Recap...Click, Click, Click - and That Is Why Jamison Went to England!

Hello America!

Here is a recap of the last few days – basically my first week.

WORK:
This summer I will be working as a youth counselor on behalf of Camp Adventure Youth Services through the University of Northern Iowa partnered with the U.S. Department of Defense from June 7th – August 22nd. My camp, in particular, is held at a very well-equipped youth center at Lakenheath Royal Air Force Base in the Southeastern part of England. I will be providing services to roughly 140 children ranging ages 5-12.
First, I had an interesting first day because I woke up at 9AM. 9AM is when we were supposed to leave. For some reason, my digital clock is extremely slow and was off by two hours. I woke up to an alarm clock saying 7AM. NOT COOL!!! Good thing is I had all of my stuff out and I got to the van shortly after I was awoken. Next thing, we enter the base gate place and need our passports to get access until we receive our permanent base cards. WELL – JAMISON DECIDED TO TAKE HIS OUT POUCH AND PUT IT IN HIS BAG. Much to my luck, they also accept photo I.D.’s so I just used my driver’s license. We entered and received our permanent base entry cards. Thank Goodness!

There are two very amazing things about the place I work: one; I am working with an amazing staff!! I cannot believe how well we all get along and relate to each other. I know, I know, it is only the first few days, but I feel like everyone in our staff is truly here for the right reasons and is legit about wanting to create an amazing experience for the kids = LOTS OF STAFF ENERGY! They are also very willing to open up and share their views on things. This is one way I have really gotten to know everyone. Also, our Director has shown she is a hard worker even in times of high stress. This will be excellent when the year gets more difficult. Two; I have grown so much already. It seems like forever since I have been around so many kids, but I really find it interesting that kids are truly kids. The kids at this base are very similar to the kids I have worked with back home. They are so curious and enjoy when you pay attention to what they are working on. I have also learned I am very good and breaking ice when it comes to groups. I do not know why, but I really try and show my true self right up front. I think this helps others be themselves. It just makes things easier!!

The building we are working at is truly AMAZING. Every room is equipped for the school like it is the largest elementary in the state of Iowa. Every room has activity after activity and is overwhelming for a new staff member. The Air Force is all about the “free choice” for a child because they believe it will encourage self-motivation. The kids decide what they do and when they do it! It is interesting that the lesson plans that are created are only used if the kids take advantage of what is available.

I am really learning a ton about kids, behaviors, management, and the list goes on! Today, when we were in ratio (this just means that I was overseeing so many kids within a room. The DoD has a limit of 1 staff: 15 kids. Camp Adventure limits their ration to 1:12 so I should be able to account for no more than 12 at a time.) I began to have conversations with the kids about the projects they were working on and I released my name at one time. The kids then began to play a game with me. It was really cute. As I would begin helping a child with their tinker toy machine, I would hear “Mr. Jamison” and it would be a group of kids hiding behind a couch hoping I would walk towards them. As I did, they began running away laughing! I thought it was great that they would laugh with such a simple use of my time – walking around. It did get a little old so I decided not to take so much time to respond to the calls of “Mr. Jamison – giggle”. After the kids were done calling my name, they decided to find fun in the fan. As they spoke/sang into the fan, I watched on and was perplexed by how easy kids can be entertained! But, to be honest, I remember talking into the fan and enjoying the sound of my altered voice.
Another child and I came up with an interesting mechanism. This was built out of tinker toys and we had a good conversation. After the machine was built, he went on saying we had built it together and that he was going to name it Jamisay. How cool is that? To have a kid enjoying your company so much and be so proud of their work that they would name a tinker toy contraption after you? – yeah, pretty exciting.

Another individual decided they did not want to pick from all the choices, so they decided to follow me around. It was so funny.

Camp A has begun the hard work of Themes! This includes making posters and preparing to turn the hallway into a much different environment than the youth are used to on a daily basis. Summer Camp, for them, does not actually start until Monday. This summer camp also has a lot of field trips which will allow CAMP A counselors to partake! This is all very exciting and I cannot believe I have already received the experience I have.

I am lucky, because this week Department of Defense inspectors have shown up to do their 16th month evaluation. They are intimidating too!! They basically walk into a room and watch you. Crazy, huh?

Kids Rock!

LIVING:

Aside from coming into my dorm-like room and finding things left in it from the past resident, I have to say the only thing I do not like is the walk to receive internet. However, all of this could be a tent without anything very easily reached. I get two rooms to myself – which is sweet – and have lots of furniture that can easily be moved around. I and one other guy are located on one side of the building and the females have a hall of rooms to themselves. We are on a base that is located pretty close to the main base where we all work. It has two big “golf ball” like structures that one girl said she was told are used to monitor the weather, but they cannot go into any more detail. I think we all know, there is some pretty TOP SECRET stuff located in those towers. The main base, Lakenheath, is much more of a town with houses and actual people. The only time I really see people at this base is at the entry gate and during the day when I leave. It has its pros and cons of being empty. It is very relaxing and does have a fitness room that is well-equipped. I will probably begin working out on Monday or this weekend. We have fridges and microwaves in our rooms too!! And a kitchen without a stove, but the girl’s side does have a stove.

TRAVEL:

So far, we have just seen the bases. HOWEVER, this Friday we will be taking some kind of tour and on Saturday we are going to Cambridge. I will blog about that after we get back. On Sunday, we are GOING APE? I guess you get to go do a type of obstacle course in the woods? It sounds very exciting and will be kind of peaceful. I am having a hard time without a Britrail pass!! This pass allows you to travel on the trains for so many full days. I did not order one because I did not have much time to order one. I will be ordering one, hopefully tomorrow. At times, when I think of the train, I think of Harry Potter. Which reminds me!! Harry Potter’s premiere in England is going to be sweet and WE might get to go to it!!! HOW COOL WOULD THIS BE??? Not many American’s can say they were in England when Harry Potter’s sixth movie was shown on the big screen?? We were originally going to go to London this weekend, but we decided against it until I get a Britrail because it is too expensive without one. There has also been talk about going to Scotland for the highland games?? THIS IS ALL SOOO EXCITING!!! I’ve heard Scotland is AMAZING and very pretty. I hope I hear a bagpipe!! I’ve heard one, yes, but how cool to hear on in SCOTLAND??? This covers about two weekends of travel so I cannot even imagine what we will do for the other weekends!!!

SIGHT:

We arrived at this site rather late because we waited in the Airport for A LOT of hours. We even had a nice conversation with the Brit police. He was doing random checks for terrorists and asking for why we were there. Which reminds me about something else…It was interesting going through customs. The lady that was reviewing us and asking us questions did not know what early childhood education was. We had to say teaching. After that she read our Academic Field Experience letter and let us through. We also could not tell them we were here for an internship or we would be deported. We had to say Academic Field Experience so they understood we were here without pay because they want to make sure those who come in have a work visa and can be taxed so the government can make some money. Now, back to this section – I do not know too much about the bases yet, but as I find out more information, I will share. I do know they are building new houses so they can get everyone on base and that you have to have kids to live on base in Lakenheath and that there is a subway and pizza hut. Also, they have a commissary which is the grocery store for a military base and a Bx? Which is like a walmart for the base.

CLOSING:

I hope this gets everyone caught up with a few things! I will be getting a cell phone, hopefully tomorrow. Once again, I am throwing grammar out the window and whatever I type is getting put down. If there are any questions, just let me know and I will try to elaborate more and tell stories via blog! This is going to be an amazing growing experience and in the next 9 weeks, I will have grown and matured tremendously.
Thanks for reading!!
- Jamison