Wednesday 1 August 2012

Camp

I'm home from four days in the mountains of Nagano. Four days with fifty Girl Scouts and leaders. Four long and exhausting and exhilarating days. The torrential rains, thunder, and lightening that hit on the second evening was pretty scary for those in the tents, but after we got everybody into the main hall and then some warm food into them, everybody perked up in time for an indoor campfire.

7 comments:

  1. This looks like fun! I need to get my daughter into Girl Scouts so I can do this.

    (Yes, I had kids so I could relive my childhood. I freely admit it!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You don't need to have daughters to be a Girl Scout leader! I've been a leader for the better part of the last 15 years or so, and no daughters yet!

      But, I know a wonderful leader down in your part of the country, so when the time comes let me know.

      And yes, it was great fun! Exhausting, but great fun! And the GS facility in Nagano is gorgeous.

      Delete
  2. That sky! Look at that sky! Since my "child survival limit" is one at a time, I don't think I could've done what you did ... but I certainly would've loved exploring that mountain! ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Heh, yeah, you probably wouldn't have survived very long. The opening ceremony hadn't even started and I already had two 6 year-olds climbing and hanging off of me. Luckily most of the girls were older and less... monkey-ish. Repeatedly throughout the weekend one of the girls would turn to me, after I had given them directions or an explanation for something, and, with wonder in her eyes, the girl would say "Your Japanese is amazing!" Each time I smiled, thanked the girl, and felt my heart swell.

      The mountain is Togakushi (http://asceticsandpilgrims.wordpress.com/2011/10/13/reconnaissance/), and it is home to a shrine (http://www.togakushi-jinja.jp/) so you really should check it out!

      Delete
    2. And the sky, it was gorgeous that morning, after the lightening and rain of the night before!

      Delete
  3. Beautiful - the sky is so blue and clear...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The lightening and rain the night before chased all the clouds away!

      Delete