CIT/SHIPWRECKED

Week 1 - CIT (councellours in training)
When I got given this programme to do for my first week I was so nervous because I had only just completed my training last week myself. But the week turned out great and I was working with another councellor called Aboo (Charlotte). The CIT's also got camp names (smiley, ginge, zumba, tallytwoo, sparky, hammy and rara!. One of the highlights of the week was when we went on an overnight on the island.

Week 2 - SHIPWRECKED
Just started my second week and we have loads of cool things planned for the girls to do. As part of this programme we have go to the island and build our own shelter :O that should be interesting.

8/6/12

As we have finished the lifeguarding and first aid, today we have just been helping out around camp getting things sorted for when the campers arrive. Tomorrow we start staff training and I will move into a different cabin with other counselors.

Nothing much going on today but I did nearly step on a SNAKE... thought that was worth a post.

7/6/12

Today  I completed and passed my American lifeguarding and first aid qualification!!! I'm soooo happy that I have achieved that, not in a regular swimming pool either - A LAKE (with leaches, frogs, tadpoles and is cold!), but not as cold as the swimming pool at Mitos.

Lifeguard training

We have all just come back from our trip to Walmart where I bought a few other bits (mainly food related) and got to mingle with actual civilization. It dosen't even really feel like i'm in America at the moment, i'm sure it will do when I have 100's of American children running after me though.
Sitting with Sophia (aka Pippi) that her camp name. OHH and apparantly mine is going to be Tiger?! I'm guessing because Tiger is orange and my roots are coming through pretty bad. Not sure if i'll keep that one though. These camp names are so cringe, but I suppose I will get used to it.

3/6/12

After what feels like forever, i'm at camp - months of interviews, a recruitment fair, travelling down to London for my Visa, orientation in Manchester etc....
After my Detroit flight I had to wait in the airport for a couple of hours and then got a flight to Wasau. I have never been on such a small plane in my life.


Detroit airport

Walking to my terminal

I met two girls going to Camp Birch Trails in the airprt (Laura and Sarah) and this deffinately helped to calm my nerves.
When I arrived at camp I was exhausted and has a banging head-ache. We were picked up by a woman who works at camp and is from England. At camp she informed us that noone is called by their real name! They have camp names, and hers is Spots - hehehehe. I wonder what i'm going to get called for the next 3 months.
The camp is lovely - basic but beautiful. It's everything I thought it would be with the cabins, a lake and all the over excited Americans, it reminds me of 'Parent Trap'.
The Lodge that we stayed in the first night was lovely. Very big and clean, it's got toilets, showers etc. The girls i'm staying with at the moment are all lovely and all from England aswell.

Today we woke up at around 7:30 am but I must have been awake about 1 hour prior to this. When we woke up we walked around camp to see what we could find - in our pjammas. We went in the dinning hall and got breakfast and had baguels with spreadable cheese.

 Later that day we went to Walmart and got a few bits that we needed. I also text my Mum to say I arrived safe and got enough signal to call Ozkan - which made my day. I had been so worried in the morning because I don't have signal in camp and for some reason my facebook wasen't working when I tried to sign in on someone elses phone. So after Walmart I felt so much better. Then we went to Subway and I got a footlong! I was so hungry and I ate the whole thing. When we got back we sat on the grass in the sun and ate our Subway. Then we went down to the water front and sat on the sand and sunbathed for a while.

Tea was at 6pm and the oher staff were also there. The American girls are so loud and they sing and laugh constantly. All of the English girls were sat on one table and it was so funny because we were all so quiet in comparison.
Now were all sat in our Cabin that we will be staying in for one week. It's so small and basic, deffinately not like the lodge we were in our first night.
Now i'm going to relax for a little loner and then go to sleep.
Lifeguard training in the LAKE tomorrow! Better get to bed as i'm deffinately going to need my energy for that.

2/6/12 - GOING TO AMERICA

So i'm here, i've finally made it! Well nearly, i'm on my first plane of the day (Delta KL6087) to Detroit. I'm loving the free drinks and food, unlike when I normally fly with Thomas Cook. I've had pasta and salad for my main meal, with crakers, a bread roll, cheese, and i've had a glass of white wine and cola to drink. I've been kept busy by watching the film movies.
I set off yesterday at 4pm with Mum, Dad and Paige to catch my 4:35pm coach from outside the Dolphin Centre. It's only really hit me in the past 4 days after coming home from Turkey that I was actually going to America. I don't think I had properly thought it through until then. I've been busy with working two jobs and trying to get enough money together for both Turkey and my American adventure. I had an absolutely amazing time in Turkey and am so sad to be away from their once again. If all goes to plan I should be there around the middle/end of September for a few weeks.
Some pictures I took on my holiday....

Melani - Turkish

Crazy Bull disco

 These past 4 days on returning have been quite stressful to say the least. Getting everything packed, washing/ironing done, last minute bits of shopping and seeing family. But is was all worth it to be going away. At the moment I feel very nervous, i'm wondering what the camp is going to be like (how basic), what the people are going to be like (how welcoming). Buts what's getting me more stressed out above anything is not knowing how much contact i'm going to have with my friends/famiy and loved ones. In an ideal world I would like to be able to call and be on the internet regularly, however somehow I don't think that's going to be the case.
I have been travelling for approximately 24 hours and still have another plane to catch after this one, visa control, and travel to my camp (Camp Birch Trails) which is in Wisconsin. When I meet up with my Camp in Wausau airport they will be taking me to the camp. By this time I will have been travelling for approximately 2 days and i'm going to have to apprear happy, upbeat and enthusiastic for the summer ahead - challenging!

Wish me luck.

Ben & Jerry's ice cream, tv, and plotting

Charlotte - "aint never wanna take a picture widd'a bitch cause she got no makeup on shmuh. 1) this is my best friend 2) she tried to do the "hymnick moniver" on me cause I chocked on a cup of tea (typical brit thing) 3) this girl has been here through the good, bad, UGLY, happy times. &&&& 4) she's been right there when I needed her most ♥"

Christmas/New year



Bonmarche staff night out x

Few pre-drinks before at mine

Joe riggs meal

Sandra & Maggie

Night out with Lauren x



New Years at 'The Wheatsheaf'

Buffet!

Town

Hair done, then just in town... shopping + meal at hoskins. I had a burger and curly fries.

Random night out

Went out last minute... didnt plan on going out at all... hence the up-do! ha

7/11/11

His favourite spot!

6/11/11

Tomorrow ...

Interview Confirmation
Dear Olivia,
We are pleased to confirm your interview for a place on the Summer Camp USA programme 2012.
The interview will last approximately 25 minutes and will be based on the information you provide on your application form. Please log in to your BUNAC Account now to complete the form if you have not already done so and print out a copy.

Interview date:	06 November 2011
Interview time:	11:40:00
Interview venue:	Newcastle Thistle County Hotel Neville Street Newcastle-upon Tyne NE1 5DF
Venue phone number:
What to wear:	Smart/casual

First night out in Newcastleeeeeeee/halloween

Night out in Newcastle... cleopatra styleeee.....

Loveee the eye make-up I did!

Made the outfit myself

Chloes hamster

Is making an Eyptian Mummy costume for halloween!

Night out with Charlotte

Charlotte came round mine the other night. We got a bottle of Vodka from the shop and drank that while I was doing my make-up and Charlotte was trying on outfits. She borrowed my ID had never been out before so we were quite nervous. We went to Seen and then Inside out and had no problem at all getting in. All in all was a good night but seriously suffered for it the next day when I had to be at work for 9am!!! at Bonmarche.