Recently, we had our last Consent Café at Khalsa College, and it felt like such a good ending to our Consent Cafés. It was such a beautiful university with a seemingly rich history, and we were really excited to be there. The faculty and students seemed to be just as excited, which has been a common theme throughout all of the schools we have visited. I felt like I really connected with the group of students I was with. We bonded over colouring, candies, and just having conversations together. It feels somewhat surreal that the Consent Cafés are finished because it feels like the experience has gone by so quickly. I knew it would, but now that they are over, I realize just how quickly the time has actually passed. It feels bittersweet because it’s sad that it’s our time here is almost over but also happy and proud of what we have accomplished as a group.
The word “chameleon” comes to mind when I think about our ability as a group and individuals to adapt and figure things out along the way, especially when it comes to facilitating the Consent Cafés and being around different groups of students. I feel like our ability to adapt and change depending on the situation we are in is such a beautiful thing and an important life skill to have. I feel proud of myself for being able to read a room (for the most part) and adapt myself accordingly as well. One example of this happened when a few of us were trying to find a washroom at one of the schools. A student offered to show us where it was, so we followed her into a different building and somehow ended up in the principal’s office. Even though we were slightly taken aback and confused about how we ended up there, we adapted to the situation, respectfully answered some of the principal’s questions, made some light conversation, and eventually figured out where the washroom was before making our way back to the Consent Café. Looking back, it was actually a funny experience, but it also reminded me that things do not always go as planned, and being able to stay calm, respectful, and adapt can make all the difference.
After Khalsa College, we planned to go to the Golden Temple. As we were leaving the college, it started absolutely dumping rain, and we were unsure how we would visit the temple since so much of the experience is outdoors and there is not much cover from the rain. Once we all got back into the van, we sat down and talked about what we wanted to do next. We decided to continue on, head to the temple, and see what the weather would do. Luckily, the rain stopped. Even though everything was slippery and wet, we were able to make it inside and experience the Golden Temple. This was another moment where I felt that “chameleon” feeling. We could have easily decided that the weather was too bad and changed our plans, but instead, we paused, talked it through, adapted, and decided to keep going. We did a “temperature check” as Chelsea would say. I think this has been one of the biggest lessons from this experience for me. Things will not always go exactly how we imagine them, especially when working with big groups of people, travelling, or practicing social work. Being able to adjust, stay present, and make the best of the situation is something I want to carry with me into my future social work practice.