I wanna be a Harvard girl!!

Our "mini-me" Barbies getting cosy in Harvard's Admissions Office (Bex, Kerry, Whitney and Cathy)

After a third summer at camp, it was time to hit the road again and visit another big dog on the east coast. Boston is the capital of the state of Massachusetts and located only four hours drive away from New York City. It’s well known as the home to Fenway Park and Harvard University.

Megabus drivers must have wondered what was happening when fifty hungover and exhausted camp counsellors arrived at the bus depot, eager to clamber on board. After three days of non-stop New York action everyone had dark rings circling their eyes and a pasty complexion plastered on their face.

Once in Boston, many people did the usual and booked a single hotel room only to cram an extra 8 people into it. There are however, a variety of hostels in Boston, averaging at around $25 per night, so if you don’t feel like sharing half a pillow with a sweaty “I washed last week” kind of guy then there are other options.

Good Will Hunting, Legally Blonde and The Social Network are just some of the movies filmed in Boston and, more importantly, in Harvard. I was right there, sunglasses on, camera in one hand ready to snap away and Barbie in the other. Yes, you heard right. Before we left NYC, myself and my travel gals made a trip to Toys R Us and bought "mini-me" Barbies as mascots for our trip. At 21 we may have looked a little immature but Barbie Bex is a little reminder I'll always have of the Boston banter. 

Harvard is over 375 years old and is known for its Ivy League schooling that has educated the likes of Barack Obama, Matt Damon and Natalie Portman.

A little too keen, myself and the girls roamed around the big white buildings and pretty parks until we had to admit we were lost. Harvard does offer student-led, free tours-definitely the better option. After an hour of aimlessly wandering and finding ourselves in some second year canteen, we were reduced to inconspicuously tagging onto the back of a tour. The tour offers all the historical information on Harvard, highlighting key moments in its history and the people who made Harvard what it is.

The campus itself was regal, pretty and pristine. Every intricate archway and stone step possessed years of American history. As a typical geek, Harvard fascinated me with its traditions, rituals and stories. 

During the tour I came across an abandoned Harvard tie, and by came across I mean stole. I thought this might make me look more like a smart Harvard intellect and with my glasses on I almost blended in. The tie now hangs above my bed as a piece of Boston memorabilia.

The Red Sox stadium (Fenway Park) is another Boston highlight and, even if you don’t get to watch a game, the stadium is worth a visit to see where one of the best baseball teams is based. 

Boston Common was my favourite place in the city. Seeking some quiet and relaxation, it was the perfect place to chill out with a picnic and observe a a slice of Boston life. The 50 acre park is a hub for tourists, workers and students, and unfortunately the random crazies too. 

BEX FYI: People watching is a great way to get a feel for a place but be careful you don’t attract the wayward men that like to share their life stories.

Night time in Boston was a bit more lively. With so many of us in the one city, all the Round Lakers would meet for dinner, head to a Boston bar and the banter would begin. This involved creating a fake birthday in order to get some free cake, getting lost for hours while trying to find “the best club in Boston’ and busking with an Adele wannabe. Unfortunately, I don't think the girl whose performance we hijacked made any money off of our guest appearance but we definitely gave a crowd.

It’s often random moments like these that make for the best travel memories.

"Obama, I'm On My Way..."

Reflecting Pool and Lincoln Memorial

Exploring the east coast, it was finally time to head to the capital of the United States of America, Washington DC- home of the White house, the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument.

I was excited to begin Obama spotting, start my quest to find Air Force One and sit on Lincoln’s knee. 

After touring for a few days with the guys, I ditched all but one and boarded back on the cheap and cheery Megabus. The journey from Philly to D.C cost around $14 and took two and a half hours.

Once again we lucked out on accommodation and ended up in a small motel in the heart of the suburbs. We had booked a standard hotel, as there are very few hostels, but unbeknown to us there were two of these hotels. One was located in the city centre and one on the outskirts. Typically, we ended up in the dodgy outskirts confined to the hotel each night for yet more safety precautions. Washington D.C’s nightlife would just have to wait.  

Getting into the city centre was easy enough. We took the local bus but, in a predominantly African- American area, we got more than a few stares, and with Robb’s bouncy blonde curls there was no way we were blending in. Although we felt like we were in a zoo, people were friendly and seemed mostly confused as to why two young tourists had ventured so far out of the city. 

In late August the weather was scorchingly hot, so going earlier on in the year is advisable so you can wander around without the guy standing next to you honking of B.O. 

First on the agenda, the White House. As an Obama fan I jumped up and down trying to get a glimpse of the president, but no luck. This did not stop me however, from telling my12 year old brother back home that I had had tea with the president. Used to my cheeky tricks, he asked for photographic evidence and luckily my picture in front of the white house with Obama’s head superimposed sufficed. I now await the day he turns and asks me about the time I met Barack- obviously we are on first name terms- and I’m forced to tell him the truth, that dining with B-dog is merely a dream.

