I arrived in New York on a late Greyhound and somehow figured out the way to my Hostel collapsed and sat in wait for my Soulmate* (who was working at a different camp and had just finished) to turn up... I waited a while but eventually she appeared weary and tired. That night we hit her camp leaving party in New York where I met so many new people, danced in a very crowded room, got blisters from my flip flops which kept sticking to the floor, walked round the block a couple of times and got hugged so many times I felt like a teddy bear. A wonderful night. The next day we went on the Staten Island Ferry, turns out there isn't much on Staten Island but the view of NY is beautiful. We then had an accidental nap and had to rush to get ready for the next camp leavers party she was supposed to go to. We figured as we had done the last night all we needed was an address and we'd be fine; that's the problem with things going so smoothly the first night.Somehow we ended up in Harlem late at night and the ticket machine for the tube wasn't accepting notes... luckily a lovely woman gave us change for a dollar (or we were seriously considering jumping the turnstile) and we got out of there. After some more random wanderings we gave up on the after party and went to starbucks (still open though it was getting on midnight) we then decided it was time we went into central park.
This is the moment I fell in love... with New York, maybe it was something in the coffee but before New York was noisy a little annoying and too big, then the sun went down and something magical happened. At night New York is the insomniac city it reaches that beautiful slightly restless calm, mimicking the state my brain gets to. For the first time I was walking round a city that felt like I did, it is truly a city that never sleeps.
We then found an open apple store and utilised there internet before heading to bed (I think we finally got in at 4 in the morning). The next day we packed and made our way to Central Park again to lounge on the grass in the sun and then we made our way to the train station for our 19hr train (that ended up a 21 hour train) to Chicago.
*she chose the name
Monday 10 September 2012
Wednesday 29 August 2012
Lost in Boston
After a surprisingly pleasant 10 hour Megabus (I did get two seats to myself) I arrived in Boston introduced myself to some people going to my hostel (also fresh from camp counseling) and we split a cab to the hostel, then it was pretty much straight to bed.
I chose the right hostel as there was free muffins and coffee in the morning, which pretty much made my day and it was only about 8:30 (was still on camp time). I joined the same people for a wander around Boston center, we got free juice, chilled out by the dock, and I cannot forget my amazing peanut butter brownie experience (peanut butter gets me through each day in America, one day I think my veins will start running with peanut butter instead and I with then have to become a cannibal/vampire). The evening was spent in revelry in front of the mini cinema like room in the hostel (there was some singing along to The Lion King happening... I was the only one singing along though... I also spoke along to it too I think).
The next day I went round Boston with a girl not from camp and we got lost, I ate watermelon on the lawns of Harvard, we wandered past MIT, followed the freedom train (well for a bit then we got distracted) and ended the wander with a chill our on a island next to a river. Then I introduced her to Fro Yo (frozen yogurt, there is no way for me to describe how amazing it is). In the evening we settled down with a few beers played pool, met loads of new people, more camp counselors, some Irish men, a french man and others, I danced round the hostel, spoke in a pretty consistent Irish leprechaun accent and lost at pool.
The day after a group of us visited the Samuel Jackson brewery (it was quite an experience), I realised that it is possible to get a baked potato in America (Wendy's it wasn't the best baked potato but it reminded me of home), then it was time to see the Red Sox.
Walking into the stadium was like walking into a film it was amazing I literally felt like I had walked into a set at the beginning the novelty was brilliant and it felt really exciting, then it started to dawn on me while watching the pitch:
1. I have no idea of the rules of baseball
2. Baseball would be much more fun to be at after a few drinks
3. Baseball is a very slow game
4. Enjoying a sport is difficult when you don't know the rules
5. I have no intention of learning the rules of baseball
6. When it gets to about halfway through and you realise 1-5 it's time to call it a night and end on a high
On my last full day I spent the day wandering again with the girl I met in the hostel, again we decided to lose ourselves so hopped on a subway and got off at Ruggles (because it sounded like muggles). At first it didn't seem very exciting we felt like we should maybe turn back, then we found this beautiful little park that ran through a neighborhood that I could see myself living in perfect location, just out of the main city but only a few subway stops away. There was a house with a yellow door I was so tempted to knock on and ask if they had room for a wanderer. We had beautiful cheap chinese which we ate in the Public Park in the center (a beautiful park). In the evening I went back to my hostel played pool with some Irish Men got chatting to some other camp counselors and also two girls who cycled from Toronto to Boston (amazing feat) then it was bed and an early morning for the coach to New York the next morning. All in all I fell a bit in love with Boston I really felt at home by the end of the trip and was quite sad to be leaving.
I chose the right hostel as there was free muffins and coffee in the morning, which pretty much made my day and it was only about 8:30 (was still on camp time). I joined the same people for a wander around Boston center, we got free juice, chilled out by the dock, and I cannot forget my amazing peanut butter brownie experience (peanut butter gets me through each day in America, one day I think my veins will start running with peanut butter instead and I with then have to become a cannibal/vampire). The evening was spent in revelry in front of the mini cinema like room in the hostel (there was some singing along to The Lion King happening... I was the only one singing along though... I also spoke along to it too I think).
The next day I went round Boston with a girl not from camp and we got lost, I ate watermelon on the lawns of Harvard, we wandered past MIT, followed the freedom train (well for a bit then we got distracted) and ended the wander with a chill our on a island next to a river. Then I introduced her to Fro Yo (frozen yogurt, there is no way for me to describe how amazing it is). In the evening we settled down with a few beers played pool, met loads of new people, more camp counselors, some Irish men, a french man and others, I danced round the hostel, spoke in a pretty consistent Irish leprechaun accent and lost at pool.
