OMG! I NEVER thought I would find mosquitos that could compare to Alaskan ones but MAN! These Maine bugs are killers. I have a mozzie (Aussie for mosquito - which I have now adopted) bite on my neck the size of a golf ball. At least I hope it's a mozzie bite.
Anyway, as for camp stuff. I am now a lifeguard. Hooray! Yes I can give random stranger mouth-to-mouth that saves lives. Was a bit of a rough time of training with rain swims and such but I survived and do, honestly, feel confident in my abilites. Sweet!
Also had a night off on Sunday. Wa snice - they took the whole group of counselors into town for the evening. I spent my time chatting to friends I hadn't touched base with yet and wondering around Belfast, Maine. Cute little coastal town. Turned out to be somewhat of a 'test' too as it was to see how we could handle a night off and be able to deal with kids the next day. Unfortunately there is one person who didn't pass and was let go. Shame but just shows how important and serious the job is, even if it is going to be and supposed to be fun.
Monday also meant an entire day off. After breakfast I hitched a ride into town with a friend to buy some much needed 'warm clothes' since I have packed nothing but shorts and tank tops. Finally, 2 pairs of pants and 2 sweaters later I am feeling more positive about the warmth factor.
Tuesday more counselors arrived - mostly new comers. It was cool to meet the newbies (of which I am one but a more advanced one I guess). We are now having the 'generic' training of how to be a counselor and such. After the trainings my co-person and I meet to plan our community program. So far we have brainstormed a bunch of ideas and have some great things in the works. Trips to the coasts to clean up, shelters, elder homes, etc. Lots of fun and means we will hardly be round camp. How cool?!
As for the social side, I am getting along alright. Having fun with the counselors and bonding somewhat. Still miss all my friends from home but trying to enjoy myself too. Nice to have contact daily with people from home, helps me a lot. Really seeing that maybe this is an experience I would have better benefited from 10 years ago, but still, glad I will be having it now.
Still a bit nervous as to how it will affect my life when I get back - hoping nothing is changed much and I just go back on with it as normal. I have come to realize that most of my fears on that have to do with having never had good friends that have been there when I have gotten back from long journeys or a guy who 'waited' for me. Now I have a bunch of both and I guess I just have to learn to trust it all. Lots of trust going on here on my end, hope it pays off.
Overall, just really wanting the kids to arrive so the real fun can begin. Afterall, that is the main reason why I came here - to be with kids. Hope it turns out to be a great time.
Best log-off and head to bed now. Not sure of what tomorrow holds but sure some more program planning will occur.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
CAMP: Days 1-3
I last wrote at the Portland ariport. Almost immediately after logging off I noticed a friend of mine from the school I worked at this past year. Turns out he was coming to camp too AND on all the same flights. So we would venture to and from gates together, check in and then do our own thing. We never sat by each other but it was kind of reassuring to know another person making that journey.
Upon arrival here in Maine 2 people fromt he camp were here to greet us - and all of the other people arriving at that time. After baggage claim the group of about 6 of us piled into the mini van for the 2+ hrs drive to camp, via a grocery store for lunch. It was a nice drive and everyone was fairly chatty and friendly.
Once at camp, I was assigned to a cabin. Now for those of you never at camp before, it is very primative sleeping quarters but has all the necessities. The lay out is great and honestly, very much like all of the horror movies ever made about summer camp - yes! Seriously! But I, of course, LOVE that element of it.
Anyway, that first night we had dinner as a whole group and then played some games and such in the barn - which is a big rec area we all hang out in at night. It was nice ot get to meet some new people but honestly, I can hardly remember any names. Just how I am, but I will learn I am sure.
The first full-day found me beginning lifeguard training. It started with a trek to the lake (muddy, cold but alright) and then a swim across the lake and back. I wasn't scared by the distance or even put off by the outside cold. However, once my body hit the water I felt like I would die! I could hardly catch my breathe and struggled my way across. I was the slowest but I made it. I promptly turned around and swam back. I enjoyed being out in the water but it was a very cifferent experience. Aside from the few times I kayaked or surfed in Hawaii and fell off (which wasn't much) I have NEVER swam in open water of any kind. True a lake isn't really 'open' but it is a heck of a lot more open then a pool. I was a bit freaked. Plus having 'things' rub up against you was a little nerve racking. But again, I managed.
Part of the training was to involved retreival of a weight from a depth of about 12 feet. I was in one of the first groups to go and had NO LUCK finding my weight. My biggest problem was due to the cold my lung just couldn't expand enough for me to get a big enough breathe to submerge for any length of time. After many many minutes of trying I was relieved.
