Camp Diaries, vol.III

Today was the end of the first two-week period for Camp. I woke up early and eased groggy teachers from their restful hangovers by a rousing rendition of RISE AND SHINE AND GIVE GOD THE GLORY GLORY. Unfortunately, there was very little rising, no shining, and hardly any giving of the glory glory. I waved goodbye and hugged children I hadn´t spoken to in two weeks, distanced myself from the little girl with head lice and yelled at the Worst Child In The World one last time before he made his way onto the bus. I also helped little Diego with his suitcase, joking that he could probably fit inside it while seriously sizing the measurements up in my head. I finally decided that indeed, he could curl up and go to sleep in his own bag. If he wanted to.

It´s a funny thing, being so far away from everything in the world. I´m on top of a mountain, unplugged from the internet and a reliable phone system. I´m so far away from loved ones, from news, from pizza and Thai food. I say it´s a funny thing just because I kinda like camp, and I kinda like the idea of nothing but me and the mountains. And the thronging mass of 140 children who despise English.

But still, despite the obvious moments of sheer volume that the children produce, there are simple times when I´m a little taken back by the world. Living in the city makes you forget that the world can be quiet, a chirping, pine-scented thing. You forget that there are moments when you can stop, listen to the old creaks of the surrounding forest and be held by the lightest breeze. You forget that it´s all there, that we leave it behind sometimes in our blogs and text messages and expensive food, but it still comes around and warms, cools, and consoles. I guess those are the times when I´m the happiest here, the times that I like to hold onto the most.