A special bookmark - old memories

When I have tons of school work to do, I like to take a few hours per week off to read normal-not-medicine-related books. Because it happened to me for many times that I forgot where I stopped reading and read some chapters more than once, I decided to start using the bookmark I had on my shelf. I haven't paid much attention to it till this week... It's a special bookmark.

I made it at my last summer camp as a camper - in June 2006. I was in all girls group with Christina, Gloria and Rachel as our counselors and it was so much fun. Now every time I open a book I remember that time. I miss it. I think about it. I think about things I was thinking about at that camp. Is my life going the way I wanted it at that time? Yes and no. Have I accomplished everything I planed to? Unfortunately not. Am I the person I wanted to be? I don't know.


I miss the time I spent with the JV team and my friends from that time. It was a big part of my high school time. And it was a good time. Now everyone is walking its own way, but it's so nice to see some of them here and there. I miss all of you guys!

The Bookmark reminds me to Think again. And I'm doing it. And I'll do my best to walk on the right way.

Life after America

It's been two months since I'm back home. It feels way longer. What can I say, school is not so interesting at the moment. But there are memories that take me back to the USA every day. It's everywhere - a movie that we watched in August and is coming to our theaters now in November, senses on TV that I saw in real life like NY, Washington DC, San Francisco... mails from my sweet friends... a contract from camp that I got and makes me crazy (don' worry, I'll figure out what I want)... photos that are still not put in order... reading blogs/facebook updates of my friends from over the Ocean...

It makes me happy and it makes me sad. Well just seven more months, probably even less to see Laura, who'll come to Italy in Spring. Summer like this changes you.

And what's going on besides thinking about Summer? I've been super busy. Lectures, sign language, choir, studying, swimming and gym class. Luckily I've had the last two weekends off, so I had a chance to be lazy. And to catch up with old friends, who have way different problems than a strange medical student. Buying a new kitchen anyone? Well, not me.

I also got a shot against the new flu this week. Side effects? Just a small swelling on my shoulder. Nothing abnormal. Why have I done it? Because.

Well, I'll have my first serious exam this year. Dermatology. In two weeks. I have to strat studying a bit more serious now. Hope I can do it! Cross your fingers for me.

Wishing you all a successful week!

Tough week

I am sooooo happy that the working part of the week is over. Having (required!) classes from 9-12 in the morning and 3-5.30 in the afternoon every day and then choir practice, meetings, sign language classes, choir performance, gym class, getting ill in the middle of the week and having grandpa in hospital is a bit too much for me. This weekend I'll rest and try to write all the e-mails that I usually don't have time to send, read a light book... Oh and guess what? I checked the application process for my summer experience!!!!!

As some of you know, I was at the medical conference last weekend and here are some photos (from after-conference photo shooting =))

Anyone there?

Yes, I am alive. Busy, but still here.

What happened since August?

Camp was over, it was sad to say goodbye to great friends. We spent 2 months together and it's hard to say goodbye knowing that there's a big chance you'll never see them again.

After that I flew to Seattle/Tacoma where I spent a few days with Christina. It was sooooo nice to see her again and be part of her new life back in the USA - meeting her family, bible study group, place where she works... Christina, thank you for sharing a new life with me.

After that I spent a bit more than a week in Sandy, OR wit Heather and her family. It was amazing. Getting to know Stanley (he's such a sweet baby), being part of their daily routine, meeting their families... We went to see the Oregon coast, parks, Mt. Hood loop and of course Portland. And I went to my first American football game! Thanks Scott for taking us there. It was at the Sam Barlow high school (unfortunately they lost the game) and they even had the cheerleaders! Oregon is an amazing state, the landscape was sooooooo nice, I loved it, specially the waterfalls and the coast. We went to Good Shepard Church, where I met some old friends from camps, which was amazing, heard GS Slovenian team report that remembered me on my old camp days and how amazing job those people are doing around the world. During that week I also met Anna. I can't believe, that it's sooo long since she's gone back to the USA. But the most important thing that week was getting to know Heather better. We met for the first time at our first camp in 2003 and somehow stayed in contact. I am so proud on our friendship. Heather, I had a great time with you and you were a great host.

My third stop was San Francisco. An amazing city. Nice, lovely, with great park, hills up and down, cable cars, Golden Gate bridge... I loved it. In those four days I walked and walked and walked up and down as never before. The funniest thing was, that I got lost once and ended in a rich neighbourhood with amazing houses. It not always bad, when you get lost.

In Washington DC I found out a lot about American history. It helped me to know and understands Americans better. Museums, National Archive, Monuments, White house, Pentagon and Arlington. I was able to do the tour in the Congress and go to see the Senate and in the House of the representatives.

