrower and Felix lit the fireworks with a big smile. The entire arena was lit up in different colors and you could hear people saying «wooowww» and «ahhhhh». It was a wonderful experience that we all enjoyed to the fullest. But what was the fifth element? You may have guessed: Team spirit! All of us together as one group!

The third day

It was home time already. After breakfast, we all had to clean our rooms and take our luggage to the bus. After that, we had to tidy up the entire camp site. When we were done, we picked up a lunch pack for the way back. Home time. Once we arrived in Zurich, we said goodbye and went our separate ways. Now it’s time for a big thank you to the Young Talents team and once again a warm welcome to the new apprentices.