The day after a group of us visited the Samuel Jackson brewery (it was quite an experience), I realised that it is possible to get a baked potato in America (Wendy's it wasn't the best baked potato but it reminded me of home), then it was time to see the Red Sox.
Walking into the stadium was like walking into a film it was amazing I literally felt like I had walked into a set at the beginning the novelty was brilliant and it felt really exciting, then it started to dawn on me while watching the pitch:
1. I have no idea of the rules of baseball
2. Baseball would be much more fun to be at after a few drinks
3. Baseball is a very slow game
4. Enjoying a sport is difficult when you don't know the rules
5. I have no intention of learning the rules of baseball
6. When it gets to about halfway through and you realise 1-5 it's time to call it a night and end on a high
On my last full day I spent the day wandering again with the girl I met in the hostel, again we decided to lose ourselves so hopped on a subway and got off at Ruggles (because it sounded like muggles). At first it didn't seem very exciting we felt like we should maybe turn back, then we found this beautiful little park that ran through a neighborhood that I could see myself living in perfect location, just out of the main city but only a few subway stops away. There was a house with a yellow door I was so tempted to knock on and ask if they had room for a wanderer. We had beautiful cheap chinese which we ate in the Public Park in the center (a beautiful park). In the evening I went back to my hostel played pool with some Irish Men got chatting to some other camp counselors and also two girls who cycled from Toronto to Boston (amazing feat) then it was bed and an early morning for the coach to New York the next morning. All in all I fell a bit in love with Boston I really felt at home by the end of the trip and was quite sad to be leaving.
Wednesday 22 August 2012
Walking in a postcard
It's about time I started documenting my after camp travels (even though I still have so much to say about camp, there is so much to say and so little time to write it). My first stop after the American's house was Washington, I arrived with a friend still stuck with this feeling that I wasn't really in the real world. The first night was spent wandering round taking everything in trying to find food, after asking for directions from a lovely doorman we eventually found a Safeway, not sure if it's the same chain that in England got turned into Morrisons (or in my friends case Waitrose) and then it was pasta for tea, something you just can't beat.
The next three days merge together in a haze of monuments, museams and window shopping. Walking round Washington felt like I was walking in a postcard I knew I was infront of these beautiful buildings but it didn't quite feel real. Also the White House was dissapointly small, I don't think I would have noticed it if it wern't for the crowd of tourists taking photos of it, Washington is full of huge beautiful building and in the face of those it just looked insignificant.
I was impressed by the Botanic gardens maybe because I didn't expect them, outside were comfy sofa like chairs and inside was a maze of greenouses filled with different exotic plant. Maybe I enjoyed it so much because of the connection with home and the gardens around where I live, whatever it was, it was beautiful I felt safe and it was a wonderful stop to each our PB&J sandwiches we had made for the day. I could write so much more about Washington and maybe I will but right now I need to pee really badly and start getting ready for my last day in Boston.
The next three days merge together in a haze of monuments, museams and window shopping. Walking round Washington felt like I was walking in a postcard I knew I was infront of these beautiful buildings but it didn't quite feel real. Also the White House was dissapointly small, I don't think I would have noticed it if it wern't for the crowd of tourists taking photos of it, Washington is full of huge beautiful building and in the face of those it just looked insignificant.
I was impressed by the Botanic gardens maybe because I didn't expect them, outside were comfy sofa like chairs and inside was a maze of greenouses filled with different exotic plant. Maybe I enjoyed it so much because of the connection with home and the gardens around where I live, whatever it was, it was beautiful I felt safe and it was a wonderful stop to each our PB&J sandwiches we had made for the day. I could write so much more about Washington and maybe I will but right now I need to pee really badly and start getting ready for my last day in Boston.
Monday 13 August 2012
And so camp is over
I feel emotionally, physically and mentally exhausted, I have not yet showered, I have not yet replied to the millions of messages I need to reply to, I have not sorted my uni course, I have only just got round to sorting getting paid. I have had a lie in, eaten Fro Yo (frozen yogurt, amazing thats a blog post in the making), had a pedicure and a chinese and now I have written a blog post. My brain does not work enough to fill this with observations camp, or interesting things. Camp is over, I feel like I only got here yesterday, and now I need to shower
Thursday 9 August 2012
The Olympics
I thought I would take a moment away from camp life to discuss world events... well that's a lie, I'm going to take a moment to discuss world events and their relation to camp.
So many Americans have come up to me and asked why I have left England while the Olympics are on and to be completely honest I never really thought about it. It never really hit me that the Olympics were going to be in England also I have only ever watched bits and pieces of them anyway so I didn't really think it would be a big deal.
It first hit me on the day of the opening ceremony I was in a shop talking to an American who had asked me that very question and I was saying how the Olympic torch had gone down a road parallel to mine. Suddenly I got this longing feeling, I knew my family had been out to see it and my friends, I pushed this away with the thought I was in America though and it was alright. A day or so later (who knows anymore with camp time) we were sat waiting for a show to start in Terrace (the outdoor theatre) and they played a bit of the opening ceremony. J K Rowling appeared reading something I couldn't here there were baddies from around great literature, suddenly Mary Poppins descended (well more than one), Mr Bean was just, well Mr Bean, and I realised, the Olympics is in England! My home country, the strange mad country it is and I am in a country which doesn't drive on the right side of the road, spells things wrong, uses the wrong words for everything and can't make chocolate.
We get updates on the gold medals and all but it feels like we are so far away from it all. I now understand the months of hype the patriotism, I feel like a parent who has missed their child's first steps. Britain is making history and I am not there, even the fact that it has been raining here doesn't make me feel at home anymore. I'll always be the person who was out of the country for the Olympics and I thought I was alright with that... now I am not so sure.
