What started as a simple departmental team building turned into one of those memorable experiences that remind you why workplace friendships matter so much. Our overnight stay at Serenity Farm was exactly what our team needed after months of deadline pressures and back-to-back projects.
The day began early with a 7 AM gathering at our office for carpooling. Nothing says "team spirit" quite like sharing Jollibee breakfast in the office pantry before embarking on an adventure together. By 8 AM, we had arrived at our destination – a gorgeous whole house rental that would serve as our base camp for the next 24 hours.
The spacious living room became our activity headquarters, while the kitchen kept us fueled with endless coffee and an impressively organized snack station. I have to give major props to our food committee for their attention to detail – even the cookies had cute little labels! It's these small touches that show how much thought went into making everyone feel welcome.
Lunch at Serenity Cafe was a delightful surprise. The buffet spread was incredible, but I found myself going back repeatedly for the lasagna (seriously, it was that good) and loading up on fresh pineapple for dessert. Sometimes the simplest pleasures hit different when you're surrounded by good company.
The afternoon session took an unexpectedly emotional turn. What began as typical team building exercises evolved into something deeper, with several colleagues opening up and sharing personal stories. Seeing some of my usually composed teammates moved to tears reminded me that behind our professional facades, we're all just humans trying to do our best.
But the real magic happened after 5 PM when the structured activities ended and authentic fun began. Post-dinner, as darkness settled over the farm, our group transformed. The karaoke machine came alive, some brave souls took to the pool despite the evening chill, and the jacuzzi became a hub for deeper conversations. I enjoyed a few celebratory shots before retreating to my villa, where I found my roommates deep into a Netflix binge – the perfect way to wind down.
Waking everyone up the next morning felt like being the responsible friend after a sleepover, gently coaxing people out of their cozy beds for our final team building session. We wrapped up our adventure with another satisfying meal at Serenity Cafe before heading back to reality.
Sometimes the best team building happens not during scheduled activities, but in those unguarded moments between – laughing over karaoke mishaps, sharing midnight snacks, or simply being present with each other. Serenity Farm gave us exactly that.
That's it for today's blog. See you in my next one!
Sending some love and light
With love, Jane