Well, that's the fifth week of actual camp gone, and it was yet another difficult one...despite the fact that there were only 7-hour days all week. The kids were awesome, just really full of energy and sugar. But that's okay. Next week, it's back to normal camp (except with stilts and juggling!).
I'm kinda done with camp for this summer (in my head, not according to my work schedule). The long hours and never getting to see any friends is really upsetting...and increasingly annoying. Oh well. TWO MORE WEEKS! We can do it, gang!
Honestly, I have little else to tell you, little Norwegian faction that still reads this. As I said, I have no social life. It sucks. See you in Chicago!
18 July 2008
28 June 2008
The Second Test
This week was incredible! The kids were so amazing and energetic, despite the fact that the directors were making them stay in the sun for 3 hours at a time dancing in kilts. They were such troopers! And so interesting and excited! WHAT A CHANGE!
And next week we get the little goobers...YEA!
And next week we get the little goobers...YEA!
21 June 2008
The First Week
And only six more to go...
Wow. 14-year olds LOVE the drama. We had our first week of actual camp this week (where the campers actually attended and everything), and it was a doozy. That's the word with which I am sticking.
Most of the kids were awesome, but wow did a few of them hate my guts. They wanted nothing to do with camp and even less to do with me or any of the other counsellors. There was a surplus of attitude, back talk and, most of all, noise. It was crazy.
Also, I hate cell phones. I don't think you understood that entirely, so I'll repeat: I hate cell phones. Not only did they make me lose at least an hour of sleep every night because I had to get up to stop someone keeping everyone else up all night, they caused even more trouble by running off in the middle of the night, which, in turn, made one camper leave for home (among other reasons). Hate them. Stupid mobiles...
Overall, though, camp rules.
Wow. 14-year olds LOVE the drama. We had our first week of actual camp this week (where the campers actually attended and everything), and it was a doozy. That's the word with which I am sticking.
Most of the kids were awesome, but wow did a few of them hate my guts. They wanted nothing to do with camp and even less to do with me or any of the other counsellors. There was a surplus of attitude, back talk and, most of all, noise. It was crazy.
Also, I hate cell phones. I don't think you understood that entirely, so I'll repeat: I hate cell phones. Not only did they make me lose at least an hour of sleep every night because I had to get up to stop someone keeping everyone else up all night, they caused even more trouble by running off in the middle of the night, which, in turn, made one camper leave for home (among other reasons). Hate them. Stupid mobiles...
Overall, though, camp rules.
14 June 2008
Camp
Camp ROCKS! Biffer-Medic is the coolest! Sliding is fun! Knowing things about nature is difficult! Campers are going to be crazy! I can't wait!
30 May 2008
Return of the Salvvi
Hey, everyone! As you may have noticed (if you are still foolishly faithful enough to continue reading this disappointment of a blog), I lied. I'm probably going to fail at EVER putting up another update about my awesome travels, even Balquhidder! How tragic! I do know, however, that some of you who are now overseas from me (or vice versa, if you prefer), are still reading this, so I will try to put up an occassional update for you lot.
Quick pointless story that will hopefully nonetheless bring a smile to the faces of some Norwegians: I had asked my sister to grab me some ginger beer from the World Market (awesome store), and she obliged with something a little extra. I am now the proud owner of a RED box of Lakerol with ENGLISH writing! What fun! Also, now I know just what you were using to poison me all that time, Trine. 'Menthol liqorice flavoured'? And anything flavoured 'special' is just not a good idea.
Fin.
Quick pointless story that will hopefully nonetheless bring a smile to the faces of some Norwegians: I had asked my sister to grab me some ginger beer from the World Market (awesome store), and she obliged with something a little extra. I am now the proud owner of a RED box of Lakerol with ENGLISH writing! What fun! Also, now I know just what you were using to poison me all that time, Trine. 'Menthol liqorice flavoured'? And anything flavoured 'special' is just not a good idea.
Fin.
10 May 2008
Quick Note
Okay, I am leaving again, but when I come back, I promise lots of fun stories, especially the best part of the entire trip...BALQUHIDDER!
03 May 2008
Escocia la valiente
Leg Two: SCOTLAND!
Here, I had both my favourite and second-least favourite bit of my holiday!
Step One: Edinburgh
Okay, I got here after the nerve-wracking fiasco with the Flybussen and a three-hour coach ride. I felt queasy the entire time and had no directions to my hostel. Also, it was dark, raining a little, and really cold. (I'm a complainer, what can I say?) Anyway, if you know anything about Edinburgh, you know that it's separated into the Old Town and the New Town. Well, the coach station is in the New Town and my hostel was in the Old Town, so by the time I found it (three failed maps, two instances of no taxis in places marked 'taxis' and four oblivious bartenders later), I was in a right foul mood.
