Medina, North Dakota

On our Yellowstone trip in August, we stumbled upon a little town called Medina, North Dakota.

Population: 303

By this point in our trip, we were exhausted. We had been driving since sun down. It was now the early morning and we needed to get gas and some fresh air. Our first destination was only a few hours away.

There was a small two-pump gas station off of the highway that we decided to stop at. Everyone got out to stretch and a few people walked down the road to explore.

Some of us wanted to keep driving while others wanted to stop and get a bite to eat.

We decided to stop at a the one and only local diner and in the end, I think everyone was happy that we stopped.

Medina, North Dakota was a town that looked like it was created for an old time movie. It had an eerie but pleasant feel to it. I don’t think anything in the town had changed for years. We were about the only people in the town and probably the most that Medina would see for quite some time.

An older lady that worked at the diner had to be “called in” from her garden to help out, as there were 13 of us.

Everyone was so sweet and kind to us. The prices were so cheap and the food was so good.

We met some older men that talked to us about our trip, futures and lives. It was pretty cool how interested everyone was with what we doing.

We paid for our meals, thanked the workers and headed towards our first destination.

This was a small part of the trip, but a place I’ll never forget.

What camp taught me

Nestled in the woods, lies a world hidden from the outside.

This world is my world come summer time.

At the age of ten, I learned of that place; the place that would change my life.

Camp Batawagama, the land between the lakes is that place.

My mother drove me down the beautiful winding road that led to camp for the first time in the summer of 2003. Excitement and nervousness filled my mind as we grabbed my bags out of the car and walked into the camp. I was overwhelmed with the amount of eager children everywhere, waiting to see what cabin they were placed in. I was amongst those children waiting until 2:30p.m. when the list was posted.

The list went up: I was in cabin A1.

Children ran as fast as they could to get the “best” bunk in the cabin. I followed along, and found the perfect bed. As my mother and I were unpacking, I quickly got my swimsuit on so that I could go take my swim test. Level 3 is where I ranked for my first year at camp. My mother said her goodbyes and I was now in the care of my counselor for the coming week.

Not only was I about to have the greatest week of my life, I was about to learn life lessons that I would carry with me for the rest of my life.

On Sunday night, we learned about nature. The animals and plants are protected at camp. “Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints,” the program directed instilled in our young heads. Today, that quote is ever present in my mind, and still has the same impact it did when I was ten.

My week was filled with swimming, hiking, nature, cooking, fire building, arts & crafts, tenting, singing and fun.

For years to come, I would spend 51 weeks in anticipation of the next time I would go to camp. I loved it out there, going every summer until I was 15 years old.

We could be alright living at camp for the rest of our lives, without contact with the world.

We had a living, dining, nurse and office facility. It was almost like our own city, in our own world.

At the age of 17, I received the news I had always longed for; I got a job in the kitchen at Camp Batawagama. I built some of the greatest friendships of my life that first summer. The summer after that I returned as a swim teacher and part-time photographer. Swim teaching allowed me to interact with the campers much more, as I taught about 30 of them each week. The relationships with these children taught me a lot about myself. I also strengthened friendships with my coworkers and took away a great deal of accomplishment. Last summer, after completing a year of college, I could finally be what I always wanted to be: a counselor.

I was in charge of up to 12 girls each week and responsible for them and their fun. To have them experience the joy I had as a camper was my goal.

I was a counselor in A1, the first cabin I had ever camped in.

This summer changed my life. Not only did I learn how to be responsible for so many children, I created friendships, solved problems, laughed a lot, enforced the rules when I had to, watched children open up and build trust in me, and most importantly; I learned how to put someone else’s needs above my own. My main concern was how I could make this week the absolute best week of each child’s life.

The idea of a memory book, popped into my head days before camp started. I found a blank book for 25 cents at a garage sale. That turned into my memory book, a book that my campers could write in. At the end of each week I asked each camper to write a summary of their week. Many of the campers turned that around to write why I was the reason for their great week. I had never felt so good about what I was doing.

Once I overheard my camper say, “I wish this week would go on forever. Batawagama is my second home.” Her friend responded with, “Batawagama is home.”

