Spending time with MaitaNeruda was filled with soo much excitement and FUN! 

The first day we headed over to San Sebastian, Spain on the EuskoTren. Euskotren is a commuter rail service that operates in Basque Country. It was soo cool to get a little glimpse of some of the cities that make up Pais Vasco. 

San Sebastian is BEAUTIFUL!!!! I fell in love right away, I would like to one day live there or Florence. I like it there because it has a beach and it’s in Basque Country and I would like to definitely learn more about the culture. We met Joaquin and Jon here and I was sooo excited to see them!! Jon I had not had news of since October, so I was ecstatic to see him!  Joaquin, decided that he would come over to Maitane’s with us and join us for rafting the next day. On pour way back to Bayonne, we stopped at Carrefour and Joaquin and I became the French economy buying TONS of things to prepare for the Fetes de Bayonne. 

Rafting started off as a struggle, because our boat kept going from side to side. It reminded me of when I went kayaking with the scouts. I decided that I guess Yann might have been doing something when we were partners since our boat never went from side to side. In the end it was great fun even though Maitane and Joaquin plotted against me and threw me in the water! JERKS!! 

After rafting we went to Carrefour while Maitane visited her grandmother in the hospital. Joaquin and I had some lunch outside the store while we waited. After Maitane picked us up we headed to ANGLET!!!!!!! We hung out with Benjamin! I was reunited with my Pastelito!!! IT WAS AMAZING! We drank a beer, ate some dinner, and then watched the most AMAZING sunset ever! I was on a cloud. After the sunset we walked over to his parents summer house and talked and chilled until Maitane picked me up. 

The next day we met Joaquin and Benjamin in Biarritz and the beach. There were women topless at the beach. It was quite weird for me, and here went the “OMG, you are a prude” comments but I mean it’s a shock to just be placed into that kind of environment. Anyway, the beach was nice and it was extremely hot!! After the beach, Maitane and I headed home and got ready for the first night of Fetes de Bayonne. 

The first night was AMAZING, so was the second, and the third Ma Cheri, Agathe arrived by train and we had another great night! On the fourth night, however, I had to go home early because my leg was throbbing! I got bit by something on Tuesday and by now it looked terrible. I went home early with Maitane and her parents. Alli’s mom told me it was a bite and it was infected. She said to put a hot towel on my leg and then press because yellow disgusting pus was going to come out! OMG it was SOOOO GROSS!!! Because it did come out of my leg for about 30 minutes! I wanted to chop my leg off, but whatever I survived! Because I am a champ! 

On Sunday, the last day I went over to Benjamin’s house and I slept ALL day!

On Monday, Benjamin, Agathe and I watched the Olympics. I met Bejamin’s mom and we all had a BBQ. Then Agathe, Benjamin, and I got on a train to Paris. My DREAM was coming true, well one of them, I was on my way to Paris with my BESTIES!!! We took some pictures on my Mac on the train and just giggled, ate, and talked! I love them and miss them! SOO MUCH! 

Stay tuned for Paris & Assisi Round 2 Posts! 

PICTURES (=

21 July 2012

Today was my last day in the Scout Camp and now I am on the train, crying. Mer mer! 
Reminds me of when I left Yann at the airport and bawled my eyes out.  

I woke up at 6:17AM to shower in the cold cold showers. Not only was the water cold but it was windy. I then had to wake up the others so they could help me prepare the breakfast burritos. Lucile, was not on board because she thought it was crazy to eat meat in the morning. However, she woke up and helped. And then the kids came and they also helped a little. The best part was that I was the BOSS!

The kids LOVE the breakfast burritos! SUCCESS! They all got up for seconds and they said they were good! After breakfast I got all of my things ready, forgot my scarf and headphones, but said goodbye to the kids and to Lucile and Frodo. Finally, at the station I said goodbye to Yann. I wanted to cry but I held it in! I don’t know when I will see Yann again, but I hope it is soon, I am going to miss him. 

During these last 5 days I have learned so much and accomplished so much more! 

I also have realized that during these days I have felt like a child. Which is weird since I have had to take care of myself for so long. I also felt like a princess, which is also weird. 