Next was the Washington Monument leading up to the Lincoln Memorial. Just walking from site to site was a great experience. Washington is filled with gorgeous, green parks that are surrounded by perfect, white buildings. With the sunglasses on and ice lolly in hand it was bliss. 

The monument is the world’s tallest stone structure and was built in honour of George Washington in 1884. It is a great symbol of American history and situated perfectly between the Reflecting Pool and Memorial. The three create that iconic image we see on movies and this made me more than snap happy.

Moving on to Lincoln Memorial, here is a piece of info no one ever told me, there are lots of stairs!! In the sweltering heat climbing up to the Memorial makes you feel like your crawling in the desert with a monkey on your back. BEX FYI: water, water and more water; drink it, but make sure it’s bottled!

The deadly steps are worth the climb though. Inside the pillared building there is a cool breeze and an array of history to behold. Lincoln’s two most famous speeches are inscribed on the walls that encase the statue of Lincoln himself. This statue is huge and I was disappointed to learn that there was no way I’d be sitting on that knee. Aside from honoring Abraham Lincoln, the memorial also held host to a number of important speeches including Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream.”

I stood in the same spot thinking about my dream...“Obama, Obama...”

That All-American Experience

Wayne County Fair wristbands

Now on to Honesy-D, the nearest town to camp. This is where most of our days off would be spent, a small town with an all-american look. 

A usual day off would involve raiding the Walmart, munching down some decent grub and watching the latest Twilight film. 

However, if a more cultured american experience was desired then you needed to head into the town itself. There was a few B&Bs to choose from and all had that homely feeling, but that could just be because the older lady that ran ours suggested we call her “mama.”  

Although Honesdale wouldn’t normally be on a travelers list of places to see in the US, I highly recommend that on any journey, you stop in a small and town. It’s places like these where you get a real insight into the culture of a country because there’s less of the tourist pulls to distract you. BEX FYI: Visit the unknown.

Honesdale is the kind of white picket-fence neighborhood where swinging benches hang from porches and american flags flap from the beamers, so you wouldn't expect much nightlife. We did however, manage to find one lone bar with music where the residents of Honesdale were just all too interested to see who these crazy kids were.

A large man at the end of the bar, wearing a white suit and sunglasses, stared us down until his minion man came to tell us that drinks were waiting for us at the bar. We were expecting a shot and were astonished when an $11 Pink Flamingo cocktail each was waiting for us. We thanked him and continued to dance but when the other locals joined in the boogie, the gangster man took a huff and stormed out of the bar. His minion warned us that “we’d done it now.” Uh oh, upsetting local big wigs may not be a good idea.

We continued to dance with a slight fear lying in our bellies.  To dispel it we distracted ourselves by persuading the owner to let us dance on the bar. Now I don’t mean slutty style, we just wanted to have a Coyote Ugly moment. But that dream was short-lived as Whitney stumbled and smashed a glass and we were then removed. 

The next morning we woke to “mama's” big breakfast. Eating like kings we didn’t want to leave but “mama” had other ideas. She’d had complaints of noise and the theft of a flag so was not keen on having us stay any longer. “Mama” was not happy. None of the girls had any knowledge of this flag theft and we all believed we’d been as quiet as can be but the boys sat there in suspicious silence.

Aside from the town’s bar, the big must is the Wayne County Fair. If you’ve ever seen the end scenes of Grease you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.  It is an annual event where people come from all over the county to attend. There are rides and animals, and food and music. It’s a colourful event and a whole lot of fun.

The best part though, was munching on a corn dog. There’s a first for everything and eating a corn dog had always been on my list of things you have to do before you die. It was surprisingly tasty but I think it just wouldn’t have tasted right unless I was standing in a random field, surrounded by crazy farm animals and sharing it with my Honesdale crew.

Again Honesdale provides another all american experience. 

Summer Lovin'...what not to love?

Cast of Round Lake's Summer Production of Grease 2009

“Summer lovin had me a blast...summer lovin’ happened so fast.” Probably the most iconic words for Round Lake Camp 2009. 

Yes, camp holds host to many summer romances making this song an appropriate soundtrack to the summer, but these lyrics signify more than just the summer night hook ups; our camp production was the legendary Grease musical. Unlucky for anyone that wasn’t into 60s rock n roll, this soundtrack blasted on repeat day and night. We ate our breakfast whilst humming “You’re the on that I Want” and we went to bed tapping the tune to "Grease Lightening." 

Almost four years later, if I am shaking my stuff in a club and the DJ starts to run dry and play cheesy pop, and "Summer Lovin" comes blasting through the speakers, I’m taken back to my days rehearsing crazy routines in the sweltering summer heat and hand jiving the months away.

