Camp America!

Just do it!

2010-10-01T09:20:00.000+13:00

If you're contemplating applying to Camp, just do it! camp has seriously been the most awesome experience of my life! I have made THE best friends in the world, I miss them SO much. I'm so gutted that I can't go back to camp next year, stupid seasons :| Camp is a place where everyone belongs. It's the best place in the world. No one is too cool at camp, thinking you're too cool is uncool. That's what we told the kids, and that's how it was with the counsellors :)
Yeah, you work hard, yeah you get no sleep, but it's totally worth it. You get to play a special part in kids' lives, they'll remember you forEVER! haha JK but seriously, they will remember you for a long time! You get to see them push themselves, to achieve their goals, to overcome fears.
Coolest/weirdest/awesomest/craziest/incrediblest/scariest/funnest/beautifulest/sillyest/disgustingest/hardest/
bestest/akwardest/funniest/fattest/insanest/AMAZINGEST 3 months of my life!
DO IT

Visa continued...

2010-03-18T20:58:00.000+13:00

Ok, so Monday night = biggest freak out of my life!! I decided it might be a good idea to double check that my appointment was at 8:30 like I remember it being... so I went on to the embassy site and clicked into the change or cancel your appointment thing. It asked for 3 things to be entered, 1. Last name. I have one of those. 2. Given name. I also have one of those. 3. Confirmation code. Apparently I DON'T have one of these. I attempted my DS-156, but to no avail. So of course I went into a HUGE panic!! Frantically checked through all of my emails (although obviously I would have made a seperate folder especially for a confirmation email from the embassy!), all of my paperwork, and racked my brains for any idea of this stupid code!!! nothing : | This could NOT be happening to me, I could NOT go to Auckland for an unbooked Visa interview, and I could not afford to go to Auckland AGAIN. So I went to see if it would let me enter the "schedule an appointment" bit (assuming that someone with a booked appointment would be declined from here...) and it let me in. More panic! I am an idiot!!! So then after 5 minutes of freaking out and debating what to do, I decided to just book a new interview (there was still 3 slots left, including 8:45, which would be perfect). So I went to do that, and then it said "Sorry, you have already booked an interview at 8:30am on the 17th of March". So all of that freaking out for nothing!!
In this is a lesson for the rest of you... You don't necessarily get a confirmation email from them, so write down your confirmation code when you book your interview, and make sure that you remember booking it as well! lol
The interview and stuff itself is really easy :) If your appointment is at 8:30 then don't bother turning up until 8:20ish. The elevator doesn't open till 8 anyway, and when you get to the embassy itself the guy will just tell you to come back at 8:30am when they let the non-immigrant people through. I got up there at 8:05, was sent away by the guy, and then arrived back at 8:24am and was second in line :) You can leave all of your stuff at the door, cellphone included. I wish I'd known that before hand! The interview part isn't even an interview, pretty much just "What are you doing in America?" and "Have you been there before?". Actually just those two questions! Most of the time is just spent waiting. I was back at the hostel (2 minute walk), had got my bag out of the storage cupboard thing (3 minute mission to get the door unlocked!), and had my cellphone on (1 minute) by 9:03am. I assume that if your appointment is later in the day then it might take a little bit longer than that, but still really quick! Just make sure you have all your stuff sorted, and the right courier bag! A prepaid one, not the grey one that has to be paid for when its getting sent! The poor lady behind me had the grey one and she had to go and get a new one and then re-queue :(
I think that's all I've got to say! Hope all is well with everyone :) xo

Visa

2010-03-16T17:58:00.002+13:00

Yay! Visa interview in the morning :) I hope I pass!! I had the biggest Visa related scare last night, which I will shed some more light on when I have a bit more time :)

100 days to go!!

2010-02-15T21:47:00.000+13:00

Wow! The last 100 days don't seem to have gone fast at all!!! :O This is getting more and more exciting every day :)
I've finally booked my flights and visa interview, so scary! I'm going up to Auckland and most probably staying at the Queen Street Backpackers all by myself! I'm a smidge nervous, but then again, I guess I should man up and get used to it seeing as that's what its going to be like for a few months!
I've been lazy and not really looked for a new part time job! I've just upped my hours at the pool (I'm a teacher :) ), and I'm hoping to do some volunteer work as well, to fill in my days. I'm a bit over work already, which is a bit concerning seeing as it's been 3 days... I'll get used to it :) I'm also doing a bit of maths tutoring, cleaning the house for my mum, and painting for dad, so there's money trickling in from a few other places which is good :)
Well, adiós! It's time for bed :)

Apply early!