Reasons Why I Felt like a Child-Princess: 
- Yann told me a story about the flying male ants
- I always announce when I have to pee
-Yann, Lucile, and Frodo do things for my benifit:
I get a sleeping bag, mat, pillow and I get to sleep whenever we go out to the river even if I didn’t carry the stuff. I also get a sleeping bag and a pillow even thought Yann did not have one. I never get to carry heavy things, and they always give me simple tasks. Actually, I think I probably get the simple tasks because they are easier to explain. 

Anyway, I had the time of my life camping with the scouts. I am extremely happy and thankful. Yann, Lucile and Frodo, I had an amazing time, and you were all so great with me. I will miss you, but look forward to the time we meet again, hopefully there will be toilets this time, and no rice. <3

Now off to another great adventure! 

20 July 2012

The kids came back today!!! It was AWESOME seeing them and they all looked very happy!

However, I am getting ahead of myself. For the first part of the day we all set up the tent and emptied out the van. We went down to the river for breakfast and Yann washed his clothes. Breakfast consisted of bread and nutella. During this time we saw a mama duck and her 8 little ducklings. After going back to the castle we went to Intermarche and bought ingredients to make breakfast burritos! I tried to call M from a public phone but it did not work. But ice cream made everything better, and it was double chocolate! I am actually wondering why Yann ate this since he does not like sweet things.

For lunch we went to another river and ate bread, cheese, tomatoes, and ta-da—the rice was back!!! After lunch I took a nap and then I started looking for some rocks to take back home. During this time, Yann threw a rock at me!!!! At the side of my face and it hit my piercing!

As we were leaving Lucile and I stole Yann’s sock and ran to the car with the keys. We were going to hide in the back of the van and have the guys look for us. They did no such thing! & Yann was not surprised we had his sock! We went to Mayres to look for the old ones but they were not there yet. They called and said they would not be there for a while and so we left back to the Castle were the young ones were waiting. However, as we were driving back to the castle, the old ones called again and said they had arrived to the church, so we turned around. The old ones were so excited to be back and so happy from their trip, they talked and talked and laughed and played and they were just happy, it was great to experience that with them.

Dinner today was delicious and great. I helped prepare dinner, by washing vegetables and fruits for the fruit salad. Frodo, was getting fake angry at me because I was eating the fruits, he actually also ate some! I said my eating was fine because I shared with the kids; I am such a socialist now. Hahaha. While Frodo’s excuse was a sassy one, “It’s my fruit, I paid for it w/my card.”For dinner we had fish with sauce rice and a fruit salad. It was very delicious!

At night we went to bed and all four of us had to sleep in the tent. Lucile was arguing with Frodo about the sleeping arrangements and told him, “Like Ana Laura said, this is not going to work out!” Frodo said something and Lucile just yelled, “I don’t care!” It was hilarious! Before we went to bed we talked about crap, like poop crap. Because there was a secret about crapping in the woods with one of the kids, it was a hilarious story that I cannot repeat. But Lucile was tired of talking about crap, we wake up and talk about crap and we go to sleep and talk about crap.

Crap, crap, crap. Bahaha. How I miss those lovely in their own way days.

Tomorrow morning I am leaving the camp and rejoining civilization. While I am happy I will get to see my friends, I kinda wish I could stay here longer, definitely not going to tell Yann that. ;)

 *Also known as the MOST Perfect Day!

19 July 2012

Today we set up the camp, well the basics because apparently the kids are the ones who will set up the rest. Lucile and I cleaned up and set up the big tent and threw everything in there, Yann and Frodo (Which is what I have come to call Guillaume, because he WANDERS!) made a hole in a hidden place and that will become the bathroom!! Because, oh yeah we are sleeping outside a castle that has TOILETS, but Yann is not letting me use the toilets. But, so far he has let me use them, gosh I feel like he is my father!

Last night I didn’t shower because the showers are socialist showers—they have no hot water, they are side by side and there are no curtains in between. Oh by the way did I mention that they are located outside?!! Yep, they are. So when Lucile and I went to take a shower, not only was I taking a shower in my swim suit, outside, with cold water, BUT people were watching!! Okay maybe not, but Lucile was next to me without a shower curtain in between, and then there was a guy and a girl there too. The guy and girl were working cleaning out weeds and stuff and they offered to leave, BUT everyone already judges me as a prude for being American, that my pride got the best of me. They stayed and continued to work as I showered as fast as I could. I was so humiliated but I was proud of myself for doing it and pretending that it was fine.

