First Full Day At Silver Bay

The last time I wrote in, I was sitting in the lobby of The Inn reflecting on my first impressions, how yummy sushi was, and that I was about to attend "Orientation."

At 9:30, I went down to the boat house where I met Carolyn Close along with a few other supervisors and about 15 other new "EMP's". We all sat around and engaged in some small talk until the program started. 

We watched a couple video's about the YMCA's values, history and expectations. We played a couple of Ice Breaker games and then watched a very long (apparently abbreviated) power point on safety routines. I feel sorry for those who endured the 3-hour long safety instructions. There are a lot of different codes and proceeders that are in place in the event of an emergency. The one in response to a lost child (or person) seems pretty intense. Hope that doesn't happen, but if it does- we're ready!

That ended at about 11:30 and then we all went up to fill out paperwork and finish up some last-minute, important things.  I still have no shirt or name tag, but I will probably get them today.

12:30 was lunch, where I ate with some of the new people I met at the orientation. There is a French guy that is interesting- he said he would help me with my French- We'll see if there's a chance at improving it! 

After lunch, a couple of us went to Walmart. I needed totes for under my bed and also a shower-stuff-holder-thinggie. It was nice to get back and finally have a home for everything. I really hate when things don't have a "home".

The same people that went to Walmart decided that it was a perfect moment for a hike. We went on a short hike, but definitely made it back in time for dinner! The hike was nice , but it made me realize that I need to go on a lot more in order to get in shape. 

Dinner was yummy. Rosemary potatoes, chicken breasts, chocolate moose- yummmy! I ate with a very interesting older lady- Marianne. I think that she will be fun to see around campus- she's very spunky and has traveled all over the world. It was fun sharing stories with her.

After dinner, a few of us decided to go for a dip in the pond, even though it was freezing out. I was dressed in my Patagonia and fleece pants, but under it all was my swimming suit =) We quickly got undressed when we arrived at the beach- jumped in- and got right out! I threw on my Fleece gear and we hurriedly ran up to the dorm to hop in the communal shower. This is when we were unpleasantly surprised! 

Someone POOPED IN THE SHOWER! At first I thought it was poop, then came to the realization that no one in their right mind would poop in the shower... I got some paper towels and tried to clean up what I had decided was just mud. It wasn't. It smeared all over and smelled awful! Who would poop in the shower?! Disgusting.

After a 10-minute long freak out with the other girls that wanted to take a shower, we came up with an alternative method for showering and are still wondering how someone could do that. Now the whole dorm is on a search for the pooper! 

Later, I went to the Inn (one of the two places on campus that has WiFi) and Skyped Carsten and my mom and then Aaron for a moment- I was too tired to go on. It was great to see everyone =) 

I started the Book Angels and Deamons last night, so now I will go for a bike ride and find a good spot for reading. I don't have to be at the Front Desk unitil 12:00, so I have a bit of time to do nothing until then. 

Re-Cap

So, I haven't been updating since I met Carsten and left Europa, so here is a brief re-cap of just some of the events that went down over the past month. 

- I waved goodbye to DCT and Vitznau and flew into Providence- this took 22 hours when all was said and done

- I graduated college

- Had a "Buffalo"-themed graduation party in Providence

- I drove home with my Mom and Dad to begin preparation for my graduation party in Buffalo

- Carsten made a surprise visit!

- We put up the tent for the party, created a dance floor& bar, saw the falls (ours and America's)- the usual...

- Did quite a bit of R&R by Abbe's pool with Hannah, Abbe and Anne

- Went on many bike rides

- Went to Honey Harbour with Abbe, Anne and Ashleigh

- Went to some festivals

- Lost my job, got a new job, got a car

- Typical Buffalo things- dance parties and hanging out

Now here I sit in the Inn at Silver Bay with an amazing view of Lake George and the Adirondack mountains. Through a bit of confusion with the job in Honey Harbour as to whether-or-not I needed working papers, the job "didn't work out". So off I was in search for a new job that would be equally or even more, stimulating. 

Well, as I sit here in the lobby, and after having met the people that I did last night- I can see that God was indeed in the middle of the confusion. I am so grateful to be here.

The drive up took 6 hours (some of which it was a struggle to stay awake). After a few wrong turns and a long, windy road- I arrived at Silver Bay. I was given some vague instructions and was off to my dorm to unload the car. 

The dorm that I am living in is very neat. It is an older, semi-rustic, cabin. It smells like pine and looks like it is, and has been, loved. My room is on the second floor, 4 doors down. I share a room with a girl whom I have not met, but looks like she might be interesting. One downside of the room is that it is small and BRIGHT PINK! It is very very pink!!

The bathroom is down the hall and has 3 stalls, 3 sinks and two showers. It is perfect and it cleaned by housekeeping =)

Within minutes I was greeted by a fun girl named Franchesca. Soon thereafter, I was welcomed to SIlver Bay by her friends who also seem very nice. They invited me out for their friend, Jason's, birthday. After a brief tour given my them and a Skype chat with Carsten, I showered and was off to the Hibachi bar about 20 minutes away.

There were 6 full cars of people that participated in this "shindig", so it was a good way to meet people. Many of the "Emp's" (Employees) have come up here their whole lives. But there are also many new people. It was almost like the first day of camp.

I ordered 2 sushi rolls. I got a "Black Dragon" roll, which had avocado, cucumber, fish roe, wrapped in rice and rolled in Eel and Shrimp. It was so yummy! I also got a Shrimp Tempura roll that was shrimp tempura with fish roe- also quite lovely!

After a complicated (overly-priced) paying ordeal and a group photo, we loaded up the cars and headed for Ben & Jerry's. 

After that, everyone went to the place where all the employees go (can't remember the name), but I was quite sleepy from my long day, so I called it a night and went to bed.

Up for breakfast at the cafeteria and will soon go to my training which begins in just a few minutes. I think this summer will be one to remember and I bet that I will learn a lot about the hospitality industry!