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So, finally my first entry after being back here at camp in New Hampshire for the third year!
Leaving the Netherlands in the early hours of a Sunday morning, I slept through most of my journey to New York. In New York I had a few hours at the airport, which I spent trying to find my way around JFK airport, even the staff wasn't always able to tell me where my terminal or gate was...
No wonder, when I saw my propeller plane, operated by "Freedom Airlines" - it was tiny and only had about 9 rows. Unlike the air-conditioned flight I just got off, this plane was boiling hot and very noisy. The air hostess was on her first day at work, so she was reading things of a sheet, and her supervisor kept correcting her. Quite amusing to me, but the guy in the row in front of me looked even more nauseous, as he had his sick bag ready (although this was mostly due to the heavy turbulence I think).
After about an hour and 20 minutes we landed in Portland, Maine safe and sound. At the baggage claim there was no sign
of any of the luggage from our flight, there was in fact no such flight according to the flight information. So I waited around and hoped to see a familiar face, as there should have been someone to pick me up. I phoned the camp and was told Irek would be there, so I had his name called on the speakers, twice. After reporting my lost luggage, I decided to stroll around the car park to see if I recognized a van. I then walked around the airport, and finally saw two guys, snoozing on a couch opposite the information desk where I had their names called.....At least I had found Irek and Mark, who had not even realized I had arrived, and were planning to leave soon. Luckily I found them in time and we drove the 1 and a half hours to camp.
As we got back, the staff icebreakers were just starting, it was good to see a lot of familiar faces but also a lot of new ones. Staff week consisted of a lot of training sessions to get us prepared for the summer working with kids, First Aid, CPR, etc. We also got the
80's Lunch
Crazy dressing up for 80's lunch!! rest of the things prepared for the arrival of the 370 campers which would arrive the next week. Hanna, Karin and me also got the 8 horses that we take care of, and rode them to see what they would be like to ride, to get them accustomed to the area and the lessons.
It was great to have the campers arrive, it's very different when the dining hall is full of girls so excited to be there, standing on their benches after lunch singing all sorts of different songs. We also have the occasional dress up lunch, such as 80s lunch (funny to think mosto f these kids were born in the 90's though....) A great atmosphere (although there is the odd lunch where the counselors "challenge" the campers to a silent lunch, which can be a nice change).
The horse riding lessons got off to an OK start, we had a fall in the first week, with some of the horses not quite used to the environment and spooking when they see something move (i.e. a chipmunk). Apart from that, the barn attracts a lot of younger campers who just love to visit the horses, feed
Lunch on top of the mountain - Boulder Loop Trail
Looking not so comfortable, but then there is a huge drop just behind where I'm sitting.... them carrots, groom them, etc.
On my first 2 days off, I didn't have anything planned, so I joined Irek on his hiking trips with campers, which was great fun. Nice to go somewhere out of camp and to be doing something active, plus the views from the top were amazing. The location we are in is incredible, we might be in the middle of nowhere but it is a great view to be surrounded by mountains, rivers and trees and hardly anything else. (see pictures)
The first session (which lasts two weeks) flew by, and the new campers arrived. The first day, Sunday, was my 25th birthday, and possibly the greyest day we've had so far. Rainy, miserable weather! Still, it was a relaxed day, we had sign-ups in the morning and in the afternoon we took care of the horses. I took the evening off and went to the nearest lasrge town with a few of the other staff for an amazing dinner. The camp food is pretty good most days, but it's nice to get a different meal with lots of fresh vegetables, and smoked salmon 😊
We're now in the third week of
camp and everyone seems to have settled in very well, we've gotten to know each other and we have a clear routine at the barn. Hopefully no more falls!!
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Champie
non-member comment
sunshine or rain
Hi Gal, looks like you're having fun and getting your fair share of sunshine as well, besides all the way up there every stray of sunshine is one taken, and you should enjoy it, LOL apparantly this previous week we had there first strays sunshine as well in holland, so it was difficult for me cause in Looavul and NYC there was plenty... This weekend north sea jazz festival in Rotterdam, keeps me busy and out and about. Talk to you later and behave ;) kus champie