Summery of Another Week

Get the title pun? Ahaha so clever.  

This past day off I went to church services with a Mormon family that I met with another counselor who is Mormon.  After services we returned to the family's house/parent's house where I got to nap on a water bed and eat all homemade food including potato salad, fruit salad, grilled vegetables, grilled chicken, grilled pineapple, and a banana.  So excellent to walk on a floor of carpet...without gum...it was like a heavenly cloud.  Haha but seriously it was just one of those days where nothing of importance happens but it satisfies something that just makes it an awesome day.

This past week with the girls has been amazing just because it seems as though we're all finally settling in together.  I know how each of them are and when they're being ridiculous and it makes my job that much easier.  I'm not sure I can say that I love it at this point but I'm definitely beginning to enjoy it after quite a rough start.  Currently I'm sitting next to the counselor who runs the nature shack and he absolutely reeks of ferret and whatever other critters are down there, so gross.  Or maybe that's the popcorn they just brought into the staff lounge.  Next week aka Tuesday the girls leave for a 3 day trip to Boston and as not all the counselors go I am one of the counselors staying behind, ah blissful quiet.

*Potato Salad and Letter Writing*

Megan

Was super excited to go camping last night (aka 2 Sundays ago -it's taken me that long to finish one post here) with some other counselors but unfortunately they were all either from England or the city aside from like one other person.  It was an interesting experience nonetheless and in the morning the tents had collapsed on people and the beautiful "lake" we camped next to turned out to be a bog/swamp in the morning haha awkward. 

 <<Yay for getting the fire started using aerosol bug spray!>>

 <<Our beauuutiful campsite>>

<<The "Lake" I'm glad we waited to go swimming in the morning so we could decide not to>>

<<Fish>>

Came back with a hundred people squished in the jeep and they all went to Port Jervis (which has a Walmart and something close to a beach I guess) while I walked an hour and a half to the next town and bought a sandwich.  Muahaha not Kosher *turkey and swiss* and then I sat on a rock in the Delaware.  Walked an hour and a half back and fell asleep on the golf field in the back of the camp grounds. Woke up with a woodchuck next to me but aside from that it was a great albeit tiring day. 

 <<Car people>>

<<More car people>>

<<Bridge on the Delaware>>

<<The very helpful sign>>

<<My official rock>>

<<My feet in sparkly water>>

Finished the day with a women's staff softball game.  I think I did alright, held my own haha but then the lights on the field went out as apparently is typical of this camp when we're losing.  So it was either a draw or we lost, I couldn't hear over the very mature screaming of the players and onlookers (well I guess once the lights went out they weren't really onlookers anymore).

 *Sighs and Spare Moments*

Megan

Follow Up on My Day Off Post

I think I already posted about my amazing day off.  In fact, I'm certain I did, so here are some pictures I finally got around to updating.  I'll be trying to track down some pictures from other peoples' cameras too but will have to post those at a later date.  Also, last minute shout out to Sara B. of whom I hope had a great birthday.

<<The car we borrowed and the roadside (Snake Road) we stopped on to check out the view of the Delaware River.>>

<<Checkin' out the Delaware via scenic route with Chantel (from Texas) and Alex (from England).>>

<<So pretty, let's play find the canoe>>

<<Motorcycle people/fellow sightseers>>

<<The beginning of our attempt to find the reservoir hangout place>>

<<The grand pipeline thing, lots of rust and leaks but still supplying NYC with its fresh, Catskill water>>

<<The deceivingly calm Delaware where we swam...swum?>>

<<Resting after almost dying in the Delaware River, recuperating with some Oreos>>

<<Being goofballs, ready to head home>>

<<Let me introduce yet another fellow counselor, Jaime from Utah. No explanations needed.>>

*Reservoir Pipes and River Rapids*

Megan

Finally Pictures

Finally got some pictures for y'all so hopefully you can get a clear understanding of camp...without the campers in them (contract requirements).