2010-01-17T10:55:00.000+13:00

Very sorry about that last post!! Clearly wasn't thinking very straight at all!!!
So, I've just seen on the Camp America Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/#/group.php?gid=2205009487&ref=ts) that people are starting to be declined from applying for Camp America, which must mean that the quota for certain skills has been reached, already! So I just wanted to say to YOU that it is SO important to apply early! Don't leave it till now, or you could very well end up being declined because the skill quota has already been met. Also, be aware that the application stage takes a good few weeks, and that your application can't be circulated around camps until everything is done. Applications open in August/September, but no one's application will start circulating until November, when the previous season has finished. Apply as soon as applications open, then you have a good 2 months to get all your stuff together and make your application really amazing for when circulation starts in November! That's what I did, and I was placed within a day (or maybe it was 2?) of the applications being circulated, so it really can be worth it! Good luck, make yourself shine, because you are amazing and any camp will be lucky to have you!

Long time, No see...

2010-01-12T16:58:00.000+13:00

Whoops, sorry!! So much has happened since early December! I should be sent to the principals office for this...! Anyway...
Merry Christmas! and Happy New Year! Hope everyone had a good one? I did :) I went away with the family to Taupo for Christmas, which was nice, although very quiet. On the Friday before we left (which was Sunday), I finally recieved my package from CSB! It wasn't quite as exciting as I hoped though, just several forms to fill in for things like payment authorisation, and other ones with random names like I-9 and W-4. What does that mean, anyway?! And there was also a lovely green form that needed to be taken to the doctors. But I was freaking out for a little bit, because it said on the letter that they needed all the forms sent back within 2 weeks, otherwise the position might go to someone else. How on earth they expected me to pull that off, I don't know! Especially considering Christmas and the piles and piles of mail that clog the mailing system, slowing everything down! So I emailed my director and said that I couldn't it back until after New Years, and it was all cool :)
I also got my Visa papers from CA the day before I went on holiday, which was also exciting. Although the capitilised "IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS-DO NOT LOSE" made them quite daunting! It was lots of fun filling in the forms online, some of the questions are very amusing! "Do you seek to enter the United States to engage in exprt control violations, subversive or terrorist activities?" Because I would say 'yes' to that if I was!
This week has probably been another very Camp-ish week, which is definately cool :) I went to the doctors finally and got both my medical forms filled in. It was very relieving to know that there's nothing wrong with me! I was really worried that they might pick up that I had some terminal disease or something and I wouldn't be able to go to Camp! haha, I let my mind get away from me a lot of the time, can you tell?
And... I got a pack today!!!!!!!! I met my parents in Wellington for lunch and we went pack shopping! It was very cool, although those things are expensive!! Apart from mine, coz it was on sale :):) I like it very much. It's a macpac Gemini 75, and is blueish, and has lots and lots of little hidey places and funny nooks and crannies on the bag coz you can take stuff off, and hide away the straps, and a whole lot of other stuff. I havn't had a look on the inside yet coz I decided to keep it a surprise till my birthday (coz it's my birthday present), so that I can still be really excited about it for another few days =D.
Have an awesome week, and I'll write again soon!!!

More money!

2009-12-03T14:04:00.001+13:00

Yay, exams are over! I can now officially relax and really look forward to camp :)
I paid for my flights last week, so exciting! My travelcafe lady, Dale, found a $300 discount for me, but to get it I had to pay straight away. 175 days and 54 minutes to go :) I've started compiling a list of stuff that I have to remember to take, mostly things recommended by returners on the Camp America forum. I still can't think of anything particularly Kiwi to take! Any suggestions?
I think I have OCD. I nervously look out for the post lady, and check our letterbox at least twice a day, because there's a package on it's way from CSB :) I got a letter last week from them letting me know that there is paperwork on it's way, which got me so excited, and completely distracted me from studying... but that's ok :) I can't wait to get it, especially now that school's over :):)
Anyway, gotta jet, my mum's coming back from Thailand in a few minutes and I'm so excited to see her!

Biology

2009-11-19T20:48:00.000+13:00

It's all been very exciting in the last week or two! I got in contact with the other girl going to CSB, Elise! She's as excited as me, maybe even more, which I didn't think was possible! CSB has a facebook group, which I've joined, and now I'm facebook friends with something like 6 other CSB staff :) At least 3 of them have been there for like 5 years or something, and one of them was a camper before she became staff ! Must be worth going to I guess!!! I'm still sooooooo excited, I didn't think that was possible haha especially after Tuesday... finally got round to paying my 3rd deposit and medical insurance, $607. My bank account's not looking so happy anymore, poor thing. The 2nd deposit thing still hasn't come up on my CAD (code for Camp America Direct, http://mycampamerica.com/). I think someone never got taught how to count...
Anyway... after the minor down buzz of a sad bank account, I got an email from Dale at Travelcafe with an amazing looking quote for flights!!!! Highlight of my week I think! Super duper excited to see that I'm going through LAX (instantly thought of Miley haha) to BWI. Now, where on earth is BWI, you ask. Baltimore, Washington D.C.. Pretty much AWESOME! I think I'm gonna have to sing that song when I get off the plane haha "Good morning Baltimore.... ba da ba daaaaa I don't know anymore of the words...." If only I could sing, then it'd actually be entertaining haha.
Theres so many exciting things that come with knowing where and when you're flying, I have a countdown on my phone :) 188 days 21 hours 13 minutes until I leave Wellington! Well, maybe the minutes aren't exact, but I do really hope that the plane doesn't get delayed or anything, that would be lame and stressful.
Why is this thing called Biology? Good question. It's exam time at the moment, and today I had Bio. Oh, the joys. I was feeling well underprepared, not that you care, because I had to teach myself the whole subject because I go to a silly school. Anyway, at 1:59 pm and 30 seconds we were allowed to begin the exam. Opened the first page and what is there, but a map of America! So of course me being me, draws a cool line from L.A to Baltimore, with a plane and everything. It was the most exciting exam I've ever sat. And the rest of the exam went well, thanks for asking :)

