I am officially... plACed!
Thursday, December 01, 2016
Hey guys!
Approaching the fair we were greeted by the AmeriCamp and CCUSA team and we were obviously offered biscuits. They were all so lovely and it was so nice putting faces to names.
As we entered the fair, I think it was safe to say we were all so shocked at how tiny the room was for the number of people there, it was so hot and tiring. There is a lot of waiting around as the queues are so huge and the representative from each camp is sat interviewing each person for a good 15 minutes. We stood in the queue for Camp Chipinaw first for around 40 minutes, only to be told that they didn't have any places available for any of our skills which was annoying as on the camp fair sheet we were given, it did say they had places, grr. Anyway, on to the next camp we went.
Next up, French Woods line. So, when I say that we stood in this queue for three hours I am really not exaggerating. These guys were grilling each applicant. The best thing that kept us going was that we met so many lovely people in the queues, after all we are all there for the same reason. It is so fab to be able to speak to other applicant and hear about their skills and what they have to offer. You never know, in the queues you may be speaking to somebody whom you are going to spend the next summer with!
We also made sure to grab each applicant who had been interviewed (some whom has been placed, some not), to pry information about the types of questions which were asked. This was probably not the best idea we have ever had as it made us all far more nervous to speak to the camp. After a solid few hours stood waiting... it was my turn next!
I approached the desk and offered a handshake and introduced myself. I spoke to a lovely man name Darryn. He flicked through my application and he stated I had a lot of relevant work experience and asked me what I would like to do at camp.
Initially, I said performing arts as that is my field of expertise. However, it seems that French Woods being a performing arts camp do an incredible number of shows in three week periods which honestly, I would not feel too comfortable having that much pressure. He then proceeded to ask if I would be happy enough to work in the Fine Arts department due to my knowledge of textiles. Fine Arts is basically textiles and making cute jewellery with the children. Sounds good to me!
He then started filling in forms and I presumed there must be a catch to this. Will he ask more questions? I thought the other girls were asked all these difficult questions and scenarios? This can not be right? But there he was asking for me to sign a contract to work at the camp. I could not believe it!
So, I start working at French Woods on the 2nd June 2017 for 12 weeks and 2 days until the 27th August 2017! How unreal! All the waiting was sooooooo worth it!
After getting my picture taken with the ever so famous #plACed sign, I pottered around waiting for the rest of the gang. It turned out that 5/8 of us were placed! Celebrations were in order!
We headed to Pizza Express an embarrassingly 2 hours late! Then proceeded to return to the hotel to get ready for our night at the Alchemist and around Manchester.
This post is approximately three whole weeks late:( I have been crazy busy and haven't found the time to update.
So, I have officially been placed and will be spending my summer in New York on the border of Pennsylvania at Camp French Woods! WOOHOO!
I still can't believe it is happening. I thought I would write a blog post about my camp fair experience for you all!
I still can't believe it is happening. I thought I would write a blog post about my camp fair experience for you all!
One year and three months ago I initially applied for AmeriCamp, however, I deferred my entry until 2017 as it seemed a more appropriate time to do the programme. In July when I picked my application back up, I met an amazing group of fellow AmeriCampers!♥
We started talking in a huuuuge group chat on WhatsApp, and those of us whom were going to the Camp Fair in Manchester decided to book a hotel together so we could have a night out together in Manchester after the fair.
I was so nervous in the days leading up to the fair! I did all of my research on the camps I wanted to speak to, and printed out the key information about each camp e.g their daily routines, the location and how many campers to a counsellor - that kind of thing. We were also advised to print our applications out to hand to the person representing the camp.
It was a nice and early 4am wake up call on the day of the Camp Fair. My very air-conditioned coach departed from Newcastle at 5.30am, and thankfully arrived at Manchester at 9.15am. My body temperature was probably nearing 3 degrees and my mood was plummeting along with my temperature.
Once arriving, I had the very simple job of walking for 10 minutes across the city to Manchester Piccadilly station to meet Fran, Emily and Cei. Simple right? Until my maps directed me along a canal to the other side of Manchester, leaving me absolutely drenched and no other option but to phone my Dad for help. Eventually, Piccadilly station was in sight.
