15 June

We were picked by Max and Pepper (our head cook at camp) from the ICCP office after noon on 15 June. I took a cab from Central Park Hostel with Deidre (Irish mate met at the hostel) but she stopped at somewhere along 56th St. We exchanged our contact details and deidre offered her apartment to stay when I return to NY after camp. I might just take up that offer.

The evenings throughout the pre-camp training were so cold, but it has gotten better now with more sunshine coming. Cross my fingers.

16 - 17 June

Camp Little Notch is absolutely beautiful! Pre-Camp training started officially on 18 June. Prior to that, a few of us - namely the international staffs as well as a couple of staffs from out of New York arrived earlier at camp and we lent our help to the Camp Service Team (CST) pre-camp training.

These chores included latrine washing, kitchen cleaning, gathering of firewood for cookouts and etc. Other than that, I went to apply for my Social Security number as well. One of the spare time in the afternoons after lunch, the few of us international camp staffs drew our respective country flags. We just admired it so much once it was done and when it was hung up against the wall of the Dining Hall.

The summer camps in the US are categorized either as day camps or resident camps and CLN is the latter. To some, CLN may just be too much of an isolated place to be in. Because of the surrounding landscapes, there is no phone signal reception in the area. Internet access is also not feasible. There are only a few main areas of camp that are serviced by electricity. I found out that there is a Boy Scout Camp near CLN which is a day camp. The other campstaffs who were once campers or previously C-I-Ts (Counselors In Training, something like an internship program before someone becomes a full counselor) had such funny stories to share about the Boy Scout Camp. It is a place where you don't want to see male counselors in knee-high socks and scarfs...... hahaha, I also liked that part where their walkies once crossed channels with that of the ones we have at CLN. The Boy Scouts were enquiring for 'Hot Chicks' from CLN and unfortunately or rather hilariously, they were given a great deal of shelling by Star (our Camp Director)....And the urban legend ended as that.

18 - 21 June

Now, more about precamp training:

I have only good things to say about the entire program that was prepared by Star and her team. Apart from equipping each and everyone of us with the theoretical knowledge we need to lead the children in our program, we are also trained in the physical aspects as well. From Archery, Boating, Learning of Nature and Conservation, Compass Reading as well as going through a Swim Test (I skipped this of course, but I definitely had a fun time swimming at the Lake. It is my first experience swimming in a Lake in America!).

We also dealt with issues of major importance for all the campers that come into Camp Little Notch: Health and Universal Precautions, Transportation Logistics, Kitchen and Cookout Requisitions, Basice Water Safetly Precautions & Evacuation Procedures.

I did so many cookouts to date that they out number that of what I did when I was still a girl guide in school. The recipes are simply amazing! Almost like American Chillies fare back home.

There was a lot of creativity explored as well, I've never had so much of ideas up my head in such a short period of time. This definitely has something to do with all the other great camp staffs around. With one another, we share so much enthusiasm and ideas around. We also look out for each other as well. Made so many new friends here, ANJ, TAZ, WHO, TALES, ATLAS, HONEYDUKE and many more. TAZ is sitting next to me and she insists that I write her name in. Most of them are between the ages of 19 - 24. I'm almost the oldest counselor at camp.

One of the greatest thing was getting certified in First Aid & CPR! I love the sessions! I am now a certified professional rescuer...hahahahahahah! Amazing!

22 June

I am writing now from the a local community college which is approximately 30 mins drive out of CLN, Fort Ann. Today, all campstaffs have a 12hr break from noon till late evening so different groups are going off in different directions for sight-seeing as well as mail checking.

We had a 2 hour session in the morning just before our break started and again they are awesome sessions. About Child Abuse (How to recognise for signs of abuse) as well as a discussion of Socially Sensitive Issues among campers.

After this, I am heading off to the local mall and thereafter join the Staffs Dinner that will be held at Carl R's - Tex Mex Fare.

13 June (6:30pm - NY time) - Touchdown in Newark Airport

At 10pm - Found myself stranded at Manhattan Youth Castle not realising they closed for the summer. The guy at the door was cool, gave me a hostels handbook and directed me to Wanderers Inn East. From Eest 103rd St to 94street. Distance of something like from Taman Mayang to Kampung Chempaka! Gosh, I swear I need some getting used to those 'couple of blocks' term.

At 11pm - Checked into Wanderers Inn East, by the time I showered and all was about 45 mins later. Just dozed off after assuring mum I had landed.

14 June (11am) - Checked out of WIE cos they don't have a place for me that nite except for a USD75 private room. Found a mate in Krystal (ironically, a name reminding me of work) and we headed to West 103rd St via subway and later by bus. Its been hell long since I did all this traipsing around towns for youth hostels and I am beginning to feel that I'm reliving my student days again..... At times, I wanted to just call a cab!

At 2pm, checked in at Central park Youth hostel and found a mate in Deidra (Irish). We headed out to town and checked out quite a lot of places (NBC studios, CNN, Broadway, Trump Tower, Empire State gosh I can't remember already...)

Both of us were on budget so the idea of forking out USD 14 to go up Empire was somehow not the thing we were interested.

We ended the evening with Opera at the Great Lawn in Central park. My first experience of Opera! The Metropolitan Opera!

Headed back to hostel by 11pm - Knocked out totally!

In about 10 hours time, I'm supposed to be taking off and yet I have not finished my packing. What I did complete though is this:

a) Set my auto-reply at my work email
b) Bought my disposable 'un_ _ _ wear'
c) Packed my sleeping bag + my blue pareo (I hug this with me everytime I travel afar... it's been with me to Germany + Swiss!)
d) Got myself my raingear (baju hujan) - last time I needed this was at Mt Kinabalu. Am quite curious about the rain that happens in another country other than Malaysia. I don't seem to quite recall experiencing rain in another foreign country..... although I think I am a little 'amnesiastic'

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/susan_chee/album

22 hours!! My **** will burn.

Well it's enough time for me to decide if it's Manhattan Inn Hostel or the American Dream Hostel that I should head to upon arrival. It's gotta be Manhattan since I am meeting Coke and a few others at Manhattan.

Hi all,

This is a humble attempt of a travelogue which I am starting today to keep all of you folks out there posted of my whereabouts during my away period from June 13 - Sept 15, 2005.

I have a lot of people excited over my plans at this summer camp where I will be rendering my services as a camp counselor. Well, the excitement is finally seeping into me now. Somehow things like to happen to me on the very last minute.

For instance, my flight is still not confirmed (is it June 11 or June 13?). This is killing.....MAS has packed flights on both dates, ...... shall I sit on the pilot's lap then?

I have either 2 days or 4 days to departure date - whichever..... ** shitting rocks now **