We had breakfast/lunch at one of the rivers in Ardèche and we ate CREPES!!!!!!!! Yann made them, I LOVE HIS CREPES!!! Never going to tell him that of course. And I usually call them craps. At the river we also swam and I saw a GIANORMOUS spider. Instead of water today we got ice cream and peach tea! Woot Woot. I made a heart shaped crepe for Delphine’s birthday! I am so excited to see kids and see how they are doing!

After the river we went in search of the young ones! The older ones are soo happy! We surprised Delphine and sang her happy birthday. Along with my heart shaped crepe, Lucile made her a cake shaped one. When we first found the older ones, they had set up their sleeping bags outside a house, the owners allowed them to sleep there. However, after we left the owners invited them in because there was a chance it might rain! WHAT KIND OF SICK SOCIETY IS THIS? Where kids can go hiking about and strangers are nice to them and don’t kill them or kidnap them?! A socialist society!! SICK SICK SICK! 

Finding the younger kids was a little more difficult and frustrating, well not for me, but for Yann, Lucile, and Guillaume. The young ones were arguing and I guess things were not going so well. Even though Yann didn’t say anything, I could see the frustration, disappointment, and worry. I know he was worried even if he said all was fine. I thought that we found the young one’s by a miracle but I guess not. Anyway when we saw them they were tired, angry and some were crying. I have no idea what went down because it was all in French but I took some pictures and then walked away. I felt like an intruder.

So what was explained to me throughout the Young One’s Drama was that they made some bad decisions and they were angry with each other. Yann, Lucile, and Frodo talked to them and it seems like things were fixed. I assumed this mostly because Yann’s expression and his mannerisms changed and were much more relaxed. Wohoo.

After this, we drove, and guess what we were driving to a restaurant!!! NO RICE TODAY!!!! YAY!!! The drive from where we met the young ones and the restaurant something incredible happen: the most amazing thing that turned that day into the MOST amazing day ever! Click Here to Read About It!

At the restaurant, Yann told me he was so proud of me for being such a champ about everything. I felt GREAT, Yann was PROUD of me!! Woot Woot, it is like one of the greatest honors that can be bestowed upon me. He also asked me about what I thought about the whole experience, and I told him. I was so happy with the whole thing, it threw me out of my comfort zone and it was AMAZING. I feel so accomplished and very proud of myself!

Time at the restaurant was great we talked and ate, I had the most amazing salad anyone ever had, along with some ice cream, and I also peed in a toilet. Yes, peeing in a toilet after this was just one of the many highlights of my days!

Picture taken while we are squished in the car — also this was our first try! 

19 July 2012

It was the most perfect day, we went to a river where we swam and had crepes! Yann Made Crepes! I also drank chocolate with my crepes, GREATEST meal ever! After lunch we all did our own thing, I slept for a long time.

Then we went to the car, so the car only fits three people but we fit four people in there and it was GREAT! After seeing the kids we all went back in the car and to be honest it was a moment of absolute perfection! One of those moments in which you feel content, happy, and at peace—you wish you could bottle it up and save it for a rainy day. A moment so unique and special that the moment you realize how important it is you close your eyes and wish that the memory stays engraved in you forever.

So why was riding in car in the middle of nowhere France so important? 3 days ago 2 out of the three people in the car were strangers and at this moment it seemed like we all had been besties forever. Yann and I also only knew each other for about a week and a half and here we were  having a blast! We were all happy, smiling and singing to Somebody That I Used to Know. We were all squished in the car, except for Yann who hogged all the room ;)—but nonetheless we were happy. It felt like we all belonged in this exact moment and nothing could go wrong.

Nothing did go wrong, it just got better. 

18 of July 2012

I have derived a conclusion:
The woods are a GIANT bathroom—oh and by the way the woods are not woods but someone’s backyard :O. What someone you might ask? Well it is this very nice lady who is allowing the scouts to use her property FREE of charge, and allowing them to use water and electricity. That is the way I saw this thing when I first arrived with the scouts and I continued to remind Yann of this every time he told me I had to pee or crap on the woods, I just could not do it. He, Lucille, and Guillaume just laughed at the story and at me ALL the time. 

