Camp Staff Training week is probably the most intense experience known to man. Early mornings, late evenings, lectures, workshops, loads of games, songs, clapping, yelling, swim testing and canoe tipping (in the rain!) and hundreds of new people crammed into tiny cabins. This is an exhausting experiencing for even the most veteran camp staff. Imagine what it must be like for people who do not speak English as their first language, or have even experienced summer camp!
Julien is from Haiti. I have not had much of a chance to talk to her yet. Her english is pretty limited and she is shy, but she has an amazing voice. The first day of camp we were told we had to swim test. Juliene came up to me in the cabin with her eyes full of tears and her voice shaking. "Erin, I can not go in the water. It makes me scared." I assured her no one would make her do anything she didn't want to do, but so that she didn't feel alone she could come down to the dock and watch. It started out as a sunny day, and we started out by kayaking and canoeing. Juliene became intrigued when she found out she wouldn't have to get inb the water so she asked if she could try it. She LOVED it! But when it was time to dunk the canoe to practice rescues, she was very adamant about not getting in the water. And at that very moment the sky opened up and rain POURED down!
Now I don't know how many of you have swam in the pacific ocean, but let me assure you it is COLD!!! it is even colder in the rain. I could barley feel my hands when our canoe was dunked. Icame out of the water shivering but exhilarated. As I hobbled up the stairs to go shower before lunch, Juliene came up to me. "Erin, I want to do that!!!" she said while pointing at the overturned canoes in the water. "Are you sure?" I asked her. "YES!" she said with a big grin on her face. I watched her scream with fear and glee as her canoe was flipped and it was her smile as she climbed onto the dock that warmed me to the bone.
Challenge by choice...and succeed!
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