This week I have learned about 16 ways to get out of a choke-hold, and received certification in both archery instruction and food handling; and it's only Tuesday.
It's training week here at camp, and I love it because I'm learning so much. That's been the common theme since first landing here on the mountain, not only am I being certified in many important skills, but also learning more about so many populations and personalities of people. All of our counseling team is finally here. There are five men and seven females, and out of the seven females, Butter and I are the only caucasians. There are three Bolivians, one Arizonian, me (Kansan), one Portlander, and a Trini (from Trinidad, you know). I LOVE PEOPLE BEING HERE. After being the only person living at camp for a while, it's nice always having people around and something going on. Like, right now there's five people in the respite house and two of them are dancing.
Yesterday we spent most of the day being trained by Grasshopper to be level one archery-instructor certified. Archery is really popular with the campers, and I'm so excited to improve myself and teach those skills to others. Also yesterday, Baggy educated us on crisis aversion and self-defense. All of us first-time counselors wore huge eyes until about the third story they told of campers acting out when Baggy and Bug reassured us that incidents like that
Today, so far, a health inspector came in to teach about proper food-handling, and each of us took a test to become certified this morning. However, the greatest lesson I have learned this week definitely came from Retro today.
Retro was a counselor at camp about 20 years ago. She had been diagnosed with arthritis as a teenager, and began working at camp when she was 21. About 8 years ago, her arthritis became progressively worse, and caused her to be wheelchair-bound. So ultimately, she came to speak about seeing both sides of a disability, from going to working with the population, to being disabled herself. Retro spoke of how many times people would frustrate her by patronizing and speaking down to her, as most people do to individuals that are disabled. She has such an amazing, strong personality and such a witty sense of humor. As she shared, she's definitely not afraid to embarrass people and put them in their place if she feels offended. I thought it was so great inviting her to speak with staff before camp started. She drove the point home that all people are people, and are no less just because they're disabled. I really, really wish society would see this. I can't tell you how much it angers me when people belittle, underestimate, or talk down to those with a disability. There's no faster way to rile me up (sorry, but not sorry, I get it from my mother).
You go girl!!
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