A good day off

I think it is a reoccurring theme that I spend all my days off climbing mountains. Yesterday, Amanda's and my day off, we decided to do the following…

We borrowed lift passes from camp (which are used by the seniors) and took the gondola and then tram up to the Plaine Morte Glacier at about 9000 feet. The higher you go, the better the view gets, and l’Haute Route is traceable by eye. Starting with the Mont Blanc popping up as the highest mountain in the mess of others, and moving left to the Dent Blanche, Zinalrothorn, Weisshorn, Bishorn, Matterhorn… From there we hiked around the backside of the mountains that loom above camp. The glacier is exactly as it is called in French, just a flat plain of snow. In other parts where there were still patches of snow, we slid down on our butts, which is always a blast. It brought me back to my first butt-sliding-in-the-alps experience with Alain on our way down from the Mont Blanc. We stopped at the wielstrubel hut, and then continued down with beautiful views and good conversation. We dined on my favorite mountain lunch (bread, gruyere cheese, salami, and a cucumber) up on some rock in the valley behind the mountain range, completely alone. Lots of marmot holes, but the only animals we saw were a colony of snails. Continuing down, we descended to a glacial lake that is dammed at one end, Lake Tsouxier. We got hit by a clearing shower or two, but it’s hard to mind when there is still a magnificent view and the sun pops out shortly after. On the trail back to Crans, I decided to take a “shortcut” that cut through a cow field, which ended up turning into a mountain goat trail. Unfortunately, the cows weren’t up for kissing me, for the ceremonial first kiss I got from a cow in Switzerland when I was 8. The mountain goat trail turned into a bushwhack to get back to the normal trail, but it was completely worth it. The trail was long and went over and around a number of cliffs. 9 hours later, we were back in Crans to a hot sauna and a dip in the pool. My legs are still sore though.

Other than days off, life here has been ticking along, with Cairo quickly approaching. Last night we had a specialist dinner which is a once a year thank you from camp to the specialists where they feed us endless good food and wine. It was a black and white dress code. Buffet appetizer of fish, and steak fondu and French fries. Two days before that I also got invited to the Junior dinner – which means the camp likes me, because usually you are not allowed to go to two. The scene there was much more intimate with the junior section, and the food was amazing. Starters were tuna tar tar with avacado, followed by a filet mignon cooked to perfection.

welcome to karate

In many ways this camp can be a bubble and a lapse in reality, but each day must be appreciated. As a specialist, there is a much different perspective. More or less, I do the same Karate routine starting with warming up and stretching, then bopping kids on the head with the noodle after teaching them how to block. It then gets quicker, and pretty much everyone tastes the wrath of the noodle. Today, Phillippe was in my Karate tent – a rarity, showing the camp off to two strangers. It was perfect timing for him to come and see me smacking children in the head. The lesson then goes on to different punches and kicks, keeping the noodle for blocking, ducking, and jumping. Some of the hilights are how many roundhouse kicks the kids can do without setting their foot down, or flying side kick. It’s pretty invigorating, times six. It makes the days tick by...

from the karate tent

so now it is second session here at camp, and I am Sensei Chris, the Karate Instructor. Today is arrival day and kids are coming and going, I am letting them do flying kicks off the trampoline.. In between time, I am looking up Chuck Norris quotes just and making a poster of them to add some flair to the tent.. One of my favorites. "Chuck Norris doesn't sleep. He waits."

Wrapping up last session was quite fun. I am definitely going to miss being a Junior Counselor. With my kids we had our stunt night, and I convinced them to preform the song "I wanna Rock and Roll all night" by Kiss.. I painted all of their faces black and white, and we made guitars out of cardboard. It was basically the make kids look cute by painting faces and having props formula. My kids rocked out hard on stage, and made me so proud. It reminded me of my Camp Stella Maris days when my group preformed the same song.

Last night we had a barbeque with all of the counselors and Scott and myself made amazing burgers.. It was a good little taste of America. Except we didn't have any salt and pepper, so I ran across the street to charm the waitress at the restaurant into lending us some.

This summer is flying by.. It will be a change of pace now, getting off at six on some days, much more time to myself. I am looking forward to having time to go horseback riding here (hopefully they will let me gallop), biking up to the overnight hut, playing drums with kirk at the jazz bar, and getting my camera fixed!!!

I also bought my next one way ticket to Cairo for the 27th of August. So it is official. So is the English/PE teacher job that I have there at the Green Valley School. Inshallah.

Stunt night

Stunt nights at camp are always a good time for campers and counselors. Now with a huge circus tent it has a much more cohesive feel than the normal club room. This year I did three different acts. For the first, I was added last minute to one skit as a beat boxer to the international rap. The others in the skit were rapping in Russian, Hebrew, Polish, German, and Finnish. So I decided to come up with something in English to start it off.. It came to me in a nice long shower.

