Days off at last!

Camp seems to warp time in the strangest of ways. Some days feel stretched out while others seem to fly by. I can't believe that there is less than a week left at camp and that I have been here for over two months. I am currently on my days off but decided to hang around camp so as to save some money for travel afterwards. I am also excited to have some 'alone time' as I realised the other day that I haven't really had any time to myself since I left Grahamstown at the end of May.

So, what has camp been like? You work hard but then you play hard too. You constantly suffer from "FOMO" (fear of missing out) which means you are always busy doing stuff despite being utterly exhausted! You have some amazing campers who you immediately connect with and then you have some difficult ones who can reduce you to tears. I have had both.

Like campers you also have some great classes and some classes that you dread. "Fun on the Farm", which is where kids can come and play with the chickens, goats and rabbits, was undoubtedly the worst class to teach. You spend an hour every day trying to supervise "Elmira's" (from Looney Tunes)...who just want to hug and squeeze the animals. I am always concerned that their over enthusiasm will eventually end in death for one of these creatures. My favourite class has been building a Tree House. One of my campers had the idea and I managed to get the ball rolling with the project by getting a great, enthusiastic counsellor involved. We literally built the tree house by lashing the wood together so that we didn't have to use any nails. This class was strangely empowering and I now feel like I can build stuff...ok, well perhaps simple stuff like a tree house and a fence.

Then, there is also the fun you have with your colleagues such as playing pranks (which sometimes go down well and sometimes not so well) and dressing up in rabbit suites and convincing campers that the reason for this is for a job interview at National Geographic.

August already?

Both Katie and I seem to have abandoned this blog but our excuse is that we have been having so much fun (and of course working quite hard) to spend much time sitting on our computers. The July session was fairly bumpy with the merge of two camps and the change in ownership but it seems as though August has gotten off to a great start and I am fairly positive that it will be a ton of fun.

During changeover, a group of us headed to a friends house in Kennebunk, Maine. The house we stayed at was withing walking distance of George Bush Senior's beach house and the town itself was somewhat similar to Knysna...think pretty, tourist trap/beach town. The best part of those few days was feeling clean. One never feels clean while at camp.

Start of camp

The kids arrive tomorrow which is both exciting and rather daunting since I feel very unprepared. Orientation has felt really long but we have had a lot of fun. Tomorrow another counsellor and myself get to drive to Manchester airport to fetch some campers. We get to drive a rather large bus, which Kithen Katie (the other counsellor) has nicknamed the "shortbus". Think yellow American schoolbus but just a little smaller (but not by much). I will post pics in a few days.

Ropes and Lakes

The last few days have been somewhat of a blur. I feel as though I have been at camp for weeks instead of only 4 days. Katie and I have been busy doing a ropes course (well I did the ropes course and Katie assisted the head of ropes). I have been really impressed with how calmly and thoroughly Katie teaches and gets her point across and am really glad to be able to see this side to her. I think I always see her as a 10 year old instead of the adult she is.

Back to ropes, I did the low ropes course, which pushed me out of my comfort zone especially when I had to be guided through the spider web blinded and mute. The spider web is literally a giant spider web strung up between 2 trees and the point was to get each team member through a hole without touching the web. After low ropes we did the high ropes course. I managed the cat walk which is to walk across a log that is again hooked between two trees (it is about 6-8m above ground level). Climbing the tree was fine. It was when I reached the log and had to walk across without holding anything that I started to freak out a little (my leg started shaking uncontrollably) but once I got moving it wasn't too bad. I tried the "Postmans Walk" but that was really high (and I think the adrenaline from the previous element had subsided leaving me feeling really tired) As for the zipline, I could not get up the courage to do it this morning. So, I have made it my goal to do the postman's walk and the zipline before the summer is out!

