Welcome to Bear Creek Aquatic Camp

I finally made it to Nashville! I had to wait 20 hours for the next flight, so instead of sitting in a terminal, I went to a hotel. It wasn't great, but at least I had two double beds so I could really spread out! I got to the hotel at around 1am and went straight to sleep. I then got up at 9, had breakfast and a shower, and went back to sleep! I caught the shuttle back to the airport at 12.30 to catch my 2.50 flight, however my flight didnt leave until 3.30pm. We had to board it from the ground, which is quite different cause usually you board them through those tunnels. It was a cruisy flight to Nashville, I lost track of time and all of a sudden we were there. I just have to say that it reminded me of Miley Cyrus! (her home town).


Boarding from NY to Nashville

Skippy picked me up, and had a cute little sign to welcome me. We then drove 2 hours back to camp, but stopped of at McDonalds for some dinner. I then met some of the other counsellors at Belews Dairy Bar, which sells shakes, ice cream, sundaes, cheap hamburgers etc... It was really nice. The next day was a day of helping clean up some stuff on camp as there was a bit of flooding a few weeks ago. Shoony, Kaya, Dory, Clover, Skippy and I went and cleaned out the boat barns (paddle beach and big boating), then we went and set up the campers beds at a unit called lions den. Later on some of the counsellors from Pennyroyal (our sister camp) showed up and there was another girl from New Zealand! Her camp name was Haka, and she was from Ohope. After they got a tour around camp we all went back to Belews for some dinner.


Camp

At the moment we get to stay in the lodge, which has air conditioning and hot water in the showers. Once training starts we have to move into the units outside which have no air conditioning, but hey its all part of the experience right! The next day we did pretty much the same things (washed the sailing boats), except we took a trip to Walmart! There was a subway in walmart, that had foot long subs for $6! We ate some subway, then I went and bought sandals, a phone, a watch and sunglasses. They were all so cheap! My sunglasses were $5 and the watch was only $7. I definately wish that New Zealand had a Walmart. It's quite hot here, about 30 degrees at least, and a bit humid. They have intense lighting and thunder here which I find amazing; the whole sky lights up and flashes. The camp is really beautiful, set just next to Kentucky lake, and has beautiful fauna (except for poison ivy!). And I know some of you (aka mum and brittany) will be please to hear that Kaya set up a worm farm so we can compost our food scraps!


Turtle I saw

Tonight we went to a restaurant called Patties which was really delicious! I had a big chicken breast with a salad and these chips called steak fries which looked more like giant wedges to me. We got up and sang a camp song for the waitress, and then another group eating wanted us to perform to them to! (I've started to catch onto the camp songs). Some of the camp songs have a real southern american accent to them, and when I try the americans just crack up laughing.



Anyway sorry for my bad grammar, its late and i'm really tired! Tomorrow camp training starts, and we have to start getting up at 7am and training ends at 10pm. Should be fun!



Until next time!

Fem

xxx

Stuck in New York

Just a quick post. Currently stranded in NY. Missed my flight to Nashville. It was the airlines fault. NY is such a busy airport that after we landed, we had to wait a good 30mins until we could actually get off the plane. Then my luggage was last to come out (another good 30-45mins), then I had no idea where to go, and realised I had to catch some kind of monorail, and then by the time I got to check in, my flight had already started boarding and the lady wouldn't let me through.

Don't panic! Currently, in touch with mum and dad back at home trying to find new flights asap. Next one is in 24 hours though, trying to find an earlier one. I will let you all know when I have finally arrived at my destination! Until then, who knows how long I have to wait here...

Love you all
Fem
xxx

Bon Voyage

The last 6 months have been a whirlwind of excitement, nerves, plans, Australia, work, friends and family. I still remember sitting at my interview in Starbucks in October, ignoring the butterflies in my stomach. I’ve wanted to do Camp America since I was 14. Who wouldn’t? I love travel, and the sound of making life long friends, having an amazing experience and travelling all at the same time sounded awesome to me. After seeing Ross off to Missouri on Friday last week, i’ve had a few days to prepare myself for my adventure.

I had a leaving barbecue on Saturday, which was a great success (thank you too all who came!). I cooked a bit too much food, but compliments were that the food was delicious. On Sunday my family and I and Kristen went up to Otaki to visit the outlet shops and buy some nice icebreakers and other camping needs. Monday was a day of gathering things I wanted to pack, and moving them upstairs so I could spread it out and look over everything I wanted to take with me, as well as dinner at the Stewarts. Yesterday I went to Victoria University, to what was suppose to be my first management lecture with Brittany, however public transport was hopeless, and I turned up late, meaning Brittany was late, and then 10 minutes into our lecture the fire alarm went off. So really, it was a sneak peak. Then I went to Steve and Suzanne's (Ross's parents) house for dinner. I hung out with my friends in the library where they decorated a scrap book to give me for my travels (thanks girls =] ).


Trying on Icebreakers at the store in Otaki

It’s the night before I leave. Today has pretty much been a day of packing and getting last minute things sorted. Mum and I sat down upstairs and squashed everything into my two bags. I was nervous about the weight, but they were both under 15kg which was good! I’m just a little nervous as I am only allowed to bring a total of 20kgs from London to Dublin. Therefore I’m gonna have to chuck a lot of stuff out, but I can imagine things like my shoes will be really worn out by the end of camp anyway. Mum and I went out to Porirua this morning and bought a new phone as the phone I currently have will not work in the states. I will get an American Sim card when I get there, so If you would like to know my number so you can send me a txt (which I think I will have to pay the bill for), let me know and I will email it to you as soon as I have.


The scrapbook my friends made for me

So many little things I have had to think about, such as batteries that need to be charged before I leave, iPod charged, do I have enough US cash in my wallet for McDonalds at LA (tradition!), and things that I have had to pack which I never really thought about packing. Everyday things that you use for granted such as tissues and hair ties. I’m excited for my flights, I love flying and can’t wait to see what movies they have on the plane - I need something to look forward to! My stop overs are really short. I have 2 1/2 hours in LA, and 2 hours in New York, and land in Nashville Tennessee at 10pm on Friday (10pm Nashville time, not NZ). I’m a bit nervous about the camp I am going to, as there is no electricity in my tent and apparently the raccoons and mice sneak around at night! I also have a long drop, unless I want to walk for 15 minutes to the main hall for a proper toilet, however walking for 15 minutes in the dark where wild grizzly bears walk around does not sound nice to me!

Thank you to everybody who has offered me their support in the past 6 months, and wished me bon voyage. I will update my blog as often as I can while at camp, although there will be limited internet access. I am back to NZ on the 12th of January 2011 so see you all then!

I look forward to your comments, emails and phone calls over the next 8 months.

Fem