I’m back from the wilderness!
The weather this year was perfect and there were no vermin except for the tick I found one morning attached to my son. But even more importantly, Jonas and Vija (Vee-ya) were a year older and much more independent, so I was able to ease up on the helicopter parenting a little bit and do weather balloon parenting instead.
Jonas, for example, was able to dig in the dirt at his leisure and help himself to a peanut butter sandwich, cucumbers, and a hard boiled egg from the mess hall buffet during every meal without me constantly breathing down his neck. I did, however, draw the line at seven slices of Velveeta that one day at lunch.
- Everyone knows a peanut butter sandwich tastes better when you make it yourself and add a little salt.
A small group of us formed a camp choir and learned two traditional Lithuanian songs, which we performed during talent night. Unlike the love songs and folk ballads I am accustomed to singing, these songs were full-throated a Capella hoedown type ditties you sing with your chest voice when you’re working in the fields. They are sung loudly and with great gusto so that even the guys in the next field over can hear you and keep rhythm with everyone else as they’re cutting hay.
I was born to sing these songs.
Participating in the choir is just one of the cool things I did at Lithuanian camp this summer. I also:
Attended several lectures and participated in a scintillating discussion about existentialism and personal responsibility.
Saw Saturn through a telescope. It looked just like you’d imagine Saturn would. In fact, I’m not entirely convinced that it wasn’t a sticker of Saturn stuck to the telescope lens.
Learned how to make Lithuanian farmer’s cheese (How-To post coming soon!)
Learned how to do block printing, which is my new passion in life.
Took a photography class and had my pictures displayed in the camp art show, uh-huh.
Did a little basket weaving.
Attended a gourmet pizza making class taught by my friend V’s husband, Chef V.
- Chef V better not catch you eating processed foods.
And chilled out in my bunk.
- Don’t be jealous of my totally awesome animal print sleeping bag.
The P-Dawg for his part learned how to make beer and participated in Conversational Lithuanian language class again this year. He sang a Lithuanian battle song with his classmates during talent night and they got a standing ovation, which I’m sorry to say my hoedown songs did not. There’s something about a bunch of American husbands singing traditional Lithuanian folk ballads that really impresses a crowd.
- Alus (Beer)
Jonas and V-meister performed as well. The V-meister danced and did a magic trick and Jonas had a supporting role in a song about a family who goes to the woods and shoots an owl, brings it home, and eats it for dinner.
He played the mom.
It was really a fabulous week except for one thing -
I left one of my kids there.
The V-meister is staying on for a week and a half of Lithuanian youth camp. No parents allowed!
And though I’m pretty sure she’s having the time of her life, I’m really wishing I had a crystal ball I could use to peek in on her one, two, three, or seven times a day.
I hope she’s not too homesick.
I hope she’s found a friend.
I hope she doesn’t get a fever or throw up or break her leg.
I hope she’s eating vegetables and brushing her hair.
And I hope I can make it until next Wednesday without driving up there to apply some de-tangler and serve her a square meal.
More photos on my Flickr account here.
*Photo courtesy of Rūta Musionis
Did you like this? Subscribe to the blog. (It's free!)
OK you must be one of Julija’s friends with whom I grew up. I’m Lithuanian and very, very jealous of you right now. I hope you don’t mind that I said so. Loved the blog………….
Labas Kris! Yep, I used to live a few blocks away from their family. And I think I sing with your mom in choras
P.S. You should come next year!
You did voodvorking and veaving?! I’m jealous.
Maybe my Adomas and your Vija will slow dance this year at JAS.
We can only hope!
wow. camp with activities for grown-ups? i want to be lithuanian.
Yes! They run two weeks of camp just for families and the rest of the summer is filled with youth and high school camps.
Now why would you worry about something so silly as a broken leg at camp????
(Love your blog. Even more – loved meeting you!!)
I’m so glad I got to meet you, too! In fact, I think you should start your own blog. You have a wonderful artistic eye and a great sense of humor.
umm… also – The V-meister will be fine. Did you not see her “shy” poses in some of my photos? She is going to be one heck of a dramatic actress someday. If not by next week.
Margaret wants to know where Lithuanian Camp was…but you may want to think twice about divulging that information to a Pole.
The location of Lithuanian camp is top secret.
So the only question remaining is “How does one become Lithuanian?” Looks like a blast!
“Saw Saturn through a telescope. It looked just like you’d imagine Saturn would. In fact, I’m not entirely convinced that it wasn’t a sticker of Saturn stuck to the telescope lens.”
Yes! I saw Saturn through a telescope in New Zealand and the guy supervising even said “I know that looks like someone stuck a sticker on there, but I promise you it’s real. You’re really looking at Saturn.”
Yeah, it was surreal. All of a sudden I was like, “Wow. These scientists really know what they’re talking about.”
Sounds like you had an awesome week! I really enjoyed reading about it and seeing your pictures!
Thanks Jen! I hope your summer is going well, too!
Wow, what wonderful memories your family will have! That camp looks and sounds like it was pretty amazing. Glad you had a great time! I hope to find something similar when my two get a little older, it’s got to be such a great experience.
I’m ubber jealous of you right now! Even though I’m not Lithuanian. But Polish and Luthuanian are like cousins, really. I have to see if there is such a camp for Poles in the US. If not, don’t be surprised if a Polish American family shows up in Lithuanian camp next year
Sounds like such a fun trip. All such fun things I’d want to do (basket weaving, block printing, etc), but don’t have the time to actually do! And yes, totally jealous of your awesome sleeping bag!
Looks like you guys had a blast! I’m looking forward to the farmers cheese post. Sounds delicious!
I wanna go to Lithuanian family camp too!!!!!! That sounds like SO MUCH FUN!!!!! I love that your husband went to the beer making class. HAHAHA! That would definitely be the only class my hubby took too. Hehe.
Your pictures are amazing. What wonderful memories you are making with your family! And I can’t believe Vmeister is there all by herself! She is growing up too fast. I hope the week flies by quickly for you and that she doesn’t throw up or break her leg.
Oh, I love this. Makes me so nostalgic for summer camp. How neat that you get to go as a family!
Pingback: How to Make Farmer’s Cheese Like Your Grandmother Did | RimaRama