(Also best story from the Olympics so far http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-19132479 made me miss the good ol' city of steel).
So many Americans have come up to me and asked why I have left England while the Olympics are on and to be completely honest I never really thought about it. It never really hit me that the Olympics were going to be in England also I have only ever watched bits and pieces of them anyway so I didn't really think it would be a big deal.
It first hit me on the day of the opening ceremony I was in a shop talking to an American who had asked me that very question and I was saying how the Olympic torch had gone down a road parallel to mine. Suddenly I got this longing feeling, I knew my family had been out to see it and my friends, I pushed this away with the thought I was in America though and it was alright. A day or so later (who knows anymore with camp time) we were sat waiting for a show to start in Terrace (the outdoor theatre) and they played a bit of the opening ceremony. J K Rowling appeared reading something I couldn't here there were baddies from around great literature, suddenly Mary Poppins descended (well more than one), Mr Bean was just, well Mr Bean, and I realised, the Olympics is in England! My home country, the strange mad country it is and I am in a country which doesn't drive on the right side of the road, spells things wrong, uses the wrong words for everything and can't make chocolate.
We get updates on the gold medals and all but it feels like we are so far away from it all. I now understand the months of hype the patriotism, I feel like a parent who has missed their child's first steps. Britain is making history and I am not there, even the fact that it has been raining here doesn't make me feel at home anymore. I'll always be the person who was out of the country for the Olympics and I thought I was alright with that... now I am not so sure.
(Also best story from the Olympics so far http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-19132479 made me miss the good ol' city of steel).
Monday 6 August 2012
Tubing
At camp as counselors occasionally we get put in a group to help supervise trips that kids sign up for before coming. Unluckily I didn't get to go on the New York trips to see any shows instead I got placed on the tubing trip. When I mentioned this everyone reassured me telling me it would be a great relaxing day and told me how much fun it would be.
We got there and they hadn't blow up the tubes so we were waiting around for a bit then we got on the river. It started pretty nice, chilled all just floating, then it got a bit dull. Tubing is basically lying on a rubber ring (although with a bottom piece so no hole in the middle) and floating, that is it. After the first bit as it was dull the counselors (me and two others) made an executive decision to hold onto each others handles so we could float together. We had a bit of a chat and sunbathed.
Lunch time came and we stopped off for some overly fried chicken, potato salad I didn't even touch and watermelon. Then it started thundering but they decided it wasn't so bad and we could continue, after a short while it started to rain... then it started to pour (bear in mind it is still storming at this point and there was fork lightning). They decide to stop us but we were not allowed to get out of the water all together because then we would be under tree's which would be too dangerous. It's chaos kid's are screaming we're trying to find out what we are actually doing, then the rain lightens up and they tell us we're off again but now we must paddle. Tubing rings do not come with paddles and so it was time to use what god gave us, our arms. A lazy day turned into an arm workout more intense than swimming, the river felt like it would never end, we could have probably walked faster than we paddled. The best part was probably near the end when me and one of the other counselors were at the front and decided to string ourselves together again (when the storm hit we all had to separate) and we reached the slightly rapidy bit. It wasn't a bad trip but it was exausting I felt horrendous afterwards and it was my night off afterwards which I was so glad of but it did mean I spent my penultimate night off feeling pretty awful.
We got there and they hadn't blow up the tubes so we were waiting around for a bit then we got on the river. It started pretty nice, chilled all just floating, then it got a bit dull. Tubing is basically lying on a rubber ring (although with a bottom piece so no hole in the middle) and floating, that is it. After the first bit as it was dull the counselors (me and two others) made an executive decision to hold onto each others handles so we could float together. We had a bit of a chat and sunbathed.
Lunch time came and we stopped off for some overly fried chicken, potato salad I didn't even touch and watermelon. Then it started thundering but they decided it wasn't so bad and we could continue, after a short while it started to rain... then it started to pour (bear in mind it is still storming at this point and there was fork lightning). They decide to stop us but we were not allowed to get out of the water all together because then we would be under tree's which would be too dangerous. It's chaos kid's are screaming we're trying to find out what we are actually doing, then the rain lightens up and they tell us we're off again but now we must paddle. Tubing rings do not come with paddles and so it was time to use what god gave us, our arms. A lazy day turned into an arm workout more intense than swimming, the river felt like it would never end, we could have probably walked faster than we paddled. The best part was probably near the end when me and one of the other counselors were at the front and decided to string ourselves together again (when the storm hit we all had to separate) and we reached the slightly rapidy bit. It wasn't a bad trip but it was exausting I felt horrendous afterwards and it was my night off afterwards which I was so glad of but it did mean I spent my penultimate night off feeling pretty awful.
Friday 3 August 2012
And it's theme park time
Last session I went to Six Flags (theme park) and was in charge of a group of no roller coaster kids, which was good as I am not a thrill seeking adrenaline junkie (I get my kicks for cutting it close to deadlines and spontaneous decisions). What was bad about this is they didn't want to do the water park; before I go on I should probably tell you Six Flags consists of roller coasters, the water park and scattered kiddie rides. One of my kids decided even the carousel looked to scary (bear in mind I wasn't looking after the youngens but rising 9th graders (14yrds) so yes this was ridiculous); we eventually managed to persuade her to do the carousel but the tiny ferris wheel was too much for her and she refused. The day was spent wandering round I tried to keep up my spirits my kids were great it was just an unfortunate location so the first theme park trip was definitely not a great sucess.