After time at the lake we headed to the pool where I faired a bit better. I feel like my biggest problem is just the simple fact that I haven't really swam in a long time and that I never made good on my desire to practice before arriving at camp. I know me well enough to know I will 'get it' soon and the inner fish inside will come out and I will rock it. But right now I am struggling and it is tough. Plus the heavy gross-factor of being so muddy and wet and cold and dirty is not something I used to at all. All add to my discomfort but I am still utterly determined to do this.
Today found us not swimming since we were pretty much under a storm-like conidition all day. But the great thing for today was that my co-coordinator and I were taken up to the 'house' we will live in this summer with the kids. HOLY CRAP! Talk about roughing it. This place runs on a generator that WE control! And it is very much removed from the world. It will take some major getting used to but I think I will like it after about the 1st week.
It is located basically out on it's own farm area that is actually a property over from the main camp. Apparently there will be 8 girls and 1 boy in our program. I am not used to living in a place like this but I am sure I will adapt, and probably grow to love it. Honestly reminds me of the place my dad lived before he married my mom so that will mean some father-daughter bonding talks across the miles I am sure.
Overall I am adjusting. It is usually pretty easy during the days since I am busy and have lots to do. Almost feels like home. But in the evenings, it can be a bit rough. I start missing my friends, boyfriend, etc and that can be a bit lonely. I run through all sort of "what ifs" about them forgetting me, finding new people to hang with, etc. I know it is silly and foolish but it is the thoughts I have sometimes. Everyone has been really reassuring back home so I am sure that it won't be like that but still, I can't really control my thoughts much on the topic.
I know I will improve once the kids arrive and such. Right now it is a lot of training and I feel like I am just on the outter edge of fitting in. I don't want to 'try too hard' but still don't want to 'sit alone' all the time. It's hard to find the balance.
BUT I know me well enough to know that soon I will be busy and hardly able to think of anything much less sad mopey stuff. Yet right now I am allowing myself this adjustment time. If nothing else I feel it will help me relate better to the homesick kids that I am sure will be under my care. And if it is still rough, well, it is only 2 months. Hell, I am survived worse situations for longer so I can do this. PLUS, I have ALWAYS wanted to do this, so this was and is my choice. I just need to stay positive and focused and NOT let this get me down. It will get easier and better.
Even though I haven't talked to any of the other counselors about this (and won't) I know I am not alone in how I feel. I can tell. Which gives me comfort and makes me feel like I fit in more than I know :o)
thanks for reading and I will update again when I can.
Tiffy -camper!
Upon arrival here in Maine 2 people fromt he camp were here to greet us - and all of the other people arriving at that time. After baggage claim the group of about 6 of us piled into the mini van for the 2+ hrs drive to camp, via a grocery store for lunch. It was a nice drive and everyone was fairly chatty and friendly.
Once at camp, I was assigned to a cabin. Now for those of you never at camp before, it is very primative sleeping quarters but has all the necessities. The lay out is great and honestly, very much like all of the horror movies ever made about summer camp - yes! Seriously! But I, of course, LOVE that element of it.
Anyway, that first night we had dinner as a whole group and then played some games and such in the barn - which is a big rec area we all hang out in at night. It was nice ot get to meet some new people but honestly, I can hardly remember any names. Just how I am, but I will learn I am sure.
The first full-day found me beginning lifeguard training. It started with a trek to the lake (muddy, cold but alright) and then a swim across the lake and back. I wasn't scared by the distance or even put off by the outside cold. However, once my body hit the water I felt like I would die! I could hardly catch my breathe and struggled my way across. I was the slowest but I made it. I promptly turned around and swam back. I enjoyed being out in the water but it was a very cifferent experience. Aside from the few times I kayaked or surfed in Hawaii and fell off (which wasn't much) I have NEVER swam in open water of any kind. True a lake isn't really 'open' but it is a heck of a lot more open then a pool. I was a bit freaked. Plus having 'things' rub up against you was a little nerve racking. But again, I managed.
Part of the training was to involved retreival of a weight from a depth of about 12 feet. I was in one of the first groups to go and had NO LUCK finding my weight. My biggest problem was due to the cold my lung just couldn't expand enough for me to get a big enough breathe to submerge for any length of time. After many many minutes of trying I was relieved.
After time at the lake we headed to the pool where I faired a bit better. I feel like my biggest problem is just the simple fact that I haven't really swam in a long time and that I never made good on my desire to practice before arriving at camp. I know me well enough to know I will 'get it' soon and the inner fish inside will come out and I will rock it. But right now I am struggling and it is tough. Plus the heavy gross-factor of being so muddy and wet and cold and dirty is not something I used to at all. All add to my discomfort but I am still utterly determined to do this.
