Summary of Camp..

So as you can probably tell I have neglected my blog whilst being at camp 100%!! But summer is over at Blue Star Camps, Hendersonville NC. 

I do have to say it was an incredible experience, that if you have the opportunity to do, grab it with both hands. I won't lie to you, it was daunting initially however as soon as I started to make friends (like straight away) it is like 'a home from home'. 

The people that I met are so diverse personally and culturally, it was a real eye opener for me, for how to deal with difficult situations with people that you wouldn't necessarily mix with. There was a real mash up of nationalities: Americian, Australian, South African, New Zealand, English etc; which again did not make it easy because each nationality would react and handle a situation a different way. There was approximately 350 people working at Blue Star (it was a HUGE camp), and the friends that I have made are ones for life!

Life on camp wasn't just a stroll in the park though; it was a 24/7 job that really could take its toll on you! You lived, ate and breathed those children. We worked 6 days a week and you got one day off (23 hours to be precise) and an hour off a day (which most of the time wasn't an hour!!). However even on those days off you would think you'd be sick of your children and the camp, but for some reason you can't stop talking about your cabin and what you are going to do when you get back on camp- it is such a bizarre feeling (almost like word vomit, Mean Girls quote). 

My kids were literally the best cabin, no question! The whole camp is split up into 6 'sub camps': Juniors (6-8), Pioneer Girls and Boys (9-11), Senior Girls and Boys (12-14) and Teen Village (15). I was PG3, which is Pioneer Girls Unit 3 this equals 11 year old girls. Initially I wasn't thrilled, pre-pubescent girls, I have that at home with my sister!! However my girls were incredible, so full of energy and laughter it was hardly a job around them. Other cabins however were a nightmare and would of stressed me out!!

Last but not least, when your a counsellor you receive a co, which is basically your rock for 8 weeks. Mine was a girl called Morgan Rynor, and I can honestly say that I would not have got through the summer without this girl, she is amazing. The way she dealt with situations, personally and professionally was unbelievable. She had this way with words, that made you listen and actually think about the decisions you were making. She definitely got me out of some sticky situations!!

To sum the whole counsellor job up, it is a job that you love to hate and hate to love. It was one of the best experiences of my life, so stressful but equally amazing! Will I be going back next year, you'll have to wait and see.

Signing out Lucy 

Getting to Camp..

Finally the day has come, I've packed and waxed and now I'm ready to go.

After stupidly not going to bed until 3:30, we were up again at like 6, I was Mardy and tired and really wasn't feeling going on a plane for  god knows how long!!

Getting there was okay until we went the completely wrong way and end up in Terminal 1 instead of Terminal 2 at Manchester Airport; know if any of you know this airport you will know how bloody massive it is!! We walked for ages to find T2!! 

I was panicking the whole way thinking that my bag was going to be overweight and that I would have to take things out and give them to Bradley to take home. When I approached the Checking In desk, she weighed my bag first and it was ... 19kg! Couldn't believe it that meant that I would have 4kg to bring home stuff from America.

Being stuck in an airport by yourself for like 2 and a half hours is definitely not fun!  Everywhere I was looking to see if anyone else was going to my camp and try and see if they were some sort of camp t-shirt; but unfortunately I was all out of luck and couldn't find one. 

I flew with Americian Airlines and they were fab! They literally just stocked you up on all the food and drink you could want (their tea tasted a little bit funny though😔). It was really good though because I'd never been on a long haul flight, apart from when I was small, so I watched films which were quite new and up to date, we were given a blanket and pillow which was obviously used and everyone was so polite and helpful, I can't wait to get on my flight home! (Just kidding!!)

To get to my final destination, there was a changeover at Washington Airport, where you had to wait an additional 3 hours!! But the Yorkshire way is to always chat to some complete stranger about your life story, so time went really quick!

We got on this tiny aeroplane to get from Washington to Greenville, it was so small and old that it still had cigarette ashy trays in the arm of the seat!!

After being picked up by camp, I already had a good feel at how friendly everyone is and how good my summer will be.

I am so excited for my summer and kk keep you posted on what happens!

 

Camp Update..

Just want to start with saying I've been so so poorly over the last couple of weeks. I have had really bad tonsillitis, which has mad me want to crawl in my bed and die! But anyway I'm back with another post.

It has been a really great week, as I said in my first post, that I hoped to do some travelling well, I have finally been placed in a quaint camp in North Carolina, Blue Star Camp!