Semester at Sea Itinerary Change

As the year goes faster and faster, I realize that the trip of a lifetime is just around the corner.

Semester at Sea Fall 2014 will be here before I know it.

Unfortunately the itinerary has changed and we will not be visiting Cape Town, South Africa and Buenos Aires, Argentina.

On the upside Dakar (Senegal), Salvador (Brazil), and Bridgetown (Barbados) have been added to the itinerary. This change will create an eight-day overland option while in Salvador and Rio de Janeiro. It will also create an extra day in St. Petersburg, Hamburg, and Le Havre/Antwerp.

The change is due to logistics. We will cut off travel time to spend more time in country.

Fall 2014 Map

The new itinerary is as follows:

Embark: Southampton (London), England

Saint Petersburg, Russia

Hamburg, Germany

Antwerp, Belgium

Le Havre, France

Dublin, Ireland

Lisbon, Portugal

Cadiz, Spain

Casablanca, Morocco

Dakar, Senegal

Takoradi, Ghana

Tema (Accra), Ghana

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Salvador, Brazil

Bridgetown, Barbados

Havana, Cuba

Debark: Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States

A simple act of kindness by a cat

The extraordinary act of a cat brought me closer to the feeling that we (animals alike) are all very similar.

This was the year that I became an “adult.” Renting my very own house for the first time made me feel like an adult, aside from the fact that I am no longer a teenager. With this new found adultness, I felt that I had certain duties to take care of: cleaning the house, buying essential house supplies, and feeding myself. On top of these, I found it my duty to help out a stray cat.

I really wanted a cat this year but unfortunately my landlord charged $50 per pet per month and I didn’t have that kind of extra money. I knew owning a cat would have to wait until the future.

A few weeks ago I was pulling up to my house when I saw two eyes glaring at me from the garbage can.  A calico cat quickly jumped up and out of our garbage. I couldn’t stop thinking of how sad it was to have a cat eating out of the garbage. I guess stray cats aren’t that uncommon but it made me sad.

The next day I saw the cat again and decided that I would save it! First I tried calling the animal shelter, but their phone was no longer a working number. I knew I couldn’t personally save it so I called the next best thing; animal control. I called them and explained the situation. Animal control basically shouted, “We don’t do cats!” I was then connected to a dial tone. I think that was their way of saying goodbye.

I jokingly told my roommate that we should feed it. Ironically, I checked the mailbox the next day and what do you know? A tuna can sized sample of cat food was on my door step addressed to “Current Resident.” I looked at her and said, “This must be fate.”

I knew that I shouldn’t make feeding stray animals a habit but it was one can of cat food that shouldn’t have gone to waste. Even if it did, the cat may have found it.

I set the cat food outside. The next day I went outside to go to my car and I saw the very same calico cat eating the food. This time it was the mom (I assume that she was a girl) and her orange and white kitten. It was so adorable. The kitten wasn’t a new born; I’d say about 2 or 3 months old. They ran as they saw me come out. I quickly went inside to get them a bowl of water. I left and one of my friends was able to capture this picture from the window.

I now saw these cats quite often around my neighborhood. I was even able to recognize “my calico.” There was also a “dad” cat. The trio often roamed together.

I got home earlier today and saw my calico cat limping. I’m pretty sure she had a broken leg. She had no pressure on her hind leg and was hobbling around.

What happened next was miraculous.

I thought to myself, “She must not be able to go get mice (if that’s what she does) with a broken leg.” I had some old bread and left it by the water bowl. I waited in my car to see if she would come over and eat it.

Out of nowhere, the dad cat came running towards the bowl. He took a quick drink and smelled the bread. He then proceeded to pick up the bread and carry it in his mouth over to the injured cat. They both shared the bread.

I never thought cats could feel for one another. This simple act of kindness, through an animal, restored hope that maybe there is a lot of good left in this world.

I will be calling the animal rescue coalition in my county to see if they would be able to rescue these cats. These stray cats may not be at the top of their priority list but they deserve a warm loving family. They already have one of their own.

 

Oh, the people you will meet

Traveling brings people together.

Almost anywhere you go, you will find someone that you can relate to.

