I survived.
I survived three days, and two nights with my fifth-graders.
Three days with five wild boys, four girls with attitudes, and approximately four Rambo knives, two bows and arrows, one sneaky box of matches, and worst of all, a can of Axe body spray.

About a month ago, I learned that I had to go to Forest School with my students during the second week of June. Forest School? I could only imagine what that would be. I pictured a Boy Scout adventure in which I would have to teach the kids survival techniques in the wilderness.

Turns out, it’s just a quirky name for summer camp. It’s essentially equivalent to our summer camps, only you know, the Hungarian version. The focus is on learning about Hungarian culture and history. I learned only shortly before departure that my class was going to explore Tata, Hungary, for three days.

Tata is a small town in northwestern, Hungary, about two hours outside of Budapest. Every town outside of Budapest is small. Luckily, Tata has a reputation for being a beautiful, summer resort town. Centered around the large Old Lake, it has remained an escape from the city heat and crowds since the reign of King Matyas.
On a hot Monday morning, we somehow managed to get all of the fifth graders onto the train on time.

DAY ONE
Upon arrival, we hopped on an adorable little tourist train, and toured the town. The tour lasted about 20 minutes, and we succeeded in blocking traffic numerous times. Tata is indeed beautiful. The large lake is called Old Lake, and it is surrounded by willow trees and English gardens of lavander and wildflowers. Little pathways lead up to Tata Castle at the edge of the lake.

Our hotel reminded me of a KOA campsite; bunkbeds in cabins, and junk-food buffets.

I quickly found my place as the English-speaking camp counselor. I had three main jobs on the first day:
1) To constantly, and kindly remind the kids that saying “YOLO” isn’t cool.
2) To fretfully show the kids how to get glitter out of their eyes. (I panicked)
3) To find the darkest, creepiest area of the campground to tell a scary story.

DAY TWO
We toured Tata Castle and learned about its history. The tour was entirely in Hungarian, but my wonderful co-teacher, Andi, is always willing to act as my translator. I was surprised to learn that Tata is much older than it looks. It was once an important Roman city, then called Dotis. The museum was filled with well-preserved ancient artifacts.
After the tour, my co-teachers told the kids that they could have one hour to explore the castle ruins. I guess by explore they meant climb all over it like little monkeys. I seemed to be the only one on the premises concerned about the welfare of both the children and the ruins, so I eventually stopped telling them to be careful.
We also completed a very long and very sweaty hike up to a pretty nature reserve. There we checked out prehistoric fossils of mammoths and other animals that were found in the area. I am constantly surprised by the depth of the history of this country.

I had three main jobs:
1) “Charlotte, Charlotte, please take a slo-mo video of me jumping/dancing/running!” I think they love my iPhone more than they love me.
2) To awkwardly supervise a very pre-teen game of truth or dare. “Umm no, dare her to do something else.”
3) To teach them the fine art of roasting marshmallows and making s’mores around the campfire. They’re honorary Americans now.

DAY Three
On the last day, my co-teachers and I said a quiet prayer of thanks, for making it to the end unscathed.
We walked to the English Gardens near the lake. There they again climbed all over old, probably important, ruins. They then begged me to play Number War. This is a game where everyone wears a number on their forehead, such as 1789. You can’t let the other team identify your number. If someone from the other team calls out your number, you are out. You thus have to run around while covering your forehead on tree trunks, walls, etc.
I destroyed the other team.

One lesson that I learned from this adventure was that the Hungarian school system is so much more relaxed than our American system. I already knew this to a certain extent, however I was still surprised that my coteachers allowed the kids to bring pocket knives, bows and arrows, and sharp sticks to the camp. In America, anything remotely sharp would (stupidly) be considered a weapon. I have always thought that our system is filled with far too many rules. The Hungarians to their credit, know how to let kids be kids. They did not make a big deal out of the knives, and they even whipped out their own pocket knives to show the kids. I was also able to teach the boys how to properly and safely carve sticks (to use to roast marshmallows, of course). This relaxed approach is so refreshing, and I have to admire the Hungarians for this.

Now when I say that I survived, I actually mean that I had a great time. I might actually like hanging out with this kids. (Don’t tell them that!)