The second trip was the other day to Hershey Park; no it is not a park made of chocolate I was disappointed (although not that much as I don't like Hershey's). My co and I (co-counselor in the bunk) both wanted no roller coaster groups... our kids wanted some roller coasters our unit leader put us together to make it better that we had a some group. This time the kids did want to go to the water park, however we started on the rides with me and my co waiting in the line then just skipping the ride and we waited together at the exit for the kids to come through. We got to the water park a little late and managed the log flume (which I did and did not enjoy), log flumes in America are more intense than any I have been on in England it took you up really high and we all wore our bathing suits as we just got soaked. The kids then went on a water slide however after the log flume dibacal I wasn't in the mood. We then decided just to pack everything in we'd rush over to chocolate world and do the chocolate ride. Going on the chocolate ride felt like I was in an Americanised Cadbury's world there were singing cows shiny things. To my surprise they skimped out on the chocolate front while at Cadbury's world I remember complaining about only getting three chocolate bars after the chocolate ride we got one tiny chocolate bar (not that I was that sad as hershy chocolate tastes like I just threw up in my mouth). The Hershey shop was impressive I must say it was huge and I had the most amazing chocolate peanut butter milkshake. It was an exhausting day. All in all I would recommend Hershey Park over Six Flags if you don't really like roller coasters. Now to bed as I really shouldn't have written this
The second trip was the other day to Hershey Park; no it is not a park made of chocolate I was disappointed (although not that much as I don't like Hershey's). My co and I (co-counselor in the bunk) both wanted no roller coaster groups... our kids wanted some roller coasters our unit leader put us together to make it better that we had a some group. This time the kids did want to go to the water park, however we started on the rides with me and my co waiting in the line then just skipping the ride and we waited together at the exit for the kids to come through. We got to the water park a little late and managed the log flume (which I did and did not enjoy), log flumes in America are more intense than any I have been on in England it took you up really high and we all wore our bathing suits as we just got soaked. The kids then went on a water slide however after the log flume dibacal I wasn't in the mood. We then decided just to pack everything in we'd rush over to chocolate world and do the chocolate ride. Going on the chocolate ride felt like I was in an Americanised Cadbury's world there were singing cows shiny things. To my surprise they skimped out on the chocolate front while at Cadbury's world I remember complaining about only getting three chocolate bars after the chocolate ride we got one tiny chocolate bar (not that I was that sad as hershy chocolate tastes like I just threw up in my mouth). The Hershey shop was impressive I must say it was huge and I had the most amazing chocolate peanut butter milkshake. It was an exhausting day. All in all I would recommend Hershey Park over Six Flags if you don't really like roller coasters. Now to bed as I really shouldn't have written this
Monday 30 July 2012
They're getting younger
At the beginning of the summer I was in a bunk in Unit F (girls age 13/14) which was good, pretty intense and sometimes they just ignore you, I felt like I was under a constant pressure to act cool. I was living down the hill close to the white house, the dining hall, the mail and pretty near arts and crafts. Then after the first sessioners left (the campers who come for the first 4 weeks) a lot of things got moved about (I referred to the change in a previous post I think) and now I am in Unit C (girls age 10/11); I have also moved up the hill a bit (I'm not at the top but it isn't as convenient for everything). It's weird being with a younger unit however as camp goes I have been doing it for a week and I don't really remember anything else. I think my favourite game with the younger campers is feed the counselor as they get sent so many sweet things and they have discovered my sweet tooth and find it fascinating. I no longer have the energy to write so although this was going to be longer I will end it here with the promise of something more interesting later.
Sunday 29 July 2012
Chips and M&M's on the White House porch
Before you get too excited I was referring to the camp White House which is different from the Presidents residence unfortunately. This evening due to the fact there was no shuttles we decided to go for a walk out of camp to a nearby petrol station (about half an hour away). It was a beautiful relaxing wander, we walked down the hill, past Chocolate Park (sadly not actually a park made of chocolate, a liquor store which doesn't serve chocolate, disappointingly, also is useless as I am not 21), over the railway tracks, past the deceiving BP sign (not actually a petrol station there just the sign), past some beautiful scenery until we finally reached the strange petrol station with it's own fast food counter. An M&M, Peace Tea and Reese's cups purchase later and we were on our way back.
Back at camp exhausted, hot and sweaty (not attractive but I'm showering soon so ahh well) we decided to cop a squat on the white house porch and to my delight a fellow trooper decided she didn't want the rest of her chips.
Since coming to America I have noticed their tendency towards strange combinations sometimes I agree with it sometimes I don't, I now understand PB&J (peanut butter and jelly [well jam to us British] sandwiches), Pretzel M&M are actually really nice, sweet potato chips (well fries I don't understand why they need to put brown sugar on them though), haven't quite decided how I feel about M&M's on pizza (mainly because I haven't tried it maybe later in my travels...). I had a couple of chips and I wasn't really feeling it, then I spied my M&M's and just thought why the hell not, and you know what, it was beautiful.
So there I was on the White house porch drinking Razzleberry Peace Tea (not real tea fake ice tea basically fruit drink) eating M&M's and chips and I could not help but think this is the life.
Back at camp exhausted, hot and sweaty (not attractive but I'm showering soon so ahh well) we decided to cop a squat on the white house porch and to my delight a fellow trooper decided she didn't want the rest of her chips.
Since coming to America I have noticed their tendency towards strange combinations sometimes I agree with it sometimes I don't, I now understand PB&J (peanut butter and jelly [well jam to us British] sandwiches), Pretzel M&M are actually really nice, sweet potato chips (well fries I don't understand why they need to put brown sugar on them though), haven't quite decided how I feel about M&M's on pizza (mainly because I haven't tried it maybe later in my travels...). I had a couple of chips and I wasn't really feeling it, then I spied my M&M's and just thought why the hell not, and you know what, it was beautiful.
So there I was on the White house porch drinking Razzleberry Peace Tea (not real tea fake ice tea basically fruit drink) eating M&M's and chips and I could not help but think this is the life.
