The End of Training Week

We just finished our last day of training here at Campbellsville. Today was the hardest day of all. There was tons that had to be accomplished. The afternoon was the hardest- we had to practice "OMC" (which stands for Organized Mass Chaos; a giant scavenger hunt-type thing that's based on completing various tasks-- from telling ten people "Jesus Loves You!" to putting shaving cream in your hand and having to give three friends hi-fives.) After two hours of OMC outside in the sun at 90 degrees we went to participate in track time practice- the tracks that we practiced today were Cheerleading and Flag Football, and the team members who are teaching those for camp taught us. So we did an hour of cheerleading (I now have an amazing respect for cheerleaders. That was so hard). From there our team stumbled to the Flag Football field for an hour of flag football. The first half hour was sprints, stretches, and agility training. Four and a half hours of exhausting activity in 90 degree weather. Then we went inside to practice the dance that we are doing for opening and closing celebrations for every camp week. Miriam is not a very apt student of dance and has a hard time learning the moves and trying not to be so white.
A very hard day and a very exhausting day, but so rewarding too. Every day like that and every challenge that we face as a team brings us so much closer together and makes us all love each other even more.
My team is amazing. Our CK2 team has a reputation here at training week. Of the eight teams participating in training, CK2 is the team known to be there first, leave last, have the most enthusiasm, and we have contributed to several "firsts" at training as we come up with new and original ways to solve challenges. I love my team. The people on it are brilliant-
RJ, who is Filipino, is hilarious. If he messes something up he throws up his hands and shouts, "I wasn't born here!"
Emily, who has a very smiling face and a very positive attitude about everything.
Mark, our director, who is organized, wise, mature, and still absolutely hilarious.
Brent, from Pocahontas, Ark-n-saw, who is hilarious in his honest expression that we hear almost every day: "Guys, I am SO stressed. Seriously, y'all" (accompanied by wringing of the hands and other dramatic expressions, as he is a theater major).
Terrell, Brent's partner in hilarity, who has the most amazing facial expressions ever.
My roommate Stacy, who is a middle school teacher and at first glance is very much the school teacher.... and then finding out that she loves listening to rap sometimes "to make her feel ghetto" and has a super-sharp wit and tells great jokes.
I could go on and on about everyone on my team, but I am exhausted and tomorrow comes early. Really really early. We're leaving for Tennessee at 7:30 AM. Our first campers arrive this next Monday!

Training Week

Well, I've been here in Campbellsville, Kentucky for two full days now, and we have had so much packed into just these first few days. Training week has been about planning and participating in every aspect of camp so that we know what to do when we start.

My team is amazing. The twenty-one of us who will be a team this summer have been getting to know each other (I had all the names memorized by lunch yesterday) and they are incredible. Our team was best summed up by Dan: "I have never seen this many type-A personalities getting along, loving each other, and completing every challenge set before them with such quality, speed, and cheerfulness"

It's incredible. Now off to the next thing- there's so much more I would love to write about, but
the schedule is jam-packed and there's always stuff to do. I'm heading to worship; from there to a seminar with suggestions on how to teach the jewelry class I'm teaching; then from there to team time, then to go practice for the drama that we'll be performing in sections throughout the camp wee (I got the main character). Love y'all!

Leavin' On A Jet-Plane

Well, it's my last night in Georgia until August. Kind of crazy, huh? I think this will be the longest I've been consecutively away from home (the previous record was a month in Africa, but I was with family then)... I didn't think about that until just now. But from the way things are looking I won't have much of a chance to think about anything. They're keeping us busy, and I am glad for that. I'm so excited about camp; I've been looking forward to it for months and months and now it is finally here. Dad and I are leaving for the Atlanta Airport at 4:45 tomorrow morning. I fly into Nashville, Tennessee, where I will meet the 25 other members of my team; then we will hop in a van and drive to Kentucky for a week of training. After that it's back to Tennessee for a week of camp.
I'm not sure how often I'll be able to update this, because I'm not sure how much internet access there will be, but I will write as often as I can. Love y'all!

'alo from da frozen nort'lands where it was 45 degrees in MAY! Dat's a lil' cold for da Georgia peach, dontchyaknow.

Okay, enough talking like a crazy swede, although I've been having tons of scandinavian food while I've been here... my favorite is Swedish Pancakes with Lingonberries. mmmmmm. Lots of updating to do, don't know when it'll get done, but we'll see :) Heading down to southern wisconsin and then leaving from Milwaukee on Saturday morning, so my time here is almost finished. I likes the North, but I think I likes it best when I don't hafta wear three sweatshirts all day to prevent hypothermia.

The Beginning

Well, things have been absolutely crazy. Life is nonstop for me these days; I finished up finals on Tuesday, and went straight from my last final (7-10 pm Tuesday night) to play midnight volleyball til 3:30 am. I got about three hours of sleep, then got up to work on packing my room some more. Then Abby, my best friend from highschool, came and stayed for a few days. I got back to Barnesville around 11:30 pm, and tomorrow is prom. I'll be in Barnesville for a little more than 24 hours, then I'm leaving for Wisconsin. I can't wait... I haven't been to the midwest in 7 years. Most of my dad's side of the family haven't seen me since I was 12 years old. Let's just say that I've changed maybe just a little bit in seven years. This is gonna be a great trip. I think I'll have to re-write this post to make it a little more coherent after I've had some rest. Actually a lot of rest, for I am exhausted! G'night.....