Three Weeks in the USA
September 30, 2003
My brother René and I (Jako) had the wonderful opportunity last month (August 2003) to get to know the land of a thousand chances, the USA. Our trip began on Monday, August 4th with a flight from the Frankfurt airport, which we reached after a nerve-wracking traffic jam on the German A3 autobahn. Eight but only two hours later (because of the time difference) we arrived in Philadelphia to catch our connecting flight to Boston, where we were to spend about a week prior to camp. Everything had been arranged for us to be met at the airport in Boston by the minister there, Mr. Paul Suckling, who is orginally from England. He was to be my "boss" during the camp as I helped out with the soccer activity.
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Our four days in Boston and vicinity were in one sense the most interesting of our entire trip because they were our first days in this foreign country. The thought of being in the USA, thousands of miles from everything familiar, was inspiring. We made use of these days to visit the city of Boston with its many interesting sites. We didn't miss the chance to visit the well-known University of Harvard.
On Friday evening we left with Mr. & Mrs. Suckling and 9 other youth, who had arrived the evening before, on our 12 hour trip to Camp Heritage in Pennsylvania. The 12 hours went by really fast, which is no surprise considering the nice conversations we had in English.
In one sense the camp, which was the main reason for our trip, began on the Sabbath, when all staff members and some campers attended church services, where the messages covered the special responsibility that we all had in attending camp. On Sunday camp started for the rest of the nearly 200 campers. In addition to being divided up into "dorms" (groups of 15-20 youth) we also had orientation.
On Monday things really got going. Campers were under the leadership of the counselors and were accompanied by him (or her) from one activity to the next. In additional to "ball" sports like basketball, volleyball or water polo activities like archery, riflery and sailing. And I shouldn't forget tennis and softball!
Maybe that sounds a lot like just playing games, and maybe it is, too. But I observed how each camper "played" each game with a lot of effort as if it were a responsible job. So camp wasn't really just a game, even though some may see it that way. Everything was done in an orderly manner and was planned well in advance. Each morning each dorm went straight from breakfast (which was planned in detail) to a different tent to attend a "Christian living" session with a minister. In addition to all the ball games we also had an activity called modesty. Here topics were addressed like "What clothing should I wear and which shouldn't I wear?" and "How do act respectfully toward others?", etc.
The whole week ran this way until the following Sabbath, when we had our final church service in the big dining hall. One exception to the weekly routine was on Wednesday, when the "Wild Water Rafting" created a sensation for every camper including René and me. On the raging river in America's nature one felt as if one had been transported back to America's pioneer days — if there hadn't been those super modern inflatable boats!
On Sunday, exactly one week after the arrival of the campers, it was time to say "good-bye", which wasn't so easy. During the week many made new friends to keep for a long time. Many E-Mail and snail mail addresses were exchanged, best wishes for the trip home given and a desire to see each other again expressed. Then we left for Ohio, the third and final leg of our journey.
In Sugarcreek, Ohio we were hosted by the Miller family (known in Germany as the "Müller" family). If our first week in Boston was the most interesting, then our final week in Ohio was the most amusing. Not because of the Amish environment but because of the many activities we did together. For example the fastest and highest roller coaster in the world at an amusement park on Lake Erie or water skiing on one of the beautiful natural lakes in Ohio. We went swimming, played mini-golf and went for the first time to an American drive-in theater. To sum it all up: We had a most varied and fun time together!
Our return trip home was on Sunday, August 24th.
A number of people helped to make our trip to the USA possible, and we are very thankful for their help. We also appreciate the financial assistance extended by LifeNets and UCG-Germany, without which our trip would not have been possible. We look forward vicariously to next summer when hopefully other young people from Europe will be able to make a trip like ours.
Jako (and René) Kasper
Next summer the Ozzie G. Engelbart Memorial Fund will award the air fare for two more international youth to attend a USA youth camp. Thanks to all who contributed to make this year's experience for René and Jako possible.
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