Guest Blog by Matt Hamilton
According to ALC lore, the antidote to feeling “bluish” on account of being “newish” is to…”reach in your trunk, put on your Blueberry Blues!”
“Ba-da-da Ba-da-da Ba-da-da-da-da!”
“Miles apart,” now I am – and even rather close to one of “Wherever You Go”’s sung cities – Tel Aviv, as Israel is just a ways over the Jordan River from Amman, Jordan. Just two weeks ago I came to this capital city of Jordan to work as a teacher to Iraqi refugees while studying the Arabic language. The work is fun, the culture is different, and yes, I am very far from home, my parents, friends, and my brother Dave (known to the Rangers as Davina, the Tennis Playing Diva).
Like at camp though, when you are far from loved ones and comfortable places, two things happen: you realize how much you do love your family, friends, and home but as well, you see the vastness of the world, the people in it, and the commonalities shared among us all.
Homesickness is inevitable. Like those first nights for campers at ALC, my first night here I laid in bed, unable to sleep; my bed was thousands of miles away, the air felt different, and the noises were unfamiliar. No longer was I hearing taps, reveille, and the chilling screams of the loon, but the bustle of the city cars and the Islamic call to prayer issuing five times each day from the minaret of the mosque located across the street from my apartment.
My second day here, though, I did reach down into my suitcase and, quite unexpectedly, pulled out my blue ALC t-shirt. Far away from home and from camp, I put it on and felt better – empowered, even, to stop feeling sad, and to look at this new and challenging place as I would Mt. Sugarloaf, Mt. Battie, or Mt. Katahdin – an opportunity! I had helped to lead campers to these summits – now I had to lead myself through unknown, foreign territory.
After two weeks, Amman has become a new type of home, with new friends, new lessons, and unexpected personal growth and maturing. My Arabic is improving and my knowledge of the city has increased. The homesickness has ebbed, but that doesn’t mean I don’t miss home; like the camper starting a new school, a new year in college, or life in a new city or state, a longing for family and friends remains. The longing just signifies love, though, and love always is a good thing.
From Amman,
Matt
An Out-of-Camp Trip Leader during the 2009 Summer, Matt Hamilton is a recent graduate of Boston College now working as a teacher and student in Amman, Jordan. Matt enjoys Congo Bars with cheese and honey, pie, and peanut butter M&Ms.
What am I thankful for? In addition to being thankful for my family and friends, I am thankful for the wonderful ALC community that I have had the privilege to be a part of for over 40 years. I am thankful that Alford Lake is, after 104 years, still a place where young women (and men) can experience the unique gift of believing in themselves. I am thankful that our extended ALC community supports and continues to value our traditional residential camp experience for the special girls in their lives. I am thankful for happy campers, dedicated counselors, white canvas tents, loons on Alford Lake, sunny days, ALC songs and my treasured memories of our summers shared together. In short, I am thankful for all of you who make Alford Lake Camp such a wonderful community! And for those of you who live overseas and do not eat turkey on Thursday, please know that we send our warmest wishes and are thinking of you on our Day of Thanks…