Friday 27 July 2012
The Chocolate Problem
I had heard things... I didn't quite believe they were true, maybe I just didn't want to accept the truth, maybe I knew that it might put me off... at the end of the day you have to just admit the problem, American chocolate is horrible. Hersheys tastes like I just threw up in my mouth, their Dairy Milk is blasphemous, it's not even bad chocolate that has the essential chocolateness of chocolate, it's like someone had heard about chocolate and tried to imitate it without having heard anything about it and with limited supplies.
I admit America created the wonder that is Reese's pieces they do have some amazing pieces of 'candy' but England can do chocolate. I got some in the post and it was beautiful, it was like I had been wandering in a desert without water and I had reached the oasis. However now the water has run dry, I am left with nothing pining for the wetter days, wishing for rain. Staring a Hershys hoping it will suddenly transformed debating whether it is worth it to taste a bad imitation...
I admit America created the wonder that is Reese's pieces they do have some amazing pieces of 'candy' but England can do chocolate. I got some in the post and it was beautiful, it was like I had been wandering in a desert without water and I had reached the oasis. However now the water has run dry, I am left with nothing pining for the wetter days, wishing for rain. Staring a Hershys hoping it will suddenly transformed debating whether it is worth it to taste a bad imitation...
Time off at camp
Camp is a wonderful place filled with exciting new things and genuinely lovely people, when you're at camp you don't remember ever not being, it feels nice, it feels like home... but just like home sometimes you just need to get the hell away from it. Leaving camp feels amazing, days off are like air conditioning on a hot day, in fact sometimes it literally is air conditioning on a hot day. Nights off are teasing, like a cool breeze, the slight feeling of being released before you're trapped again.
Camp time off works like so a day off gives you from 5:30pm one day to 5:30pm the next, 24 hours to wind down, a night off gives you from 5:30pm to 7:45am, 14 hours to wind down. You get a day off and a night off every week my night is Sunday night my day is Thursday to Friday not too shabby.
For Americans on their day off they can go home have real food sleep in their own bed and just chill. For Internationals it's slightly different if you make friends with the right people (Americans on your time off which I have yet to do) they will take you home and their mothers will treat you like you are their own child (or so I've heard). If you do not do this you can sleep in the bunk have your children wake you up when they get up feel like you haven't really got away, or you can sleep on a sofa in the counselors lounge if you get a good sofa you can have a blissful nights sleep possibly only woken up in the morning by other counselors waking up. If you sleep on one of the smaller sofa's it's still good to be away from the kids just not as comfortable, it's a question of how far you're willing to go for peace (to be fair I'd go pretty far the reclining chair is the only one I had trouble sleeping on).
Evenings on time off can be spent a majority of ways but it usually involves spending. You can go for a meal (so far I've done Applebees, a Chinese buffet, Chinese Panda, The Ott House, all good), go for a scenic trip to Wallmart maybe pick up something from Sheetz (a petrol station that is also a food place, it's weird) or if you're feeling like you really need a treat a trip to the cinema so far I have done that twice to see Spiderman and Batman, both amazing, while watching it you don't even remember what camp is.
On days off you have a limit to where you can go there is the Wallmart again if you're feeling wild, outlet shopping at two different places (yet more money just slipping away), a quaint historic town or cute little time with a tea shop and a nice Irish pub (we had lunch there, their bacon, cheese and chicken sandwich was amazing). If your on the right time off someone can drop you off in Washington if you get up at 5:30 however I have recently discovered I am on the wrong time off for that luxury which is a shame. I will just have to do Washington after camp I suppose.
Camp time off works like so a day off gives you from 5:30pm one day to 5:30pm the next, 24 hours to wind down, a night off gives you from 5:30pm to 7:45am, 14 hours to wind down. You get a day off and a night off every week my night is Sunday night my day is Thursday to Friday not too shabby.
For Americans on their day off they can go home have real food sleep in their own bed and just chill. For Internationals it's slightly different if you make friends with the right people (Americans on your time off which I have yet to do) they will take you home and their mothers will treat you like you are their own child (or so I've heard). If you do not do this you can sleep in the bunk have your children wake you up when they get up feel like you haven't really got away, or you can sleep on a sofa in the counselors lounge if you get a good sofa you can have a blissful nights sleep possibly only woken up in the morning by other counselors waking up. If you sleep on one of the smaller sofa's it's still good to be away from the kids just not as comfortable, it's a question of how far you're willing to go for peace (to be fair I'd go pretty far the reclining chair is the only one I had trouble sleeping on).
Evenings on time off can be spent a majority of ways but it usually involves spending. You can go for a meal (so far I've done Applebees, a Chinese buffet, Chinese Panda, The Ott House, all good), go for a scenic trip to Wallmart maybe pick up something from Sheetz (a petrol station that is also a food place, it's weird) or if you're feeling like you really need a treat a trip to the cinema so far I have done that twice to see Spiderman and Batman, both amazing, while watching it you don't even remember what camp is.
On days off you have a limit to where you can go there is the Wallmart again if you're feeling wild, outlet shopping at two different places (yet more money just slipping away), a quaint historic town or cute little time with a tea shop and a nice Irish pub (we had lunch there, their bacon, cheese and chicken sandwich was amazing). If your on the right time off someone can drop you off in Washington if you get up at 5:30 however I have recently discovered I am on the wrong time off for that luxury which is a shame. I will just have to do Washington after camp I suppose.
Wednesday 25 July 2012
Camp Everyday
I could go into the specific days and things we have done over the past few weeks but that would take too long and I can't really remember half of it, it seems like a lifetime away.
