I'm thinking of camp right now, one week after CYC2010 has ended, because I just read all of the posts other CYCers posted on here, and now I'm crying my eyes out.
2004: My first year at camp, I knew no camper in my group. The only people I knew were Brandy, my advisor, and Jessica Shaw, my AC. Because of that, I looked up to them all throughout camp. My counselors, WaiYing Lam and Alex Shih, and ACs, Jessica Shaw and Timothy Wang, were my idols. What the advisors told us at training this year was really true for me. I looked up to my old counselors and ACs. I hope that my campers this year did the same.
I had no idea what to expect at camp at all. My parents told me nothing, and I didn't even know I was going until a week before. I was so scared and nervous. During camp, I didn't talk to anyone but one girl that was very shy like me, Sharon. I only talked to her all week and she became like my best friend. She lived really far from my house, so we never got to see each other after camp. We didn't have cell phones back then as a lot of kids do now, so we sent letters to each other through snail mail. She was the reason why I decided to go back to camp the next year. The only thing was, the next year, she didn't end up going back.
2005: I was so upset that my friend I made the year before wasn't going to camp again. I told myself it would be okay though because I knew more people that were going. Specifically, Caroline Yeh. I had known her through chinese school for a while, but we were never really close. My parents and her parents arranged for us to ride together to camp that year; that made it a little better. When we were on our way to camp on her parents' car, we talked a lot, and I realized what an outgoing and friendly person she was. Always all smiles and never looked at the down side of things. She was so excited for camp even though she had never been before, and that brought up my mood for the entire week. I met and talked to so many more people than I did the year before. If I were only allowed to thank one person in the entire world, I would thank Caroline, because she definitely changed my life by coming to camp with me and making me a more outgoing person. Every year I went to camp after this, I had a special friend like Caroline that I stuck with for the week, and I want all of them to know that I thank them with all my heart for being there with me. I want to make a shout out to Christine Chen, my counselor, for always complementing my hair and being so sweet to me. You are my favorite counselor of all time. <3
2006: I couldn't go to camp that year, and that was devastating. For the next year, and even now, people still talk about '06, and I have no idea what they are saying. It makes me sad, but I know I will never skip a year of camp ever again. (Now, I plan everything in the summer AROUND camp)
2007: This is probably the best and most fun year at camp I've ever had. I had never experienced so much drama in my life before. They say that camp changes you, and they are right. That was the week where my life changed, for the better. From James Hu's star jumps and that one day of the whole group being disciplined to Group 5 Posse's drama. I don't regret any of it. Shout out to Megan Stewart, my favorite AC of all time :] (it's so amazing how she used to be my AC and I used to be her camper, while now, she's a counselor, and I'm an AC) Remind me to give you that massage at reunion! William Lu, I'm glad we became actual friends after camp (you talked to me about some personal issues) and that meant a lot. Also, Shanna was my advisor this year, and we connected because of our love of taiwan musicians. Thanks for that amazing group cheer you got from Jay Chou's song! and for helping me memorize that speech I had to say at closing ceremony.
2008: This year, I was placed in a group where most of the campers were a year younger than me, but even then, I had the time of my life. I met some friends that I will have for life. Specifically, Jenni Lu (who I am complete opposites with and she wrote two pages full of our inside jokes and special moments[under the stairs, eat fruit all week, the boy that looks like a monkey!, theory about guys being gay, and dressing formal for the reunion] in my yearbook), Alex Chu (who made things interesting at camp), and Gordon Tsai (who everyone knows had the biggest crush on me for the longest time :]). I love you guys, and we will always be The Vegetables, even if you guys never come back to camp again.
2009: The year where I introduced someone I didn't know very well to camp, we became twins with our sakun bandanas, switched up converse and knee high socks, clear umbrella and passion for dancing(Boyfriend, Girlfriend, Talent Show!). Thank you Janice Chiu for everything.
