Another week... another post!

Just an example of what kind of things i'm doing at the moment!

Resident camp is exactly what i remember it to be, stressfull... but so much fun! I'm seriously having such a good time. Being here for the second time during staff training was kinda...dull and boring, kinda frustrating etc.

But that has paid off a million times over now. I love being a returning counselor! It's so much more fun because theres no real period of "coming out of my shell" or anything like that. I know what to say to make the kids do what I need them to do, and I still manage to have fun!

Every night on camp we have this thing called evening embers where we talk about the Y value (honesty, caring, respect and responsibility) of the day, and what kind of activities we did that day, what they enjoyed etc. Last year i just had the kids sit down on their bunks and we talked. I have managed to build on that this year and I have them sit in a circle on the floor (circles are important on camp, never ending, everyones equal etc) with me. Then we shut off the lights, and light a scented candle in the middle of the circle.

It dosen't sound like much, but it's more special, and the kids dont feel like shouting out all the time, they raised their hands without me even asking them to do that before they speak.

I think experience is so helpful at camp. I know the schedule, i know whats happening! Yay me!

Aside from work, me and the Yank are doing very well. I'm finding it hard to not show my affections infront of the kids (we discourage camper-camper relations (obviously!) and so us being together is kinda hypocrytical) But we're having fun still! We're good.

There was a big "end of the first week" party last night. Some people showed some ugly sides, and some new relationships started to become more apparant. (alcahol not needed, or even used...)

There is one relationship we're (The Yank and I) keeping a particular close eye on, because we think it not only should happen, it needs to happen. They both deserve it.

Anyhoo, i can't think of anything more interesting to say, so i'll leave this here!

Keep it safe kids!

Jamie
Veg
Banana

"Risk may cause failure, but sucess cannot come without it." - Fortune cookie I got a couple of weeks ago!