We start camp at around 8:00, flag and breakfast is at 8:30. It's strange before I came to camp I didn't realise that Americans actually do pledge allegiance to the flag every morning; at least they do at camp. It's a strange tradition to watch it doesn't really feel touching and patriotic more just something they do as part of their daily routine like brushing their teeth no one actually focus's on what they are doing. Also as this is a Jewish camp they raise the Israeli flag (although they don't pledge allegiance to it).
Breakfast is a strange time I have seen breakfast burrito's, stale bagels, cheap tasting waffles, pancakes (also tasting cheap) and scrambled eggs with things that they should not be with.
After breakfast it's time for the kids to do their chores (basically we use the kids to get the bunk clean, free labour). They also get ready for their first couple of activities.
In the morning there are 2 activity periods which for me are usually spent in Arts and Crafts where I teach kids to create a whole range of artsy things; wire rings, dream catchers, postcards, beads etc etc. I could go on but it isn't a very interesting list there is a limit to what children can do with arts and crafts. Sometimes (like this morning for instance) I am GC (general counselor) which basically means I travel about with the kids to their activity whatever it is, this morning we did mermaid training (swim instruction) and field one (SPUD and hula hooping which I suck at). I am basically there to help keep my kids in order and to participate and lead by example.
Then to lunch a wild buffet of things sometimes good sometimes not so good.
After lunch we get mail and then we have bunk time to chill and get ready for the evening.
In the afternoon there are three activity periods the same set up as the morning. I also get one free everyday (unless it's my day or night off but I will explain how that works) in which I can shower, use my phone, have a quick nap or go on the computers reply to messages and write a blog post. Most of the time I want to nap but feel like I should go on the computer and do things (like now I am at that moment where I am regretting not napping, is this even interesting anyone? I mean this is just my life now).
After the last activity we have snack time (this is the first year they are doing it so it's very exciting), usually they try and make it healthy with fruit or veg or they give us chex mix (salty shreddies and pretzels), we've also had ice pops and on international day we had disappointing scones and jam.
Then shower time, everyone gets about 2/3 minutes to shower there is a shower order to make it fair (counselors get to skip the line) as the last showers are usually cold I've heard.
After showers it's dinner time also can be hit and miss the difference is we have pudding after dinner which can also be hit and miss (dairy free brownies aren't that good). Then there is an evening activity which can be a show tonight we have campfire and the staff basketball game (no I am not a part of it even if I did know the rules I doubt I would be very good).
Lights out is at 9:45 they get 10 minutes of social flashlight time (they are allowed on other peoples beds) and 10 minutes of personal flashlight time (they have to be quiet on their own bed and they usually try and rebel against this one) then it's time for them to attempt to sleep. As there are three counselors we each have two nights where we are OD (on duty we supervise the kids after lights out) a week and one night where we have a staff meeting and the CIT's (counselors in training) come in and do it.
That's a normal day for me at camp it's long, there is more to explain but I need to go meet my kids it's time for 5th activity.
We start camp at around 8:00, flag and breakfast is at 8:30. It's strange before I came to camp I didn't realise that Americans actually do pledge allegiance to the flag every morning; at least they do at camp. It's a strange tradition to watch it doesn't really feel touching and patriotic more just something they do as part of their daily routine like brushing their teeth no one actually focus's on what they are doing. Also as this is a Jewish camp they raise the Israeli flag (although they don't pledge allegiance to it).
Breakfast is a strange time I have seen breakfast burrito's, stale bagels, cheap tasting waffles, pancakes (also tasting cheap) and scrambled eggs with things that they should not be with.
After breakfast it's time for the kids to do their chores (basically we use the kids to get the bunk clean, free labour). They also get ready for their first couple of activities.
In the morning there are 2 activity periods which for me are usually spent in Arts and Crafts where I teach kids to create a whole range of artsy things; wire rings, dream catchers, postcards, beads etc etc. I could go on but it isn't a very interesting list there is a limit to what children can do with arts and crafts. Sometimes (like this morning for instance) I am GC (general counselor) which basically means I travel about with the kids to their activity whatever it is, this morning we did mermaid training (swim instruction) and field one (SPUD and hula hooping which I suck at). I am basically there to help keep my kids in order and to participate and lead by example.
Then to lunch a wild buffet of things sometimes good sometimes not so good.
After lunch we get mail and then we have bunk time to chill and get ready for the evening.
In the afternoon there are three activity periods the same set up as the morning. I also get one free everyday (unless it's my day or night off but I will explain how that works) in which I can shower, use my phone, have a quick nap or go on the computers reply to messages and write a blog post. Most of the time I want to nap but feel like I should go on the computer and do things (like now I am at that moment where I am regretting not napping, is this even interesting anyone? I mean this is just my life now).
After the last activity we have snack time (this is the first year they are doing it so it's very exciting), usually they try and make it healthy with fruit or veg or they give us chex mix (salty shreddies and pretzels), we've also had ice pops and on international day we had disappointing scones and jam.
Then shower time, everyone gets about 2/3 minutes to shower there is a shower order to make it fair (counselors get to skip the line) as the last showers are usually cold I've heard.
After showers it's dinner time also can be hit and miss the difference is we have pudding after dinner which can also be hit and miss (dairy free brownies aren't that good). Then there is an evening activity which can be a show tonight we have campfire and the staff basketball game (no I am not a part of it even if I did know the rules I doubt I would be very good).
Lights out is at 9:45 they get 10 minutes of social flashlight time (they are allowed on other peoples beds) and 10 minutes of personal flashlight time (they have to be quiet on their own bed and they usually try and rebel against this one) then it's time for them to attempt to sleep. As there are three counselors we each have two nights where we are OD (on duty we supervise the kids after lights out) a week and one night where we have a staff meeting and the CIT's (counselors in training) come in and do it.
