This collection of photos and text is to tell a simplified story of my time at Seeds of Peace. It's hard to convey what it was like to be there. The phrase, "For those who have experienced it, no explanation is necessary; for those who have not, no explanation is possible," comes to mind. Here's a try. I'd love to get your comments!
Pre-camp orientation involved lots of informative sessions, but also fun trips to buy instruments for the music program. My friends Aaron, Daniel, Kevin and I stopped off at the dollar store.
Pre-camp is also a time to get the activities ready. Seeds of Peace is a non-profit, so a counselor must be flexible to do things they've never done before like being a sail surgeon.
The campers arrive each session to a musical party. They are exhausted, so we infuse them with all our nervous excitement.
After a day or so of getting t-shirts, a lice check, and learning the Seeds of Peace Song, the flag raising ceremony brings out the press. Each delegation selects a 2nd-year camper (of which there are very few) to welcome the rest of the campers to Seeds of Peace. Then, each delegation sings their national anthem. Finally, we all sing the Seeds of Peace song. The flag raising is done at the front gate. We then all enter together, METAPHORICALLY leaving our national identities behind to assume our Seeds of Peace identities.
In the first session, I had a bunk with campers from India, Pakistan and NYC.
Bunk 15 is split into two sides. In the second session, the whole bunk was from the Middle East or the US, and we decided to do everything together. Our bunk theme was a SECRET!
When I was not in my bunk, I was often at sailing. Normally, a dialogue group (which is comprised of campers from the same conflict region who have dialogue for 1h45 everyday) will sail together. The pride of the sailing program is the Super Special Activity Sailing Program where we choose a select group of campers from all the delegations to really learn to sail, and co-exist on the water.
The campers were suprised by being able to watch the World Cup after we pretended to not know what "football" was. The message that came with it: "France and Italy used to be at war, and now all they fight over is a football."
Me with my camper Mohammed from India at the Portland Sea Dogs Baseball game.
We also go to the county fair.
Sometimes, my friend Sarabeth and I would celebrate our table by dressing up and acting silly. Here, I pretended to be a french waiter.
At a normal meal, we are always very serious.
Once each session, we have an international cookout when we taste of the nations represented at camp.
My friend Rob could tell you that international night has the summer's tastiest food.
At the cookout, you don't have to wear Seeds of Peace clothing. Most of the delegations come dressed in their traditional garb.
The music staff put on our very own School of Rock with an international twist.
We also form a band called the Germinators (because we help Seeds grow). Here is a shot of my singing "The General" by Dispatch with Kevin.
The 2nd year campers were in a dancing and chanting group for the local town parade. The music staff provided the drumline. We won 2nd place and got ice-cream. This is us practicing the morning before the parade.
Sometimes, signs of peace show themselves in the sky like this dove.
One of the most important aspects of camp (after dialogue, of course) is group challenge, where dialogue groups are challenged in many ways and must work together. The climax of these six sessions is a trip to the high ropes course. I helped out by belaying.
Although we are there for the campers, the staff have their fun, too. It's good to know that Maine Troopers are always at the front gate.
Yes, we have fun.
Sometimes we have so much fun that we cry from laughter.
Everyone is having so much fun, and doing the tough work, that we all get so sleepy.
By far, the most memorable time at camp, and the climax of each session is colour games. This is when the campers are split into two teams: blue and green. It's beautiful to watch them forget their nationalities for a short while, and work together with their "enemies." They're not blind to what's going on. One main event is the team song.
They compete in everything at camp including all the sports and arts.
The peace canoe is one of my favorite events. This is the boys team after their 10-person boat reached the dock.
One of the best parts about colour games is that everyone gives their best effort. The coaches really push the campers to try as hard as they can. One of our team's motto's this year was "ALL RESPECT AND NO REGRET."
After two and a half long, hard days, both teams go to the beach where the results of the team song and other events are annoucdanced. The winner of each even jumps and cheers. Before the winner of the entire colour games is announced, everyone is silent and still. What does the winner get, you ask?
They get to run into the lake first.
Then the other team enters the water, and everyone shares congratulations. Everyone feels like a winner because they gave everything they had to give.
Most campers would tell you the highlight of the summer was "going in the lake at the end of colour games."
Everyone gets around and sings the Seeds of Peace song. They feel it now!
The coaches also give everything they've got. They all want to win, but the big WIN (as the counselors call it) is something more valuable and memorable. It's about trying your hardest, and playing respectfully. It's about believing in your team.
Maybe the one common experience to all Seeds is that it's possible to make friends with someone even if you strongly dissagree with their politics.