200 days to go!

2009-11-09T14:03:00.000+13:00

So it's all been confirmed, 10 weeks of sailing at Camp Silver Beach! Training starts on the 29th of May, 201 days from now! Paperwork is on it's way soon, very good procrastination from studying for exams I think :) Yay! Now I can slowly start getting stuff together... saw a New Zealand flag towel in the Briscoes flier that I'm seriously thinking of getting. $10, is it worth it? And I can get my lock! haha

Shelley from the Camp America office in Auckland (?) rang me today while I was at school (Hi Shelley!) and asked if I wanted this to be published :O! So happy reading people :) Feel free to ask any questions as well by the way, I don't bite hard! And she also told me that there's another Kiwi girl been hired by the same camp, yay!!! I'm so excited to get to talk to her, and everyone else going to CSB! But apparently there won't be many people being hired until after New Years, so more waiting... Maybe I should study...

EEEEEP!

2009-11-06T21:15:00.000+13:00

So it's been a while... and it's November now :)
Went to the info night last week, little boring. Mum enjoyed it though, and now I don't have to answer as many questions haha
November... It took a while for anything to happen on the CAD, but then suddenly it changed! At first it said that my application wasn't being circulated because my police check hasn't been done and I havn't paid my 2nd deposit. Was freaking out for a little while! But then it changed again to ready to be placed :)! I was way too excited haha
And then yesterday I got home from school and BAM! I had an acceptance letter from Camp America NZ in my email, and now I can log into their website. So exciting!! So spent heaps of time looking at that, and at awesome looking camps as well haha

And then... this morning I woke up and checked my emails. After putting in so much effort to keep my hopes down, I had an email from a director at YMCA Camp Silver Beach in Virginia! The guy "Mish" seems really friendly, there was a whole lot of information about the camp, and then he asked if I would like to be a Sailing counselor, of all things! So pretty much I've had the best day :) It's been super sunny, had fish and chips and strawberries for lunch, and got an email from a camp, already! Wooooooo!

Obviously very excited :)!

Till later!

tick tock

2009-09-16T20:22:00.000+12:00

November seems to be taking forever to come! It's still like 2 months away : I've been reading the forums HEAPS and I'm getting way too excited, and then I have to remind myself that I'm not in yet, and all that jazz. I'm so impatient!!! haha
Info night for Wellington was happening tonight, gutted I had to miss it! Apparently having to be over an hour late means you'll miss out on anything decent which is silly! Stupid work, deciding that we all have to attend a Health and Safety course. Didn't even learn anything decent either, was a huge waste of time!

Life outside of camp is pretty boring. Just school and dancing and work and piano. All very time consuming. Havn't slept past 7am in weeks I don't think...

November...

2009-09-02T08:53:00.000+12:00

So it's been a few days... Finished all my application stuff :) And got everything uploaded except the video, which is still in production!
My CAD says that my application has been sent to head office and I have to wait till November for updates. That's ageeeeess away! I'm gonna get so fidgety haha In the meantime I have the Camp America information evening to look forward to :) Wednesday the 16th of September. Keen!!

Not really much else to say, looking forward to November!!

Exciting Stuff!!

2009-08-26T19:27:00.000+12:00

Ok, so I decided to make a blog of my Camp progress, coz it's all so exciting and I want to be able to look back at everything and get all re-excited again!

So it's Wednesday today. Had my interview on Monday with my lovely interviewer Kiloshini. Was SO pumped for it, lil bit nervous as well though. Everything went well, signed a form about my rights, responsiblities etc. She was really talkative, and really friendly :) Found out that I'm in when I arrived there. At the time it didn't really hit me, but now I'm still buzzing with excitement! :)

I'm really looking forward to all the stuff building up to camp like... finishing my video, talking to camp directors, getting placed, getting to talk to fellow counsellers, getting a visa, getting all my stuff organised, and for some reason getting a lock for my suitcase!

Small dilema with my reference, the one from Brad wasn't dated! So have to get another copy off him and show Kiloshini. Also have to finish 2 questions on my application and then it can start getting circulated!

EEEEEP!! So excited!