Working at the "bank" in "immigration" on opening day when families have to check in, get their passports stamped and exchange money

It was the first full day of camp today and whew it's exhausting.  It's non-stop full-speed fun for hours at a time and I've never had to be in charge of anything quite like it.  Today felt like it lasted years and it seems I never knew how much effort and attention small children truly require until now.  Let me give you a taste - here is our official schedule:



Bom dia!
7:00 Be at cafeteria, help set table for breakfast, prepare the skit/presentations of culture and vocabulary of food for the day otherwise get campers ready for the day
7:30-8:30 Breakfast
8:30-9:30 First Portuguese class
9:30-10:30 First activity (this week I'm teaching sports: soccer, handball, badminton, and dodgeball)
10:30-11:00 Snack
11:00-12:00 Second Portuguese class
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-2:00 Nap (for campers) Meeting with camp director and other Portuguese staff for us
2:00-3:00 Free time for campers (I work in the bank - campers can only take a limited amount of Euros out from their account daily to spend in the store)
3:00-4:00 Second activity (I'm teaching Brazilian cooking)
4:00-5:00 Singing and dancing (We teach some common songs and dances)
5:00-6:00 Dinner
6:00-6:30 Break
6:30-7:30 Night program
7:30-8:30 "Telenovela" (We act out a Brazilian soap opera in Portuguese)
8:30-9:30 Get ready for bed and lights out (One counselor stays in the cabin while the other goes back to the office to prepare class/activities for the next day)

Campers checking out some eagles that keep flying by

In some ways, the schedule feels like graduate school because we never really get to stop because we always have to plan the next activity, game, class, program or show.  Also, it involves a lot of teamwork and using each others' materials all while working in a giant shared office with snacks, music and general craziness.  Unfortunately, it is also going to involve a lot of late nights and little sleep not only because there is so much to do and not enough people but also because we all really care about what we are doing and want to make it funny and creative while also being effective in teaching language and culture.  So far, camp has involved a lot of improvisation, singing/dancing/acting in front of crowds and teaching about things that I really know nothing about in Portuguese or in English (ahem Handball).  Though the constant improv and comedy aren't really my thing, I'm enjoying learning a lot of new games and teaching methods along with experiencing a lot about child development.  What do I love about camp? Being in a beautiful and rustic environment, eating amazing food (and not have to prepare it or clean it up), taking showers only occasionally, not having to care what I wear and being around people who are ridiculously passionate (borderline obsessive) about teaching language and culture.  It's been quite the experience so far, and it's only Day One.

Playing games during the night program

Getting the campfire ready

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