Entry #1.3 / 8th June 2022
The group that had formed before we entered the plane got separated due to the location of our seats. I stuck with Lewis and Ellie, slowly making our way to border control amongst many other travellers.
“Oh god…” I started as we walked under the “Welcome to New York” sign and towards the queue for border control. “This is the part where I have to resist making jokes. Which, I cannot tell you, is very hard in tension filled situations like this!” Lewis had laughed with a small shake of his head.
Once in the queue, I saw a sign located near the standing clock that advised everyone that border control will take up to thirty to forty-five minutes. Possibly longer depending on the time of day and year. Shifting my attention to the clock itself, I began to yawn as I mentally did the math.
“It’s only twelve here,” I ran my hand down the side of my face. “I’m ready for bed already and I’m guessing it’s only around five in the UK.”
“Sounds about right.” Lewis agreed, finishing his own yawn.
Staring at the clock a bit longer, I let out a snorty giggle. “You know, when you think about it, since we set off at around nine am, and now it’s around twelve pm, we’ve only been flying for roughly two hours.”
A large burst of laughter came from Lewis. “That is true!”
“And those two hours went by so quickly!” I gestured my hands dramatically. “I just about remember where I sat.”
“I can’t even remember that!”
“Were we even on a plane?”
***
“I don’t know whether to be relieved or concerned that they didn’t ask more questions?”
We had lost Ellie in the queues that eventually separated us. Lewis and I were able to stick together, which I felt guilty about.
Since we appeared to be together, both of us could go to the desk together. I was immensely grateful – as though someone else there could help me keep my mouth shut from any stupid jokes that might vomit out. But it turns out there was no need to worry. We were only at the desk for a max of five minutes. Just asked for documents.
Lewis had just shrugged at my question. “We’re through, that’s what counts.”
Following the signs to the luggage claim, we soon found our group beside the designated flight luggage area.
“What the hell?” I exclaimed as I watched one of my new co-workers, Jacob, revive his suitcase. “Why is your suitcase so small?”
Jacob had just shrugged. “I didn’t need much and didn’t want to bring much.”
“How much does that even weigh?” Another co-worker, Mary, asked, sounding just as surprised as me but there was more politeness to it.
“15kg.”
“Don’t talk to me.” Courtney mumbled, moving to collect her own luggage.
Once we collected all our luggage, we slowly made our way towards the exit. A few of us, though, had our eyes glued to our phones, reading the instructions given by our new boss.
“She said they would be near Dunkin’ Doughnuts.” Lewis concluded, his voice louder than normal for everyone to hear.
Fortunately, the search wasn’t a long one. As soon as we left the gate luggage area, we found someone holding a sign with our camp name.
***
The transportation to the camp was… unexpected. No offense to Uber drivers, but I thought we would be using a bus or a minibus to get to camp itself. I didn’t even want to think about how much getting Ubers throughout the day was costing the camp.
Probably not the brightest of ideas.
There was four of us who went in the Uber before us, but the next five of us didn’t have to wait long for the next uber. Soon enough, we were making our way through airport pickup stations under the American sun that showed no mercy for us measly Brits. I could literally feel my sweat form its own sweat.
Playing a puzzle game with our luggage in the trunk of the Uber for five minutes, we all bundled into the seats. I sat in the middle row with Cameron, who was the last to join our flight group at Heathrow Airport.
When we were all settled, Cameron went to close the door.
Suddenly, the Uber driver started shouting at us. At first, since his words were muffled by the plastic protective COVID barrier between us, I thought he was ordering Cameron to shut the door in a particular way. But when he stopped, we learned what the shouting was actually about.
“Oh shit,” Cameron uttered out as the door slid closed on its own.
“Oh god!” I pointed to the sign above the door, just below the door handle. “It says right there – don’t pull!”
“That’s your fault!” Cameron examined with a teasing smile. “You told me to pull!”
“Only after you started!” I laughed with Cameron as the uber pulled out of the pickup area and headed onto the roads of New York.
***
The Uber journey was a quiet, slightly tense one. The driver wasn’t please with either me or Cameron and occasionally sent us death glares (something we took amusement from). Alongside that, we were all tired. And hot. It was boiling. Courtney aided all of us at one point in handing out wet wipes to help cool us down.
However, all our struggles within the car went out the window as we saw the landscape of New York City in the distance.
I was suddenly hit with similar memories of when I was fifteen years old – coming to New York City for a school trip. A younger, different – almost another life – version of myself was giddily jumping up and down in her seat, screaming with her friend at actually being in New York City. Singing the FRIENDS theme tune along with other students as our four-day adventure officially began.
Memories, though, were like those grainy old films. Beautiful when reliving and visiting them, but nothing compared to physically experiencing them.
Life has taught me in the last decade that every moment is precious – fully living and absorbing. That fifteen-year-old self would’ve never had a moment just to… breathe it in.
I stared and stared at the view, my mind overwhelmed by the feelings of awe, wonder and utter, complete disbelief. The memory of the fifteen-year-old me wasn’t just coursing through my mind – it was screaming. Screaming alongside other memory screams. My whole life flashing before my eyes, causing me to casually put a finger to my wrist, feeling my pulse scream against my skin too.
“I think it’s starting to hit me now.” Cameron said, and I was surprised momentarily to have heard it through the wild party in my head. “That we’re here.”
My eyes refused to shift or blink away from the view, breathing becoming both light and a heavy burden. “Not for me.” Images of a darkened room, tears and indescribable loneliness ran through me as my mind started to slow down. “I don’t… I don’t see how it could.”
***
Over an hour in the Uber, we arrived at the camp. The most startling thing to me as a born British person was how overly friendly everyone was. It was nice, but a bit of a culture shock with that.
Do you think it’s some kind of a trick? I wondered as I shifted through my belongings to find my shorts. Like, the American alure before they slaughter us in our sleep?
‘Okay it’s official – you’ve watched too many true crime documentaries.’ The responsible voice dramatically hailed. ‘And I don’t think it helps that most of them are based in America.’
The group of us were then given a tour of the camp, and I didn’t know fully what to expect. However, I didn’t expect it to be as huge as it was. Two areas for swimming with at least eight swimming pools, three basketball courts, yoga and dance stations, archery, a farm (I freaking loved the alpacas) and I could go on and on.
I thought my secondary school was big.
***