Despite the foolish little kids (counselors) I have to say this week at camp was amazing also. We made forts! I have never made a real deal fort from scrap and in the woods. It took us three days to build it and I worked so hard on it b/c I was so into it. We constructed it in the form of a pentagon with five sides and five different benches. We even had 2 alternate door ways! I was very proud of the work me and the kids did. Honestly we worked really really hard. We got second place but quite frankly I think we should have won it. I think there was some inside deals made haha.
The kids were carrying loooooooong logs for the foundation of the fort from all over the camp site. Each was built 3.5 to 4 feet high with logs and held in place by posts on each side. After we got the walls up, we went and cut some branches and stuck them on the outside of the fort walls. This was so we could make the fort camouflage, and also add some height to the structure without using more logs. The kids worked so hard and I was so impressed.
I mean in the beginning the kid's moral was so low b/c just didn't see us making it work with our fort, but as it started going up their enthusiasm just shot through the roof! It was great to see and I even had so much fun b/c it was my first time making a fort too. I think a lot of the kids will take this experience with them and use some of the things we did on our fort and bring it to the next structure they construct on their own. I think a little "push" can go a long way towards jogging someone’s imaginative instincts. I think this fort is the beginning of something like that. Who knows, we might even make a tree house next time! Now that would be cool!
Talk to you guys soon,
Mustafa
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Shake shake shake... Shake shake shake... Shake Djibouti! Shake Djibouti!
What’s up my people/followers/friends/family. It feels like its been forever since I’ve talked to you guys. Well I guess it kinda has. I will try and catch you guys up though but I’m not totally sure that is possible b/c I’m sooooooo coooooool(funny)! Lets get to it!
I've been working with a camp of kids at the Y and it’s significantly increased my ability to communicate with younger people constructively! It’s amazing what a difference 1-2 years makes with children. Its funny though b/c at times I wonder if my communicative development is lot further along than some of those younger kids I interact with sometimes (smile)! I promise never to get into a fight with my brother on the phone again.
Anyway though, camp at Mountain Laurel has really been going well. I have been having a great time with the kids getting to know them and inspiring them as well as them doing the same for me. I even invented a few new games with the older kids (7th and 8th graders). I can’t say them b/c I haven't patented them yet ha-ha.
We had Olympic week this past week of the 12-16th of June. It was a fairly lacking display of the Olympic spirit that I’m used too, but I give them credit for trying (smile). At the end of the week, however, things really picked up. We got divided into 4 groups and selected countries for us to represent. Our team was Mexico; the other 3 teams were, Japan, Egypt and Djibouti (most creative I thought ha-ha). Each team made skits and performed them during the middle of the Olympic Day which was on Friday. It was really a very fun scene. Just one thing sticks out most in my mind about the ceremonies though: "shake shake shake... shake shake shake... shake Djibouti! Shake Djibouti!" It was great! Too bad the good old flip camera wasn't with me that day (I am so mad I didn't have it!), but I cant even post on my blog yet so does it really matter :-( (That’s a cry for help)!
We did some modified Olympic events: very low hurdles-one foot, triple "bound", kettle bell throw, archery, standing long jump, swimming and cannon ball dive. Though not traditional the day was a success and I would say that the Olympic spirit was very nearly replicated that day. I also wore my USA jersey just to remind people that I was the big boss ha-ha. But also to inspire a few people to show off for me. I was impressed. I can’t wait for the end of this week though. This Friday we get to play a counselor basketball tournament. I am stoked about it. I get to show the alternate skill sets that nobody ever anticipates or believes I have until I show it ha-ha. It will be really fun.
Man I feel like I’ve said a lot even though I feel like I’ve left out so much. This is why I have to learn how to post videos and pictures b/c I do not have enough words that will equal the worth of all those pictures (a picture~1000 words right)! I hope you enjoyed it and I will be back on soon for sure. Great things are happening here got to feed you guys with it!
Until next time my people!
Mustafa
I've been working with a camp of kids at the Y and it’s significantly increased my ability to communicate with younger people constructively! It’s amazing what a difference 1-2 years makes with children. Its funny though b/c at times I wonder if my communicative development is lot further along than some of those younger kids I interact with sometimes (smile)! I promise never to get into a fight with my brother on the phone again.
Anyway though, camp at Mountain Laurel has really been going well. I have been having a great time with the kids getting to know them and inspiring them as well as them doing the same for me. I even invented a few new games with the older kids (7th and 8th graders). I can’t say them b/c I haven't patented them yet ha-ha.
We had Olympic week this past week of the 12-16th of June. It was a fairly lacking display of the Olympic spirit that I’m used too, but I give them credit for trying (smile). At the end of the week, however, things really picked up. We got divided into 4 groups and selected countries for us to represent. Our team was Mexico; the other 3 teams were, Japan, Egypt and Djibouti (most creative I thought ha-ha). Each team made skits and performed them during the middle of the Olympic Day which was on Friday. It was really a very fun scene. Just one thing sticks out most in my mind about the ceremonies though: "shake shake shake... shake shake shake... shake Djibouti! Shake Djibouti!" It was great! Too bad the good old flip camera wasn't with me that day (I am so mad I didn't have it!), but I cant even post on my blog yet so does it really matter :-( (That’s a cry for help)!
We did some modified Olympic events: very low hurdles-one foot, triple "bound", kettle bell throw, archery, standing long jump, swimming and cannon ball dive. Though not traditional the day was a success and I would say that the Olympic spirit was very nearly replicated that day. I also wore my USA jersey just to remind people that I was the big boss ha-ha. But also to inspire a few people to show off for me. I was impressed. I can’t wait for the end of this week though. This Friday we get to play a counselor basketball tournament. I am stoked about it. I get to show the alternate skill sets that nobody ever anticipates or believes I have until I show it ha-ha. It will be really fun.
Man I feel like I’ve said a lot even though I feel like I’ve left out so much. This is why I have to learn how to post videos and pictures b/c I do not have enough words that will equal the worth of all those pictures (a picture~1000 words right)! I hope you enjoyed it and I will be back on soon for sure. Great things are happening here got to feed you guys with it!
Until next time my people!
Mustafa
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