Go Unicorns

A lot of you probably won't understand the title of this post, so let me explain.
In the USA, whether its Go Terps (Maryland), Go Orange (Cuse) or GO HILLERS (Hopkinton); Americans love supporting the town they're from, or school they attend. Feeling left out; it seemed only appropriate for us Scottish internationals to start showing some support for our home country, and as a result of our unique national animal, it became habit to scream 'GO UNICORNS' every time anyone even hinted something Scottish. Therefore this post is about what it's like to be a Scottish girl living at an American Summer Camp.

1. Lingo


Kids think Scottish accents are the funniest thing they've ever heard. They will never tire of asking you to say 'aluminium', 'girls' or 'water bottle' and will laugh their heads off for days trying to impersonate you.

They also don't understand half the words we say. Forget asking them to wear a jumper; or telling them to put on trainers and grab their torch. Sweatshirt, sneakers and flashlight will soon become part of your every day vocabulary. Oh, and if you want to save yourself from HOURS of ridiculing and frustration, don't even bother asking them to put something in the bin - unless you want a response along the lines of "Ben, who's ben?"... YOU MEAN TRASH CAN.

By the end of summer, this American lingo seems natural, you'll have slowed your speech waaaaay down (apparently Glaswegians speak 3000mph) and you'll have picked up a general camp accent consisting of a medley of Scottish, American, Australian and Irish articulations.

But if you thought the kids winding you up about your Scottish accent was bad, JUST WAIT till you get home and your friends hear you pronouncing your T's and talking about popsicles. 

This was a SMALL nachos :))

2. Food

Food in America is a completely foreign concept. 
- The portion sizes are bigger than that needed to feed a Scottish family of 4,
- EVERYTHING is sweet, even the butter,
- The chocolate and candy options are surprisingly awful,
- You don't know real craving until Irn Bru and Cadburry's are no longer an option,
-  you'll long for a real cup of tea and your mum's home cooked meals. 


Don't get me wrong, its not all awful - Wholefoods guac will save your life; Chipotle is a place of dreams; and don't even get me started on Panera Mac and Cheese. However, the differences make you appreciate Scottish cuisine (no, @Americans I don't mean Haggis) that little bit more when you get home. 


3. "Is there wifi in Scotland"

Yes, some kids genuinely think Scotland is a 3rd world country. But, they're so gullible; you can turn this into a really funny game; "whats wifi?" "No, I've never heard of Justin Bieber" "I live in a castle and ride my dragon to school every morning"- you get the gist. 

4. "Do you know my 3rd cousin from Cork?" 

I'm not sure exactly what happens in American Geography lessons, but for some reason the majority of people you meet seem to think that everyone in the WHOLE OF THE UK knows one another. One mention of Scotland and you'll have people telling you "My great Grandmother is 1/16th Irish" (Yes someone did actually tell me this); as if it has any relation to what you just said. They also have no understanding of Great Britain, and think it is literally made up of just London. If you mention anything about being British, make sure you've set aside some time to answer at least 200 questions .

There are many other cultural differences between the Bonny Banks and the Land of the Free, such as the difference in distance perception, tipping and taxing, Greek life, and the importance of sports, however for me, these 4 are most relevant from my time at camp and I hope they're relatable for those who share similar experiences. 

I also just wanted to say a huge thank you for all the responses I received on my last post and my blog in general. I am honestly blown away by all the heart felt messages and comments, and I'm so glad people are enjoying it :) 

Impact

I don't think a single person who has been to camp, can say that they left as the same person they were when they first arrived. 2016 pre-camp Christy is nothing like the person I am today; and I think that's because, as a result of Burgess and Hayward, I actually know who I am. 

After my first week at camp, it was hard to believe I had ever lived anywhere else. It's easy to get caught up in the 'camp bubble' - you become so close with people in such a short period of time - it sounds cheesy, but it really feels like you've known them forever. Staff training was easily one of the best weeks of my life and it taught me more about myself than I'd ever thought possible.

