The End of the Beginning

Well, as week one draws to a close, i guess its time to reflect on what i have done so far. I've been trained in animal handling on Birds: Hornbill, Chicken, Screech Owl, Dove; Reptiles: Boa Constrictor, Blue Toungued Skink, Alligator Skink, Alligator, Box Turtle; Mammals: Rabbit, Chinchilla, Hedgehog, Guinea Pig, Armadillo, Opossum; Other: Tarantula, Cochroach, Scorpion.....I am sure there are more I am simply forgetting, but it has been so overwhelming to remember how to handle each animal that I almost dont care any more.... We have had a crash course in interpretation, several discussions and tours of the zoo, an overview of the curriculum, and an overnighter where we played the games and sang the songs that we will be using with our campers this summer. Today we get customer service training and then CPR certification. Next week we shadow the experienced camp teachers and get first aid certified. Somewhere in between all of that I have to get a second drug test done for my work at the Gift Shop.... I'm pretty sure i start work there next weekend but the schedule is so confusing!! I really miss home. I keep telling myself that this is a great experience and well worth it, but so far i simply miss Maryland. I miss the park and my lambs and my friends. I miss my summer and what it could have been... I want to be home. I dont like being the youngest one in a house of 15 other girls. I dont like being one of, if not THE youngest in my program.... While it is an honor that they thought i could handle it, i also feel almost like that kid that skipped a grade in school; of course they will do fine academically, but socially they feel left out and looked down on.... UGH!! well, thats all for now. I'm sure it'll get worse before it gets better, but should be over with soon enough... We shall see.

Until Next Time,
~Elena