CCC

Here at camp it's all about uniform. Campers and staff all wear the same thing both day and night (with the exception of pyjamas). In the evening its all about the CCC 'Correct Camp Costume'. Green shorts, White polo with a collar, green tie and white socks (the socks have been a big source of debate and discussion here at camp).
Monday was the first day where all counsellors wore our CCC for the first time in honour of 'Gulicking up' where counsellors from all Aloha camps get together, have dinner, sing, dance and make our own sundaes. It was fun but for me it was rather overwhelming and my back was feeling the effects of so much sitting so I didn't enjoy it as much as I could have but there are so many events that happen I know I'll have plenty more times to socalise.
Since campers have arrived we wear aloha General uniform sy day and CCC in the evenings. Sundays we have lazy breakfast and can wear own clothes (pyjamas being the most popular option) for the morning then we have our special white CCC for Sunday service (white shorts replace the green).
The uniform might not be a flattering colour or fittings but it definitely saves time and energy getting dressed.

Rocking the camp chic

Campers arrive!

Opening day was long and an adjustment to see say the least. The day before my ankle gave out on me, a suspected return of my tendonitis from the end of last year but it's OK, I've got an ankle support on and spent time over the first day icing and elevating it as instructed so it is coping well. Of course it happened at the most inconvenient time as opening day is busy and you are going up and down the hill more times than average (especially when people call you down the hill unnecessarily).
As if the ankle issue wasn't enough it rained most of opening day and poured down throughout the night making slippery hills and turned the ground outside my tent into a more swamp like substance. Typical the first time it rains in the week and half I've been here is opening day. But apparently it is always the way so at least we maintained the standard.
Despite the trials and retributions my campers all arrived and have settled in really well and have become good friends, so much so they rearranged our tent so all their beds could be together on one side.
Our first full day of camp went well, we had department time where I led journal making along with another counsellor, Ruthie. That went well and we've got the beginnings of some great looking journals (including one I'm making for myself).
Then over lunch and rest hour I got to go tomorrow training along with some other counsellors so we can help out with the ropes course when needed. That was so much fun but quite scary as well as it was wet and slippery and we had to do pretend falls for practice. It took trust exercises to new levels!
In the evening we had play fair where the whole camp plays games and you meet some more people. It even included the counsellors being serenaded by the campers to Taylor Swift. It was a beautiful moment.
After the kids got  bed the counsellors got to hang down at the Hale, for a low key evening which was nice but I am now knackered, especially as I never got me rest hour today so I am gonna go to bed. But first just a note to say that today I found out that a whole bunch of the counsellors thought I was around 22/23 years old. I'm feeling like a grown up.

Nature, bugs and sundae

So I've been at camp now for a bit over a week and its been so great! There are a lot of bugs and wildlife around but that's side effect of being back to nature and living outside. I've been bitten a few times including waking up this morning with a bit right on the side of my eye. Last week we actually had an invasion of butterflies on the porch of our main house, it was crazy, I've forgotten what they're called but they do all their eating in caterpillar form then change and don't even have mouths and just have sex and die 2 weeks later.
A day or 2 later we had to clear out the shack at crossroads where birds and rats had moved in over the winter months then later that day we found another rats nest in the art barn! But it's not all bad the stars at night here are amazing! MJ (my camp director) pointed out the big dipper for me and the milky way!
Whilst the last week has been busy with prepping for camp and clearing out animals we've had a bit of downtime too. On Sunday night we watched Hairspray in the counsellor room with a lot of singing and dancing along. We had "Gulicking up" last night (a social event for all 6 camps in the aloha foundation) but I found that a bit overwhelming and my back was really painful so wasn't that into it but they served gallons of ice cream with amazing toppings for make your own sundae.
The hardest challenge so far though was walking up the hill back to my tent without my torch.
Anyway I've got my day off now then campers arrive tomorrow so it's gonna be hectic but will try update again soon. Might even do quick update later today if I've got the time.

American food apreciation

I have fallen in love with the food in this wonderful country so thought it was only fitting to dedicate a post to the tasty food I have sampled in the week I've been here.

It started the day after I arrived when after going into Vermont's capital to sort out a social security number we stopped at 'Dunkin Donuts' and I had a delicious chocolate cake type doughnut and an oreo milkshake. Despite knowing the stereotype of bigger portion sizes I was still surprised about the size I got after asking and paying for a small! Later that day I went with some other counsellors to a local ice cream place called 'The whippi dip' and got a chocolate-vanilla twist ice cream, again I got a generous serving and it was delicious. I will be going back.
You may assume from all the food relayed excursions that camp food wasn't very good but that is definitely not that case! The food is both delicious and plentiful. I'm starting to love American style bacon at breakfast (though I will be happy to get home and get a real bacon sandwhich), grilled cheeses and the tomato soup are also some favourites of the home made meals the incredible kitchen staff have been supplying. The desserts though have shone through with cookies, brownies and a phenomenal banana cream pie! I also tried my first ever smore the other night on a unit camp out. It was amazing roasting marshmallows over our open fire which overlooked Lake Morey.
As well as me trying out American food and snacks I have provided some of the American counsellors with an insight to British food as I brought with me some chocolate and sweets from home. Today I shared a pack of chocolate fingers, first I had to explain what they were but after everyone tried one they did not last long.
You may have noticed I am eating so much here but with the busy schedule and multiple hills I feel like I am constantly hungry! And don't worry between all the cake and cookies I am staying hydrated and getting a good selection of fruit, salad and vegetables.

