Home Sweet Home

Hi peepz,

Camp was hecka fun. On the adventure night my tipi (Blue) was Slytherin as well as Flame and two other tipis. The adult staff at our table were dressed up as Harry Potter so Alexa stole his wand and I made up a chant that the whole table sung.

Potter you rotter 
We think you forgotter 
Your holly and phoenix feather wand!

It was hecka funny, our teenstaff Chole was dressed as Billy Weasley so we called her Weaslebee! 'Weaslebee' asked 'Potter' if he wanted to have Blue Tipi as his tipi and he said 'NO Way these girls are Slytherin at heart!'.
I played Quiddich with Sitzy but we were on different teams. Camilo, Ian, Charles, Tarlia and Riley are the only people who I can remember who were on my team. Sitzy had Cyrus and Suma on her team also she had a staff dressed up as Draco on her team!

The main people I hung with were Sitzy, Shirkan, Jivan and Jose (Hosay). Sitzy was a really nice person and so were the rest of the girls in my tipi. Rainier was a Shakespeare nerd, Sitzy a fashion freak, Suma=sport.... You get the picture every one was different. Tori had a horse but she rode in rodeo's and Mya was always hanging out with her twin.
While we were there my friends started saying 'I am going to the loo' and they started mimicking my accent!

They don't say herb they say 'erb!
For the Tornado of talent Sitzy, Suma, Anna (Sitzy's cousin) and I danced to Eenie Meenie by Justin Bieber (I am so teaching Esther and Sasha).
Wukeen rapped a song Stan and he had made up called Party @ the camp which was so cool. We all got up and danced.

Sitzy, Anna, Evelyn, Estefinee and I went on the stZilts (that is what the call stilts) Sitzy fell off last time she went on stilts so she was sooooooooo nervious so I had to drag her there but she had so much fun that she wanted to do it again.

Savy

Ben and Savy came for the big show and watched Sitzy and I in our hoola hoop performance. 
After the big show I gave Sitzy, Shirkan, Jivan, Suma, Rainier, Tori, Cyrus, Jose, Cerrie, Alexa and Mya a goodbye hug...
Wukeen stayed after the end of camp so we hung out.


I have decided what  I want for my birthday...

My World (Justin Bieber), My World 2.0 (Justin Bieber) and Precious perfume (Sitzy has it and it is so nice).

We are in San Fran and I am getting my nose pierced today so...!

I am listening to 'Never Say Never' by Justin Bieber.
We are catching a plane at nine tonight!

Write When I am HOME!!!
Frances

P.s
We are going to write one more blog when we get home. So look out for it!

the pillow fight

ONE DAY PASSES NOW FRANCES, CAMILLE AND ABBEY ARE @ HOME!!!
 OK sorry we didn't post the last blog yesterday so I am posting both of them today)

Home is where the heart is,

It's where you hang your hat,

With out your home you're nothing,

Thats that...

(I got that from the movie 'My Little Pony' that I watched when I was like 5 or 6) 

Ok so we are BACK!!!!

OMG OMG OMG it feels so good to be home.

This past six months have been the best and the worst...

Worst: not seeing every one back home.

BEST; going around the world and meeting so many great people seeing all the sights that there are to see.

I HAVE MY NOSE PIERCED. THE STUD IS WHITE GOLD AND MY NOSE HURTS WHEN I TOUCH IT!!! IT'S ON THE LEFT SIDE. It hurt when the guy did it. He pushed a needle through the skin of my nose AWW!!!  

I have had so much fun and I am not even jet lagged! I feel like I am one of the lucky people of this world. As far as memories I have too many to count but I will share a few. 

• I can remember as if it was yesterday, the water fight at the slum camp. I laughed so much that day I felt like my sides were falling off. Bucket upon bucket of water pour over my head and in turn I poured litres and litres back on who ever was in my way. That was the day a little girl came up to me and said... “not Madam you Sister”. So sweet.

• When Sitzy and I were walking back to the tipi and it was pitch black and suddenly Camilo yelled “SITZY!” and grabbed her around the waist, we almost died of fright! Then we walked a bit further and he did it again this time to me!!! It was so scary!!

