Working at the Zoo

So I returned from Vienna a couuple of weeks ago (on a pretty eventful flight home) and I have begun my job at the Detroit Zoo this summer. I keep a journal while I was in Vienna, but didn't have very consistent internet access so maybe I will post those later (thinking about it I am not sure if I even finished my last couple of days of journaling so I should do that....). Vienna was awesome and I wish that I had more time there. It definately makes me want to go be in Europe again for multiple weeks since living in a place really made a great expereince.

My official title at the zoo is Summer Safari Camp Teacher. I have finished my training and this week starts our first full week of camps. I am excited and a bit nervous. We had a training camp day with staff members kids and since my group only had 4 kids and another 6-8 camp only had 3 we decided to join together. The other teacher, Mr. Nate, did most of the leading throughout the day, which was nice since it gave my the ability to see how other teachers lead their camps, but it makes me more nervous tomorrow having approximatly 10 kids for me and my aid (and I think all the groups have a volunteen this week which might be nice) instead of having 7 kids for 4 staff members. With the training camp day, I think that I have realized that I have a the worst luck for first days ever. I had 2 for 4 kids have medical issues (1 minor and 1 major) so my summer camp season is not off to a good ratio. I had a great team dinner afterwards, but I hope that things will look up.

When I worked at Life Time as a lifegaurd, my first shift after training was a 8-midnight shift, where I had one other lifeguard (who also was having his first day) for the first half and was alone the second half. There proceeded to be a thunderstorm that turned into a tornado. I had also been told that there would be someone coming after me for the following shift. I first of all just thought there was a bad thunderstorm until I left and one of the night ops members told me to be careful since there had been a tornado. I had heard an announcement earlier in the evening and had asked to be repeated on the radio and no one ever responded. I had evacuated the pool deck, but didn't even know what I was supposed to do. Then when no one showed up at the end of the shift, I tried getting ahold of my supervisors, my assistant department head, and lastly my department head (who was at a wedding). I ended up getting off at 1:30am. I then proceded to drive home, which took twice as long as normal and I almost got stranded in my sub since it was flooded with our streets being torn up. Oh and did I mention, I had my high school graduation the next day? 

The rest of my summer at Life Time ended up going well so I am hoping that this summer turns in that direction as well. Time to finish watching this movie with my family before heading to bed to be well rested this week!