First week down

And what a week it's been. Kids arrived on Sunday night, but my ones came on Monday. They run residential camp where kids sleep over for 5 nights Sunday through Thursday, then there's day camp where they come Monday to Friday 7.30 - 5.00 (what I had). I fell in love with my group. I was admittedly nervous before they arrived, hoping my lesson plans would work out and most of all that they would like me. It ended up being awesome. Some of my kids could just make me laugh hysterically and although they had their moments I am so thankful I had such a good first week with them. I feel like I need 9000+ hours of sleep but gosh it's worth it. Highlight was probably telling scary stories in this abandoned cabin in the woods which we weren't really meant to go in but they loved it!

Here's a photo:

Three are missing cause it was the last session of the week and it's so hard to round them all up at that time! Two had some sort of ADD (one always wandered off hence him missing from the picture!) and one I'm pretty sure showed signs of autism. He was moved from two groups for causing trouble and was finally put into mine, but honestly he was good with me. I think because I have that experience dealing with difficult kids and mental health in general I was able to get through to him (bar one incident where he flat out refused to put on his shoes and we spent nearly an hour dealing with it). Some kids who had been coming to camp for years told me I was their favourite counsellor which was nice to hear :) Some of the parents actually offered for me to stay at their house, so seeing as camp allows for host families I may take up an offer one weekend (who could pass up sleeping in an actual bed?!)

Needless to say it was an EXHAUSTING week, not to mention we haven't had a full day off since we started training, so when Friday rolled around I was absolutely hanging for a night out on the town. The kids left at 5 then it was a mad rush to the bathrooms to start getting ready. I must say, after feeling grubby all week it was nice to get dressed up and do my hair and makeup! It was fun getting ready with the girls, all trying to share the same mirror and pumping up the music.

We got a hotel in downtown Minneapolis with nearly 20 of us sharing two rooms. We started the night in one room having pre's and playing drinking games, getting pumped for the night. It was such a laugh. Cabbing it to the club was beautiful - something about downtown just feels so... cool. I really felt like I was in America.

The night was amazing, from what I can remember anyway. I had some cash stolen but it was my own drunken fault and its definitely a lesson learnt. Passport and IDs are still in tact so that's all that matters!  I don't think I've felt that hungover since my 21st, maybe worse. But it was definitely worth it! Having some drinks and a boogie with everyone outside of camp was definitely needed.

 It was funny seeing everybody so out of it back at the office - I was greeted by my boss with "Welcome to Saturdays at Camp". Brilliant. One of the counsellors is celebrating her 21st next week and apparently we're hiring a party bus - lets see how that goes!

A few people went to the Twins baseball game in the evening, but because there were too many of us and we would have had to catch a cab, a few of us ended up having dinner and ice cream locally. It was really pleasant. Can't wait to eventually catch a game soon though.

All in all it was a great first weekend off! And in other news, the weather is slowly picking up!!! Still a bit of rain here and there but at least it's not cold anymore! Here's our beach, Lake Minnewashta: (Just missed the sunset!)

More things I've learnt and noticed:

- Australians cuss a LOT. I didn't know hell and ass were considered bad words!!!

- 'Far out' is a very Australian term and nobody else seems to understand it

- The 'Waiting for a mate' phenomenon has only just picked up here

- I love when kids have that sassy ghetto accent (Y'all know what I'm sayin'?!)

- Kids find the Australian accent hilarious and I spent way too much time repeating words on request

- It would be weird to be under 21 here and considered a minor all over again. You can go out but can't drink - they give you a coloured wristband to indicate your age. Glad I could help out my minor brethren where I could though! 

 xxx Eva

The kids are a comin'

The kids are arriving this Sunday! I've found out I've got thirteen 9-10 year olds for the week. I'm super excited to say the least! I think they will really change the dynamic and the environment at camp - I can't wait. This means I've now moved from the 30+ bunk room to the smaller cabin with two other counsellors. There's no heat, lighting or electricity in general (did I mention its extremely cold lately? Where the F are you summer?!) but hey reppin' the rustic camp lyf yo' where nobody cares about showering daily anymore and we live on s'mores.