• When we were sitting at dinner at Joe and Alice's house and Joe was listening to Joanne and Kevin talking about their veggie patch and he stood up walked to the veggie patch, scratched his head and said.... “I didn't know we had a vegetable garden!” We all laughed so hard and we laughed harder when Kevin said.... “Joe we have had that for ages!” Kevin took Joe to show him around and lent over a plant, while he wasn't looking Joe snuck back into the house...

• When I was at camp and I dared Shirkan to eat with out his hands... EWWW!!! That was so gross. That lunch we were having hot dogs with kechup need I say more... I really wished I had not dared him to eat with out his hands.

• I remember at the dance at camp “Baby” came on and Sitzy, Evelyn, Anna, Estephine and I screamed the words at the top of our voices!!!

Good Times.

I am very glad I got to have this amazing experience. It is really a once in a lifetime trip... Cause I am only 13 once! 

I really enjoyed working at the slum camp in India. 

My favourite places in Britain were Wales and Eskdalemuir. 

Camp Winnarainbow is the best summer camp every one should go there.   

I have a last sad note to end on, my silly aunts Sahara Moon, Emma and Michelle HATE Justin Bieber! I am so disgraced... They don't know anything about cool music! So with no hesitation I say to you 

“They are not my aunts” …

I am singing “Kiss and Tell” in my head right now.

We have seen Emma and little River, also we have seen Michelle and Lottie.

Will Not 'Write More Soon'  I'll Just Talk To You!!!!!!

Frances 

Almost home! NZ airport...

From Abbey

This is a rap (except the Chorus) I wrote about our trip.

I have been so many places 
and seen so many faces.

Walking in the rain 
and talking in a train.

Chorus

Wishing I was home but wishing our trip would never end________.

I miss my home I miss my friends 
I miss my family, but I can cope. 
I miss my home_____.

I have walked the great Dartmoor 
and seen the ponies run.

I have played the day away 
and swung on a trapeze.

I walk slowly with heavy stilts 
tied to my legs and it was fun.

Oh yeah_____ it was fun.

Chorus

Wishing I was home but wishing our trip would never end________.

I miss my home I miss my friends 
I miss my family, but I can cope. 
I miss my home_____.

Jasmine plays all day 
and I have to say 
I will miss that little girl.

She smiles while I read her a book 
and I laugh at her.

I loved camp and all the fun.

The daily snack and daily deeds.

The fun and talk and yummy food

And all those friendly girls and boys.

I juggled once or twice
and did a bit of art.

CHORUS

Wishing I was home but wishing our trip would never end________.

I miss my home I miss my friends 
I miss my family, but I can cope. 
I miss my home_____.

 

I want to go home right now 
but I want our trip to never end .

I have walked into a slum 
and given my help to poor people.

But I have also walked away 
from their begging hands.
 

Chorus

I liked it when 
we walked around the bends 
of Kiddam Hill 
and skipped through the blue bell to a rock .

I loved our camper van 
but I want myyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

I want my home________________________

ABBEY

LPE

last post ever

From Camille

So there it is, around the world in 168 days or 24 weeks exactly. It was good to be traveling and good to be home. It feels at this point as if we need another six months just to digest it all!! So much learning, so many experiences one on top of the other with no time between to reflect... Still, I know how back to the norm can so quickly feel like it never happened!

We managed to avoid all of Gerard's worst nightmares, although sometimes it seemed only by a whisker... lightning strikes, earthquakes, bombs, tornadoes, even Iceland's volcano came within hours of delaying our flight to Britain. 
The girls are incredibly proficient at getting around airports and I have no doubt they could do it themselves... so long as none of the above disrupted the ordinary running of things. Even then I am sure they could do it, it would only be nerves that would get in the way, but then that happens to even the adults!!!!
We met some truly beautiful people and saw some beautiful places. We had so many diverse experiences, so many adventures. Everywhere we went we noticed that as you pass through you immediately get an impression, but without the connection. If you stop you take in so much more. If you can stay a week then it begins to feel like you know a place; the lay of the land, the lay of the kitchen cupboard, the routine and character of the people, the bus/train service... it all starts to become like home. Its not such a long time really before one can make anywhere home... particularly if you put your heart into it. After all home is where the heart is and you can take your heart with you where ever you go. 
It was a privilege to share in so many people's lives, their values and aspirations. We are fortunate to have a world of wonderful people and places out there that we can share our hearts with. And we are fortunate to have a beautiful place of our own that we can return to that we can put all our love and energy into, to create our very own homey heart-filled place. 
It is an odd thought as I sit here back amongst the eucalypts, the horses and hay, the crackling fire and the quiet traffic from across the water, that everywhere everyone and everything are still going about their lives that we were just a part of. It reminds me of a favourite poem by Mary Oliver...