Today found us not swimming since we were pretty much under a storm-like conidition all day. But the great thing for today was that my co-coordinator and I were taken up to the 'house' we will live in this summer with the kids. HOLY CRAP! Talk about roughing it. This place runs on a generator that WE control! And it is very much removed from the world. It will take some major getting used to but I think I will like it after about the 1st week.
It is located basically out on it's own farm area that is actually a property over from the main camp. Apparently there will be 8 girls and 1 boy in our program. I am not used to living in a place like this but I am sure I will adapt, and probably grow to love it. Honestly reminds me of the place my dad lived before he married my mom so that will mean some father-daughter bonding talks across the miles I am sure.
Overall I am adjusting. It is usually pretty easy during the days since I am busy and have lots to do. Almost feels like home. But in the evenings, it can be a bit rough. I start missing my friends, boyfriend, etc and that can be a bit lonely. I run through all sort of "what ifs" about them forgetting me, finding new people to hang with, etc. I know it is silly and foolish but it is the thoughts I have sometimes. Everyone has been really reassuring back home so I am sure that it won't be like that but still, I can't really control my thoughts much on the topic.
I know I will improve once the kids arrive and such. Right now it is a lot of training and I feel like I am just on the outter edge of fitting in. I don't want to 'try too hard' but still don't want to 'sit alone' all the time. It's hard to find the balance.
BUT I know me well enough to know that soon I will be busy and hardly able to think of anything much less sad mopey stuff. Yet right now I am allowing myself this adjustment time. If nothing else I feel it will help me relate better to the homesick kids that I am sure will be under my care. And if it is still rough, well, it is only 2 months. Hell, I am survived worse situations for longer so I can do this. PLUS, I have ALWAYS wanted to do this, so this was and is my choice. I just need to stay positive and focused and NOT let this get me down. It will get easier and better.
Even though I haven't talked to any of the other counselors about this (and won't) I know I am not alone in how I feel. I can tell. Which gives me comfort and makes me feel like I fit in more than I know :o)
thanks for reading and I will update again when I can.
Tiffy -camper!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Off to Camp
Currently sitting at the Portland (Oregon) ariport waiting for my first flight in my travels off to camp. I am nervous, excited, anxious, concerned, confused, optimistic, pessimistic and downright giddy! Yes! All at once.
I am really not sure what to expect. I mean I have the basics - cabins, kids, farmhouse, kids, lifeguard training, etc. But I have no details, no real concrete things to plan or anticipate. It is both exciting and nerve racking.
As I sit here I can't decide if I am more nervous about leaving and what that means, more nervous about being at a camp and what that means or more nervous about coming back and what that means. My logical side says to stop worrying and trust (know) it will all work out. I know that. I feel it and honestly, I haven't gotten this far in my crazy version of life without hard evidence that things (even the most messed up things) work out. However, with time on my hands it is hard not to have my mind wander. And though part of me wants to stop it part of me feels this may be the last time I have the opportunity to have my mind wander. Seriously, cause after today, my life may be total, controlled chaos!
I get in to Portland (Maine) tomorrow at 12pm. I will then have a 2 hour drive to the camp I will be working at in Freedom. I assume someone will meet me but it hasn't 100% been confirmed, but I'm trusting it. I have NO idea what Maine looks like, feels like or even smells like. I have been to New York City, Washington D.C., and North Carolina - that is my east coast knowledge, so I am coming at this entirely cold. Again both thrilling and terrifying. My understanding is that other couselors will be arriving tomorrow too. We will head to camp and have dinner together. Then break into our 'groups' to discuss training. Since I am running a community program with one other person we will meet then and discuss a few details of our program and also our upcoming lifeguard training. Starting Thursday morning I will begin lifeguard training. Apparently I will be swimming up to 500 meters a day and diving down to 12ft to retrieve a 10lbs weight. I haven't swam consistently in years but since I am a fish at heart I am not entirely worried. I hope my confidence isn't too far off base. The lifeguard training willbe intense and last about 4 days. Then I get the day off (June 15th). I guess we can do whatever we want but just have to be back for dinner that night, to meet all the other counselors who are arriving but not running programs or liefguarding. Then for the next 10 days (I think) we will have full-on counselor training. It is supposed to be educational, fun and full of team building. I imagine it is somewhat like what I did with kids clbu so I am looking forward to it. Then on August 27th the kids arrive. I have NO idea what exactly to expect from this point on... yet. I am not sure how many are doing my program or what type of kids they are. I am not sure of anything really other than living in a farmhouse, kind of away from the main camp, with the kids in my program. The rest I guess I'll figure out.