Went to get a social security number today with the other newbies. The place reminded me of centrelink a lot actually - just a tad scummy with the staff thinking they are the security of the world. Because we finished up early we got to take a drive downtown Minneapolis, and had breakfast at this uptown diner (I think I'll get diabetes from that meal). Needless to say I can't wait to finally go out and check out some bars and live music, it looks amazing.

More random drives here and there which have been awesome. I was told that if any opportunity arises to get off camp, even if its just for a bit, should be taken up. After being here for so long I guess you can start to get sick of it. Went to Goodwill which was mad, picked up two jumpers and two hoodies for less than $20 all up. Been pumping a lot of songs in parking lots which has made me laugh till my stomach hurts (there was 7 of us stuffed in the car at the time) including niggas in paradise and thrift shop - mah jaaayyums!!! Went to this secluded beach late at night with a few of the girls, as well as other little adventures here and there. I'm so glad a couple of the local people have their cars here, seriously. Trips to the gas station always manage to turn into adventures!

There's only a few people who are 21 and over here so one night after dinner we decided to go out to a bar for a few drinks. Of course this turned into many many drinks, and it was hilarious. I don't think there was any other people our age there and there was terrible karaoke going on but we had a great time. It was my first time trying to work out the whole tipping thing too, so what started as tipping 1 or 2 bucks, after I started feeling merry I think I tipped the bartender like 10 bucks one time. Jesus. I need to seriously watch myself!

Here is a pretty tame picture of our group -

I promise to take more photos eventually!!!

Things I've noticed about America:

- There are more American flags per square mile than people (maybe a slight exaggeration)

- They have drive-thru ATMs and pharmacies (what the hell?)

- They still think I mean a g-string when I mention thongs

- S'mores are delicious and I wish it was a thing back home 

Anyway gotta get to sleep as we're up at 6.30am to jump in the lake. I swear the weather better have picked up by then (it's been so cold and drizzly - I left Melbourne to get AWAY from that shite!!!)

Eva xox

Camp T

So I made it here to Minnesota! I'm at Camp working as a general counsellor until August. It is such a beautiful place. We're training all this week with all the activities, with the kids arriving in a week. Basically we work morning till night with Friday night 9pm until Sunday 10am off a week.

I won't lie - my first day here wasn't the best. I really doubted if I had made the right decision. Everyone that was here seemed to know each other so well and I felt like I was never going to make friends and felt extremely homesick that night. It wasn't a nice feeling, ill be honest. Everyone was friendly but I really missed my friends and wanted to come home.

That all changed the next day. I must have still been jet lagged or whatever but a good nights rest really fixed my mood up and I got to know the people here a lot more. They are seriously awesome. There are people from all over the place - locals from the city (Minneapolis and St Paul), heaps of Brits, a couple from New Zealand and Australia, and even a guy from Amsterdam.

Here at camp we had to make up 'camp names' cause apparently the kids aren't meant to know your real name. I could only come up with the name Lemons as back in the day it was commented to me that I smelt like a lemon and was then called it by this particular group of people. Plus Dee was already taken. Thus for the next two months I am now known as Lemons - not Eva!

That night after we finished up for the day, one of the girls Laser asked me to come for a drive with this guy Sam (who was at camp last year and lived in the area) with this girl Shmo and a guy named Pepper so even though I was knackered I thought I should take every opportunity at this point to say yes to everything. 

What initially started as a little drive around the lake turned into us dropping into two grad house parties. Needless to say it was an extremely random night out (I was in a hoodie and glasses for christs sake) but we were given heaps of free beers and vodka and I even got to try some Minnesotan green which was nice! It was seriously such a fun time. Americans are very cool and love Australians. We pretty much bonded and had our last cigarette outside of camp after getting dropped off. We stumbled back into the bunks at 1am (all the counsellors are staying in a huge room at the moment with I think 30 bunks) and finally settled into bed.