Though you have not seen them, there are swans, even now
tapping from the egg and emerging
into the sunlight.
They know who they are.

From Gerard;


Hey, a final hello to all of you loyal blog followers from the vanguard man. Yes, I made sure the house was warm for the three main ladies in my life on a cold a wet Hobart evening. Yes, the horses, cows and Nancy poo were well fed, and yes I made sure that I had plenty of energy for hugs as they arrived at the airport terminal. Yes, despite those three intrepids gorging the delights of American family and tradition whilst I toiled away at home for the last 5 weeks of their travels, I still found it inside myself to welcome them home!

So our travels are over for now. As Frances says, she feels lucky, and I agree, we are all lucky. To have met so many so fair, and equally to be girt by so many so fair back home who supported and allowed our adventure to happen.

Camille quite rightly points out my worse fears were not realised on our travels.  Yet we heard of the many misfortunes that passed us by. Oil spills, bombings, earthquakes, floods, to name a few. We have portrayed some of the greatness and wonder that reverberates strongly upon this spinning orb, through its lesser known but well intentioned and actioned inhabitants, and through reminders of some of its well known architectural, historical and natural beauty. We are so much the richer for the experience of it. All vivid of a desiccated living heritage that lays itself common amongst us, and common from us, and squarely at our feet. What a joy to have shared this with my family and you.

Abbey's rap just about sums it up. 

Love Gerard.

So its rehearsal day today. The last two nights have been Cabaret, which is a rehearsal too. The kids are fantastic!! Unfortunately I cant work out how to make my fancy camera do good night shots but The Big Show is in the day time so hopefully I will be able to post some shots of the girls doing their stuff. I have become the Costume Barn Goddess's right hand mam... a Goddet. So I can guess that I will be on the costumes for the show again. Ben and Savy are coming up and will stay the night after the big feast and we will catch a ride back to San Francisco with them. It should all be alot of fun. The girls said to say hi to everyone and Frances wanted you to know she has a sore throat...

The Adventure night was held in the theme of Harry Potter. The staff were the staff of Hogwarts which the campers enjoyed greatly. After the adventures were over they watched some camp videos, my favourite was Theme tables. Here at camp every lunch time they have a theme table... anything from Spanish speaking to no hands!!! It was a funny movie seeing all the different themes people have come up with and how they are carried out. Obviously no hands was hilarious!!! 

 

Abbey has signed on for the ariels display in the show. Frances tried the singing so she can do that for the show and Smoon organised a stilt class for her and her friend Sitsi just so they get a chance at more than art and hoops before camp finishes! Abby said 'if Ester was here she would be trying everything'. But Frances is very happy just hanging out and girlie talking I dont know...fashion, JB, whatever... I have asked them both to give me a few lines that I can type up for you but so far they are too busy doing or not!!!!

Last night was dance party night we all dressed up in fine or crazy clothes and danced the night away. I was in the costume barn again so it was fun but exhausting and this morning I have early riser (6.30am) and then its back to the barn to put away all the finery. I have a fairly hectic schedule today with slide top for the afternoon, making sure they don't go down the water slide together. And free time supervisor in the lino grove (hoola hoop site).

The girls are having a fun time. Abbey has made it in the kitchen walk on tall stilts so she can be in the parade on show night.

Frances group of friends has fragmented some what so that its really just her and Sitsi, who refers not to do stuff like swimming, stilts, unicycle... so she has been doing art and hoola hoops... Anyhow she seems pleased with those choices!