During this week, each year, our Executive Director Bruce does a highly anticipated philosophy talk. He talks to us about our impact and inspires us to make a difference, to make the most out of life and to 'follow our bliss'. I really wish his talks could be televised for everyone to see, because I honestly believe that if everyone shared a little piece of Bruce's outlook, we'd live in a much kinder world. By the end of the talk everyone is crying and hugging, and you can literally feel the love in the room. 

... and to me, that's what camp is: love. Pure, unapologetic, unconditional love - for each other, for our jobs, for the moments we share and for ourselves.  

Imagine living in an environment...

- where you're surrounded by positive, creative, energetic, genuine people 24/7,
- where everyone builds each other up, and motivates one another,  
- where people actually want to get to know you,
- where everyone has your best interest,
- where people selflessly go out of their way to make your day a little brighter,
- where everyone shares a 'live life to the fullest' ideal;
- a place full of those people who describe every activity as an 'adventure'.
- a place that encourages you to embrace your weirdness and individuality,
- a place where you can literally look your worst but still feel entirely beautiful, loved and accepted,
- where you are built up for who you are on the inside,
- where CROCS, STAR GAZING AND COUNTRY MUSIC ARE NOT ONLY ACCEPTED BUT ENCOURAGED

..and tell me you're not going to grow into a better, more wholesome, person. 




And no, I'm not saying camp people are perfect, or that we're always happy, but its the intention and fact that we make a conscious decision to try and be the best versions of ourselves, that makes me proud. 

 Because of camp, and my BH family, I am now unapologetically myself. I am positive and extremely self aware; I know my strengths; I try, each and every day, to be kinder and more thoughtful; I believe in myself and in achieving my dreams; I'm confident enough to say I have dreams; I work to better myself and to do what makes me happy; I am confident, motivated, empowered and.. well, currently frustrated... because I know that no matter what I write in this blog, it will never be enough to fully capture the impact camp has had on me. It will never express how alive it makes me feel; how much it inspires me every day or how full my heart feels when it's time to say good bye each year. 


I know many people will read this blog post and think 'that's embarrassing' and that's fine. 2016 me would have probably thought the same, but that's the difference. I am comfortable enough in myself to express my feelings without caring what other people think. 

'Those that matter don't mind, and those that mind don't matter' so be yourself, do what makes you happy and follow your bliss. 

Life Before Yurts and Tie-dye Shirts

I can't quite pinpoint the exact moment I knew camp was something I wanted to do, I feel like it's something I've always been waiting to be old enough for. I remember seeing older friends returning home from their summers in the States; my Facebook timeline teeming with posts and photos of their adventures, like something straight out of a movie. Eighteen in Scotland is an exciting age for a lot of reasons, but for me it meant finally being able to apply for camp.

Camp Counselor certainly didn't have the same job description as any job I'd had in the past. However, I feel like those of us who thrive at camp share similar characteristics. A love for kids is a given, but the ability to be loud and silly without fear of embarrassment is something I've never lacked. After doing some research and attending an information session, I felt confident that I was a good candidate.

The application process initially seemed long, and while at university it was easy to brush aside for more urgent matters (Shimmy). However, once you get past the basic questions about yourself, write a paragraph promoting your abilities and film a short video (cringey but recommended) all that's left is the interview, which really is like going for coffee with a friend. My interviewer told me about 'recruitment fairs' hosted by CA; where camps come to Scotland to hire people, and suggested that it was the easiest way to get placed. 

By the time the fair came it was January, aka exam time, and as a highly qualified procrastinator, this gave me an excuse to spend my 'study time' researching the summer camps going to the fair. Out of the 200 camps attending, 1 immediately stood out. I spent the next week stalking their social media; dreaming about working there. When the day finally arrived, I ran to the line for Camp Burgess and Hayward and I've never looked back.

Me after being placed at my dream camp

If you want to apply, feel free to check out my Application Tips Video, where I explain the whole process.