Life guard training started today and will run until Saturday so I guess the blog will go quiet for a while. If anyone feels the urge to post us chocolate I will let you know our postal address. Also, I feel as though I am posting into space so please feel free to comment or send us an email/facebook message as it would be great to hear what is going on in everyone's lives.

Connecticut

Hartford, Connecticut: Insurance capital of the world! We have spent a rather quiet 24 hours in Hartford which has been a welcome relief from the non-stop moving we did in in New York City. We have browsed through a thrift store, which had these really great clothes if you wanted to dress up like an american granny (or Corne and Twakkie) in a white and purple tracksuite, we walked down to a "Stop n Shop" where we argued over what to buy for breakfast and lunch (I wanted fruit, Katie wanted chips), we laughed at the fact that a 2 litre bottle of 'soda' was 79c but a 500ml bottle was $1.16, we indulged in a giant chocolate chip cookie (American's really do know how to make great cookies and ice-cream) and we witnessed a wedding in a magical rose garden.

Last night we went to dinner with some of Emily's friends (my old friend from camp). I was thrilled to bump into some science geeks and the conversation soon turned to weird and interesting insects from around the world. The home-made vegetarian burgers were most delicious as was our first taste of Rhubarb and Strawberry pie (another thing American's do well are their dessert pies...the meat pies still need a little work though).

Today we are heading back to my old camp for a visit and then we pack our bags, say farewell to Connecticut, and head to New Hampshire for what I am sure is going to be an incredible summer!

Now that it's raining more then ever, know that we'll still have each other, you can stand under my umbrella, you can stand under my umbrella!!!

This is the thought that crossed my mind when Tarryn and I set off on what was to be a rather interesting adventure in Grenich Village, NY. The mission: to find dinner that wasn’t going to cost an arm and a leg. We left the apartment with two flimsy umbrella’s, our tommy takkies, which by the way are not waterproof, and some warm clothing since it was now raining, it reminded me of Cape Town winters, even though its suppose to be summer in NY. After wondering a market, passing many different dogs and adult shops (which are allowed to display their merchandise in the shop windows) along the way. I turned to talk to Tarryn who at this stage had fastened the hood of her jacket under her neck and left her zip un-done, with her gold locks popping out the hood of her jacket she looked like little Bo-peep. ‘little Bo-peep hit’s the streets of NYC 2010’. So after walking around in the rain with our umbrella’s that had turned inside out a few times due to the wind we finally settled for a little Italian restaurant. Little Bo-peep and myself decided to share a chicken burger and chips, unfortunately it felt like we were speaking Xhosa when we asked for one to share.

Heaven!

Katie and I were in food heaven today with our Ben and Jerry's New York Superfudge ice-cream (which we polished off rather quickly despite our good intentions of keeping some for tomorrow) and Reeses peanut butter chocolate.

New York City, Centre of the Universe

New York City! Katie and I are sitting on the 18th floor of an amazing apartment that has views of the Empire State building and other cool buildings that I don't know the names of. We are watching the sun rise as we listen to the city awake from its slumber. What a relief to finally be here.

Our departure was somewhat eventful, beginning with Katie and I repacking our handluggage because it was too heavy! We were quite a sight as we sat on the floor of Cape Town airport unpacking and repacking our bags. This event seemed to set the trend for the rest of our journey as the zip on my handbag broke and the wheel on Katie's wheely bag gave in. This wouldn't have been too bad had we not had to literally run the length of Jo'burg's airport from gate 15 to gate 4, because we forgot to recheck whether they had changed the boarding gate (which they had). Katie had to literally drag her bag behind her (since one wheel was not working)as we raced through the airport to the amusement of many onlookers. We arrived huffing and puffing (Katie had turned somewhat pale and thought she would throw up)to be greeted by a queue of people waiting to be checked by security. Shoes came off as we were frisked and our bags thoroughly searched. I watched as one man had an expensive bottle of cologne removed because it was not in a ziplock bag.