The hostel itself did not help. Remember, I was coming from an orderly, hotel-like environment to this. If ever there was a definitive 'party hostel', Castle Rock Youth Hostel was it. I checked in with a tipsy young man behind the counter, but I could hardly hear him for all the noise coming from the common room (the main one, anyway). It was actually a really neat setup, but I was hardly interested. Everything was painted wildly or set in blacklight, and I got lost about three times just finding the staircase down to my room.
I had signed up for a female dorm. They put me in a 12-bed room for long-termers. It looked like Dresden. It was also swarming with Americans and Canadians that would not stop talking like cheerleaders from films. The rooms were all creatively themed, and as my bed was in the Edinburgh Taverns room it was called The Last Drop. When the man at the desk told me this, I smiled nerously and tried to make like I knew what he was babbling on about. There was no space for my shoes, let alone my suitcase. We were provided lockers less than a quarter of the size of my closet in Bergen, but with a little safe inside that, to me, said, 'Your things aren't really safe locked in the locker, but in the safe...well, they might be okay...' The girl in the bed across from mine, Zelda, was quite nice, though. She was South African and spoke in an extremely quiet voice that made it very difficult to hear her in a room full of booming North Americans.
That night, I tried to settle in one of the many common rooms, but they were all so noisy and meet-people-y (social), that I couldn't settle down (I still wasn't feeling too friendly myself) and had to try to fall asleep with the large florescent lights about 20 feet above my head (they did have really high ceilings).
My first day wasn't much to talk about. I was still upset with the city, so I fell to woman's oldest feel-good standby: shopping. (If you think that's a little sexist...deal with it. Shopping can be fun in moderation.) I walked up and down the Royal Mile, visiting each and every tourist shop on that street. I think I was just fascinated that they were all exactly the same. I kept hoping for something new, but it never came. I did find my very first real purse and some nice gifts for a couple of people and was really excited every time I saw the name 'McLaren' on...anything, really. Good times. The best thing about all these shops? Most of them are run by Asian people in kilts. This was fun in one way (I got to meet a lot of Asians), but depressing in another (I don't think I heard a Scottish accent until my third and final day in Edinburgh). I also found the TIC and discovered that all shopping malls are boring, no matter where you go in the world. Highlight of the evening: watching 'Clear and Present Danger' (and finally not just the end) alone in the hostel's HUGE screening room. Poor Edinburgh, I never even gave you a chance.
Easter Day was much cooler. I went to the 11:30 service at St Giles Cathedral, and it was really nice to see a more traditional service for a change. The sermon was all about travellers and opening your mind to the beliefs and experiences of others, and I really liked it. Also, the building itself is quite beautiful (and accentuated by the choir that sounded like my dad's favourite Christmas album). Later, I was extremely surprised (and pleased) that no shops or museums were closed that day, so I visited the National Museum of Scotland. This had to be one of the biggest, most complete museums I've ever seen. It had everything you could ever want to learn about Scottish history, and it was really entertaining at the same time. I was proud of them.
I also visited the Elephant House cafe to see J.K. Rowling's inspiring view of Edinburgh Castle, but was scared off by the prices, so just settled for a sneaked picture of the castle through the window. Finally, I headed for Holyrood Park and the huge mound at the end of the Royal Mile that had been calling me for two days. It was a lovely little hike up the slopes and fun just hanging out in the rocks and grass. I like nature. Oh! Also, the slopes reminded me of 'Aaaaaaaaaas yoooooooouuuuu wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiish!' In case you care. I came back with the idea of settling in for the night, but a Polish girl, Sylvia, met me in the internet room and convinced me to go out and hear some live traditional music. We were able to ward off the drunkards by speaking Spanish (she was fluent!) and posing as an Argentine and a Spaniard. It was quite fun. The music was okay, but they really mostly covered rock songs.
On my third and final day in Edinburgh, I got to visit......................................................HOGWARTS! Or Edinburgh Castle...whatever. Needless to say, I went camera-happy and visited all my favourite places three times, wanting to get the most out of the experience before the cold banished me back inside. The Great Hall was so cool looking, but David's Tower had the most interesting stories, I thought.
Toward the end of the day, I tried to take some pictures of the big tourist attractions, but only came out with Greyfriars Bobby pictures and the Scott Memorial. Oh well.
Stirling was much more inviting, and I was more than happy to escape Edinburgh, but more on that later. This post is long enough.
Here, I had both my favourite and second-least favourite bit of my holiday!
