The opportunity to travel thousands of miles, and continents away from home to work for two months may cause some people either to shy away or jump towards the prospect of travel. The six amazing people that I met through Camp America, decided to jump at the adventure that awaited them oceans away. This summer has hands down been the best summer of my life. Not only for the experiences that I have been given, but also for the staff that I have met and worked with. In a matter of a few short weeks, I have gained a close-knit family that I can rely on for the rest of my life. But, as the summer comes to a close it is time for me to say goodbye, especially to the international staff who are about to embark on the journey back home. There is nothing tangible that I could give to you to express how much you mean to me, and there’s not enough room in your suitcases to take it home with you. So instead, I’ll put it into words.
I'm going to miss your vocabulary. I'm going to miss you attempting to swat a frog away with your "jandal" or correcting me with my misuse of the word "pants." Remember, the correct way to pronounce the Greek letter X is "chi," not "chee." It will take me a while not to explain a attractive person as "buff." However, I will never get used proclaiming the trunk of my car as the "boot." Our differences in vocabulary led to many laughs and moments I will never forget. I am now fully prepared to go abroad and college "uni" thanks to you.
I'm going to miss being a tourist with you. It was fun being a tour guide and reliving my city through someone else's point of view. I came out with a new sense of appreciation for my city and some great new photos. I will also miss your reaction to new American places. Who knew that a small, southern restaurant would be your guys' favorite food joint? I am not sorry at all that I forced you to dress up as a cow so that we could properly enjoy Chick-Fil-A's Cow Appreciation Day, you're welcome.
I'm going to miss your encounters with bugs. Bugs are pestering no matter where you are in America, but watching foreigners have some of there first encounters with our annoying insects was both hilarious and sad. After hundreds of dollars of medical bills due to allergic reactions, blisters, and diseases I must say I did take some laughs at your expense. Overall, it still sucks, but now I am fully jealous of health benefits in your country.
I'm going to miss you. I cherish the time that we spent together and the memories that we made. You have made this summer even more memorable for me, thank you. Thank you for all of our weekend adventures and the endless love. I know that I am a changed person because you came into my life. Saying goodbye to you all was hard but I'll always be here to like your Instagram posts and FaceTime you, even if I am oceans away.
