A view of a section of the resort, as seen from the skywalk. Photos by OG staff. (Click to create a slideshow)

Aliisa Rantanen relaxes. (Click to create a slideshow)

This year's senior class trip to the Wisconsin Dells took place from Friday afternoon, Feb. 29, to Monday morning, March 3. The seniors stayed in condos, about 12 students per suite, where they cooked their own food, hung out, relaxed, and enjoyed some class bonding. They also had a chance to swim and go skiing. Jie Han was in the thick of it all, and she brought back this first-person account.

"SENIOR TRIP! SENIOR TRIP! SENIOR TRIP!"

All last week, my head was ringing. In fact, it took quite a bit of willpower and concentration to focus on more important things, like packing and getting permission slips signed. Guess who wasn't obsessed about the trip to the Wisconsin Dells?

Officially playing hooky on all my Friday afternoon classes (please don't mark down my grades!!), I was plenty excited at the sight of a huge bus and massive amounts of luggage.

I was so excited that I managed to leave my lunch in my dad's car and almost forgot one of my carry-on bags. But I didn't, and once all of us were on board, the caravan drove off into the distance, on the gray cement road.

After five-and-some hours of card playing, chatting, sleeping, and a Wendy's break, we finally arrived at Kalahari Resort, our weekend home.

Dragging our luggage through water and snow, my friends and I found our suites and transformed them into a habitable living area. By our standards at least. I mean, how can you live in a place with an empty refrigerator and no music??

Exploring every nook and cranny, we discovered some pots, pans, and various other dining utensils. Perfect for making not-enough-pasta for 13.

But that was OK — Mrs. Hayes, senior Michelle Gao, and I set out to supplement our deliciously measly pasta, yummy baked goods, dark-browned garlic bread, and carbonated sugar water with $158 worth of thrifty groceries (aka a three-quarters full Wal-Mart cart).

Beth Peregrine at the Moosejaw Pizza Company. Photos by OG staff. (Click to create a slideshow)

Sam Imlay, Jake Seeley, Sarah Pfander, and friends display their antlers. (Click to create a slideshow)

After which we came back and watched TV, lazed around attempting to do nothing, tidied up as neatly as we could … all those housekeeping things that maids don't do.

The next day, about half of us woke up early to eat and go skiing. Freshly scrambled eggs, microwaved bacon, and flavored bagels with spreads were all part of our repertoire and menu. So were cucumber-and-deli-meat sandwiches and PB&Js, once we remembered to bring them.

The skiing experience was amazing. Since it was my first time strapped on wooden (maybe plastic) slates and balancing myself on a couple sticks, I wasn't too discouraged staring at the steepness of the bunny slope or attempting to force my boots on the skis for a good quarter of an hour.

With about half an hour before my class began, I taught myself how to go from one place to another and watched other skiers plummet down the hill.

I can bet I was among one of the faster ones, given how many I passed along, thinking that crouching down would make me ski better or less likely to fall. I advise you never to do that while making a hairpin turn or going down a long non-bunny slope, unless you have excellent reflexes and rapid stopping skills.

Back in my temporary home, I helped put together a pre-assorted salad and designed a veggie tray on a round baking pan. And tasted a lot of senior Hannah Lake-Rayburn's chili, which wasn't hot or cold, but much better than my memories of other variations. And this time, there was enough for everyone.

After dinner, senior Jennifer Roloff and I decided to go off looking for adventure, wandering around various hallways and examining the scenery. I particularly liked a carved wooden table with a glass top and artificial plants in a pretty pot.

After many minutes of trekking, we finally arrived at the front desk. It was a bit hard to find, given the various other attractions, like the fountain, bamboo staircase, floating monkey, restaurants, shops, stalls, game arcade, and pingpong games. Oh, did I mention those artisan truffles and chocolate-covered apples?

However, all the shops closed at 10 p.m., so there wasn't much time to admire them; I still managed to get a cup of mint chocolate Dippin' Dots, which are tiny balls of flavored ice cream. They were extremely delicious.

Chumar Williams (left), Austin Rundus (center), and Ammar Rizwan entertain their classmates during a bus ride. Photos by OG staff. (Click to create a slideshow)

Emily Chu watches Michelle Gao play cards during the trip back home. (Click to create a slideshow)

On Sunday, I watched the high school dance team championships with the rest of my condo-mates. Afterward, I shopped a bit at the souvenir shops, stocking up on postcards and other miscellaneous items bearing the word "Kalahari."

I returned just in time for another shopping trip to the nearby Tanger Outlet mall, which had some very nice bargains, including the striped blue Gap scarf that I have been wearing lately.

For our last supper, we went to the Moosejaw Pizza Company Restaurant, where we each received a paper moose antler headband, in addition to excellent food. I had a Canadian sandwich, fries, grape juice, and carrot cake, served dessert first.

After eating, several of us went to the games room, where senior Emily Chu had the time of her life playing a DDR-style game, but with drums, and where senior Linda Song racked up the courage to sit on the Hot Seat and dared to be mildly shocked, literally.

In the evening, there was a loud and dark dance party in our condo, though many migrated to the side rooms. Afterward, each condo ordered a pay-per-view movie. My house ordered "27 Dresses," a movie that I never wish to see again due to the fairly predictable plot and uncomfortable situations found throughout the movie.

When Monday morning rolled around, few, if any, wanted to pack and board the bus back home. I was all for being snowed or iced in (didn't matter which), but the weather controllers obviously didn't hear my call. Where's a time-turner when you need one?

Since most of us got up around half an hour before departure, we had to hurry and consequently left the rooms a mess.

And with any luck, I'll find whatever it is I forgot to pack the next time I come visit.

MORE SENIOR TRIP PHOTOS

NOTE: Click any photo to start your own slideshow — then keep clicking.

Unlike on a yellow school bus, the seniors traveled for several hours in comfort. Photos by OG staff (click photos to enlarge)

A view of a suite's bedroom, which was also used as a movie theater and hang-out.

Warning: Traveling down the art-rich halls caused certain members to become infected with the excitement bug.

Some cases were more severe than others ...

After a long and arduous journey through the maze of hallways, the final destination is in sight — expensive food and a game arcade!

Few are left standing after all the excitement.

It was too early to be leaving, quite literally.

Multiple games of revolution entertained many as the bus headed toward home — and homework.