That's a normal day for me at camp it's long, there is more to explain but I need to go meet my kids it's time for 5th activity.
Sunday 22 July 2012
Bonding time
After our 14 kids decended and unpacked (well most of them unpacked) we decided to do some bonding activities. What better way to get to know your new bunk mates than being blindfolded put into 3 groups and lead in something similar to a conga line across camp to some mystery destination all in the name of a 'trust walk'. I'm not sure I'd trust a counseler I had met less than 24 hours ago. Anyway we lead them to some grass sat them in a circle and got them to say some things about them, then we looked at the stars
, a peaceful moment for the counselors, a time to chat for the kids not really grasping the significance of the moment.
, a peaceful moment for the counselors, a time to chat for the kids not really grasping the significance of the moment.
Friday 20 July 2012
Spiderman and witnessing a Glasgow kiss (headbutt)
Nights off feel like they are sent from the heavens here the chance to get out of camp to be somewhere where you can act however you like, you can take your phone out on a whim (which no longer feels right), also getting to see the real America. I could reminisce back to my first few nights off and maybe I will go back and write about those, but right now I am going to focus on a more recent time, yesterday night. I turned up at the White House (not the one in Washington the camp one I will have a post explaining camp things soon) bag in hand with no clue what I was going to do and I happened to meet two Americans (friends of mine) in the same position. We managed to neb onto a bus to a nearby town and then it was Panda Express time (Chinese but not really) I had orange chicken and chow mein. Those in the outside world do not realise how good real food is (I know this as I didn't), it really is true that you don't appreciate the things you have until they are no longer there. I miss real food, camp food is not real food, it has it's own separate existence. Sometimes it can be good, once in a while it tastes really good, but most of the time it's something that resembles a real meal. The pasta at camp swims in water, all of the time; they do not have strainers in the kitchen, I know this for a fact as I know people on the inside. Anyway the point was eating food outside camp is a luxury and I am certain I spend far too much money on food I eat on my days off.
After food we went to the cinema to see Spiderman and I realised I had forgotten how to act in the real world handing my ticket to the ticket man I almost couldn't handle it. The American cinema seats were so comfortable they reclined slightly naturally as well. Also the experience of watching a film in the cinema is something I have greatly missed I did miss the company of my Best Friend it felt weird being without her in the cinema.
The main incident, which is really my main reason for writing this post, happened on the way out of the screen. We kind of dragged a bit but when we came out the door some people had stopped. I wasn't sure what was going on until I saw this huge guy headbutt another guy right on the forehead and say "You talked through the entire movie I should get you to pay the $45 it cost me" and then headbutt him again. I didn't know what to do I don't think I have ever seen an act of violence so out of the blue like that, I felt so small town in that moment. I did the honorably thing and quickly backed into the screen until it was over (pretending I wanted to see the extra bit at the end). When we came out (one of the two Americans backed away with me the other, more hardcore one just walked straight passed) there were a couple of blood droplets on the floor leading to the bathroom.
After that we had a starbucks and returned to camp a good night all in all and something to blog about. Coming up things are changing around camp as turnover approaches (turnover= when all the first session campers leave we get a day to rest then the second sessioners decend).
After food we went to the cinema to see Spiderman and I realised I had forgotten how to act in the real world handing my ticket to the ticket man I almost couldn't handle it. The American cinema seats were so comfortable they reclined slightly naturally as well. Also the experience of watching a film in the cinema is something I have greatly missed I did miss the company of my Best Friend it felt weird being without her in the cinema.
The main incident, which is really my main reason for writing this post, happened on the way out of the screen. We kind of dragged a bit but when we came out the door some people had stopped. I wasn't sure what was going on until I saw this huge guy headbutt another guy right on the forehead and say "You talked through the entire movie I should get you to pay the $45 it cost me" and then headbutt him again. I didn't know what to do I don't think I have ever seen an act of violence so out of the blue like that, I felt so small town in that moment. I did the honorably thing and quickly backed into the screen until it was over (pretending I wanted to see the extra bit at the end). When we came out (one of the two Americans backed away with me the other, more hardcore one just walked straight passed) there were a couple of blood droplets on the floor leading to the bathroom.
After that we had a starbucks and returned to camp a good night all in all and something to blog about. Coming up things are changing around camp as turnover approaches (turnover= when all the first session campers leave we get a day to rest then the second sessioners decend).
The children decend
Imagine the luggage you would take on holiday if you were going for a month, then double it, and just for luck double it again, thats the size of stuff some of the kids brought to camp, literally 4 times the amount I brought it my backpack and I am here for three times as long as them. Thats not including the amount of food they brought you'd of though camp didn't feed them. We got their luggage before we got them it came to our porch via a truck that delivered stuff all round camp (and we kept getting bunk 12's stuff instead of bunk 21's). I don't really remember meeting them all it was a haze of hello's and keeping your parent face on. There was also the classic British question then the question all Americans ask and I never know why "Where in England are you from?" It takes all my will power not to be sarcastic or reply with a a smart ass response, as there are very few Americans that actually know where anywhere in England is. I seriously got asked by my kids if I knew Annie from wales their previous counselor; I think that was too much for me to resist I told them we lived next door to each other. I have learnt that they may not have heard of Sheffield but the majority of Americans have heard of Manchester (because of the football team) they still have no idea of the geography of England though. I was trying to think of a way I could describe American 14 year olds and I just can't as they are all so different there is so much variation within my bunk but I got the luck of the draw the nicest bunk in Unit F and we have one of the funniest girls on camp who is also smart and genuinely nice too she 'keeps it real' so to speak.