We thankfully found our seats, both relieved to be on board. To calm ourselves, we decided to have a drink at dinner and were amused when the air hostess asked me for my ID as she didn't believe I was 27. I have now been carded 3 times in the last 2 weeks and am starting to wonder whether I suffer from the same disease as Benjamin Button.

Apart from Katie almost toppling over on the subway due to the combination of not holding onto the pole and having a heavy backpack, we arrived in New York City safe and sound. The excitement of finally being here had us drop off our bags and head out in search of food and B&H video to buy our netbooks.

Since we are unashamed tourists we headed to Times Square where we sat on a street corner eating chicken schwarma's, that we had brought from a street vendor, and people watching. We then wondered around Time's Square where we were harrassed by people selling tours, music and all sorts of other useless items. We were even both asked out on a date by a pair of guys with gold teeth who were trying to sell us their music.We decided they were somewhat dodgy and made a quick but polite exit.

It is 6am here, the sun is up and we are about to had out for breakfast and then a ferry ride past the Statue of Liberty. Be sure to check out our pics on facebook.

Departure day has arrived!

We have had an insane two weeks of fun, moving house, fun, partying, fun, finishing a portfolio, fun, trying to write a paper, fun and yes...more fun! I have been attacked by a rose bush and katie has fallen off her bicycle but we both survived and are now (almost) packed and ready to head to Cape Town International Airport with our overloaded backpacks (we plan on leaving lots of old clothes behind...well that is our justification in any case). If these two weeks are a precursor to what lies ahead for the next few months, then I say...bring it on! Afterall, isn't life about having as much fun as possible?

So long, farewell...

Start spreading the news, we’re leaving today! (Well in 5 days!)

Katie and I are finally ready to bid farewell to a cold and wintry Cape Town and head north to our second summer of the year. We have had two weeks, of what feels like endless farewells to friends and family, and may have even over indulged on a few shots of vodka on a few occasions. Our logic behind this is that we need to make up for the fact that the next few months will be somewhat dry, since camp has a “zero tolerance” policy when it comes to drinking on campus (not to mention that it is illegal for Katie to drink as she is under 21…sucks to be her ek se!).

And so, with our bags packed, our Vuvuzela’s strapped to our backs and a bounce in our step we say goodbye to South Africa and our friend Clive (Bye Clive, we miss you already)!

It's almost time to begin our adventure

A little cabin fever coupled with boredom gave birth to the idea that we needed an outing to one of Cape Town’s hotspots where we could “practice” being a tourist. The idea was to dress like a tourist, act like a tourist and take hundreds of photo’s…like a tourist. (The first requirement of being a tourist was ignored since neither of us look good in Khaki). Our journey began in Smurfette, my trusty blue and white golf who has possibly seen better days but still keeps up a brave face. I wish I could tell you that we drove off into the sunset where we encountered wild and fantastic adventures that are worth documenting on this blog. Instead, the only really exciting thing to happen was for Katie and I to find ourselves on the middle of a bridge that was about to be swung to the side so that a rather large yacht could enter the docks. Needless to say we ran (as best we could in heels) the length of the bridge as we watched with horror as the gates closed in on us. Our audience on the other side was in hysterics as they watched us exit. Turning we realised why…there was in fact no need to rush, proved by the people walking sedately behind us.

On another note, if you ever need to boost your self esteem, take a walk past all the high class restaurants at the V & A Waterfront where the waiters try and entice you in with compliments of how beautiful you look.

The Start...

Two sisters, both alike in dignity
In the fairest Cape, where we begin our scene,
From ancient dreams to this reality,
Begin their travels which include sunscreen,
From forth these dreams a journey begins,
Across the Atlantic to the USA
Where Obama did the presidential campaign win
And summer camps are places to play.
And so begins our blog,
A place to document our fun
For we shall leave behind the winter fog
And head towards the summer sun
And if you, with patient eyes our blog attend,
You are sure to be our favourite friend!