This is such a unique opportunity I can't even begin to quantify what will happen or what may happen. I truly feel like I am going in blind, but excited. I always say 'what I lack in real skill or knowledge I make up for in enthusiasm' so I am hopeful this attitude will get me through this and be better for it. I am sure this will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I am sure I will grow and learn as a person and future educator of children. But right now I am nervous and excited and keep thinking:
will they like me? will i make friends? will my friends here remember me? will i be missed? will my cat miss me? how will things be different when i get back? will things be different when i get back? what will the kids be like? will this be more like the classroom or the afterschool program? what do i do if i am bored? what do i do if i am lonely? will i get bored or lonely?
(deliberately written in lower case since all of these questions make me feel childish and silly for even asking or thinking... much less blogging)
And most importantly:
how can i possibly wait to see the new Harry Potter movie til August???!!! THAT is torture!
My goal is to blog as much as I can about my experience being a summer camp counselor (btw - I have NEVER gone to camp at all in my life as a counselor or camper). Hoppefully in doing so it will let me relate some silly stories and ease some of my (unfounded?) fears about life there and life back home.
For now I guess I should get ready to board and begin this interesting and totally unpredictable new adventure.
Til later,
Tiffy - camp counselor
I am really not sure what to expect. I mean I have the basics - cabins, kids, farmhouse, kids, lifeguard training, etc. But I have no details, no real concrete things to plan or anticipate. It is both exciting and nerve racking.
As I sit here I can't decide if I am more nervous about leaving and what that means, more nervous about being at a camp and what that means or more nervous about coming back and what that means. My logical side says to stop worrying and trust (know) it will all work out. I know that. I feel it and honestly, I haven't gotten this far in my crazy version of life without hard evidence that things (even the most messed up things) work out. However, with time on my hands it is hard not to have my mind wander. And though part of me wants to stop it part of me feels this may be the last time I have the opportunity to have my mind wander. Seriously, cause after today, my life may be total, controlled chaos!
I get in to Portland (Maine) tomorrow at 12pm. I will then have a 2 hour drive to the camp I will be working at in Freedom. I assume someone will meet me but it hasn't 100% been confirmed, but I'm trusting it. I have NO idea what Maine looks like, feels like or even smells like. I have been to New York City, Washington D.C., and North Carolina - that is my east coast knowledge, so I am coming at this entirely cold. Again both thrilling and terrifying. My understanding is that other couselors will be arriving tomorrow too. We will head to camp and have dinner together. Then break into our 'groups' to discuss training. Since I am running a community program with one other person we will meet then and discuss a few details of our program and also our upcoming lifeguard training. Starting Thursday morning I will begin lifeguard training. Apparently I will be swimming up to 500 meters a day and diving down to 12ft to retrieve a 10lbs weight. I haven't swam consistently in years but since I am a fish at heart I am not entirely worried. I hope my confidence isn't too far off base. The lifeguard training willbe intense and last about 4 days. Then I get the day off (June 15th). I guess we can do whatever we want but just have to be back for dinner that night, to meet all the other counselors who are arriving but not running programs or liefguarding. Then for the next 10 days (I think) we will have full-on counselor training. It is supposed to be educational, fun and full of team building. I imagine it is somewhat like what I did with kids clbu so I am looking forward to it. Then on August 27th the kids arrive. I have NO idea what exactly to expect from this point on... yet. I am not sure how many are doing my program or what type of kids they are. I am not sure of anything really other than living in a farmhouse, kind of away from the main camp, with the kids in my program. The rest I guess I'll figure out.
This is such a unique opportunity I can't even begin to quantify what will happen or what may happen. I truly feel like I am going in blind, but excited. I always say 'what I lack in real skill or knowledge I make up for in enthusiasm' so I am hopeful this attitude will get me through this and be better for it. I am sure this will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I am sure I will grow and learn as a person and future educator of children. But right now I am nervous and excited and keep thinking:
will they like me? will i make friends? will my friends here remember me? will i be missed? will my cat miss me? how will things be different when i get back? will things be different when i get back? what will the kids be like? will this be more like the classroom or the afterschool program? what do i do if i am bored? what do i do if i am lonely? will i get bored or lonely?
(deliberately written in lower case since all of these questions make me feel childish and silly for even asking or thinking... much less blogging)
And most importantly:
how can i possibly wait to see the new Harry Potter movie til August???!!! THAT is torture!
My goal is to blog as much as I can about my experience being a summer camp counselor (btw - I have NEVER gone to camp at all in my life as a counselor or camper). Hoppefully in doing so it will let me relate some silly stories and ease some of my (unfounded?) fears about life there and life back home.
For now I guess I should get ready to board and begin this interesting and totally unpredictable new adventure.
Til later,
Tiffy - camp counselor
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