trying to integrate into a new camp can be a challenging experience. there are always the staff that have been here previously that have their friend groups already set up, the new staff that are trying to find a friendly crack that they can slip into, and then there is me. i think we figured out that i am not only new (that wasn't really hard to figure out...) but i am the second oldest staff member of the younger generation. this camp is filled with so many just-out-of-high-schoolers. it's a bit ridiculous.
but whatever. i can deal with it. one of my best friends at camp is only 20 years old. another is 24. there are some good times. there are some crazy times. basically that's code for i really like the staff but hate the campers. maybe hate is a strong word, but apparently a very real perception by some people. i kid you not, my counselor said that i hate kids out loud in her counselor meeting. great. that meant an awkward talk of clarification that i do not indeed hate kids, but i just strongly dislike the bratty ones, and that there happen to be a lot of bratty ones here. not my fault, ok.
but that's camp for ya. lots of d-r to the ama. drama llama, big fat mama llama. (if you know adam newbold, he's awesome, and where this llama business comes from). it seems to follow me, from counselors to the dreaded unrequited camp crush. yep. fun times indeed.
but there are always the cool people. and the people that are cool that you are just meeting. but i always get disgusted with the time limit. you are so involved with these people and camp, and yet too busy to really get to know everyone that you want to. grr. dumb time. you want it to go quickly in a camper aspect, but slow with the friendship aspect.
i sound a bit disgruntled. maybe i am. the fact that i want to go drown my sorrows in a bottle of rootbeer and some popcorn has something to do with it. i feel like that sentence didn't even make sense. that's what camp does to you, sucks the logical brains out of you until you end up doing the pigeon and frog poses in yoga on the office floor with three other sleep-deprived and giddy people. true story.
and just so you know, volleyball sucks with kids. they don't get it. they just don't.
oh, and i almost forgot about why i called my post taturner.
so there's this guy here named chris tataryn. the assistant director for some reason really cannot get chris tataryn and krista turner right. it always comes out kris taturner. so people just call me taturner. and that is that.
This assistant director sounds like an idiot. The rest of it, I know what you mean.
ReplyDeleteHaha, a couple of things.
ReplyDelete1. I just got off the phone with Tina. And she's so glad you are there :)
2. I know Chris Tataryn! In fact, I remember when he was born.
3. The llama stuff too--I got it.
Basically, I just got this blog--heard you loud and clear and I think it's awesome that you're there and that you're being real about all that is real. :)
Wish I could come for a visit!
Love Llama Llama...so do the boys.
ReplyDeleteAdam Newbold was a camper when I worked at Mivoden. I'm pretty sure he brought his own vacuum to camp so his cabin could win honor cabin.
ReplyDeleteI've been old staff at a new camp before. Not easy for me either. But there is a lot of magic and memories amidst all the drama, and it sounds like you're finding the good stuff too.
Krista, I like you. I like this post a lot, too. As much of a relief it was to leave camp, it's been hard realize I'm walking away from the place that has held such a huge portion of my heart for so long. I get all this real-talk. I appreciate it. I also appreciate you. You're good at what you do, you know camp like the keys on a piano, which allows you to exert your energies into the overlooked areas of camp. The areas that are too often forgotten, but too important to be discarded. Not only do you see the unseen by most, but you put your heart into it and everything you do is partnered with compassion. I don't know what camp would have been without you this summer. And, frankly, I'm not going to think about it either : )
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