While in Yellowstone, our group had finally gotten a site inside the National Park. We got a pretty large site and set up our tents and hammocks.  Next to our site we saw a motorcycle and the smallest tent I had ever seen. A one person tent that barely fit one person. Throughout the day we left our site to explore what Yellowstone had to offer. Later on in the afternoon, our group made our way back to our site. A few people in our group befriended the man with the one person tent. He was a man in his sixties with dark grey hair down to his waist. I was busy doing something at our site with a few others, but watched the exchange in facial expressions and smiles between this man and the people in our group that were talking to him. Later on we invited this man to our fire. We were making fried peanut butter and jelly and ramen noodles (I know not the classic bonfire food, but the prices were high and we needed to eat cheap). The man graciously accepted a peanut butter and jelly sandwich that we offered. He wasn’t interested in the ramen noodles, he was just so overjoyed that we had even given him a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Turns out he had only packed trail mix to eat for his entire journey.

For the next hour or so we spent it talking with the man and getting to know him. He used to work in the wine industry in California. We met him at a changing point in his life. He was going to live with his sister in the mountains, off the grid. It was so interesting learning about his life and what he was doing with it. He told us how he left with nothing but his motorcycle and had picked up that one person tent at a store before coming to the site. The way that this man lived his life was amazing. He moved with the wind without a care in the world. In a way we could all relate to him because we were all at changing points in our life, college students who were moving on soon. We too lived without many cares in the world. We sat around the fire for awhile longer until it got dark outside. There was a curfew of 10p.m. in the park so we had to go our separate ways around 9:45p.m. Before leaving we invited this man to join in a circle around the fire while we sang our evening songs. He put his arm around the people next to him and closed his eyes as we softly sang around the fire in Yellowstone National Park.

This man could not contain his gratitude for including him in our dinner, our conversation, and our singing.

We were yet again singing beside the mountains.

Semester at Sea, here I come

As of yesterday morning I can visualize the ocean as my backdrop, and a ship as my house.

I received the word I was waiting for “Congratulations!”

In the Fall of 2014, I will be sailing on the MV Explorer with Semester at Sea.

Semester at Sea has been something I have been interested in for a long time. This program has everything I want to do in my study abroad experience and more.

Starting August 23, I will travel the world in 115 days visiting 16 cities in 15 countries around the world.

Itinerary:

Southampton (London), England

Saint Petersburg, Russia

Hamburg, Germany

Antwerp, Belgium

Le Havre, France

Dublin, Ireland

Lisbon, Portugal

Cadiz, Spain

Casablanca, Morocco

Takoradi, Ghana

Tema (Accra), Ghana

Cape Town, South Africa

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Havana, Cuba

Debark: Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States

Semester at Sea, here I come.

Singing beside the mountains

It was time to live life in the moment.

In August I went to Yellowstone National Park with 13 great friends and coworkers. After a little research, we found out about the Boiling River. This is an area where the hot volcanic springs meet the cool mountain runoff river and combine at a perfect swimming temperature. We were excited about this experience and headed there in our swimsuits and cover-ups.

When we got there, we found that this was an attractive tourist spot. There were probably over 100 other people there. We stripped down to our suits and left our towels and clothes on the wooden railing.

The water was so nice. It was such a weird sensation to feel hot water on one leg and cold water on the other but for the most part the water was mixed perfectly. Most of us avoided dunking our heads under to head the warning of possible “meningitis” in the water. A few adventurous people, if that’s the word, didn’t care and went under anyways. Our group sat in the water and had some much needed relaxation time. Some people jumped over the rock barrier to the cool river water. I was content in the area with the perfect temperature water.

I reflected on my time in Yellowstone while in the Boiling River. On both sides of me were mountains that went on for as far as I could see. It was breathtaking.

Somehow our group (of youth camp workers) always found a way to make a scene wherever we went.

Music is a huge part of the camp that I work at in the summer. We sing after meals, during programs, and at the close of the day. Many of the experienced staff members, including myself, can tell you exactly what songs are which and how every word is sung.

This is something we hold very dear to our hearts.

