Food for the Wolves: Journal Excerpt

This is an excerpt from my journal. The reason being that the internet situation here is spotty and slightly awkward, as the computer is in the family living room. That makes this awkward/annoying internet circumstance number 387. But, let's get to something new, shall we?

Monday, 28 June 2010:

Day 1 of being Camp Counselor Phoebe, or Teamer, as the German kiddies know me, started off at 7:15 am Sunday. Staring at my calculator watch as it beeped the time, I slowly got of my sleeping bag in Michendorf and magically ended up in Oyten hours later. It only took 5 trains and 6 hours to arrive at the train station where we were met by the camp director's sister, Angela. From there Angela took us in her tiny red car to the horse barn 30 minutes away. In the car we were given a box of strawberries and briefed about our first job. We didn't know much other than it was already after 3:00 pm and the camp opened at 4:00 pm.

In Angela's little auto we pull up to a dusty desert infested with flies and stinking of horses. In front of some stables sit three rather masculine German women, glaring. Not even a wave hello or a nod, as they sit staring at us through their tiny John Lennon sunglasses.

All I can think is, "What am I doing here?"

Mind you, I'm writing this journal entry from a tent, where a huge spider nearly sabotaged my sleeping bag. Yes, I'm in a tent. No, I don't want to elaborate.

At this point it's been 24 hours and I should be able to say, "It's gotten better."
It hasn't.

It's been over 90 degrees. There is absolutely no shady place outside. Nowhere. The "classroom" we were given "inside" is really outside and there are more flies there than at the zoo. The woman who owns the barn and teaches the horse lessons cares much more for horses than people, especially pathetic English-speaking camp counselors. And no matter how hard I try, I still can't talk myself out of having horse allergies.

Also, still in a tent.

No shade. No classroom. No nearby pool, park, or anything. Animals mate outside of my tent at night and the one other counselor here with me is from Chester, England and I can barely catch a word she says sometimes.

We arrived here after over 6 hours of traveling, were given a suitcase of supplies and pushed off a cliff.

We're holding on. It's a challenge: Teach English. Pretend you don't speak German while the kids tease and make fun of you in front of your face, thinking you have no idea. Try to keep the kids from dying of either heat exhaustion or boredom.

So far, we've been successful. Only one camper is homesick, and that is another entry entirely. There isn't anymore room in this blog for caustic negativity, unfortunately. But let's just say the camp rules were: NO CELL PHONES AT OVERNIGHT CAMP. 6:00 today I walk in her room and she is in the middle of what became one of many long conversations with her mother on her cell phone, all whilst weeping.

Curve ball number 43879489132.

I can't help but smile, though. What a relationship I have with Germany! I can't think of any other place in the world I've had such terrible, frightening, miserable situations. It only makes me a little more interesting- or insane.

Off and Away

Wireless internet lasted all of about 2 days. Now we have a long line to get on the computer. Anyway, this update will be quick:

Turns out I was given the dream job of working at a sleepaway horse back riding camp outside of Bremen for the first week. Leaving tomorrow at 9 am and opening the camp at 4 pm. Between now and then it's my job to figure out what we'll actually be doing. Should be interesting.

In other news, we have an additional counselor from Trinidad. I don't know how many exactly that makes us because people seem to be coming in and out all the time.

We spent the day in Berlin yesterday teaching English to grade school students who attended a German/Turkish school. I was privileged enough to be working with the 6th graders. Try to remember being 12. You are too cool for everything. Even English. Especially silly songs and Simon Says.

I'm beginning to remember how much I love Germany, though I haven't forgotten that Germans are still Germans however. I still get the death stare while taking a long walk in town wearing a t-shirt and running shorts. That kind of clothing is only meant for the "Sporthalle".

More German stories to come, and with horses and children! I have no idea what the internet situation will be: surprise, surprise. But I am ready to ride!

More from Michendorf

More of the lovely Michendorf:

Trabant: the east german dream

candlelit pizza dinner

story telling with Clare

group swim at the lake

the "See" in Michendorf

daniel before morning training

lunch time

One Basement to House Us All

Turns out there are 14 counselors: 9 Amis, 3 Brits & 2 Aussies. We have transformed the basement into a bedroom, thoroughly littered with sleeping bags, pillows, backpacks and suitcases.

Training has officially begun. Mind you, when I say "training" I mean singing camp songs, painting team flags (I'm part of Team Friendship), and playing Zip Zap Zop. It has actually been a challenge trying to remember camp songs of old, even after all of those ripe years at Summer's Best Two Weeks and Basketball camp. Needless to say, training has not been strenuous, though we planned our first English lesson today.

Camp starts next week and I still don't know where I'll be headed. I should find out Saturday, though I have already put in a special request to work at horse back riding camp, seeing as I am an extremely experienced equestrienne.

I hope you enjoy the photos I put up of Michendorf and Potsdam.

If you're thinking about me, write me. I'll be able to receive mail (easily) from Michendorf for the next three weeks. After Michendorf we should be getting our apartment in Berlin. Though, I need to remember that nothing is for certain and I still don't really know what is going on or what is going to happen.

Pictures from Potsdam

delicious organic Potsdam beer

sanssouci

political rally

Michendorf in Colour

Here are a few images from the YoYo Camp Director's house in Michendorf, outside of Berlin:

house shoes

german clothes dryer

breakfast

the tent, currently housing some suitcases

conversation

garden essentials

willkommen!

Unexpected Arrival

After sitting middle seat in two plane rides, a lost sleeping bag and an unexpected trek through the backwoods of Michendorf I arrived! Currently I am one of five counselors awaiting the arrival of the other ten. I still couldn't tell you what I'm going to be doing. I'm only just beginning to piece together the details. I can tell you that I am in a very small and very green town outside of Berlin, not what I expected but scenic nonetheless. I have also discovered that a "circus man" is involved somehow in this scheme.

If nothing else thus far, I am delighted to be reunited with German bread and cheese.

More to come...