Page 15: "E-C-H-O Echo! Echo! Let's Go!"

The other day Louise said that at outsider at flag would think camp was one massive cult. It's true. The chants, call-and-response and general insider-ness of it all. Tonight, Louise was onto something.
Face paint again. I'm telling you, I've had a makeupless face for a month here. Mascara sticks are now foreign to me, but war stripes are becoming a regular.

Tonight it's for 'Owner's Cup', the annual basketball match against a nearby camp.

Pre Match: The National Anthem
Photo: From Echo's Facebook

One thing that's surprised me about America is how unsurprising this experience has felt. Probably because the food and language is in my home supermarket and TV. Owner's Cup was no different. Quintessentially American. For example, each player was introduced to the crowd via. microphone-

"Number fourteen for Echo Eagles, it's Jackson from Upper East Side! Let's give a cheer!"

And then the player (camper) would run through a balloon archway and white smoke to the court.

It bothered me that people didn't cheer on the opposing team. Even the counselors. I don't care if the kid is from another camp, these kids are fourteen. They play basketball all day. How amazing would it feel to be that kid and run on to a crowd of cheering people? That would make training worthwhile, it would be something they would remember and tell their kids someday, I'm sure. I know running to a silent but full crowd would feel horrible and awkward, at least to me, but then I never played sports competitively, maybe if I was sporty or male I'd understand it... These kids are playing an away game in front of a couple of hundred pairs of eyes they don't know. That's courage. And therefore, to me, is clapworthy.

Team spirit? You can be pro your team without being anti the other team...


Conversation with Campers-

*Lucy: Georgia! You can't cheer for them!
*Jessica: You're supposed to Lucy, it's good sportsmanship!
*Lucy: Huh?
Me: It means you support the other team but you can still cheer for your team louder :)

*Names changed, duh

Page 10: It's A Long Way To Long Island

The last time I woke up at 3.30am was accidental due to my inability to work my own alarm clock and my iPod screamed-

 "CAUS' YOU'RE A GOOD GURRRRRRL!
YOU KNOW YOU WANT IT!"

Through the pillow at me. In my delirious sleep-deprived state I thought somehow Robin Thicke had broken into my bedroom and got into my bed.
It remains one of the most terrifying moments of my life.

I haven't been keen to see 3.30am since.

However, I signed up to take the bus to Long Island and meet the campers and travel with them back to camp.

I arrived at 4.50am at Brandon's office, blanket in hand. 4.50am. If I have to get out of bed before the sun does I'm bringing at least part of the bed with me...

"Bright eyed and Bushy tailed...they said"

I woke up when I felt the car taking turns, we must've left the highway and the road felt different. Toby twitched his head to the right then at me then to the right again, I thought this sudden erratic tick was simply a sign of the madness early mornings inflict on their bearers, but nah. I turned right and there- right there parallel to the water on the bridge connecting to Long Island was New York City.

Nice.

The kids arrived, signed them in, boarded the coach, played top trumps with the boys at the back of the coach, had my hair braided by a 4th grader, confiscated candy (Yep. Took candy from a kid. Camp regulations. Sorry) then re-arrived to the cheering sports field waving glittery welcome banners.

Although I'm now tired as one of the back-of-the-bus kids asked me at Baseball "Hey Georgia! Are you gonna pick us up at Long Island again next year! That was fun!" which is the sweetest thing.


Dunkin' Donuts Conversation


Toby: (seeing the keys on the lanlard): Golf Cart?

Me: I drove it the other day!

Toby: You drove it? Where?

Me: From Camp to Outback and back! And I didn't stall it once!

Toby: It's an automatic golf cart. You can't stall it.

Me: ...