They really (really, really) kept us busy. A typical day starts around 8am with breakfast followed by two 1.5h classes. Between the two classes is le Session d’Information (see right). Le Session d’Information is like a half hour play put on by the animateurs/animatrices (camp counsellors) that explains the day’s activities and other entertaining things. Then it’s lunch followed by workshops at 2pm. At the beginning of the program, each person chooses an activity (dance, theatre, poi, gardening, etc) and at the end of the session there is a performance or exhibition put on by the members of the workshop. I chose Danse Sociale because I thought it might be useful in the future. I’m not so sure of that now. But maybe (just maybe) there will be an occasion to use the Jive or Polka in court. I really wish I had taken poi. I saw the videos of Danse Sociale and I just looked so bored and spaced out. Do I normally look like that? I was trying really hard to smile at the time.

Anyhoo, after the workshops there is always a trip. The trips have limited space so you have to participate in a lottery. The trips go to exciting and magical places like Foodland, PharmaSave and Frenchy’s second-hand clothing store. I know it doesn’t sound that exciting, but really after a week or two on campus it’s just great. I still remember when my name was picked for the Foodland trip. I was dancing and singing all day and telling people how I was going to catch a leprechaun (Foodland being “un endroit de magique”). Trips are followed by dinner and then some form of show or event. The shows included (French) musical groups like Grande Dérangement (Video), Amylie and Blou. I can’t recommend Grand Dérangement enough. They put on a very good show and the music was great even if I didn’t understand what they were saying. There was also a show put on by Luc Tardiff (the cheerleader on the right in the picture above) and Ryan Doucette. Ryan trained as a mime and is hilarious (Videos). It was probably my second favourite show.

Every Friday and Saturday night there was a themed soirée at the campus pub. Themes included: Halloween, Hawaii, the 50s, and Casino. Most of them were just like going to a club and dancing (to French music) and drinking (on that note, drinks were $3.50). The Casino night was much different. They had blackjack, roulette, and horse racing. It was a lot of fun even though I lost everything. Unfortunately, I didn’t understand the whole theme thing before I left, so I didn’t bring any costumes. Luckily, there are a lot of second-hand stores in Nova Scotia and I was able to buy and make my costumes. The only thing I wish I had done different on that front was bring a few better shirts and a tie. I had only one halfway dressy shirt with me and there were at least four occasions on which I needed to dress up. The soirées were a lot of fun but very tiring. I’m not used to going out practically every night for weeks on end.

Next time, I’ll write about learning French.