Chapter 5: Swinging From Vines

Week one (also know as orientation) is now officially over and starting Sunday I’ll be known as another Camp Friendship Counselor.

This has been something of a test, a pre-test, but certainly worth it. Next week will be a real test, seeing if I can manage and survive as a counselor. I’m looking forward to it, this past week was definitely rewarding on various levels.

First off – my thoughts on Minnesota: aside from the bird sized mosquitoes (and other insect/bug like critters) I like what I’ve seen so far. The weather is crazy unpredictable but I’m from El Paso, so I’m used to quick changes. I love the amount of green and blue (water) that I’m surrounded by – what a pleasant change! Accommodating to the various “accents” has already taken place, especially that typical Minnesotan open vowel sound. UGH! I need a dose of Texas!

Next – my thoughts on camp: it’s a trying time, even if your own campers don’t pose any “problems” you’re surrounded by campers with any/all types of disabilities and you can’t help but notice and feel something. As for my week specifically, I had a wonderful cabin to assist. The other counselors and the campers in that cabin were such an awesome group, they kept me smiling and laughing everyday and today at the talent show, one of the campers wanted me to hold her hand as we walked to the stage (and yes, I was in the talent show too – dancing the “Cha Cha Slide” with my cabin). I've met some really great people here as well and the counselors are from all over the world, which is just awesome. Everytime I speak to someone new, I also encounter a new "accent." It's wicked. However, living quarters are exactly as expected (if not worse) at least for this week. It’s not exactly the Hilton but it is camp. However, our light fixture did fall and pierce the wooden floor – if someone had been standing just under it, there quite possibly could have been a death; definitely a serious injury. Anyway, I move Sunday morning (or maybe Saturday night) into my new cabin for the upcoming work week. I’m pretty excited about it and looking forward to it and just ready to officially get to work.

Tomorrow a group of us (4 of us from the orientation staff) will be traveling into St. Paul and hanging out. I’m super excited about that, we’ll get to see something other than the camp and get away and have a little fun before starting work Sunday morning. I’ll be sure to snap pictures! Be sure to check in weekly, I’ll be updating since communication is sort of limited and will only get worse after this weekend.

Until next time,

Courtney Chivon

Chapter 4: Ch...Ch...Changes...

I have begun the official countdown – I now have exactly one week until I leave for Minnesota. There has been quite a bit of activity in the last couple of weeks, and especially in the last week. In fact, a week ago I was struggling to sleep and worried because we were hitting the road, heading to San Antonio early Sunday morning. I can’t believe it’s already been a week. Anyway, we went out to do some apartment shopping and I did find a cute space to live in. It’s a studio apartment but does have a dividing wall, so it will still feel like I have two separate rooms. It has hardwood floors and washer/dryer hookups. The complex has a pool, hot tub, and fitness area and it’s a small quite property. It’s cute; I think it’s going to work out well for the next two years. It’s in south central San Antonio, conveniently located in the middle of both the main and downtown campuses, which works well considering I’m scheduled for classes at both locations. I’m quite excited about this new venture, of course, we are still waiting to find out if the space will be mine (paperwork) but if all goes well, I should be able to move in as early as August 17th and as late as August 20th. Apartment – check!

Next change – I signed my name on a bill of sale for a Honda Civic. I still have Claire, I’m going to sell her on my own; I just couldn’t let her go knowing that she would be turned into scrap metal or sold off to just anyone. I know, it sounds strange, but I’ve become personally attached to her after nine years – it’s like having a pet, you wouldn’t put your dog down for just having a cold, not if you knew your dog still had a few good years left. Don’t get me wrong, I love my new car, and I know that its time to change, time to grow, and time to move on. Strangely, this car is probably the biggest symbol of the way my life is changing; even more so than a new apartment or moving to a new city. Why? Well, because, I have a hard time letting things go – any things. So to do this, to commit to this type of change, to let go of something physical that played such an important role in the earliest formative years of my life is not only a sign of change but a sign of a new beginning. Car – check!

What’s creating a bit of a problem is finding a job in San Antonio. I don’t know how many applications I’ve filled out or how many times I’ve clicked the “submit resume” button on a job site. I’m a little shocked to be honest, because I’ve never had a problem landing an interview and anytime I’ve ever made it to the interview, I’ve always been offered the job. It seems like everything else is happening so easily and things are moving along at a steady and smooth pace, so maybe this has to be the one thing that keeps everything else in perspective. Maybe it’s not supposed to be so easy, so that I don’t forget that I may have to fight for what I want. Whatever the case, wish me luck in finding some work by the time I have to move, please. Job – still working on that!

I’m not entirely out of work, however, and I am starting a new job in a week. I started packing for Minnesota; it’s wonderful that I get to pack comfy clothes and sneakers. I will be there for eight weeks, working as a camp counselor. I’m looking forward to this experience, this new beginning and I’m very excited to meet all the people at Camp Friendship – staff and campers alike. I think this is going to be one of my fondest memories, for some reason, I can already feel it. I will definitely be taking my camera with me so check back with Picasa to see what majestic beauty I can find in the great outdoors. While I don’t think this experience will be without its challenges, I do think the good will far outweigh the bad and who wouldn’t love a job that allows her/him to play in nature and camp and mentor and find some way to make another person enjoy her/his life just a little more than s/he did yesterday? Summer job – check!

So, you can see, a great many changes await me just around the corner. I’m ready to start the next chapter, ready to continue reading, anticipating the twist of the plot and revealing the changing nature of the main character. Yes, I’m ready for the changes, ready to redefine myself again but this time for reasons determined and established by me. Keep reading my friends, we’re just getting started.

Until next time,

Courtney Chivon