My children were bouncing off the walls Wednesday waiting for Camp Mujigae to start...to make new friends and play with some old ones and learn about Korea. We looked forward to saying hi to our old counselors and making friends with new ones. We learned about Korean history, learned how say and write words in Hangul, had a Korean folktale where we learned about the sun and moon, and more. Each day we left Mujigae saddened that we couldn't stay overnight with the seniors and counselors. We ate lunch there for 2 days and dinner there for one day.
My children each have their counselors who just they just adore and look forward to talking with all the time. Seong Tae moved up from Discovery to Explorer and just loved the classes he did. He talked with his counselors and made it a huge point to hug them and say goodbye to both of them today we left camp. One of his counselors even paid for Seong Tae's lunch today!!! The friendships that he form at camp are just immeasurable. He looks forward to camp happening next year and so wishes for camp to happen every week.
Eun Seong sought out and hung around her counselor from last year and had a blast hanging with the counselors today. They took her in under their protective wing showering her with sisterly and brotherly love and friendship with plenty of hugs.
Tae Hee loved coming to camp even though she was nervous after moving up to Discovery campers from Rising Stars. I got the privilege to attend camp with her for 2 mornings and learned quite a bit myself. Her counselors were just wonderful with her and the other campers. They got her to come out of her shell for awhile which was very nice to see.
Today marked the last day of Camp Mujigae for this year which always saddens us. We got up early to make the hour drive to campus for me to do the Rising Stars group of campers (those children under 5 years old). I had some help from my friends Libby and her family and Innae. Both were invaluable to me and I do hope that both will be involved with camp for years to come. My group had the same folktales that the older children had. We had two older campers who had siblings in my group and gave away where the brother and sister were hiding in the tree in the folktale. The SIWA students who were playing the brother and sister told the campers shh shh please don't give us away!! It was all quite cute!! Parents and campers alike really enjoyed it. I already have Taekwondo lined up for next year for Rising Stars and can put it on the schedule for SIWA students as well.
The craft that I had done was just perfect for this group. They had a blast making and playing with the drums that I had pulled together.
Our three children submitted essays to Camp Mujigae's 1st Essay Contest and they won!!!! I had to walk Tae Hee up to the steps to receive her award of a Korean bookmark/letter opener/hairpin, gift card, and Korean pencil case. Eun Seong and Seong Tae won similar gifts. We are so very proud of our children for writing their essays and having the courage to submit them in to be judged.
All of the campers got a special gift today as well after lunch. My daughters each received a traditional Korean mask and my son received a traditional Korean woodwind instrument. We are TRULY blessed by this community that has welcomed our family with their loving open arms!!!
We got done with our lunch and finished packing up the gym. We ended up staying until 3 pm as our children wanted to play with other children and hang out with the counselors that were still on campus.
We are all exhausted but very happy that we have attended camp once again. Now I need to determine if I'm doing Rising Stars again next year. Originally I started volunteering so that my daughters would have their Rising Stars program. This year I did it for the other parents' children. Next year who knows what may happen....
I know for a fact that my campers truly love their Mujigae and their Mujigae loves them right back!!!! Thank you to my fellow camp committee members for a job well done. Thank you to the SIWA students and church members for helping to teach the classes!! Thank you to the members of Madang and Sound for teaching our children Pansori and Woodwind classes!!! Thank you to Heather Murphy our wonderful Camp Director!!! Thank you to Wook-Jin Hwang our Cultural Director!!! Thank you to our counselors who make our children feel at ease and have fun with them!! Thank you to our volunteers because without you, camp doesn't happen!!!
Yes this family loves their Mujigae and cannot wait for next year's!!!!
If you are on the fence about going to KAAN which is in Albany, please attend. We'll have a mini Mujigae reunion!!!
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