The NC Dish...

North Carolina was an adventure from the start.

My flight was delayed for a few hours and I spent a lovely amount of time in the Birmingham airport. Not a big deal honestly, I just read, slept on the ground and texted back and forth with my soon to be Big-Mama-director Kathy Jo.

When I did arrive in North Carolina it was close to 11:30 and we still had an hour or so to drive to Kathy Jo and Andy's place. Once I got there we sat and talked for a little while and then I went and happily slept for 9 hrs.

In the morning I headed to church with Kathy Jo and Andy and took a moment to get up and talk to the congregation about what I'm doing as a Peace Intern. I mentioned that I was traveling the country leading workshops on Peace and Social Justice issues, working with high school students at different CYF camps.

And then... I had my first question about my allegiance or non-allegiance to the communist party as a result of these word choices.

Although the encounter was somewhat comical - it was a good reminder of the importance of defining what it is I'm doing. And a great exercise in patience. I am happy to report I emerged unscathed by the confrontation and I think that my new friend is both relieved I'm not a communist and aware that the words "social" and "justice" in the same sentence are not bad words for us to use in church.

Once I reached camp it was a whirlwind of activities, small groups, cabin time and games. Camp Caroline was very accommodating indeed.

My favorite experience as an Intern in Carolina is difficult to put a finger on. I had a very controversial interest group on global poverty and the wealth disparities we see around the world... and I got hit from all angles with opinions.

It was fantastic.

I thoroughly believe the following: if they are ticked off and want to say so, GREAT. Because if they're ticked off - they heard me - and if they are talking about their thoughts and feelings - we have a chance to be in conversation about the issue.

The other experience I cherished was a 40 minute keynote to the whole camp on language. A keynote on the words we use and the power they have. It was a hard hitting message and I wasn't shy about the delivery. I could not have been more proud of the campers. They were incredibly receptive and there were multiple follow-up conversations that I will hold in my heart for the rest of the summer.

The one thing that breaks my heart about Camp Caroline is this: I missed the Dolphins.

I missed sailing and in the process I missed a school of Dolphins.

If I had been out at free-time sailing instead of working on my keynote, I would have been feet away from wild dolphins.

Tragic.

I guess to hit a homer on the language presentation I had to miss flipper and the fam.