The kids left today on their BIG adventure. I am terrified for them for a couple of reasons:

No. 1 they are young, age ranges from 14-17

No. 2 they will be in groups, 14/15 together and 16/17 together

No. 3 They are all burnt from yesterdays activity. Yann NEVER made them put sunblock on he only told them to do it, and he could have cared less if they did or not. According to him it is their responsibility. His views are so different from mine! Talk about culture clashes! 

No. 4 They are probably tired since they stayed up late to prepare their meals.

No. 5 They are not excited at all!

The kids left with GIANT backpacks with baguettes sticking out of them, hard-core hiking boats and a map.

After they left we drove to the police station and it was closed. I did not know a police station could be close in the middle of the day on a Wednesday. We were going to give the police the map with the trails the two groups were taking so that in case something happen, maybe Yann won’t be in jail for as many years ;).

A great thing did happen today, I GOT TO PEE in a TOILET!!!!! We went to the Intermarche, a super market here in France. We went to the store in search of crackers and marshmallows to make S’mores even though we never did. I cannot believe Yann was in the States for so long and he NEVER had a S’more. He said they would make them after I left and I hope they did.

After lunch, were we had some delicious rice we made a voicemail. Apparently all the parents call Guillaume’s cell phone to receive updates on what is going on with the kids. They were also having a competition with another camp to see who could have the most creative voicemail and for that I was featured in one of them! It was nerve-racking!

After the voicemail, we were supposed to take a nap but instead we put everything in the truck and drove to the Château de Ventadour! BUT first we stopped for ICE CREAM!!! It was GREAT.

So the Castle is 1,000 years old and Yann told me a bunch of great facts, but he said I didn’t care. Bahaha, I did but pretended not to. We went swimming near the Castle and then I tried to climb a wall to get back up to the road and walk to the castle. I failed miserably! MISERABLY!!!!!! Yann, freaked out I think he was worried I was going to cry. In the end I held it in and then he showed me how to climb the wall. And I have decided I am going to practice now, on the climbing wall in Baun. Which I have to cimb to the top this year.

Another SUCCESS today, I SET UP A TENT!!!!! Well more like Lucile told me what to do and she did most of the work and I helped! BUT I DID IT!

For dinner we had that delicious (not really) rice with tomatoes, cheese and bread. And to add to the GREATNESS of the day M texted me today! WAHOOO!!

Well now off to sleep.

OH WAIT, so update on the kids: 
the young ones  got offered a place to stay for free at a 3 star camping site, that not only has showers, a TOILET, and a POOL! The older ones got some free lunch somewhere and they have made it safely to their sleeping site.

Yann, was right this is true independence and it works and the kids are not dead. 

17 July 2012 (Journal Entry)

Today was my first official full day with the scouts and Yann. It was a day filled with adventures and mishaps. My arms are in extreme pain and I think they are going to fall off, at this point I actually wish they would fall off.

We woke up at 6AM and went to a canoeing place. I didn’t eat breakfast and I am not sure if the young’s or the other counselors also missed it. We were on these rafting things ALL day, it was 24KM of pain, frustration and FUN!

For the first half I was on the same kayak as Yann, and that was great, even if I did most of the work since I was in the front. We talked for a while and just chilled, but I was SOO angry once I realized this was going to last more than 1 or 2 hours. In addition, he made climb this BIG GIANT rock and then jump from it. I was terrified but I was peer pressured by Yann and the scouts! After I did it though, I felt like a CHAMP! Man, I am seriously getting this camping thing down!

After jumping into this hole in the shallow river, we kept on going. I was starving. The kids were starving. Yann was calm. My arms felt like they were going to fall off but I refused to let the kids think I could not do it. And if teenagers could do it, I could do it! I am not going to be some obese American! Thankfully, we stopped to get a bite to eat! It was make your own sandwich and I could not be happier to get half a baguette to myself, I even asked for seconds!— which by the way I always miss out on them since they ask in French and I have no idea that they are asking this! Also I am so sure Yann forgets I am here half the time and that he has to translate. 

After lunch we kept on kayaking! This time I was in a boat with Lucile, one of the camp directors with Yann. Our experience did not start so well, our kayak kept swirling to one side and we would get stuck! =/ mer mer. By the second half, I was extremely tired and my arms hurt so much but somehow we made it through. The kids are so strong by the way, they were just going and going, I couldn’t believe it, but then again they were under Yann’s direction so of course they were great!

