On May 16 and 17, the Balaton did not show its face known from postcards. The wind rippled the grayish water, the rain tapped on the windows in tiny droplets, and because of the cold weather, many might have preferred to stay at home. However, the participants of the Csányi Foundation’s token-collecting trip will remember these two days quite differently. For them, it was not the weather that was most important, but the experience of being together, laughing, playing, and breaking away a little from everyday life.
The reward trip was open to those children who performed most successfully in the token-collecting competition. Although the participants hoped that the sun would come out, the bad weather ultimately could not spoil the mood at all.
The children adapted to everything almost in moments. On Saturday, despite the rain, they explored the streets of Siófok in good spirits, and in the afternoon, they threw themselves into the interactive adventure game as a real team. During the tasks, skill, creativity, and a sense of humor were needed at the same time—and there was no shortage of the latter in anyone. The funny photos taken in the rooms, the joint brainstorming, and the lighthearted fooling around dissolved the disappointment caused by the weather in moments. Many times, such loud laughter filled the corridors that one could hardly even notice the pouring rain outside.
The evening remained especially memorable for everyone. During the detective language game, the children tried to solve in English or German who the “murderer” of the story could be. The initial excitement was soon replaced by enthusiastic competition and the joy of the game. The participants immersed themselves in the roles so much that during the acting out of the scenes, laughter broke out almost every minute. There were those who searched for clues like real detectives, while others entertained the company with their acting talent.
The long-awaited sunshine did not arrive on Sunday either, but by then, this did not really bother anyone anymore. The strange world of the upside-down house held another dose of laughter. The children tried to find their way around the upside-down rooms, sometimes holding on, sometimes with uncertain steps.
In the end, the team said goodbye to the stormy Balaton with a smile, and everyone returned home with experiences, stories, and plenty of shared memories.