Thanks, but no thanks. Almost.
Today I committed myself to two more years with the Germany youth exchange. This is very exciting because it means that not only will I help host the exchange here in the US this year, but I will travel back to Germany next fall.
Now here's the catch: a week of the exchange here in the US is in the Boundary Waters. I knew this going in, and I almost said "no" to the whole thing based on the week in the Boundary Waters. Don't get me wrong, the Boundary Waters is a beautiful place, and there's nothing like being out on the water all day and cooking your meal over an open fire. But I am not the camping type. I am all about hiking, canoeing, sitting by a fire under the stars, and even fishing. But at the end of the day, I want to lay my head on a pillow in a soft, clean bed. And when I have to go to the bathroom, I want there to be a clean restroom (with a flush toilet) nearby. I hate using dirty public restrooms - pit toilets just about send me over the edge. I can hardly bring myself to stay in a Super 8 - and I'm supposed to go camping. For a week.
My mom tells me that we'd take long trips when I was a tiny little girl, driving across several states, and I'd go all day without going to the bathroom. Even at 2 years old, I knew that I hated filthy public restrooms. So while the thought of doing the exchange again is exciting, I seriously feel sick to my stomach thinking about camping for a week. The thought of sleeping on the ground, not showering, and using a pit toilet for a week makes me just about ready to drop the whole exchange all together. No kidding.
I guess it's only a week of my life, and I've spent time in the Boundary Waters before. I'll do what I did last time - focus on the good: the water, the stars, the good conversation. We'll spend a week on the water and then we'll come back to civilization and do...well, more civilized things...like go to museums, take a bike tour of the city, go to a few lectures, and see a few shows.
Because a year from now, instead of feeling apprehensive about spending a week without a bed or a shower, I'll be preparing to go to Europe for two weeks with a great group of students. And that makes it all worth it. I hope.