Tonight is Adventure night. I am on origami (for the less adventurous). Only four more days of camp left!!

Rise up this morning

smiled with the rising sun

three little birds pitch by my doorstep

singing sweet songs 

of melodies pure and true

saying, this is my message to you oo oo

Dont worry about a thing

Cause every little thing is gunna be alright 

Dont worry about a thing

Cause every little thing is gunna be alright

Thats a Bob Marley song that they sing most mornings here. Its one of the kids favourites. They sing it with such gusto, it really is rather up lifting. The whole camp staff mentality is 'up up up'. They are totally dedicated to talking to the campers in positive only voices. Often if there is something unpleasant to be spoken about then it is done as a performance (rap, opera, theatrical). Of course safety is treated seriously but done ever so well.

Last night Jose presented a skit some of the kids had been working on using 'Theatre of the Oppressed' or 'Forum Theatre' as they call it here so it doesn't have too negative a tone. The actors acted out a classic playground bullying scenario and individual members of the audience got up on stage to finish the story in ways they felt may have been more helpful for the character that was 'oppressed'. I was amazed by how passionately the kids responded, totally unafraid to act out the scene even though were not the theatrical performers of camp. They really enjoyed it. Today was sleep-in day. This is the day the teen staff take a break so there aren't as many helpers, which meant that when the kids woke up they went to the Big Top to watch cartoons until they were hungry enough to serve themselves breakfast up at the kitchen. At 10.30 breakfast and cartoons were over and it was camp cleanup time until lunch and then normal afternoon activities. The evening program was movie night. I was again the beach shuttle driver, a job I quite enjoy, playing loud music that the kids all sing to as we head to and from the lake.

Again the food was terrific and with three cooked meals a day I can see myself returning home much the shape of a little hog straight off the Hog Farm. The salad bar is particularly delicious with much of it grown in the gardens and delivered by dog cart each morning.

Nina, Jasmine and Papa departed today. Nina had to go back to work which is sad, I had gotten quite used to hanging out at the very lovely space that is the nurses dome. Papa has gone to stay with her for the week and they will all return for the Big Show on the last day of camp next Saturday. Saharah Moon is back from her weekend in San Francisco dragging her annoying toe with her, on her crutches and feeling miserable about her new house that she just bought and was excited to start painting but cant because she cant climb a ladder.

Tomorrow is only a week till we fly home. Can you believe it? Twenty four weeks are nearly over!

Camp Winnarainbow

Camp Winnarainbow is located at Laytonville a couple of hours south from Nina's. We headed there the day before camp and stayed the night at John and Melissa's where Nina had her wedding four years ago when we met my other siblings for the first time proper (not counting when I saw them as little babies). John and Melissa live on a beautiful 150 acre property up in the hills.

The girls and I slept in a tepee out there in the woods with the bears... and skunks. We weren't too afraid!!!!! Next day we headed to camp.

Camp is really special to these guys and something they really wanted to share with our girls, which is why Frances and Abbey came here by themselves three years ago, and one of the reasons why we even took the trip around the world. The girls so loved camp when they came that they were desperate to come again, before Frances was too old.

The story goes that back in the 60's, The Hog Farm, which is the community that originally kept hogs on a farm in New Mexico and drove six buses from the west to the east coast of USA, decided to keep on travelling to Britain, where my dad, recently separated from my mom, joined them. From there they took a couple of buses to India and Gypsy joined them along the way. My dad and Gypsy stayed in India when the Hog Farm headed back to the USA and some of them bought the land where the Hog Farm live now and where Camp Winnarainbow became established by Wavy Gravy and Jahanara.

Wavy Gravy at morning reading

PapaG and Gypsy travelled India and Europe, with Nina being born in France - I visited when she was only a few weeks old - and Saharah Moon was born in the Sahara Dessert, I met SMoon in the USA when she was two... before Neptune was born (in India). Anyhow during their travels back and forth and to the USA and while they were living in the dessert near Palm Springs they would spend their summers at Camp Winnarainbow. Eventually they became Teen Staff, counsellors and teachers. It was the highlight of their growing up and as I said they so wanted to share it with Frances and Abbey and so here we are.