I spent the next day very hungover (it was the first day of training) but we did things like try out the giant swing, go on a massive scavenger hunt, swim in the lake, etc. Even though I was out of it it was a great day.

I wish I had more photos but honestly it's been the last thing on my mind. Some people I've noticed are kinda obsessed with updating their facebook and Instagram and checking their 'likes' and all that (there's only one room in the entire camp that has wifi mind you) but I've honestly had no desire to (apart from Skype family and friends here and there to let them know I'm still alive). Each to their own though, everybody is different.

   From the beginning I really wanted this trip to be about me finding myself and gaining that independence only solo travelling can give to you. I want myself to be fully immersed in this experience - not having half my mind still stuck in whats happening in Melbourne.

Of course I miss home (especially my family - my nonna cried on Skype the other night -.-) but its getting better as I'm getting closer to the other counsellors here. We are living, eating, sleeping and working together 24 hours a day so you are bound to form some great relationships. That being said It has been tough work every day but I'm beginning to realise why everyone calls camp the best summer of your life.

And this is just the beginning.

Until next time,

eva xxx

First day

I don't normally eat a lot of sweets, but I'm currently eating a delicious apple and walnut cobbler with vanilla ice cream at 9.45pm in my queen size bed, whilst overlooking planes landing through my hotel room window in Los Angeles.

In the USA.

Today is the first day of my nine month adventure across the States. And it still feels so surreal.

I was initially going to invest in a travel journal, but realised it's the 21st century and I will probably find it easier to jump on my iPad here and there and write about my trials and tribulations as I go along.

I left Melbourne on the 30th of May at 9.15am. The flight was about 13 hours - my butt felt numb the entire time and my brain was melting after 5 movies, not to mention I had a seat in the middle aisle squashed between two other guys. Lucky they were cool though so I made two new friends. The border officers at LAX were extremely lax themselves - definitely no three hour wait like I was made to believe - and were actually pretty friendly and conversational (shock horror)!

After I finally got to the hotel I was jetlagged as hell but convinced myself that I might as well power through the day and go for a walk around Santa Monica. It was so lovely!!!! I ended up making friends with this really nice English girl and we spent the majority of the day walking around the city.

My first 'Welcome to LA' experience was on the bus. There was this old crazy African American guy sitting near the front having a vivid conversation with himself, everyone just ignored him but as soon as he overheard me talking (and supposedly recognized my accent), he came right over and started talking really damn dirty. It was so freaking awkward! He's all like, 'You wanna suck some black American dick! And lick mah balls, and drink mah piss, miss!' over and over and over again and ended up making like a rap about it. I didn't know whether to laugh or be afraid but I just ignored him and kept looking at my friend wide-eyed, trying not to laugh the entire time. Only me! Luckily the bus driver had enough and yelled out 'Nobody wanna hear dat shiyyt! You better shut yo' mouth or you be gettin' off mah bus next stop ya hear!' and thankfully he friggen left and we sighed with relief. Ahh well, gotta take the bitter with the sweet!

On the way home we stopped at Carl's Jr for my first ever American meal - it was so fatteningly delicious. I think I've gotta make a conscious effort to not put on 10+kg while I'm here. I won't lie, I think it'll be a struggle :/

I got to skype with my family back at the hotel, and I won't lie but I already felt a bit homesick. I miss them a lot.

I fly out tomorrow morning to Minneapolis to start my job at Camp T until August - can't wait! Then after that I'll have to spend a week in Ottawa, Canada to apply for my second J1 visa for my semester at Uni of Florida (massive headache....) but fingers crossed it'll all go smoothly! Then of course after that meeting my three best friends for an epic road trip from NYC to San Fran via the south. I still can't believe this is all happening.

Well I think this was a sufficiently long winded introductory first post.
I'll end it here with a small tl;dr: don't make eye contact with beggar-looking people on the street or they'll hassle you for money, don't make yourself too known on public transport if there's a (relatively harmless) crazy person on it, and learn2tip!!!


'I will soon think of a cool signing-off line',
eva