After arriving at the hotel and dropping our bags and sorting our hair and makeup, we were Camp Fair ready! The four of us sat in Starbucks prior to the fair to try and calm our nerves, and talk through our action plans of which camps to talk to first and psyching ourselves up to walk across the road to the Midland hotel where the fair was being held.
Approaching the fair we were greeted by the AmeriCamp and CCUSA team and we were obviously offered biscuits. They were all so lovely and it was so nice putting faces to names.
As we entered the fair, I think it was safe to say we were all so shocked at how tiny the room was for the number of people there, it was so hot and tiring. There is a lot of waiting around as the queues are so huge and the representative from each camp is sat interviewing each person for a good 15 minutes. We stood in the queue for Camp Chipinaw first for around 40 minutes, only to be told that they didn't have any places available for any of our skills which was annoying as on the camp fair sheet we were given, it did say they had places, grr. Anyway, on to the next camp we went.
Next up, French Woods line. So, when I say that we stood in this queue for three hours I am really not exaggerating. These guys were grilling each applicant. The best thing that kept us going was that we met so many lovely people in the queues, after all we are all there for the same reason. It is so fab to be able to speak to other applicant and hear about their skills and what they have to offer. You never know, in the queues you may be speaking to somebody whom you are going to spend the next summer with!
We also made sure to grab each applicant who had been interviewed (some whom has been placed, some not), to pry information about the types of questions which were asked. This was probably not the best idea we have ever had as it made us all far more nervous to speak to the camp. After a solid few hours stood waiting... it was my turn next!
I approached the desk and offered a handshake and introduced myself. I spoke to a lovely man name Darryn. He flicked through my application and he stated I had a lot of relevant work experience and asked me what I would like to do at camp.
Initially, I said performing arts as that is my field of expertise. However, it seems that French Woods being a performing arts camp do an incredible number of shows in three week periods which honestly, I would not feel too comfortable having that much pressure. He then proceeded to ask if I would be happy enough to work in the Fine Arts department due to my knowledge of textiles. Fine Arts is basically textiles and making cute jewellery with the children. Sounds good to me!
He then started filling in forms and I presumed there must be a catch to this. Will he ask more questions? I thought the other girls were asked all these difficult questions and scenarios? This can not be right? But there he was asking for me to sign a contract to work at the camp. I could not believe it!
So, I start working at French Woods on the 2nd June 2017 for 12 weeks and 2 days until the 27th August 2017! How unreal! All the waiting was sooooooo worth it!
After getting my picture taken with the ever so famous #plACed sign, I pottered around waiting for the rest of the gang. It turned out that 5/8 of us were placed! Celebrations were in order!
It was such a lovely day and night with amazing company (and a gorgeous hotel I must add) I have definitely made friends for life♥
A few weeks later... I had the best news ever! Fran (the girl whom I shared a room with in Manchester) has also been placed at the same camp for the same length of time, and I also met a lovely girl named Amy whom has the same job role as me!
THIS BLOG POST DOES NOT END YET! I have more exciting news!
Last Saturday (26th November) we booked my flights and post camp travels! It was a lovely significant date to book the travels as it was 1 year 5 months since Tunisia.
So, I am flying to camp on the 30th May along with Fran and Amy to JFK airport in New York, where we will do typical touristy things pre-camp. It will be great to return to New York after 6 years!
Almost 13 weeks later, on the 2nd September, I will be flying from Newark airport to Las Vegas' McCarran Airport to meet my Mum, Dad and Aunty Di. We will be staying in Las Vegas for 6 nights in a hotel shaped as a pyramid, how cool.
Then, on the 14th September, we are flying to San Francisco for 6 nights and then on to Los Angeles, staying in a Disney hotel... right at the gates of the theme park which was the very first Disney theme park that Walt Disney ever built. Disney geek coming out there haha! Life could not be better.
Only 179 days (a day under 6 months) until I fly over to the states for 4 months!
It cannot come quick enough!♥
Sorry for such a long blog post but I cannot contain my excitement haha! If you have any questions don't hesitate to message me on twitter @jadexleanne ♥
Lots of love,
Jade xxx
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2 comments
So excited for you Jade!!! I can't wait, love the pics of us!!! xox
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'm excited for you too! It's gonna be so good we will have to meet up when we return to the UK and talk about camp for the whole weekend!xxx
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