2001 A Shore Odyssey

2001:A Shore Odyssey

By Tara, Senior Troop 258

I am 16 years old, an Ocean County Girl Scout for 11 years (same troop-#258). I was one of the chosen few to get the chance to go on the Wider Op, held here in our own county, our own state! This summer I entered the property of the all woman's college, Georgian Court, and walked into an adventure I had no clue of. I was nervous, not knowing what to expect, not knowing if I would make friends, and not ready to be so close to home, yet so far. Little did I expect for all my fears to vanish by dinner time

I heard the news of being accepted into the "2001: A Shore Odyssey", and I couldn't stop the excitement! Before I knew it I had 20 e-mails each day from girls all around the country (and Germany). As the first day snuck up on me, the excitement turned into nervous anticipation. I entered a world where I knew no one, thinking that maybe it would stay that way, not knowing what to expect from 79 other girls. The first night I met a few girls, yet I was home sick (ha imagine that, at home and homesick!) Over the next few days I met so many new people from all over the place (Alabama, Florida, California, Texas. . .). I made friends that I wouldn't be able to make anywhere but on this trip. In those 13 days, I became so close with some, that it was so hard saying good-bye, feeling like we knew each other forever.

"2001: A Shore Odyssey" was an experience of a lifetime. I had the chance to make close friends, with girls I otherwise would never get to meet. Each of the girls brought with them their own personality and values, along with their own style. I was one in 80, so many girls to meet, so many names and traits, so little time to get to know them!

"Why would you want to go on a Wider Op so close to home?" people asked me. Even if the Wider Op is located in my home county, I haven't had the chance to see many of the things we had the chance to see. For example, I have never been to the statue of Liberty, or Medieval Times (both are wonderful); I've never seen the play "Aida" or a professional baseball game; I've never been to the Hard Rock Cafe, or on a big boat like the Schooner Meerwald program. I loved the true colors program so much (I'm a blue!). We had the chance to see and do so many things. I learned so much about our area, stuff that it's funny I didn't know.

I was on the second bus, the bus with the older girls. There were four days when the buses went to different places. We became used to seeing the same people each day. I woke up to see the face of my roommate (some days running to the bus because we were late), to see the faces of my friends, and my counselors. At first it was hard getting used to, now it's hard to get used to being home and not having to be out of my room at a certain time and not boarding the trolley buses with 39 other girls. I mean this was the way of my life for two wonderful weeks.

This is a group of us at Ellis Island. Girls in this photo are from Florida, Texas, Montana, Alabama, Caifornia, North Carolina, and New Jersey

Looking back on the experience, I can't find one thing that I would do differently. I loved it all, everything about it, from the people, to the travel. If the opportunity came up and I could do it again, I would do it each summer, never getting tired of it. This experience left a mark, a mark that stretches over my head and my heart. This mark will always be there. And I will look back to it when I feel alone or bored, I will look to the mark and smile.I will know that there is something in my life that can't be traded for anything, it's mine. It's my very own experience that will live in my head and heart forever. So thanks to everyone for that mark!

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