Once we were back at the campsite, the youths were supposed to have reflection time because tomorrow they leave for a GRAND adventure for three days. They are going to walk ALL by themselves from Ardèche to the Château de Ventadour. Yann is going to go to prison if they die or something bad happens—he laughs at me and thinks I am dumb when I mention this to him. Anyway, the kids did not have reflection because they were not ready for their big adventure tomorrow, so thankfully we got to sleep early. I am so tired right now and my arms still hurt.

I did learn a valuable lesson today, NEVER agree to do anything sporty with Yann. I expected a nice day canooing/kayaking and realizing, instead I went to unofficially train for the olympics. Even though I was a little angry at the beginning, I could not be happier now, because again I have overcame another obstacle. ! Wahoo! 

I spent most of the afternoon asking the “Youngs” as we called them, where the bathroom was and they all just pointed to the woods.

Conclusion, there is no bathroom.

16 July 2012 (Journal Entry)

Right now I am sitting in the ground in a very naturesque place. I am not sure what this place is called so I will ask Yann later…Ardèche. I am with Yann in the Scouts camp and I am very scared to take a shower. The shower is a blue tarp tied around three trees, a hose, and a bar of soap that is good for the environment. How do they do it? If someone saw me I would die of embarrassment. True story. Also, I really have to pee, and to be honest I didn’t ask Yann because I am afraid of the answer.

Right now the scouts are playing a game that has 50 different rules. They are yelling and seem to be having fun, they are also very very dirty, so they will all be taking showers later.

Getting here from the station took some time; it actually felt longer than what it was. Yann and I stopped to eat, and I had a four-cheese pizza, it was similar to the ones in Argentina. On our way to the camping site Yann told me how he hitchhiked from around this area to Nantes! Something typical in France. This whole socialist thing seems to work…

When I got to the train station I was extremely confused because the bus dropped me off on the side of the train station, and I could not figure out where the train station was. Finally, I found it.

As I waited for Yann to arrive I purchased my train tickets for Bayonne, Paris and Barcelona. Let me just say that RailEurope is such an expensive website and a rip off for reservations! I almost bought my reservation for $22 when it only cost 9,50€. All I need to do now is book my hostel/hotels for Paris and Barcelona for when I come back from Italy.

I really want to take a nap! But, I am too lazy and tired to get my towel. I just heard a “wohoo” so maybe someone won the game.

No one won the game when I heard the wohoo. We all had dinner together, and the lady who allows the scouts to use her property came to join them for dinner too. The kids cooked the dinner by themselves, and then they served it and served water. This is such a bizarre experience. Oh and btw the age of these kids is 14-17. They are so mature, or at least seem like it.

After dinner the Youngs cleaned up and then they performed a skit! It was hilarious; they even incorporated games into the skit. I did not understand most of the skit but it was great to watch.

I have not been able to pee in the woods yet but I did shower! SUCCESS!!! There is no way I could not shower. The water was cold, since it came straight out of a hose and I showered at night so no one could see me. Although, I freaked out for like two seconds, I figure with some creativity and patience I CAN do anything!

Introduction

Before I begin my epic story about something that completely thre me off my game and comfort zone while traveling, I need to write a small disclaimer. I have never been much of a nature person. It was not actually until 2010 when I really started getting into outdorsy activities. However, when I think of camping I think of pampered Camp Okizu camping. Okizu has these wonderful and beautiful facilities—cabins, decks, mattresses, running water, hot water for showers, food that is delicious and already made, and toilets. Because most of the camping I have done has been while volunteering at Camp Okizu, whenever someone tells me about camping this is the way I picture it. So when Yann invited me to go camping, an alarm went off in my head—after all, this is the crazy French guy who biked from Stockton to Mount Diablo. However, the feeling of happiness—a feeling that comes to mind whenever I think of Okizu—overshadowed the alarm. Thus explaining why I was so calm when I decided to go camping with Yann and the French Scouts.

I have named each day by a different chapter based on the crazyness of the chapter. Haha, also everyday we somehow got to the topic of crap, because I couldn’t manage to pee or poop in the woods—or crap like Yann called it.