One of the things I didn't expect was how crass they are about some things, I don't know what to say to some of the things they come out with and the amount of inappropriate music they listen to, I'm not sure I'll ever get Bees in the Trap out of my head and it is not a song I want up there ('biscuits say sheep and they ain't say nothing you other mother flubbers can't tell me nothing, bees in the trap bee bees in the trap').
Do you have a boyfriend? Do English people really say snogging? Have you snogged a boy? Have you stuck your tongue in a boys mouth? Have you ever had sex? Are you a lesbian? Have you ever snogged a girl? Have you ever touched a boy down there (in more crass terms)? Has a boy ever touched you down there?
That only taps into some of the questions they have asked me not replying just spurs them on more although answering would make it so much worse. They are genuinely lovely girls but sometimes they drive me insane.
One of the things I didn't expect was how crass they are about some things, I don't know what to say to some of the things they come out with and the amount of inappropriate music they listen to, I'm not sure I'll ever get Bees in the Trap out of my head and it is not a song I want up there ('biscuits say sheep and they ain't say nothing you other mother flubbers can't tell me nothing, bees in the trap bee bees in the trap').
Do you have a boyfriend? Do English people really say snogging? Have you snogged a boy? Have you stuck your tongue in a boys mouth? Have you ever had sex? Are you a lesbian? Have you ever snogged a girl? Have you ever touched a boy down there (in more crass terms)? Has a boy ever touched you down there?
That only taps into some of the questions they have asked me not replying just spurs them on more although answering would make it so much worse. They are genuinely lovely girls but sometimes they drive me insane.
Wednesday 18 July 2012
Orientation
When I say orientation that implies we got handed a good map and given a proper aim, this didn't really happen I felt like I had been dropped in the desert given a piece of paper coloured yellow and told to do whatever.
The first week there were no kids, we were told we would be super busy and on somedays they were even like 'the schedule today is similar to what it's like when the kids are here' (complete lie, there was nothing in orientation that was anything like when the kids got here there is nothing in life I can think of thats like that). We did learn some useful stuff, however they never properly prepared us; I suppose it's one of those things they can never really prepare you for, it's different from anything I know and anything I have ever done.
I don't really remember much from orientation, I was shoved in a room adjoined to an empty bunk with an American I didn't know. I remember surreal trips to Wallmart (a strange place), wandering round trying to figure out where I was (and where I was supposed to be), having a man blow on my fingertips for half an hour because he just couldn't seem to get my fingerprints to work (not a fun half hour), trying to figure out the rules, getting checked for lice (American camps take the lice threat seriously all the staff and all the kids got checked), getting to know people (and trying to get to know the right people), missing home, finishing books and confusion. And then the kids got here...
The first week there were no kids, we were told we would be super busy and on somedays they were even like 'the schedule today is similar to what it's like when the kids are here' (complete lie, there was nothing in orientation that was anything like when the kids got here there is nothing in life I can think of thats like that). We did learn some useful stuff, however they never properly prepared us; I suppose it's one of those things they can never really prepare you for, it's different from anything I know and anything I have ever done.
I don't really remember much from orientation, I was shoved in a room adjoined to an empty bunk with an American I didn't know. I remember surreal trips to Wallmart (a strange place), wandering round trying to figure out where I was (and where I was supposed to be), having a man blow on my fingertips for half an hour because he just couldn't seem to get my fingerprints to work (not a fun half hour), trying to figure out the rules, getting checked for lice (American camps take the lice threat seriously all the staff and all the kids got checked), getting to know people (and trying to get to know the right people), missing home, finishing books and confusion. And then the kids got here...
Tuesday 17 July 2012
The flight and a night in New York
I remember walking passed security and wishing I had turned back one more time thinking I didn't properly get to say goodbye, my family was just behind a simple screen, why had I walked so quickly? Should I have hugged them one last time instead of the slightly jokey farewell? Then past security it was spot the green T-shirts and grit your teeth introduce yourself and try and find others going to the same camp (I was in luck half the people there were coming to my camp). The flight was surreal I was sat next to a boy who didn't speak for the whole plane ride and I watched crap films and had a beer (it was free) the food was classically awful and then we were in New York, JFK airport, it didn't feel real. A confusion of baggage finding the bus and half of us were at the hostel ready to sleep but insistent we spend our one night in New York doing something worthwhile. We browsed round the streets near the hostel, a trip to a slightly creepy corner shop where we all peered at the strange food like it was a museum exhibit 'How Americans Eat' with more sugar, e-numbers and colour than we get back in Britain. Then a classic pizza trip with slices as big as half a pizza back home. We inevitably ended up in McDonald's which is where we decided there was nothing around the hostel that was that interesting so it was time to brave the Subway and go to Times Square, it had to be done. Twelve in the morning and 4 jetlagged girls emerge from the alien subway and are (to go with the cliche) blinded by the lights of times square so bright it felt like it was still daytime (even though our bodies were telling us we really should be asleep). We wandered enraptured by this strange place past a man with a sign that said "I need money to buy weed, at least I'm honest", street venders trying to attract our attention and musicians trying their luck in the big apple. Pictures were taken, we danced, we sang and then we decided the night was over we had only a few hours to sleep then breakfast, a 7 hour bus that lost a tire so they replaced the bus and we arrived at camp tired and sticky with just enough energy to conjure up a dazed smile.
Looking back at the start of camp
Since I started planning my trip to the great US of A I have been thinking about starting a blog, now I am halfway through my time at camp and I'm finally ready to take that step. I think what really cinched it for me is the amount of descriptions of camp I have had to write, I get so many people asking me what it's like, I think after the third description I had run out of things to say. I get so sick of repeating things that to me don't really sound that interesting. Anyway finally it is here American Jewish Camp from an English Agnostic viewpoint (also hopefully my travels afterwards but we'll see how this goes.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)