My last stop was New York. Crazy city that never sleeps. Besides the normal sightseeing things and UN buliding (it was great!) I went to see Next To Normal!!!! An amazing musical. I have to admit that I was already super tired in NY, but I really enjoyed it and met some new friends.

Since I'm back home I am doing nothing interesting. School is back here and it keeps me busy all day long. Plus I am doing some things for my soul which makes me happy.

An Update

Hi!

I'm sorry I haven't post anything in almost a month. If I had to say one word about the last month, this word would be GREAT. But because I am in a good mood, I'll write a bit more ;-)

First session went by super fast. Everything was new to me, I enjoyed every minute of it. The best part for me in that session were tribal games. Each kid, each counselor and staff member is part of one tribe - Pequots, Iroquois or Seminoles and they compete compete against each other through the whole summer and at the end of the camp we'll get the winner. I am a Pequot, we might not dominate at the games, but we do have the spirit. I love cheering for my team, be happy with them, when we win and be there for them, when we lose. Track meet was my first big meet (there is tons of small games during the week), I was probably more nervous about it than kids - all I had to do was cheer and look after kids, they had to compete. We finished way behind, but we had a great time. I also liked the trip to JFK, when I had to drop off kids that were leaving and pick up the new ones.

The second week was crazy. We had some illnesses and injuries among counselors, which meant that the healthy ones had to work a little bit harder. The other crazy thing was, that kids loved gymnastics and the afternoon elective periods were often full (or even too full). The favourite part was a game called Gold Rush. Kids had to get the golden rock at the soccer field and bring them to bank, without being splashed with watter, paint or flour. All had fun, kids and counselors. At the end we were all full of paint and flour, so we had a late lake dip. It was great.

We are almost at the middle of the third session now. On Monday we had Miss Awosting beauty pageant, when kids chosen a name, talent, dress and everything for their male counselors who became ladies for one night and then represented the cabin. There were three runs, first as introduction, so we could see their dresses (hilarious), then they had to show their talent (imagine a guy singing Titanic and screaming all those high notes or a dance to song Barbie girl) and the last one for the finalists - answering the jury questions (yes, they didn't forget to mention the World Peace). It was sooooo much fun. Girls couldn't stop laughing. Our job was choose the best one and I have to admit that it wasn't an easy choice.

I love this camp, I like kids, I like working with them... It's probably the best Summer ever.

Day off

Today was my first day off since kids arrived. I really needed it. After an evening out and two evenings on duty I was really tired. But it was my fault. I actually needed an evening out, that was a good decision, but on my nights in the camp I could go to bed way earlier. Now I know how it goes and I hope I'll take more care from now on.

I have to say that I love my job more than I could ever imagine. Kids are great, well they are not really interested in gymnastics in the afternoon elective periods (accept one small French guy, who doesn't speak English), only if we play games I get quite a few sign-ups.

We also had our first social at the girls' camp and probably the only people who don't like them are female counselors from boys camp. But we survived.

Tomorrow is July 4th. My favourite American Holiday. I can't wait. Although we have another social with girls' camp in the evening. This time here.

Happy Independence day!

Kids are here

Yesterday kids arrived!!!! Now there is life at our camp. They are great. For now, I love it. I already had three sessions today and it went pretty well. We had a Dutch auction at the evening program and it was amazing. My team (me and 6 kids) was 4th (out of 20) and we were proud because we didn't cheat.

In ten days of pre-camp I've never been late for morning flag raising, but today, for the first official flag raising ceremony, I came 5 min too late. It's impossible to hear the bell in the girls' cabin, so we didn't hear it and came down after the flag raising song. Grrrrr

I'm here

I safelz arrived to New York today. After a daz of flying I took some time for a walk to Time Square and found out, that I have no idea when do we should get across the road here (anytime, when it turns white...).

I'll go to bed now, as I am awake for almost 24 hours now and I have to get at camp tomorrow.

Bye!!!

Packed

The backpack is full now, strangely it doesn't have 23 kilos (but less). The only problem could be that I might have forgoten something.

Tomorrow (well today) I fly through Vienna to New York and than have an orientation meeting in NY and on Thursday I go at camp in Connecticut.

I'll try to update the blog as often as possible.

The last one done

Well hopefully, I still have to wait for the results. And if I get more than 50% it means that I've passed enough exams to go in the 5th year!!!!!! I have Summer holidays now! Ok, I have 2 more days of classes and a test on war surgery right after (only) 5 hours of that class - I don't even imagine what we'll be learning there.

And then in 2 weeks I am leaving! I can't wait. My sister already bought two matching necklaces, so we can wear them on different continents and still be kind of connected. It looks like she's really having hard time imagining that we'll be apart for three months. I have to admit, that I haven't thought about being away for a quarter of a year yet!!!! Wow, that is a long time.

I hope I'll have an opportunity to spend some time with friends before I leave.

Good luck with exams everyone!