Week two: Kids arrive, Sky High and San Francisco.

So I'm a bit delayed in updating this as it happens, but I have finally got around to making the week two video! Which you can watch by clicking here. To update on here, the first week was awesome but the second was way better, because the kids arrived! We still didn't have resident kids that slept over, but we had day campers. It was really cool to see how it all worked, get to know some of the kids and put our skills to use! We also got a bit of time off too, YAY! So we went trampolining and to San Fran. Check out the video to see what we got up to!

Camp America Update: Pre-camp

Vlog numero uno! so I have updated my youtube channel with my first vlog all about Camp America.

So if you would rather watch a video than read, check it out!

So...it is my last week at my PR job and then I am off for a week, before I fly. Gosh it has come round fast!

I'm so excited, but the nerves are starting to kick in a little bit. Mainly about money, I have managed to save a bit, but if I want to do lots of travelling after camp I need to do a lot more! In an attempt to make a bit more money I have been selling my belongings at carboot sales. My mum has been amazing, giving me loads of things to sell and helping me out. 

So from doing four carboots and collecting loose change around the house from the last year, I have managed to scrape together £700, which isn't half bad!

I have decided that I am going to take a suitcase instead of a rucksack. I was kindly given a rucksack by my step mum, so I feel a bit bad that I am not going to use it. However most people I have spoken to have said to take a suitcase.

Suitcase Pros:

You can wheel it around (meaning you can also wear a backpack)

It opens easier (allowing you easy access)

Mine has straps, so you can carry it.

My visa is all sorted and I have cancelled my phone contract. I am with Vodafone and they told me to switch to pay as you go while I am away, meaning I can keep my number and then switch it back when I get back. So people can still contact me on my number as well. He then told me to get an American sim and put that in my phone and use that while I am away. I must get my phone unlocked!

I had a trial pack and I managed to get my stuff in, but have realised there are more things to go in....so that is going to be interesting. 

I am sure I am forgetting so many things, hopefully I will think of them before I leave!

Tea - Discovering Vine.

I have just discovered vine and I am addicted. I also like tea. Below is the outcome.

Welcome to Youtube...

I have decided to set up a youtube channel to document my journey - wherever it may take me.

I thought it would be a good way for my family and friends to catch up with what I have been getting up to, give people thinking about doing similar things a chance to see what it is like, but also something for me to look back on when it is all over!

So check out my videos! 

xxx

DIY Tank Tops!

Check out how to make these on my Youtube channel http://tinyurl.com/DIYtshirt


I thought I would make some tank tops for camp, so I got some cheap tops from Primark and cut them up! 

Primark Haul May 2013 - clothes for camp

Living in England, we don't have particularly decent weather. I mean it is May and we have probably had a week of sunshine so far this year? It was snowing in February. So being that I haven't seen very much sun in the last year, I had a totally justified reason to do a bit of shopping! What I didn't  have, was a justified reason to spend a lot of money - hence the Primark haul! The perfect place to get some camp bits, really cheap! 

Here is my Primark Haul - I also have a video on all of the below over on youtube (click here) - check it out :)

American Visa.

Today I received my visa! Woohoo! I will officially be allowed to work for the summer in America. I also got a rather snazzy tee and a sim card for USA and Canada - convenient!

I thought I would let you know just what has been going on and give you an idea of the process for getting an American visa for the summer (J1, through Camp America).

So first CA sent me several visa forms, that needed checking and signing, alongside a link to apply online to the Embassy. Once all of these were filled out, I was given a visa appointment to go along to the Embassy. When I turned up I was actually quite nervous! Praying that I wouldn't say anything stupid, (i.e. some sort of a bomb joke - which would also be incredibly inappropriate) I got to Bond Street an hour early! I am usually always early for important things, but my friends will tell you I am always late - which is true, to them! 

CA reps were there to double check that I had all my documents and that they were in the correct order and once they had kindly gone through and taken my bag for safe keeping, I headed over to the first woman. She checked out my passport and visa appointment letter and I was through to security. 

If you are a belt person, I would recommend leaving it at home for your visa appointment. The two lads in front of me were asked to take off their belts for the security check (normal) and then asked to keep them off once into the main building, until their number had been called (bit weird). Once into the building you head to reception to get your passport envelope for postage, and then head into the ticket room. Here you wait until your number is called.

I was quite nervous about the fingerprint situation. Not because I'm a criminal or anything, but on the way over I managed to cut my finger and apparently this could ruin your fingerprints. Now I was imagining the old school ink pads and thinking that, one, I would get ink into the cut (ow) and, two, I would have an odd fingerprint where the cut was. However, it is the 21st Century and they no longer use ink pads, but some clever electrical thing (obviously) Luckily my cut was not that bad and I was put through to the next stage. 

Cue a queue and a very nice American chap, telling you what to do. You then make it to a window (like a bank cashier) and get asked a few questions. I can't really remember all of the questions but here are the ones I do:

What are you doing in America?
Working at a summer Camp.

Where?
In California, Portola Valley.

What are you teaching there?
Arts & Crafts and Photography.

What will you do when you get back?
Ermm, get a job?

Now the last answer was probably not the best response, but seeing as I am not a student anymore and wasn't sure if my job would have me back (which they have now said they will! yipee!), that was my answer. Which is true. 

And it was fine. He replied with 'Your visa has been approved' and I was allowed to leave. I handed in my courier delivery sheet on the way out and I was done. The whole process lasted around 20 minutes - I thought I would be there for hours, but nope, it was incredibly quick.

So one visa down. I'm pretty excited to have something in my passport, seeing as for the last 25 years it hasn't even had a stamp. Not that I haven't gone anywhere, I have, just nowhere that warrants putting an interesting memento in my passport, apparently. 

So that is one less thing to do now. I still have to sort out a medical form for my camp (separate to the CA one I have already done) a first aid course, sort out my phone and get some money together. 

And with Canada (after camp) I am still waiting to hear about my visa - which is taking forever and is incredibly difficult! I also need to sort out insurance and form some sort of a plan too, I guess!

But it is all coming together!

Camp America. California Here I Come!

On June 4th 2013, I will be getting on a plane to San Francisco. 
After years of telling friends and family that one day I will go travelling, I will finally be leaving the country.

First stop is a summer camp in California! I got the job through the organisation 'Camp America' and I would definitely recommend them, they have been incredibly helpful throughout the whole process. 

So June - August will be spent teaching children arts and crafts and photography, alongside other bits and bobs, in Portola Valley. California is always somewhere I have wanted to go, mainly because of The Hills, (I know, I know!) it looks like such an exciting, interesting and beautiful place, and I can't wait to get there! I'm also pretty excited to be teaching and helping kids to have an awesome summer, not to mention spending time outdoors, instead of in an office!

After camp I am hoping to do a bit of travelling around America. I have 30 days before I have to leave the country! So I'm going to use that time as well as possible, to see as much as possible. Texas, New Orleans, LA, Miami, San Francisco, Las Vegas, are all on my hitlist! 

Then following my 30 day trip around America the plan is to go to Canada and do some snowboarding!

I'll update you as I go along, with all the things that I have to do before leaving the country. There's a lot of things to sort out!