2010: This year. My first year as an AC. No better word to describe it but amazing. Four people that had been in my group the past years also made it with me: Natalie Chen, Nathan Chow, and Regan Wang. Guess what guys, we did it! :]
The group that I put down for my number one choice was the group I got, which was a good start for camp. The campers were more rowdy than when I was in the youngest group, they were so different than what I expected. I had a camper who cried all week the year before, but this year, he was all smiles and couldn't stop talking; a camper who got sent to the emergency room; and some campers that came from families that have given them hard times. Me and my counselor, Kelley, we lost our voices after the second day. We were so clueless as to how to deal with some of the campers. There were some of them that barely talked, and some that never stopped. There were campers that just could not remember what we told them one minute ago. But even after all of this, I love my campers and learned so much from each and every one of them. I completely agree with what Regan said. To me it felt like these kids that we had to take care of for only a week, became almost like my own children. In the beginning, I felt that I had to spend time with my campers because that's what ACs and counselors were supposed to do. When my friends asked me to sit with them, I had to say no because it was my job to talk to my campers. After a while though, I realized, it's not that I HAVE to sit and talk with my campers, they all are capable of talking amongst themselves without us sitting there and prompting conversation topics. I ended up saying no to my friends because I WANTED to sit with my campers. They all had such interesting things to say, even though they are so young! I can't wait to see them grow up the next two years I keep going, and hopefully, if I'm allowed to come back to be an adviser, I'll get to see them as ACs and counselors. I'm so proud of what the campers accomplished in such little time. Learning the ballroom dance to two different songs, the folk dance with a hard ending pose for the boys, and the choir song with some difficult chinese. I hope all my campers enjoyed camp as much as I did and that they keep coming back. Thanks for making this year unforgettable!
Peter Gu: I hope you had a good time this year. I know you didn't get the age group that you wanted, you lost your voice, and got yelled at for some pointless things, but this was your last year, and hopefully you enjoyed it so you can look back and smile. :]
Also, thanks so much for the double shots, I would have died without them. haha!
Kelley Wang: Miss Thug, Thank you so much for everything. You were the best partner counselor I could have asked for. This was my first year and you taught me a lot. You ARE really good in the classroom and the talent show ran really smoothly because of you, Even though others didnt understand it because of the microphone, at least we did and had fun with it. The kids loved it too X]. The dance you made was so adorable. Let's do the Happy Baby Dance together in the future. I love you so much!!! For me, its Kelley Wang I love her, instead of Unicorns I love them. <3
Dan Kau: Yes, you definately are a "walking disaster"! But you are so good with the kids. I really hope you choose the younger campers for your last year. They look up to you so much and really care for you just like you do for them. You will be one of the reasons many campers come back to camp next year. Also, you may be silly at times, but you are always serious when you need to be. Thanks for doing laundry for me and just being there! :]
Stephanie Chen: Our awesome adviser, thank you so much for helping us make CYC 2010 successful! Your evaluation really encouraged me and I hope I did the things you suggested me to do. All the tips you gave us on how to deal with the kids were amazing. You are really good with knowing how they are feeling and how to deal with them. We were so blessed to have you as our adviser, and I hope you had a good time with us this year! Thank you once again!
Ica Sheen: My beautiful rival AC. Thanks for being my alarm clock, talking with me till late, sharing a bathroom, sleeping with me, always supporting me, and being my PARTNER IN CAMP! ;] haha. I'm pretty sure my one page of writing in your yearbook covers all this, but I just wanted to say it again, thank you so much. Just wanted to let you know, one sentence that you told me really got to me: "It takes me a really long time to trust someone, but you let me trust you in just a week." That meant so much to me. I hope you know I feel the same for you too. :]
Thanks to Group One this year for your CYC Decade talent show.
Let's not let any of the CYC legacies die!
I hope that more new campers will come to camp, and the old campers will continue to go. The CYC experience is one that I will never ever regret or forget. I want to share it with as many people out there as possible.
All the friends that you make at camp are ones that you will have for life.
Even though you may not see each other for a whole year, or talk throughout the school year, they will still always be there for you.
(That was proven at my birthday party. Almost ALL of the people that came were people I met through camp. Thanks so much for everything guys. I love you all.)
Echoing what Jack/ Soa Jin said.
"Memories were built...and they will sure last. This is our story, now build yours. Chinese Youth Camp....To Be Continued...by you."
very sweet, Susan!! *hug*
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for this year!!!
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