A Month in Language canp

I’m writing this in my bottom bunk with my friends in the room and the sun shining through the gaps in the blinds, after having had my usual breakfast of pancakes, Nutella, watermelon, Kuchen, and a warm glass of hot chocolate. Today is Sunday which is our free day, but everything is closed so the only options for things to do are nothing or eating; even so we find ways to have fun. The last month has definitely the most fun and crazy month of my entire life. I have made so many new friends and gone on so many adventures that i would’ve never imagined myself doing a year ago.

Fortunately for me, I already had made friends before I even got off the plane here, and they have all made this month so incredible. Jordyn, Chase, and I just clicked after we had an interesting experience with a Starbucks employee at Dulles Airport and found a great target for our jokes. Since day one we have been hanging out and have made so many unforgettable memories together. Also at the airport I hung out with Esme who has been a great help in German classes (we are both in the A1 level) and just a great person to laugh with and never take anything seriously. Not to forget Angelica who I met partway through camp but has also been a great person to hang out with. I could go on.

Daily life at camp has been very busy but very fun. A normal day consists of German classes, a logistical talk about the program, getting Eis, and some fun event at night with free time in between. A few days ago I went on a run up to a castle and looked out at the city with my new friends in this German city thousands of miles from home. It made me stop and realize what I am doing and how lucky I am. During free time I’m either playing Cookie Run Kingdom on my phone, Tischtennis, or a card game. There have been many many intense late night rounds of Spoons and Durak. As far as the nighttime activities go there has been a talent show (which I somehow won by reading out the lyrics to Scheiße by Lady Gaga), multiple movies, game nights, bowling, and karaoke. We have also traveled to nearby cities on the weekends and gotten to explore and see some very cool places. The craziest thing about all of this is that its free for me. “The German Government payed for me to go bowling” is the craziest sentence ever and I still can’t believe that this is my life. 

All of this amazing fun stuff that I have gotten to do over the past month is all because of the great counselors who gave their time to us and made this camp what it is. I have loved talking and hanging out with each of them and it’s been very hard to say goodbye to them as they’ve switched out with the counselors for the second half of camp. Whether it was beating very badly Duncan in Durak, Talking with Noah about Fußball, or Jule and Ronja leading Werewolf I have had so much fun with them, and hope that I will get to see them all again.

If you had told me a year ago that this would be what I’m doing right now I never would’ve believed you. But sometimes your life turns in unexpected ways that lead to whole new adventures.