Last summer (summer 2021) my grandparents as me and my siblings' birthdays paid for us to go to camp. This was the 4th time going to that camp and this was definitely the best. Due to corona there was only a 4 week option so I went for 4 weeks, little did I know by the end I would have wanted to have stayed for another 4. 

When I got there I immediately felt bad for the counselors. Everyone in my cabin was crazy. I got a cold on the 3rd day, however I learned quickly that many people would get the same sickness and I would continue to have this cold for the rest of my camp stay. 

As time went on we got closer, whenever someone in my cabin including counselors saw another person in my cabin including counselors we made a heart symbol and said, te amo which means I love you. It was a bit weird at first but it made us all feel included. 

The counselor Tucu turned off the lights, but not before I fell asleep,

“Goodnight dad”

1 second goes by

“Goodnight sons”

Our relationship kept getting stronger. As we came to the end of the second week one camper went home after going to the hospital for a chance of having a bad sickness, they also wanted to go home in general. I was sick this whole time, barfing randomly and sometimes sitting out in activities by choice, but even though I never really got better I got over it and just fought it.

 Throughout the second and 3rd week I got close to the counselorsTucu and Montero and learned their stories. They were getting severely underpaid and worked so late, my counselor after plane flights made about 200 dollars the whole summer but had no expenses to pay. I also learned about many counselors and Sarah, my older sibling learned even more. At camp Sarah didn't learn as much as I did but Sarah managed to find literally every counselor's social media and see more into their life. 

Unfortunately when every night we would say goodnight and share what we did and play games and spend time together.  It was already the last week of the camp. The last day was really sad, a lot of the older kids were crying and saying their goodbyes. It was really a special year there had never been that little kids any year, so we all got to connect. I took selfies with all my cabin mates as they left and I was the last to get picked up. After waiting in the cold for 2 and a half hours I carpooled home with a friend. That experience taught me alot, I felt like I was part of a big family there and it was really sad leaving the camp. I will always remember the experience. 

I hope the camp is the same this year and is just as fun.