Apologies but im at camp

I've got to start of by apologising fir the lack of blog post but this is the first time I've had internet since being at camp, and this post is gonna just be a quick overview of the week as I've got department time in 5minutes.
The journey to camp was good, I had WiFi on the coach making the full day of travelling bareable but our pick up from the bus station was an hour and a half late... But we finally got here and everyone is so nice and friendly. It's also very American from the raising of the flag to red hydrants and yellow school buses!
I'm having a great time so far, campers arrive wednesday but should be able  to post again Tuesday if not before.
Bells rang so I've got to run.
Love   family, s  me a week to make contact! Xxx

Arriving in New York

Touchdown.
I've arrived in the state of New York. It's been a long day (I am currently on my 24th hour awake) but it's been fun.
I set off at 3:30am from Bournemouth by coach but was disappointed to find my coach didn't have WiFi on board despite my brothers claims but watched a downloaded episode of casualty (the last I'll see for 3 months).
I arrived at Heathrow with plenty of time and flew through check in and security and after less than 5minutes sat down some other camp america-ers came and started chatting to me, before we knew it we were a big group chatting about, well, about America and our plans.
The plane itself was amazing! The longest flight I've ever been on was 4hours long so about half of this journey! I had loads of space and got a blanket and pillow and there was a great selection of movies, I watched 'Gravity', 'About time' and 'Thor 2'. I had my first ever in flight meal, including a delicious 'Gu' passionfruit dessert, unlimited drinks, a cute little 'fab' ice Lilly and a sandwhich and crisps before landing. They had even designed the packaging for the crisps to spell 'plane' as opposed to 'plain'. I love Virgin Atlantic, they give me food and know their way around a pun, they just get me!
Among the exciting firsts of this flight it was also the first time I've seen an aeroplanes toilet, and all I could think was how is the mile high club a thing!? I just couldn't understand how in that tiny space two people could..join the club.
Once at Newark, after we finally got through passport control, me and Laura (the girl I sat next to on the plane) started talking to some more people whilst waiting for the bus to take us to the hotel, this turned out to be about a 2 hour wait.
The hotel is really nice and I'm in a room with Laura and Ash, who is the first person I've met going to the same camp as me! We showered and had orientation where me and Ash found out we will be leaving the hotel at 4:45am tomorrow morning! But we went out for dinner and then I had to get a phone as my Nokia is too old to be compatible with the American SIM card!
Well I better get to sleep, it's coming up to 3am UK time (10pm US) and I have another full day of travelling tomorrow but will arrive at camp about 5:30pm US time.

Plan, Shop, Pack.

The week before a holiday is always a little hectic and whilst this week has been a bit stressful I am also getting more excited then I can explain in words!
I'm all packed which has been the easiest part so far. I'm taking approximately 2 weeks of clothes as I'm unsure how much access I'll have to a laundrette when I'm travelling but haven't stressed too much about what to take as I figure I can buy anything extra I need fairly easily once I'm there. I'm taking my kindle fire with me as this will be my main form of communication and only access to the internet when travelling. I've brought some union Jack flags to decorate my bunk and try convert campers to GB patriots, and if the flags don't do it I'm hoping the selection of English chocolate and sweets including Jaffa cakes, wagon wheels and wine gums I'm taking will do.
As for the more important things (not that chocolate isn't important) I've double, triple and quadruple checked I've got the necessary paperwork and am writing all numbers I might possibly need in a notebook I'm taking. Better safe than sorry right?

My main problems have come in the form of money complications (typical). I applied for a caxton card for an easy, safe and cheap way to spend money in the states but it was delivered to my old address the week after moved out and it was only forwarded on at the start of this week and has yet to arrive! I also have spent a large chunk of my week trying to tell my bank I'll be in the states over the summer in case I do end up using my card but this took 3 phones calls and 4 trips to the bank over 3 days!

Whilst shopping and organizing all the necessary things my mum said she wanted to buy me a birthday present as I'm in the states over my 20th birthday and she suggested getting a charm in honour of america. So we went to Pandora and after a bit of debating I choose a statue of liberty charm so I had something that was specifically linked with where I'm going and not just a generic travel themed charm.

Sporting my CA band along with my new charm

I can't believe I've only got another 4 days to wait! I cannot wait! I've been checking what the weather's like in Vermont (it's sunny), counting down the hours still I take off (91) and downloading the perfect playlist for the journey (including tunes such as "party in the USA" and "Summer of 69").

Next time I write a post here I will be over 3000 miles away and I'm not sure how often I'll be able to get to some internet or even have enough time to write a post once in America but I will try my best to document as much of my experience as possible. See you on the flip side!