Vertity

Howdy Campers,

Well that was fun ! A huge massive great big Thank You to Camp America, and to my camp, Camp Winona, MD. I had the most amazing summer.
I got to act like a big kid, get a good suntan, improve my c.v and most of all, gain confidence.  Camp has given me the confidence to come to Berlin to live for a year with a family and learn German, I don't think I would have had the confidence to get out here and do this, if it had not been for camp.
So Vielen Dank !!!!!

So... Camp ! If any of you people reading this, are trying to decide whether to 'do' camp or not, what have you got to lose ?

Sure I came home with no money, and I had my low points, but when you touch down back at Heathrow after being away for three months, it hits you how fast it went, and how you NEED to go back next summer, if only to be back with all the friend you made. And on the money side, it was worth it to see Niagra Falls, to see Las Vegas, Boston, New York. Little old me made it that far! And hey, you really see some amazing things that money can't buy !

So ....What did I do at camp ?
I was a Unit Counselor at a Girl Scout Camp. That meant that I had to make sure the kids were O.k, looking after each other, being nice, playing, sharing.  I had to lead songs and dances, create things to do on the spot, whilst keeping the kids entertained. Giving them encouragement, praising good behaviour. Sorting out silly little arguments. Working as part of a team of nearly 50 people. That was the easy bit, nearly all of us were there for the same reasons, to work as part of a team and look after kids, so when that unites you all, you are working from the same page, as it were. its easy. I made some of the bestest friends EVER; special shout out goes to Miss Westy, Miss LaLa, Miss Tweety, Miss Wooooooooooo( never just woo) And I have some amazing places that I am going to go and visit.

I got to be in D:C , on the mall, for the 4th July,  I got to go tubing, of which I have yet to see the photos, but they are bound to be hilarious,
I ended up falling in the lake in what can only be described as in the style of a washing machine,. I think i lost my top at one point, good job I was
wearing a one piece swimming costume, or that could have been embarrasing, especially as I want to go back to Camp again next year. I got to go to theme parks, see a baseball game, go to Hooters, Target, Walmart. Eat Millions of Lucky Charms and Crates of Mountain Dew. I drunk copious amounts of British Tea, after I found Breakfast Tea in Walmart - wasn't quite Tetleys, but it sufficed.

What did I learn?

I learned to Bring More Tea Bags !
I learned that Patience is the most important thing when trying to listen to 18 six year old girls that set each other off.
I learned that the best cure for homesickness, for both Staff and Campers, is distraction.
I learned that sometimes we all need to stand back and breathe.
I learned that parachute games are fun, but stop being fun after the 500th time you pick a cat and a mouse.
I learned that no matter how fair you try to be, someone always thinks they are being hard done by.
I learned not to worry about the small things, some children that came to our camp didn't even have beds at home.
I learned that I can annoy people when Im Too Happy and enthusiastic in the mornings!
I learned that no matter how tired you are, the kids are the priority and you just keep going.
I learned that compassion goes along way.

I learned that camp is amazing, that American people are lovely, that Las Vegas Eats Money and I truely wouldn`t have changed any moment of my summer. Bring on 2010 !

Verity xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx