Diary of a Wanderer

Pickpocketing. Barcelona is as famous for it as the city is for the Sagrada Familia. My sister visited the city in Easter and had her whole bag stolen. On my first day my housemates warned me about it and so did all the people at the BBQ. “It’s like a real life Oliver Twist” they said. And how right they are. In the last few days my eyes have been opened to this underground world as I have travelled to and from school on the metro. I have always been aware, when my friends from camp visited last week I gave them the heads up and told them to be careful. I always tied the zips on my backpack together using these handy little wires my Dad gave me before I left. I thought I was being maybe a bit OTT, but I thought it was better to be safe than sorry. Last Friday I was on the Metro on the way to school. My folder in hand, bag on my shoulder, I got on the metro and stood by the door (ERROR!). The journey is super short- only two stops…in fact I can’t work out if it is just quicker to...

It’s official. I have fallen in love. With Barcelona. And it probably didn’t take more than a week. (God, she’s easy I hear you say). Before now I wasn’t really too sure what people meant when they spoke about being given good signs about things, but within a few days of being here I suddenly knew exactly what they meant as I was given some myself:        I arrived to find myself living in one of the most beautiful parts of the city, El Born, amongst narrow cobbled streets that remind me of the lanes in Brighton.        My housemates extended a hand of friendship as soon as I walked through the door and that night I found myself at a BBQ with them and their friends, drinking wine and chatting, being put at ease and excited about my adventure to come. There were quite a few predictions made on the chances of me not wanting to leave.        (My room here is much bigger than my one at home! With some very cool views!) ...

(Written 29 th August) Being reunited with family is one of the best feelings. Being back with those that are there for you no matter where you are and no matter what happens. And of course, that first cup of tea when coming through the front door. The stories you are desperate to share, all the photos you have to show and descriptions of people you have met. It seems like there is simply not enough time to tell it all, and when you do- the words never seem to do any justice to the actual experience. Sleeping in my own bed after months of living in wooden huts. Having a shower and not having to wear flip-flops. Oh clean clothes! To make everything even better, I came home to find my room had been redecorated by the best Mum in the whole world. Waking up on my first morning at home and coming down the stairs to have an early morning catch up with Dad while everyone else was still asleep. Snuggling up on the sofa to watch a family film with a take-away in the evening. All these lit...

(Written 26th August 2014) The last few days of camp flew past and before I knew it closing camp fire was upon us and we have been left looking back wondering where the hell the summer had gone. The closing camp fire also meant our drama debut, and Caitlin and I nervously got our kids ready for their big performance, worrying over it being far too long and not at all funny. Dress rehearsals had been full of prompting entrances onto the stage, lines being forgotten and words being said too quietly- leaving us very anxious as to what was about to unfold with the real thing. But our worries quickly subsided as the first scene played out, and I was left feeling so proud of them all (and slightly relieved) as the final scene ended. There had been plenty of laughs, all lines remembered and said loudly, even little 6 year old Zoya from Slovenia had absolutely aced it and said her lines! I could not stop smiling! What a great end to the session it was. The song 'Leaving on a Jet Plane...

(Written 20th August 2014) Session Five is going as quickly as it came. When I first met my girls I felt slightly dissappointed that they didn't seem as lively as I would have liked, nor that they were going to get on very well. But how wrong I was. My girls have gone from being shy and slightly reserved, to being upbeat, giggly and unbelievably friendly. My co-counselor, Sarah, is a fun-loving 31 year old Kiwi who proves that age is just a number and that the world can always be your oyster if you want it to be. Our lip-sync was an interesting re-enactment of Shrek to the song 'I'm a Believer' and our cabin video consisted of Sarah and I dictating the "ideal" letter we thought the girls should write home to their parents: 'Dear Mum and Dad, I am having the best time in San Francisco cabin. The girls are lovely but the counselors are even better. Zoe is the most beautiful counselor at camp and quite frankly I was to be her. Sarah is like an angel se...