Camp is situated under the shady trees on the banks of a little stream at the bottom of a steep hilside. Its hot and dry all summer long here but the whole camp is beautifully cool. At the far end is the kitchen with all the picnic tables out front, heading back toward the main tepee circle there are art tables, the very beautiful nurses dome,

the shady grove for hoola hoops and then the tepee circle with 17 tepees each capable of holding 10 campers. In the centre is the fire circle. Around the outside there is the toilet block, the costume barn, the living room (a place to hang out and relax on the outside sofas), the unicycle track, the rainbow stage, the big top (for gymnastics), the stilt track, the martial arts grove, and the aerial grove. Across the creek is the office, the snack shop and vegetable garden. Far across the field is there is the lake (a very large dam) with diving platform, a raft and an enormous 350ft water slide.

The first day of camp was arrival. The second day was orientation where they got to see each of the activities and learn about the rules. The third day was camp proper.

Each morning begins with early risers being shepherded toward the kitchen for quiet hot chocolate with marshmallows. At 8.30 the conch is blown and all remaining sleepy heads must rise and meet at the kitchen for morning circle - songs, announcements and appreciations. The guitarists are pretty well crazy doods (in fact most of the camp staff are... all performers... as well as being typically American – boisterous and enthusiastic), the campers are all well versed in the camp song repertoire so the singing is rowdy. Announcements are made, usually in performance style (opera singing, rap, etc). Then appreciations usually include birthdays, singing someones praises, someone yelling out some random appreciation like 'This morning I woke up and realised this is the next day of my life!' to which everyone responds with a resounding yeah!!!! Anyhow its all very positive and rabble rousing. 

 Next, everyone heads to the tables, there is a grace of sorts, anything from Hindu, thanking the mother earth or God to just a nice big 'YUM' that sounds like 'Ohm'. There are three cooked meals a day and they are all very good!

After breakfast the campers do tepee cleanup, getting dressed, brushing teeth etc. Then its time for Wavy Gravy to read them a story. After story comes warm-up and then the staff tell them (theatrically) what's on for activities for the day. Then away they go for the first two lessons.

Just before lunch they get together for show-time which is when they show what they have learnt if they feel so inspired, followed by announcements and appreciations and then to lunch.

350 ft water slide at the Lake

After lunch the Lake is open plus free time where the kids can just hang out or continue with an activity. Then there is another class after that. The lake closes at 5.00pm and there is more free time till tepee circle before dinner. The staff give some feed back, more announcements, appreciations and strokes (a camper with a certain number of strokes gets to make a special trip to the labyrinth to choose a special crystal). Then its dinner time, free time and clean-up before the evening program.

The evening program changes from night to night. So far we have had the Teachers Talent, the Fire Circle (and some of the tepees go to walk the labyrinth which is out in the field – its supposed to be pretty specky this time of the year because there are loads of falling stars), the Tornado of Talent (the children's talent before instruction) and tonight is another staff talent display.

After the evening program its bedtime!!!!

So far Frances has found a great bunch of girls in her tepee to hang out with. They have been enjoying the hoola hoop classes and a bit of art... plus last night they did a dance to a song on stage and Abbey and a couple others bopped in the back ground so there was a bit of practise to work that out.

Abbey is working on her stilts. Today she 'electrified' on short stilts and progressed to the tall stilts. I don't know if she got to electrifying on them or doing the 'kitchen walk' as I haven't had a chance to check in with either of them. I did see Frances' tepee on dish duty but I didn't chat. Nina told me she saw Abbey working on her uni-cycling in evening free time. Unfortunately she hasn't found a group to hang out with yet. Not that there's any shortage of great kids its just she would prefer Frannie's group... Its a shame really because she came to the lake and qualified to swim to the platform but she can't find a 'buddy' to swim with and Frannie's lot are just too girlie to spend time at the lake. Ah well,

Meanwhile I have been kept busy. There are a range of jobs that I have been assigned. Early Riser keeps them from making too much noise while they drink their cocoa. Costume barn helps dress for performances. Uni track and stage watch just watches them in free time. Lake Shuttle drives the campers back and forth to the lake, a little scary because its the wrong side of the road but I am used to it now... three hours of back and forth each day!! But by far the most terrifying job was Beach Mop who signs the kids in and out at the lake... and does a rap about it at camp circle in the evening!!! It begins by everyone singing 'holler at the Beach Mop, Baby' and then I go out there and embarrass myself!!! Then I do some announcements about what happened at the lake, all in all a job for someone else!!!! I'll stick to the shuttle.

