Alliance for Catholic Education
Twenty-five miles deep into the Sierra Nevada Mountains, six teachers gather around a table, pondering life’s greatest question: Which Ramen Noodle flavor reigns supreme?
I’m Marco, your resident amateur camper, and I went to Sequoia National Park recently to see General Sherman, the largest tree by volume in the world. If you’ve been to Sequoia, you know the mystical world you enter as soon as you climb past the clouds and drive into The Giant Forest. As someone blessed to live in California, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to visit the park when my housemate, Angela, proposed the trip to our house at a community dinner. We gathered tents and sleeping bags from our school communities, loaded up a couple cars, and set off on our five-hour journey.
We arrived mid-afternoon on a Saturday with plans to spend a couple hours hiking in the Giant Forest before departing for a two-and-a-half hour journey through the Sierra Nevadas to camp for the night. The park is breathtaking. Giant sequoias left, right, and center, each with unique branches, trunks, and burn scars.
We enjoyed our brief hike thoroughly. Nothing beats taking a weekend to explore a magical forest with friends. JD, pictured speaking on his podium, noted the quality of air in the forest. Julia explored a small creek near the trail, which scratched her itch of viewing a “mandatory water feature.”
Sequoia is beautiful, and I highly recommend you visit, no matter where you live. Enough of the small talk. Let’s get back to the main topic: Ramen Review. Like any group of young teachers, we operated on a shoestring budget, opting to bring sandwiches and snacks for lunch, before preparing a gourmet Ramen dinner. I was tasked with being the head chef of the Ramen operation. Joseph, inquisitively studying my technique, was sous-chef and chief fire creator. Sunset arrived quickly, and I hastily prepared the water, using a “pocket rocket,” as Joseph’s father calls it. I prepared a flight of Ramen flavors for the community; the flavors included Chicken, Beef, and Hot and Spicy Chicken. Isabel noted that the Beef flavor was strong and scored it at a shocking 8/10 rating. Angela enjoyed the Hot and Spicy Chicken, noting that it had a subtle spice that grew as she continued eating the noodles. 7/10. Joseph also ate the Hot and Spicy noodles, ranking it a strong 7.5/10, citing its “impressive” flavor. Finally, I tried all flavors. As head chef, I ranked the Hot and Spicy Chicken a 6/10, Beef a 7/10, and Chicken a 5/10.
I learned a lot on this trip. First, God’s beauty radiates through nature. As a Biology and Environmental Science teacher, I know this fact intimately, but witnessing the Giant Sequoias and wildlife at Sequoia National Park reminds me of the importance of respecting nature. Second, experiencing God’s beauty with others strengthens relationships. Whether you’re walking a beach, strolling in a park, or marveling at the biggest tree in the world, it’s much better with loved ones. Finally, eating a meal with friends, no matter the quality of the meal, is sacred. Jesus spent some of his last moments with the apostles eating a meal. We should aim to spend as much time eating and enjoying meals with friends, family, and others. As Joseph likes to say after every community dinner, “That was the BEST [insert food] I’ve ever had! Or maybe it was the great company.” Be the great company, invite great company, and have a little Ramen.