Settling in

 When I first arrived to camp, it was a big shock. I had been awake and travelling for close to 24 hours and had arrived to a completely rural and partly run down camp, on a hot summer day. This shock very quickly dissipated over the following few days as I began to settle in and make more friends, and I started to feel more at ease and comfortable with my new surroundings. As I had been at university for 3 years, it wasn’t difficult being away from home as I was very used to this living situation. I did miss my family often, but not to the extent where I couldn’t find it comfortable. 

At my camp I live in a cabin of 28 boys, 4 of which act as RA’s, someone we can go to if we want to voice any concerns or issues we may have. The living arrangement is very different to that of home, as we have 4 people to a room on bunks beds. Each room is separated by a wall which doesn’t reach the ceiling and a curtain as a door for privacy. It is a different situation to how I live at home, but I got used to it very quickly and now have more space as 2 of my roommates left camp.

The area I live in is very rural compared to the urban town in which I live in at home. In many areas, America is not pedestrianised. Where at home I’d be able to walk to many places, here it is often not possible resulting in a reliance on lifts and taxis. I am a very outgoing person, something which in the UK is not as common. However, Americans themselves are very outgoing so I found myself easily fitting in and socialising with fellow American counsellors , campers and members of the public.

I have engaged in numerous social activities to help make friends whilst also exploring what America has to offer. I spent the weekends in New York and Boston, exploring what history, architecture and culture each has to offer, and was suprised how different they are city to city. I have also spent my free time socialising with friends down at the local pub, going on trips to the cinema and mall. My travel plans after call will allow me to socialise even further and explore new areas.

It has been exciting to make new friends and socialise with them. I enjoy finishing work and going back to camp to talk with them and watch films together. We have also had camp activities such as a quizzes and mock game shows. In other weeks, as a cabin, we’ve been tasked with working as a team within our cabin to make a film as well as performing a comedic sketch. My work as a 1:1 has often left me tired, with a drained social battery. As a very social person I find this difficult to accept as I want to socialise and engage with people. However, with rest and breaks I found that I find more energy to go out and socialise with my friends and counsellors.