<<A late sunset off the docks>>

<<One of my fellow counselors, Jaime Zarza aka "Buddy". She keeps me sane.>>

<<Our bunk's theme is the 50's, yay decorations>>

<<Only one of the four rows of bunk beds BEFORE the campers moved in with all of their things>>

 <<Couldn't get the whole house in the picture but that's our house>>

 <<This is the C.I.T.'s (Counselors in Training) house which includes a TV and an actual living room with couches and a fridge. Jealous. But I get to visit sometimes. Briefly.>>

<<The Upper Teen house (16 year old campers) which is referred to as the "mansion".  Can't imagine why.>>

*Campus Housing and Lovely Pictures*

Megan

Another Day in Camp

So my day off involved quite the unplanned adventure.  Started out going to Walmart (an hour long trip) where I purchased some stationary on sale and stamps.  Stopped at Wendy's for a frosty <3 and then attempted to find a hang out spot down by the reservoir.  Out of the four of us, we could not find it at all but it was still interesting to hike along the giant pipeline that feeds water to NYC.  After giving up on the reservoir our group went to another place called Cedar Rapids on the Delaware.  Tried to swim across it with my English friend, Alex, but the current grabbed me out of nowhere and it was seriously one of the more scary moments of my life.  Pulled myself out on the last available rock before the rapids and had to be helped off.  Took a break to enjoy my non-kosher sandwhich (muahaha) and then went back for another try, only this time further up the river away from the rapids.  Made it across and back with little trouble from the current and a giant horsefly that followed us all the way.  Came back to campus and went to a male staff soccer game against another camp; lost 5-3. 

The next day I was taking a nap on the lacrosse field only to wake up with a pile of dried grass on my stomach and two girls rubbing sticks together over it.  I don't think they were serious buuuut I'm still glad I woke up.  Later, last night, I was recruited to play on the female staff soccer team which was just playing against some of the campers.  There were just enough players to fill the field so no subs and we won 2-0 but honestly it was an embarrassing show on the counselors/my part.  Second half of the game I was stuck in goal, not funny. Not funny at all.  But I guess the deal is I payed my dues, kept it at a shut out and next game it'll be someone else.  Also got signed up for the female staff softball team too. Hopefully it'll keep all these awesome Oreos from sticking to me. 

Alright, back to the kiddies.  Shout out to the snail mailers who love me b/c they are now at the top of my favorite people list!

Crazy Crazy Crazy

So I was pulled into headquarters today with the group leader and the Subbie girl leader to be told I wasn't acting enthusiastic enough.  So then I went back super enthusiastic and was told by the girls I was creeping them out.  Apparently my nose ring is 'intimidating'.  The other night the girls had their first "disco" aka dance and spent a long, long, long time getting ready.  I, however, had been through a long day so I threw my hair up in a bun and put on a dress, good. done.  Unfortunately when we got to the canteen aka social hall one of the girls runs up and says, "You look terrible.  You look like a maid.  Take your hair down." and walked away.  Then another girl took it upon herself to "fix" me.  I think my self esteem took quite a hit that night.  Then today the girls ran out in the rainstorm that broke our horrible heat wave. When they all came running inside, guess who they decided to pile up on? Yeah, that'd be me.  Alright well I have sent a few letters in the mail to some lovely people and look forward to adding pictures on the next post...so stay posted.

*Rain boots and raccoons*

Megan

Day Off/Day On

So my day off was interesting.  I decided to go for a run to the bar that everyone goes to in the evenings and so I started off, no big deal.  Five miles later I realize I have run past it and so I got an ice cream cone. Then I had to run back but zoned out and ran past one of my turns and ended up at the top of a giant hill.  I wasn't too upset because I received like 10 texts from people up there (yay reception!).  So I ran back down the hill and ran all the way to the dining hall where all I found was a slice of bread laying on a table. So I ate it.  Apparently meals go by faster when one is not present.  Hung out in the a/c staff lounge for a while and then jumped in a car and took an hour long trip to Walmart where I bought a notebook and some envelopes, super exciting. Got back, watched some fireworks and that was my day off.

The next day (aka July 5th) I was asked to coach a soccer team through a tournament 10 minutes before the tournament started. oookkk. We came in second out of 4 teams, it was just really hot so the girls lost some oomph as time went on. Then when the soccer girls and I get back to the bunk we're told the electricity and water have been turned off/weren't working so no showers or drinks before jumping on an old school bus with 32 screaming/complaining girls for an hour long trip to the movie theater.  Got to see Eclipse for free but missed a part when 2 girls needed to go to the bathroom.  Seriously why would you get an extra large soda, why? I was very tempted to tell them to sit back down and pee themselves buuuut unfortunately the counselors were pulled aside beforehand and specifically told not to do this (jealous of the lucky counselor who did this last time and generated such a briefing).  It was a sweet movie, definitely not the best though.  Returned to camp after another hour long bus ride and still no electricity/water until morning.  

Lovely days here at camp, my mind might be a little warped by the time I get out of here. 