As dance specialist, it was my job to choreograph the dances and teach the kids just how to strut their stuff for the big performance. Myself, along with drama specialists (Jess and Leanne) busted a rib, literally, trying to get the production ready on time. Stress, chaos and exhaustion was the picture of myself, Jess and Leanne. During rehearsals there was many a day the girls would turn to each other and said “na this isn’t gonna happen.” But after weeks of late night set building, bruised knees and sore throats the production all came together.

The hard work did pay off and contributed to a very proud and emotional moment (yes I cried like a baby.) To see these kids, that each struggle with their own different disabilities, overcoming them to perform your routines is overwhelming. For many of these kids managing to learn a script or a routine may seem impossible and the idea of standing in front of hundreds of people can be their worst nightmare. However, every child overcame their personal boundaries and performed an amazing and utterly unique performance of Grease. 

The other children and counsellors gave a standing ovation and the demand for “one more song” meant a mini dance party on stage. Still a young and shy 18 year old, I was mortified at the idea of having to get up and accept my flowers but I did and it’s a memory I won’t forget. Even now I get shivers when I relive the it. I had never felt so proud of myself for having helped these children be part of something special or as proud of my friends for doing the same and the kids for being so wonderful. This photo marks that moment for me; the finale of Grease with all my wonderful kids. That truly is what camp, especially Round Lake, is all about; everyone pushing themselves to their own limits, doing things you’ve never done before and having the time of your life.

Do I have to say anymore to recommend taking part in a Camp America Programme? No matter what your age, background or experience, camp can be life changing and the best fun you'll ever have. it has you doing things you never imagined with people you never knew existed. It opens up your mind in so many ways and stays with you for the rest of your life. Why do you think I kept going back? It is pure Summer Lovin'!

Round Lake Camp, Pennsylvania ♥

ROUND LAKE CAMP 2009

So let's start at the beginning, always a good place to start. When I was 18 I was fairly shy and happy enough to fade into the crowd. This trip, my first trip, changed all of that.

I had always wanted to travel and was determined to do so as soon as I left school. I defiantly stood up to the family whose woes and worries meant they implored me not to leave. They felt the need to showcase some of the scariest horror films, all set in the US, in an attempt to make me stay. It nearly worked, but I armed myself with a can of mace and promised I wouldn't stray on deserted farms where potential chainsaw yielding men may be seeking camp counsellors. 

So I applied to Camp America and got accepted to Round Lake Camp, Pennsylvania. I think possibly the best decision I ever made right there. It was an affordable way to go and see some of the world, I worked for 2 months and my visa gave me an extra few months to travel afterwards. Camp America helped me through the visa process, dealt with my medical insurance and organised the flights. I knew I would be looked after by a reliable company if something went wrong. It was the perfect solution for a young traveller with limited resources.

It also seemed like the safest way to go travelling alone. However, I don't think I actually was ever alone. From the moment I stepped on that plane at Heathrow with my bright red T-shirt claiming "Woo I'm going to camp," until the moment I arrived back a dirty brown colour walking through UK customs with no shoes (a story I will later explain), I was not alone. 

I met aussies and israelis, americans and dominicans, chileans and columbians and a whole host of fellow Brits. These people became summer family and many of them remain my all time besties.

I worked for 8 weeks at Round Lake which is a special needs camp for Jewish children. It's hard to put into words the experiences I had there but I feel this picture pretty much sums it up. I remember writing home to my parents and describing camp as Dirty Dancing meets Snakes on a Plane...an absolute riot but oh the time of my life. I was the camp's dance specialist and thought of myself as a Johnny Castle type and the kids ensured that the summer was filled with joyful chaos and raucous activity.

As with any trip, it is the people you meet that make it. Although you may not keep in touch with every person you ever met on your travels, they all stick with you because you share those camp memories; that includes the kids as well as the staff. For them, you were their mums and dads for the summer and they sure become as much a part of your life as you were in theirs. 

Of course working 24 hours a day with challenging kids pushes you to your limits but that is why the people you meet become your closest friends. You see each other at your ultimate highs and your all time lows, whether that's dancing on tables in the local hillbilly bar or getting caught stashing an un-kosher pizza into your bunk.

I couldn't recommend going to work in a summer camp more. It made me grow that back bone mum always said I needed, and gain the independence that today stands me in good stead. Camp gave me unforgettable memories, the time to travel the rest of the US afterwards, the friends to travel with, the money to pay for it; the only price you have to pay is the fatty fatty bum bum you come home with after months of PB and J sandwiches.

This picture is of the lake at camp. The lake that I cursed every morning when I had to dive into the icy cold water. The lake I refused to get in after a scary spider ran across my face, much to the children's delight, but the lake I loved come Friday night when all was calm and the sun began to set. 

Friday night was Shabbat at camp. We celebrated with songs and dances despite the fact that probably 90% of staff were not jewish- it was just fun. The view as you can see above was so beautiful and Shabbat just meant a good time.

 I will never forget my three summers at Round Lake Camp, it's a part of who I am. This picture marks my time there. It is my most sacred place on earth.