Its been fun hanging out with SM and Nina and Jasmine when we aren't busy. Nina is the camp nurse and Saharah is the trapeze teacher, only she broke her toe yesterday (stubbed it hard) and so the teen staff are teaching for her while she supervises. This evening is her evening off and she has headed to San Francisco to see her man. So when this rush of bedtime medicines are over Nina and I will sit and enjoy a cuppa before I head to my tent by the stream that I have been sharing with SM. Hopefully I don't get sprayed by a skunk on the way!! These skunks aren't too scared of people so they get real close. If I bump into one by mistake in the dark I am going to be in big trouble. 
 It apparently takes along long time to get rid of the stink.Its really really hard to get to use the camp internet, the hours are ridiculous but I will endeavour to tell you the news when I can.

I'll leave you with the words of my rap, Nina videoed it but I won't inflict it on you!!

Down at the lake

The day was great

The sun was hot

But its a cool cool spot

Kitty and her team are there to see

You all have fun so safely

The damsels and the dragons fly

While campers leap from the platform high

The slide is pumping lots of fun

The lake is great for everyone

But hey y'all, I just gotta say

There's one more thing to make the day

You gotta check in and buddy up

You gotta sign out with the BEACH MOP

Camille

=(

Ok peeps Abbey and I are going to camp so we cant post blogs...or even check our emails!!!! but mum will keep you up to date.
Will right before we get on the plane home!!!!!!!
Frances
P.s
I am listening to 'one less lonely girl' by Justin Bieber

At Nina's

The week has been so cool it was awesome. We have been playing with jasmine and we have also been dressing her up it has been so cool and Frances dressed her in a white top a pink and white striped vest and a Jean skirt with a pink trim and then later she took it off and I put a blue top that was like a Indian look and the skirt that matched it. It was so cute. Mum is so excited because in San Francisco and here at Nina's there are whole supermarkets organic food that are like Woolworth she is like 'I wish Tasmania had them'. We also went to the farmers market and saw a really cool music performance and they used forty four gallon feed bins for drums it was so cool.

RMS

ABBEY

Papa G came to Ben and Savy's and drove us up to Nina's in a camper van (1000 times bigger than our one in England). Abbey and I fell asleep on the bed with Papa G's cat Kitty.

We arrived at 3:00 AM! Nina and Dee were asleep and so was Jasmine and Ki. Gypsy woke up and talked to Papa G while Abbey, Mum and I went out to the camper van and slept in there.

We spent the next week playing with a little angel (Jasmine), having a water fight with Ki and his friends, watching movies and swimming in the pool with Grandma Tutu (Ki and Jasmine's Grandma). We swam in the river and Ki and I jumped off a huge rock (reminded me of jumping off the jetty with my friends in Tassie), Mum and Nina went swimming as well. After we finished swimming Ki and I were still in our swimmers and he asked me to see how warm Jasmine's pool was (Jasmine's pool is a very small pool off the main river made by people for the younger kids).

So being that dumb I did and Ki pushed me into the river then he jumped in and tried to put river weed in my hair!!! That night we watched Monsoon Wedding while little angel was asleep, Ki and I had a huge play fight over who had the blow up the bed while we were watching the movie. Then we watched a bit of Whale Wars, with the Sea Shepherd in it!!!

We also went to the zoo which was a really nice zoo because it was small and not to fancy.

It is really nice to be able to see Jasmine Rose after six months (we saw Jas, Sahara and Nina before we went), she had grown so much.

Today Abbey and I gave her a bath and dressed her in a pretty skirt and top...

Write More Soon

Frances