*Screaming Girls and Soccer Goals*

Megan

First Day Off

Today is my first full day off and seeing as how I do not have a car here (or anywhere for that matter) there really isn't anything to do.  Yesterday a group of boys from England went in to the city but it's an expensive trip and honestly I live in New York so no big deal. Right now another counselor has sat down on the bench next to me smoking a cigarette right into my bowl of cereal claaassy. Anyways, I think mayhaps another lap around the lake (I had the route better explained to me so hopefully no cow pastures) should be in order and then possibly a long (and by long I mean many miles) walk to the local grocery store/gas station just for something to do.
Oh, and happy 4th of July everyone enjoy your fireworks and cookouts!

*Boredom walks and whole days off*

Megan

Getting a Second Wind

This camp thing is slowly taking off in a positive direction.  The girls are settling in and calming down and listening to a greater degree. I had the first 2 periods off and decided to take a run around the lake, seriously the prettiest run I think I've ever been on with old water mills and echoing woods. It was still early so the sun kept peeping through the tree branches in rays.  Towards the end I got lost and ended up running through a cow pasture at a rival camp and squeezing through some barbed wire but I made it in 35 minutes.  That run sure beats the 6 boring laps around campus that I do every morning.  I ran the trail alone but apparently some of the boys who gave me the route came across a few bears last year while running together so I'm just keeping 'em crossed that I don't run into any bears...or skunks for that matter.  

A girl got fired this morning for missing curfew 3 nights and failing to show up to the meeting morning.  Sad really but missing curfew is really hard to do unless you're actively trying so something tells me she didn't want to be here anyways. Getting up at 6:00 is truly becoming difficult because of sheer exhaustion but I really need to get into a training routine for this stupid half marathon.  Also, living with these girls has become hysterical with the right perspective.  For example, one girl has set up a party in the bunk for the one year anniversary of getting her period.  All the girls gave her cards and related gifts haha oh and the dress code for the party was red of course.  Now that I've opened my ears to it these girls really crack me up not because they mean to but because that's just the way they see things. I'm telling myself I wasn't that weird when I was their age buuut something tells me I'm lying to myself. 

The food here is all fried and I'm almost done with my jar of Nutella so HELP. I also tried my first Loka last night--a fried potato pancake thing that was absolutely delish.  When I get home I think I will throw a Jewish party and make all Jewish food.  I think we even get to make dradels in art so we'll be playing that too.

*Fried Food and Long Runs*

Megan

Almost Done with the First Week

After a truly rough first week, it's still rough. If you thought I was going to say it's getting easier, HA! It surprises me that so many parents would let their children walk out of the house without a basic understanding of manners or respect for authority figures. As I walk through the bunk in which these 31 girls (used to be 32 but one got chicken pox and thus is no longer here--led to a group of girls getting shots for it) live, they tell stories about calling their moms b***es and all sorts of nasty things.  It is truly sad to see so many bright girls doing so little with their lives and taking advantage of those around them.  Of course there are a handful of girls who are fantastic, who offer help to those around them and some are hysterically funny even if they don't mean to be.  I guess it's just about figuring out who the girls are on an individual basis.  The other day our group went on a 'white water' rafting trip down the Delaware River in which I was trapped in an inflatable raft with 6 mental terrorists who at one point threw all of their paddles overboard and refused to paddle. Then one lovely young lady decided to chuck my flip flops into the river after we made it to shore. How kind, right? Luckily another counselor managed to grab them for me.  While we were gone experiencing this wonderful adventure, head counselors from the camp were going through all of our things without telling us and without mentioning it to us after um illegal search and seizure?! Thanks. Thanks a bunch.

Today the older girls of the camp participated in something called Tribal Wars in which the four tribes of Iroquois, Navajo, Seminole, and Sioux competed against each other in relays with canoes and running and all that jazz (slightly racist but oh well). I guess the thing that gets me the most is that we're with these girls ALL the time. In the classic words of Adam Sandler, "You'd think he'd want some time to himself but he doesn't he's always around".  As a rule, counselors are not allowed to shower when the girls are in the bunk but they're always in the bunk so in my 20 minute time off I don't have time for anything but a shower and I wouldn't really consider that time off.  I don't want to make any commital statements here and now but at this point I don't think I'd ever choose a lifestyle that involves this constant neediness.  Apologies for ranting, and for no pictures, and for the lack of updates.  For the record, I have one Oreo left and will love anyone who would like to send me some soooo much (or just a letter would be fine too).

Although the campers here are all Jewish most of the staff is not and for the staff that do not feel the need to party at a lame bar located 30 minutes away by big ugly white vans, me and a few guys are trying to start a bible study on Tuesday nights here for the staff.  Praying for this to turn into a learning experience and that my mind does not warp under this ridiculous stress.

*Stressed and Disappointed*

Megan