I’m not exactly sure how it began but our group circled up, amidst the crowd, and began singing. At first the looks from everyone, and I mean everyone there, were making me feel slightly embarrassed. As we continued to sing the looks turned into smiles. A few people gathered around us while others continued with their business. Our song books include everything from funny to complete seriousness. We sang everything in between. After about 30 minutes, we decided it was time to go on our way. The one song that connected with the whole situation was “Peace.”

We left and a few people clapped for us. Maybe they thought we were a choir or maybe they reflected on the mountains through our songs.

These final song lyrics left the greatest impression of my time in the Boiling River:

“Peace I ask of the O’ river, peace, peace, peace.”

Travel across the country in less than $200

Yellowstone National Park

Everything that I want to do, whether it’s been a long time goal or a thought on a whim, is in my bucket list.

Visiting Yellowstone National Park was on that list.

Throughout the summer I worked as a children’s counselor. I lived there for about two months. Each week 12 new kids would fill up every cabin. We would hike, canoe, rowboat, kayak, cook over the fire, sing songs, and play games…just to name a few things we do. About 40 other co-workers lived at camp as well. Everyone on staff had a passion to make each child’s week the best week of their lives.

With such a dedicated and adventurous staff, I thought, “who better to go on an road trip across the country to Yellowstone National Park with?” I proposed the question and many people were interested, although they didn’t have much faith that the plan would be executed.

The planning process began with myself and three great friends and co-workers. We worked out everything, minus some time planned for “whatever happens.” We wanted this trip to be exciting and fun, filled with opportunities we hadn’t planned for. The plan was executed as we made our way to Yellowstone two days after camp ended.

Thirteen people went on the trip. Five in a car and eight in a Tahoe. After driving for 13 hours we arrived at our first camp site in Medora, North Dakota. This town was built for tourists. The buildings on main street were exactly what you would think of from “the wild wild west.”

The next day we travelled straight to Yellowstone which took about nine hours. We took our time and ended up having to stay right outside of the park because the campsites inside were already booked. Once at our site, a man greeted us and said, “You’re finally here, follow me.” We weren’t really sure what he meant but we went with it. He took us around to a group site made for 50 people or more. It was so cool…until we realized that he thought we were another group that had reserved that site. Ironically another group from Michigan was staying there so when he saw our plates he assumed we were them. He still had two sites open and we took one. It was a site down a trail next to a river. The scenery was beautiful.

We got up early and headed into Yellowstone. After driving for about two hours, we finally found a site. We stayed there for the next two days exploring Yellowstone. We went to Mammoth Hot Springs, a small area with shops and restaurants next to natural hot springs. Inside this “town” we went swimming in a section where the natural hot spring meets the river. During our stay in Yellowstone we also went white water rafting down the Yellowstone River, took a hike into the woods, visited the Grand Prismatic, watched Old Faithful go off, met some awesome people, and explored.

Next stop on our journey; the Grand Tetons.

The Grand Tetons were absolutely amazing. We found the perfect place and the person who registered us gave a discount which allowed us to stay in a group site that was larger than our “first” group site for the price of two regular sites. Half of the group went on a hike and the other half went to Jenny lake. I was in the group that visited Jenny Lake. The views there were breathtaking. The water was perfect and we definitely needed to rinse off (seeing as how only one site had showers the entire time we were there). Relaxation was what we needed. It hit us that the next time we see this view again our lives will be totally different. It made us appreciate our lives in the moment.

Mount Rushmore was our last destination. Driving took up most of our day. We arrived in Mount Rushmore at around 9 p.m. There was a short ceremony which included a documentary showing, lighting of Mount Rushmore, and the lowering of the flag by Veterans in the audience.

Now for the straight drive home. We travelled all through the night and returned home on Thursday. We had left the previous Friday.

Our group of close friends and co-workers had travelled the country in six days witnessing some of the greatest marvels our world has to offer.

Steps to make it happen

Now not everyone will be able to plan a trip from Michigan to Yellowstone National Park in under $200 per person, but if you fall under the same circumstances I did, you will.

Step 1: Get  a group together and make sure they are 100% about going (The more people, the less it will cost individually).

Step 2: Get opinions on what others want to do and begin planning dates, times, places.

