I’m not sure why I initially applied to this camp. Of course, I have had a love for astronomy for many years, but this is something I never would have done before. Applying to something I had never heard of, in a continent I had never been to, was one of the biggest risks I have taken. But it was also the best decision of my life.
On the first night of camp, I cried for the first time in 7 years. I was overwhelmed, meeting so many new people, worrying that I didn’t fit in with all the oldies. Everyone except me seemed to know each other, with so many inside jokes I didn’t even recognise that people were speaking English. I soon found out, however, that I was not alone. While it may have felt like the entire camp were oldies, half of the people here were just like me. We all had to learn everything from scratch—why there happened to be a line between two unconnected things, why people were talking about constellations so strangely, and why everyone started chasing the NAP while singing.
Thankfully, the people at IAYC are some of the nicest I have ever met. I was quickly made to fit in, and after a couple of days it felt like I had known these people my whole life. The camphouse began to feel like a second home, and I even began to figure out some of those stupid games. Every day brought new fun during NAP, from big wind blows to torpedo time. There were also a number of parties and games, as well as evenings learning about all the different cultures that had gathered under one roof. Unfortunately, no one could do any observing for the first week (Dutch weather…). The skies soon cleared, however, and we spent many nights under the stars, whether looking through a telescope, singing, talking, or just becoming a cuddle puddle.
It wasn’t all fun and games though. There was plenty of reading to do during working group, and some days I had to read the same sentence 6 times before I could properly comprehend it. Each working group had their own unique projects, all somehow equally as interesting. Learning about each project was truly incredible, and made me get a greater understanding of how broad of a topic astronomy is. From STORYTIME, focused on the historical and cultural aspects of astronomy, to YEARN, which had people measuring the expansion of the universe and deriving the Friedmann Equations on their own, each group had their own aspects to focus on.
There were also plenty of wonderful memories made, with sentimental activities such as performance evening, poetry evening, and singing evening (where I cried for the second time in as many weeks). Getting to know everyone on a deep level was, in my opinion, the best part of this camp. Forming such strong bonds which will be sure to last many years to come was a once in a lifetime experience. Although I may not make it to many reunions, living on the other side of the world, I will be there in spirit with everyone, and my thoughts will return here often.
When I was in bed crying on that first evening, I seriously contemplated leaving. I am so glad I stayed though, as these were the single best three weeks of my life. I am writing this on the second last day of camp, and I wish it would never end. It simultaneously feels like I have been here for my whole life, and also just a couple of days. As I finish writing this, my thoughts go back to the lyrics of a song which all of us here know the melody to by heart: “Those were the days, my friend. We thought they’d never end.” It feels like I have joined a new family, and I couldn’t be happier. See you next year.