We left home at 10:45am and arrived in LA before we had even left, at 10:30am the same day. The 18 hour plane trip had gone well, the kids didn't sleep the whole way, but I managed a few hours...hence the many photos of me asleep on the plane!!! After leaving a Melbourne winter, we arrived to a LA summer for a day of rest before travelling on to Ohio. We had already been on two planes, and we were to board two more before reaching our final destination. While waiting to board the final plane talk turned to what our host family would be like, what kind of rooms there would be at the village and excitement mounted. Especially when we found that our final plane trip was to be on a 12 seater plane!!! All the kids took one look at the plane and told me that they would be sick if we had to travel on that thing!! But we managed to board the plane and make it the whole way to Dayton, Ohio without anyone throwing up!
As we got off the plane I could see a small group of people with their faces pressed against the windows of the airport. After one look at their T-shirts I knew who they were, and just by looking at our matching hats and shirts, they knew who we were, too. After photographing the plane and the pilots I finally managed to drag the kids inside to meet our host family and the four village staff. There was lots of hugs and strange looks from my kids, it was the first time they had been quiet since we left and they weren't quite sure who these strange people were who were hugging them. Little did they know, in four weeks they would not want to let these people go.
After a short trip through the countryside we arrived at our host family's home. The kids had a lovely time telling the family all about life in Australia and were so proud to give them their presents. I slept soundly that night, knowing that in the morning I would leave the kids with this wonderful family and have three kid free days at the village. In the morning we were treated to a typical American breakfast. Then the kids went swimming and I went to camp.
It wasn't long before we were all settled into the lifestyle of typical days at a village. For us, a typical day started at 7:30am when the 'delegation of the day' would wake us all up. The ways and means of waking up a whole village varied from a gentle shake and kiss on the cheek, to clanging of pots and pans, or my delegation's favourite, dancing up and down the halls to the Lion King soundtrack! After crawling out of bed, and dragging some clothes on we all met at the flag poles, to sing the CISV song and raise the flag. Before starting each country would say good morning in their own language.... I can still remember the Finnish goodmorning "owaooosomething something".
After flag it was time for breakfast, then room clean up when tormented leaders would be heard to beg "please...just make your bed once..please...". And then Chore groups, where each delegation had a different chore to do, ranging from washing dishes, collecting trash, and cleaning toilets.
Activity one started at 9:30, activity two at 10:30 then free time till lunch at 12:00. Meal times were a fantastic mix of happiness and horror. Each child had a place name which were scattered across the tables to mix all the kids. Before each meal announcements would be made and then translated. And while waiting to be called to eat we would often have singing competitions, seeing who could make up the funniest song... "I hate the mosquitos yes I do..."
After kuch was rest time...when the children were supposed to stay in their rooms and rest....but sometimes it didn't work that way. Leaders were glad of the free time to plan activities, race down to the bank or catch up on a few minutes of sleep themselves. 2:30, time for activity 3, then activity 4 at 2:45.
At 3:45 all the leaders and some of the staff piled into the leaders room for a meeting. While we discussed the plans for the next day and talked about problems that we may have, the JCs were franticly trying to run a calm and organised JC Shop. The kids would queue to be served drinks and candy... then spend the rest of their free time eating it. It was this time that I encouraged my kids to use to take showers, but invariably it wasn't till Delegation time at 4:45 that I was actually able to stand there and make sure they did. Delegation time was a time for us to talk..just our delegation. It was a time to read and write letters, a time to write diarys, a time to practice for our National night, a time to be together and pick on your leader!!
Dinner was at six, again a mixture of torture and joy. Then time to get together in planning groups to decide on activities, then the evening program, usually a National Night...but that's another story. We tried to make it to flag at 9pm but most nights we didn't succeed. We said goodnight "Gute Nacht" "Night y'all" "owaosomething something",sang the song, lowered the CISV flag and headed off to get in our Pjs ready for lullabys.
Lullabys was always my favourite part of the day. All 65 of us, crammed onto the stage. Sitting, and lying on top of each other, sharing song books, singing and just being together. It's one part of the village that, when I think about it now, makes me want to both laugh and cry. After a few songs it was time for a hug line! All the leaders, JCs and staff would line up and the kids would pass down the line saying goodnight to each adult, with a hug, a kiss, or just a handshake. Then off to bed...well that was the theory, but in reality it meant a million wonderful excuses to get out of going to sleep "I just have to brush my teeth" "I just have to say goodnight to..." etc... But finally all would be dark and quiet and another day at the village was over, at least for the kids. The rest of us on the other hand had planning to do, or letter writting or a free moment to take a shower or talk to a friend. But we too eventually cleared our beds of the bugs and fell asleep. After all tomorrow was another day.