Abigail G: Arrival Day Day, Camp Myrtlewood (Day 0)

for my first year at camp, my day started really early, and really far away. I woke up at 3:00 (in the morning!) to go an hour to the airport. I had two flights, but both ended up pretty early, so I ended up being about the third camper at the Eugene airport, because my new friends were crazy early. because of this, I got to watch as some of the coolest people I’ve ever seen trickled into our group before we moved onto a grass patch outside. everyone was so immediately sweet to me, it felt like i landed on a different planet.

it was a couple hours until the bus, and then a little more until everyone was good and ready, but it didn’t feel like much time had passed at all, especially in retrospect. the bus ride definitely felt appropriately long, but that ended up being great for me, even though we were all impatient to get there. i was totally spaced for the first quarter of the ride, all my lack of sleep catching up to me, but after that I was really able to appreciate everything. i’m from Texas, so I was more than blown away with everything about the outdoors here. i couldn’t stop taking pictures, it’s way different here than anything I’ve ever seen, and it’s all I hoped it would be. maybe even more. i got really comfortable talking to everyone else on the bus, and then we were there. it’s kind of like a blur now! it was hard to adjust for a little, and I wasn’t totally sure that I wasn’t dreaming.

everyone in my cabin was really sweet, I got everything settled, and then in an order I can’t even remember we went through dinner, I met more amazing people, I probably got initiated on some more things, i met my advisee group (and love everyone in it!) and got to see the beautiful opening ceremony. after everything, my night was pretty mellow. i helped my friend find the bear cave, walked around and talked for a little, and then even though I was planning to sleep in the field, I set up my sleeping bag in my bunk at 10:30 and I was out by 11:00. FOMO aside, I’m so glad I got the rest, and I know I’m gonna have a lot more opportunities to do fun stuff after dark. that was all for my experience of opening day! i’ve never felt such a feeling of belonging, and I know i’m gonna have an amazing rest of the time at camp.

Abigail G., Camper