Step One: Edinburgh
Okay, I got here after the nerve-wracking fiasco with the Flybussen and a three-hour coach ride. I felt queasy the entire time and had no directions to my hostel. Also, it was dark, raining a little, and really cold. (I'm a complainer, what can I say?) Anyway, if you know anything about Edinburgh, you know that it's separated into the Old Town and the New Town. Well, the coach station is in the New Town and my hostel was in the Old Town, so by the time I found it (three failed maps, two instances of no taxis in places marked 'taxis' and four oblivious bartenders later), I was in a right foul mood.
The hostel itself did not help. Remember, I was coming from an orderly, hotel-like environment to this. If ever there was a definitive 'party hostel', Castle Rock Youth Hostel was it. I checked in with a tipsy young man behind the counter, but I could hardly hear him for all the noise coming from the common room (the main one, anyway). It was actually a really neat setup, but I was hardly interested. Everything was painted wildly or set in blacklight, and I got lost about three times just finding the staircase down to my room.
I had signed up for a female dorm. They put me in a 12-bed room for long-termers. It looked like Dresden. It was also swarming with Americans and Canadians that would not stop talking like cheerleaders from films. The rooms were all creatively themed, and as my bed was in the Edinburgh Taverns room it was called The Last Drop. When the man at the desk told me this, I smiled nerously and tried to make like I knew what he was babbling on about. There was no space for my shoes, let alone my suitcase. We were provided lockers less than a quarter of the size of my closet in Bergen, but with a little safe inside that, to me, said, 'Your things aren't really safe locked in the locker, but in the safe...well, they might be okay...' The girl in the bed across from mine, Zelda, was quite nice, though. She was South African and spoke in an extremely quiet voice that made it very difficult to hear her in a room full of booming North Americans.
That night, I tried to settle in one of the many common rooms, but they were all so noisy and meet-people-y (social), that I couldn't settle down (I still wasn't feeling too friendly myself) and had to try to fall asleep with the large florescent lights about 20 feet above my head (they did have really high ceilings).
My first day wasn't much to talk about. I was still upset with the city, so I fell to woman's oldest feel-good standby: shopping. (If you think that's a little sexist...deal with it. Shopping can be fun in moderation.) I walked up and down the Royal Mile, visiting each and every tourist shop on that street. I think I was just fascinated that they were all exactly the same. I kept hoping for something new, but it never came. I did find my very first real purse and some nice gifts for a couple of people and was really excited every time I saw the name 'McLaren' on...anything, really. Good times. The best thing about all these shops? Most of them are run by Asian people in kilts. This was fun in one way (I got to meet a lot of Asians), but depressing in another (I don't think I heard a Scottish accent until my third and final day in Edinburgh). I also found the TIC and discovered that all shopping malls are boring, no matter where you go in the world. Highlight of the evening: watching 'Clear and Present Danger' (and finally not just the end) alone in the hostel's HUGE screening room. Poor Edinburgh, I never even gave you a chance.
Easter Day was much cooler. I went to the 11:30 service at St Giles Cathedral, and it was really nice to see a more traditional service for a change. The sermon was all about travellers and opening your mind to the beliefs and experiences of others, and I really liked it. Also, the building itself is quite beautiful (and accentuated by the choir that sounded like my dad's favourite Christmas album). Later, I was extremely surprised (and pleased) that no shops or museums were closed that day, so I visited the National Museum of Scotland. This had to be one of the biggest, most complete museums I've ever seen. It had everything you could ever want to learn about Scottish history, and it was really entertaining at the same time. I was proud of them.
I also visited the Elephant House cafe to see J.K. Rowling's inspiring view of Edinburgh Castle, but was scared off by the prices, so just settled for a sneaked picture of the castle through the window. Finally, I headed for Holyrood Park and the huge mound at the end of the Royal Mile that had been calling me for two days. It was a lovely little hike up the slopes and fun just hanging out in the rocks and grass. I like nature. Oh! Also, the slopes reminded me of 'Aaaaaaaaaas yoooooooouuuuu wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiish!' In case you care. I came back with the idea of settling in for the night, but a Polish girl, Sylvia, met me in the internet room and convinced me to go out and hear some live traditional music. We were able to ward off the drunkards by speaking Spanish (she was fluent!) and posing as an Argentine and a Spaniard. It was quite fun. The music was okay, but they really mostly covered rock songs.
On my third and final day in Edinburgh, I got to visit......................................................HOGWARTS! Or Edinburgh Castle...whatever. Needless to say, I went camera-happy and visited all my favourite places three times, wanting to get the most out of the experience before the cold banished me back inside. The Great Hall was so cool looking, but David's Tower had the most interesting stories, I thought.
Toward the end of the day, I tried to take some pictures of the big tourist attractions, but only came out with Greyfriars Bobby pictures and the Scott Memorial. Oh well.
Stirling was much more inviting, and I was more than happy to escape Edinburgh, but more on that later. This post is long enough.
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