Our Last School Camp Eva

Bellingham Port, Aboard M/V Matanuska

Find a quiet space in your mind. Now if you could for a moment, imagine those qualities of Americans that an Australian might find affronting. For me these are:
1. Loudness
2. Opinionated but not necessarily informed
3. Overbearing enthusiasm

Now try to imagine an American that would most embody those qualities. Perhaps it would be a seventeen year old student who, in a few months, will graduate from high school. Surely that would be an excitable American. Now, multiply that person by thirty. In such a gaggle, volume would not only be magnified thirty-fold, but socially each one would need to try that little bit harder to gain voice, gain attention over their companions. Each would find it essential that their important opinion was delivered amongst their peers, not letting information, or lack there of, to detract from this. Now, let’s put these thirty individuals in an appropriate context, how about a SCHOOL CAMP. Is there anything more exiting than school camp? Not in my experience, no. Finally, for the Australians reading this, what could be the most annoying position for this gaggle of yanks to be in proximity to you? Let’s try this:

Imagine you are embarking upon a journey of grand proportions, indefinite timeframe, and spiritual undertones. The journey commences on a boat. The route your berth will take is along the Alaska Marine Highway, through the epic scenery of the Inner Passage, where you might see whales, porpoise, sea lions, otters, moose, brown and back bears. Imagine that the pamphlet on the boat would say, ‘This magical land of forests, fjords, peaceful communities, and abundant wildlife will enchant you with its mixture of Alaska Native, early Russian, and colorful Gold Rush history’. Imagine that for this three day journey you will camp out on the top deck, the solarium, separated from the stars by only thin perspex.

Can you imagine such a journey? Is the potential serenity and gravitas of it clear in your mind? Now, carefully take that gaggle of American youths and position them surrounding your island of refuge, the deckchair upon which you will sleep each night. Finally equip the youngsters with a guitar, harmonica, and a SET OF BONGOS. And there you have it: my current situation. My spiritual journey through the inner passage accompanied by the soundtrack of 'Our Last School Camp Eva'. I can only pray they are all non-smoking Christians who are sworn to celibacy until marriage.