Summer Camp Update:

So it’s been 5 days already at the Mughar Summer Camp and it’s safe to say I’m exhausted! Siwar is already sleeping soundly after today’s teaching (it’s only 3.30pm) in order to get a bit more energy for a family gathering tonight at 5. 

The structure of the camp is fairly simple, with each day organised in a way where from 9-12.30, three separate workshops are completed which include Art & Crafts, Circus activities and more-so Sculpturing with a morning tea break at 11-11.30. The lessons run for one hour each, and so far we’ve gone through mosaic pictures, jewellery making, building houses (out of natural resources: rocks, sand etc) and practising acrobatic movements (I have discovered my flexibility levels = dangerously low). After these lessons we are given free reign to teach for 1 1/2 hours anything we like. Songs, dancing, puppet making and vocabulary testing have so far been a big hit. Our group decided to give each student some homework at the end of the day, and even this is received enthusiastically! 

The kids have really taken advantage of practising and speaking English whenever they can. It’s so encouraging to see smiles all round and lots of teamwork happening no matter what we do. 

Yesterday was a particularly fun day when we visited Superland in Tel Aviv. The bus ride there nearly took all my energy as the girls (who are definitely not as shy as they were on the first day) decided to make sure I knew how to say almost every part of the body/bus/scenery in Arabic AND then I had to make sure they knew how to say the same words in English. My brain was on fire! 

The most popular word of the day would have been ‘Maa’ (pronounced mu-ai) which means water – as the temperature was steaming hot from morning til night. As the camp has been separated into different age and English speaking levels, we all organised a few boys and girls who were to stay with us for the entire duration of the trip. I was with a lovely group of my favourite girls and a fellow Arabic volunteer who made life so much easier as she was fantastic with the children.

The rides were definitely a highlight and we chose to stick to a lot of those surrounded by water to cool down.

Going home should have been a little less tiring (thinking the kids would sleep on the bus) however Round Two of ‘Let’s Name Everything’ began. I don’t think I’ve slept as well as I did that night…

Tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday are our days off, so we will be taking advantage of sleeping and leisure activities for us ‘grown ups’. Cue shopping, engagement parties and did someone say kayaking? :D

Aside from the camp, two days ago my host family took a fellow volunteer from America and myself to spend an evening in Nahariya, which is a Northern coastal town here in Israel. All I can say is - wow! A gorgeous beach was there to greet us as well as plenty of smiling faces and a great avenue of shops for anything and everything. We took plenty of pictures and walked along the walkways until a young lady coaxed us into small couches near the water and we ordered some dinner. I chose the Dennis fish (not knowing what I’d get exactly) and was rewarded with a freshly cooked piece of the ocean with a side of salad and rice. I know I always seem to talk about food, but damn, that meal was so good. Seafood back home has some competition that’s for sure ;D

It’s hard to believe one week has already passed and I only have until the 22^nd to enjoy this magnificent country. As always, the blessings keep coming and I’m thrilled to be experiencing this trip of a lifetime. I cannot wait to see what else is in store over the next week! xx