Step 3: Make sure you have the necessary equipment. Biggest thing: transportation (ex. tents, rope, coolers, backpacks, hiking shoes, water bottles, food, first aid) It cuts down on the cost if those going can each contribute something. (We were lucky to have been given many of these things by our boss including some food)

Step 4: Make a list prior to the trip and give a copy to everyone so that they can add or adjust their own ideas.

Step 5: Have everyone give $100 or (however much it is once you split gas) to one person and keep in an envelope in glove box. This money will be used for gas.

Step 6: Let others (not on the trip) know where you will be, you most likely will not get service once in the park.

Step 7: Get going!

Step 8: Purchase food far from the park. It is very expensive in the outskirts and inside.

Step 9: Make sure you communicate with everyone so that there are no conflicts.

Step 10: Make sure you take extra money because plans change and have fun!

Our group was able to do this in under $200 per person (or at least could have been depending on that persons’ budget) because of the amount of people we had. We were able to split everything 13 ways. We each paid for one site which ranged from $10-20. Gas was about $100-$120 per person. Food was under $60 per person.

I suggest driving at night so that those in the back can sleep until it is their turn and so that you don’t waste a day. Make sure you bring bear spray if you plan on doing a lot of hiking. Bring warm sleeping bags and clothes. We went in August and it was very hot in the day but freezing at night. Enjoy the journey!

If you want something, go for it and make it happen like I did.

Semester at Sea

This video is one of the first video’s I watched when I first learned of Semester at Sea. Semester at Sea is a study abroad program in which students from around the world embark on a semester long voyage around the world. Students live and take classes on the ship and stop at about 15 countries along the way.

I couldn’t be more excited when I heard about this program. The program basically summed up all I wanted to do in my study abroad experience. To experience the world in a semester is unbelievable.

Unfortunately the cost is a bit too much for me, but if there is a will there is a way.

Shortly I will be meeting with the International Office at my university to begin the process of studying abroad. I plan to go next year during the fall semester. I have a few weeks to decide if somehow, some way I can accomplish the life changing study abroad experience known as Semester at Sea.

The Other Side of the Door

On the other side of that door lies a world people have forgotten. A world set back in time.

I believe that our world has forgotten what nature has given us as we continue to pollute it with our waste every day.  “Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints,” exclaimed Bob, Camp Batawagama’s program director. Rewind nine summers and I was hearing those words for the first time. At ten years old I learned of the place that would change my life. Camp Batawagama, Ojibwa for the land between the lakes, was that place.

As my mom and I packed my things for the one week venture I was about to embark on, I was nervous and anxious. Camp itself looked as if it were constructed for beauty. Cabin lists were posted and children scurried around to get the perfect bed in their cabin. My cabin was A1. Later on that evening everyone at camp would gather by the lake. Here I would experience the first of many Sunday night programs I would be attending throughout my life. We learned about nature that night.  Camps’ land belongs to the animals; this is their home not ours. Batawagama was a borrowed place. The water was clean, the land contained no waste, the trees were undisturbed, and the animals roamed free. For the years to come I would imagine myself here to feel at peace.

True meaning behind these words would not impact me until I was older. I continued going to camp every year until I was fifteen. At age seventeen I received the news I had wanted since I first stepped foot into camp; I got a summer job at Camp Batawagama. By this time I was older and wiser. The real world did not abide by the values we learned at camp. Trash was thrown on roadsides and pollution sickened our air. People had a complete disregard for nature. I remember countless times when people would throw garbage out of the car window, simply because they didn’t want to wait to throw it away.

Society is reflected through these acts. Times have become busy and fast paced. People feel as if they do not have the time to recycle and preserve our environment anymore. Day by day our landfills are filling higher than ever. Our oceans are crowded with plastic and garbage. Highways are scattered with trash. Earth has given us everything needed to sustain life, yet it is being harmed by its’ inhabitants. If nothing is done to stop the wastefulness of today’s world, the movie Wall-E may become a reality.

What I learned from my years at camp is that not only is Batawagama a borrowed place, our land is borrowed. Everyone needs to be kind to the earth for our own sake as well as for others. As we continue to throw our waste out and pollute our environment, we create a dangerous habitat for the whole living kingdom. Let it be a lesson to all those who inhabit earth right now and those that will follow, “take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints.”