The past three weeks have flown and at the same time it feels like I've been here forever. Kids came, kids went, and our camp now holds about 650 kids in total! Staff is now totalling around 300 or so, I've met half or so and can remember the names of about 50 I bet. There's SO many people here, and there was quite the social life until we partied a little hard and got grounded... oops... fingers crossed it's lifted soon but let's move along...
My bunk is now full of 11 year old girls. I was away on an airport run at the time, and that's a story in itself. No-one can truly appreciate the logistics of collecting about 300 children from various parts of the tri-state area. It's phenomenal. It involved about 15 staff leaving camp at 6am, heading in vans to Newark Airport, some place in Queens and even Massachussetts, and getting out with the old kids and in with the new. I was at Newark, said goodbye to kids on a noon flight to Atlanta, said hello to kids on a 12.30pm flight from Fort Lauderdale and proceeded to move bags from the terminal to the van for the next half hour... one duffle at a time! The rest of my day was spent waiting with 14 year old Misty while her 3.15pm flight to Dallas was delayed, delayed and delayed until it FINALLY took off at 10.17pm. Nothing tries a camp counsellor like entertaining a child for SEVEN hours... trying to regroup with other staff, then having a three hour drive back to camp after. Stopped at a really nice diner though ;-)
My ass is getting a little numb so I think I'll finish this tomorrow. Stay posted!
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Friday, June 15, 2007
Fab first week!
Rain. Clogged toilets. Deep fried zuccini. Just some of the adventures I've had in my first week at French Woods!
Orientation was a bit of a blur. It rained a fair bit, in fact, the English were thinking they'd never left home at all! With wellies and umbrellas, there were various bunk meetings on camp procedures and programs, as well as department meetings about running classes. All over, camp is like the United Nations assembly or something! I've got a South African and an American for co-counselors, and working with Scottish, Thai, Korean and Australian folks in art. On top of that, there's my returnee mates - English, American, more South Africans and Scottish. About 200 of the 300 staff are international, it's phenomenal. And a great way to score free accommodation after the summer ;-)
It's early in the summer so only half the bunks have campers in them. My bunk is without kids but we can hear the ones next door! Nine very excited, very energetic twelve year old girls who are yet to master the "courtesy flush". Courtesy flushing is a two step process, whereby you do your business, flush, wipe your business, then flush again. Failure to follow the courtesy flush will result in a clogged toilet, but having a plunging party is a great way to get to know your room mates! Only at camp my friends, only at camp...
What am I loving? Silkscreening like it's 1967 and seeing kids wearing something they drew the day before. I'm loving the salad bar, unlimited veggie burgers and OH MY GOSH taco day! Nothing like a bit of guacamole to put some ole! in your day! Deep fried zuccini is yet to grow on me, but the sun's coming out and we have a day off soon. There's loads of places nearby, in past years we've been to Niagara Falls, Boston, Washington DC, and of course, New York City. I think I may just hit up on some retail therapy nearby.
It's 2pm and I've got a class to teach. And girls to kick out the bathroom ;-) Hasta luego folks!
Orientation was a bit of a blur. It rained a fair bit, in fact, the English were thinking they'd never left home at all! With wellies and umbrellas, there were various bunk meetings on camp procedures and programs, as well as department meetings about running classes. All over, camp is like the United Nations assembly or something! I've got a South African and an American for co-counselors, and working with Scottish, Thai, Korean and Australian folks in art. On top of that, there's my returnee mates - English, American, more South Africans and Scottish. About 200 of the 300 staff are international, it's phenomenal. And a great way to score free accommodation after the summer ;-)
It's early in the summer so only half the bunks have campers in them. My bunk is without kids but we can hear the ones next door! Nine very excited, very energetic twelve year old girls who are yet to master the "courtesy flush". Courtesy flushing is a two step process, whereby you do your business, flush, wipe your business, then flush again. Failure to follow the courtesy flush will result in a clogged toilet, but having a plunging party is a great way to get to know your room mates! Only at camp my friends, only at camp...
What am I loving? Silkscreening like it's 1967 and seeing kids wearing something they drew the day before. I'm loving the salad bar, unlimited veggie burgers and OH MY GOSH taco day! Nothing like a bit of guacamole to put some ole! in your day! Deep fried zuccini is yet to grow on me, but the sun's coming out and we have a day off soon. There's loads of places nearby, in past years we've been to Niagara Falls, Boston, Washington DC, and of course, New York City. I think I may just hit up on some retail therapy nearby.
It's 2pm and I've got a class to teach. And girls to kick out the bathroom ;-) Hasta luego folks!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
