A much-needed update

Wow. It has been so long since I’ve blogged. Are any of you still with me?

I’ve been working at a sleep-away camp in Malibu for a little over a month now, and though it has been completely time consuming and exhausting, it has also been incredibly rewarding. We’re nearing the end of the second of three sessions, which is a really weird feeling, knowing that summer is so close to over—less than a month away. Not that I’m not looking forward to the school year, of course. I can’t wait to be a sponsor, to start my new classes, see all my friends again, and return to a place I love so much. Since I was in 2nd grade, I have always considered this camp my second home, and now I guess I have a third home at school. That’s kind of a nice feeling. 
Anyway, I’ve been working with seventh graders both last session and this one, but my two cabins could not be more different. Last session was a very small cabin, only 8 girls, and they all got along incredibly well. Also, I was working as a life guard during the day which meant I didn’t spend tons of time with the girls/in the cabin, etc, so dealing with day-to-day discipline and petty fights wasn’t really my thing. This session I am a full-time counselor for a group of 10 girls (those extra two really do make a difference!) who are your stereotypical 12-year-old girls. Some of them act a little to old for their age, flirt with boys, wear make-up, and care about how they look, while others are still in that awkward, pre-teen, slightly dorky phase. The combination of those two groups in one cabin can sometimes lead to conflict. There is a bit of “girl bullying” if you will, (talking behind someone’s back, sabotaging their “relationship” with their “crush,” etc). At times it’s a lot to deal with, but all in all it is incredibly rewarding when I realize what a great time these girls are having at the end of the day. They all love it here just as much as I did when I was a kid, and that love for camp and the fun they have here definitely overpowers any petty fights they have throughout the day.
Today is the Color War and my good friend Matan and I are team captains for the yellow team. The theme is Candyland, so that makes us King Kandy, accompanied by the green Princess Lollypop, the blue Queen Frostine, and the red Mr. and Mrs. Mint. My voice is practically gone from yelling and cheering all day, but the kids are having a great time, so I’m happy. I’m definitely going to collapse tonight. Whew. Its 2:30 and I already can’t wait for bed time. Before that, though, is one of my FAVORITE nights in all of camp, and that is Derby Night. Derby Night is an amazing program that essentially pits counselors against each other in ridiculously messy and hilarious competitions while the kids bet on who they think will win. Last time, most of us ended up covered in whipped cream, ketchup, mayonnaise, chocolate syrup, green “slime,” peanut butter, and god only knows what else at the end of the night. Shower parties ensued. This time I think it might be a little bit cleaner, but hopefully still just as fun. I can’t wait to kick some butt.  That’s all for now, and hopefully I’ll be able to blog again soon....I don’t like this month-long hiatus thing. Love you all!
-Lauren