5 weeks later...

"There is a time for departure even when there is no certain place to go." -Tennessee Williams

I made a promise that I wouldn't let this blog fall to the side and I would keep everyone updated as time went on...........

...oops.

So many things have happened in the past 5 weeks that I don't even know where to start. I had an amazing group of counselors working in my unit, a wonderful set of campers to look after, made friends with people from every corner of the earth, and had learning experiences that will last me a lifetime. But as much as I love Camp Harlam and all the people there, the job wasn't what I wanted it to be. My role was to supervise the counselors, be in contact with parents, report to the directors, oversee the nuts and bolts of the unit...but when all that was done, I had neither the time or the energy to connect with the kids. The kids are why I go back to camp, and I wasn't making the impact on their lives that I wanted to and I missed having that. I asked for a change in position, and as it became increasingly apparent that there was no other role in camp available to me, I decided the best thing was to leave and get a head start on my new job in Boston.

So here I am, sitting on a friend's couch outside of the city. I can't move into my new place until this weekend, so until then I am relying on the mercy and kindness of my friends. I will be all over the state os Massachusetts, from Brookline to Amherst to Worcester, before finally settling in Brighton. I met one of my new roommates today, and we get along great. I stopped by the temple to say hi to everyone, and they were so excited that I am able to start almost a month sooner than originally thought.

Leaving camp was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make, but it is seeming more and more that I made the right choice. I am glad to be in a new city with new adventures ahead of me, and better internet service to keep my readers more up to date.

Stream Hike

"The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures." -Rabindranath Tagore (Indian poet)

I have now been at camp for a full week, and just finished up my first Harlam Shabbat experience. Camp has grown to include many of my co-workers for the summer (including my amazing assistant unit head!). We are a well-traveled group, representing USA, Israel, England, Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, and Scotland. The accents are a little hard to understand, but I think I'm doing ok so far.

Today, as a team building exercise, the unit supervisors and all our assistants took a hike through a stream in the woods. Although the slippery rocks caused a few tumbles, it was a really great use of an afternoon. I have grown closer with the other unit heads and am well on my way to creating bonds just as strong with the assistants who all arrived yesterday. Tomorrow, the remaining international staff will be pulling in (right now only those on waterfront and adventure staff are here) and in the days following I will meet all of the counselors who will be working in my unit. I finally know my way around camp and I know what people are talking about when they use special camp names for the buildings.

The connections I am making with my fellow staff members are on such an amazing level. It is so inspiring to be in nature with others who share my passions and priorities. I wish everyone could feel what this is like.

One week down, 9 to go.

Supervisor Week

"Leadership and learning are indispensible to each other." -JFK

Camp is absolutely beautiful. This campus is much more open and spread out than the other camps I have attended/worked for in the past. The camp support team has arrived for our training week, and I am spending time with the heads of the other units plus the heads of the arts, sports, waterfront, and adventure programs. This team has been incredibly welcoming and friendly to me, for which I can't even begin to express my appreciation. I was really nervous about being the new guy in town, but I already feel like I've been here for years. Today I beat the sports director in an epic game of Ga-Ga (an Israeli version of dodgeball) and started working on learning the names of all the buildings. I've gotten a good feel for getting around camp, and took a few pictures of the area. These two are my favorites (the chapel and the lake):

This week I'll be learning the ropes of camp, getting to know my team members, and getting ready for the rest of the staff to come next week. Right now there are only 15 or so of us, but within a week and a half, there will be over 200 staff members walking around camp (not to mention the 600-800 campers coming the week after that!). I'm so excited to get into the swing of summer. More to come later!

Packing Day

"Its a dangerous business going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to." - The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Today is my last full day in Raleigh, NC. I have been here for 6 years now, doing a combination of school and youth work. There are many things I'm going to miss about this place...southern hospitality, great weather, friends, family, sweet tea...and the list goes on. I've said my goodbyes, I've packed up my things, and I got a friend to move into my room so I could get out of my lease.

Tomorrow I leave for a road trip with a friend to South Jersey, and the day after I arrive at URJ Camp Harlam in Kunkletown, PA. I am spending the summer as the Unit Head for Carmel, which is composed of 3rd and 4th graders. I am looking forward to returning to the Jewish camp scene and ending my 2-year hiatus from what had been the norm for 6 consecutive summers. This will be my first time at Harlam as well as my first time in a supervisor position, so there is a lot to be both excited and nervous about. I will be at camp until the last week of August, when I will be moving to Boston to begin my new job as a professional Jewish youth worker and teen educator.

As I enter into the "real world," my adventures will continually be updated here. Tomorrow I take my first of many steps into the unknown wilderness that will become the rest of my life.

-Ben