Sabah el-Noor, Ciao, Gutentag
Some come to camp to escape the smog
Whether it's the juniors who play leap frog
Or to come see Danny while he's walking his dog.
The Seniors always flirting and you know they don't sleep
The Pioneers be chilling up with Jagdeep. (mountain hut guide)
The food is tremendous, the view is stupendous
If you need a franc, I have two, I can lend this
But the best thing about this place
Is to turn around to a smile and familiar face
So I'll drop the beat for the international rap
If you enjoy please stand up and clap..

The place went nuts and everyone enjoyed it.. Great confidence booster because I was so nervous beforehand.
Directly after, I was playing Djembe with Kirk for four dancers who did an afro dance. It was invigorating, and the dance was really good. It was one of those dances where there is a call and response between drummers, and then a signal. I wore a bright african garb. For the last one, me, Kirk, Ruth, and Alex played the song grey street. I played the drum set with only with my hands. We jammed hard, and musically we nailed it, but it was hard to make a sound that filled the circus tent, and it left a taste to want to play good music live for people.. (which will happen soon at the jazz bar).

follow the yellow brick road

before my camera died, i took some pretty cool pictures on my full day hike. we started off in a cloud, which made the whole hike a lot like mirkwood forest. ended up talking to some camper for about 3 hours about arabic. i was a hero making a fire in one of those pits because all of the wood was wet. go me.

to Zermatt

So Adam and Jeremy came through to visit on their way through Europe. It was great to see them, energized from seeing a Toots and Maytals concert last night, and happy to get up to camp in time to get a free dinner. We all played soccer with my group, who were enthralled to have older people there who they could impress. At around 730 we took off to Zermatt from Montana, with HIlary and Ruth (two other counselors who wanted to get a day in Zermatt), driving through dramatic lightening storms. Getting to Zermatt in the drenching rain at around 10, we made it to our hostel. Since Ruth and Hilary had made plans to go to Zermatt at the last second they didn't have reservations at our hostel. After they got sent out to look for some other hotels which were actually closed, they ended up deciding to just go to the club get drunk, and pitch a tent in someone else's lawn. That was their back up plan all along...

The next day, me, Adam and Jeremy, took off in the rain with hopes to see the peak of the Matterhorn. Undeterred by the weather, we went up, to the left hand side of Zermatt. The higher we got, the harder the rain came down. So when we spotted a high cave about 30 feet above the trail, the idea for an Elevensies break was a no-brainer. Fresh bread, salami, cheese, and cucumber. Can't get any better. The torrential rains were even worse after our first snack so we headed back, hoping for better weather. Fortunately we got it, and then headed up the other trail leaving Zermatt, the same one I remember coming back on from the Haute Route. We made it quite high, and then saw another high cliff that looked climbable. Jeremy and I both climbed about a 30 foot ledge, got scared shitless while I was on it, but so worth it to stand high on the precipice. The whole time, the Matterhorn was playing games with us, peeking bits and portions of it, but never fully revealing itself behind the clouds.

All in all, it didn't matter, it was great company, and so good to catch up with my friends and get out of camp for two days. On the way back, I was listening to Djembe music in the car for one of the stunts that we are preparing for stunt night..

epic ride home

So I have become one of the gypsy's at camp. Officially. Along with Scott, the sports 1 specialist, and Estelle, the circus specialist, we live it up down at the caravans. After a long days work, it is always an amazing walk home to go past the lake around 9 o clock when the sun sets. We also have now gotten into the habit of taking Estelle's scooter up. It is a hilarious ride, putting three people on the scooter. Coming back from the bars last night, it's a smooth cruise downhill, except for the speed bumps, which really hurt the butt.

Chris, donde esta mi kaka y mi pbbbth

So this was pretty funny. I was putting my kids to bed, and one of the boys had bought some things in town at a store called Cartoon, where they sell stupid little toys including whoopie cushions, and fake plastic poops. Of course, these items got confiscated, but right before I was putting the campers to bed, one of my campers, Roman who had bought these two items said "chris, donde esta mi kaka y mi pbbbth?" Before I could answer, another boy said in Italian, "Roman isnt able to make his own kakas he has to buy them." The only other boy who speaks italian who was taking a drink of water at the time started cracking up, choking, and then started vomiting it was so hilarious.

This was on July fourth. I was wearing a funny top hat all day.

Swiss hilights

So, now i am writing this about a week and a half into camp.. a couple hi lights.

I am living in a trailer, the place where they basically put all of the extra counsellors. there are 4 of us, and some nice perks that we get include getting our laundry washed, ironed, and folded for us every wednesday, and only being a 2 minute walk to camp. (the other counselors have a 15 minute walk). Basically, i live like a gypsy. But for views like this i can't really complain.
The first week we had orientation, got to go on hikes around with the counselors, played games. got to know a bunch of people. i perfected my crepe making skills.. One night we had a quiz night at the jazz bar where me and chris used to play. The owner remembered me and immediately brought out some bongo drums - we had a sick jam session. a couple of good nights out with the counselors.

check my facebook for more pictures but i'll put up a couple keepers.


From now on i will keep updated day by days.