Today was a “the sun shines behind the clouds” kind of day, the staff declared in unison after singing us awake. It was clear the sun wouldn’t make an appearance, and actually it rained the entire day. Yet, the day was full of pleasant surprises.

In the morning we ran barefoot through the rain to the white marquee (a large white tent) where breakfast awaited. Unsurprisingly, it was porridge, but on this rainy morning it came with a warm, delicious mango sauce. During breakfast we shared our favorite rain memories, and these heartwarming stories gave a sense of promise for the rainy day ahead.

After our cozy breakfast we stayed dry in the white marquee singing, dancing, and playing games together as a group. Time seemed to slip away unnoticed until we opened the white marquee and discovered that the staff had built a large tarp over the campfire. We gathered around the fire, warming ourselves with cups of hot chocolate in hand, singing camp songs, and reading stories to one another.

Now that we knew we could warm up afterward, we felt free to head to the lake for a swim. A few hundred meters through the forest led us to the beautiful, secluded lake that felt like our own natural camp bathroom. We washed ourselves, rinsed our clothes, and, above all, had endless fun together in the water. The raindrops hitting the lake’s surface only enhanced the magic of this day. Immersed in this little world of nature, we lost all sense of time, and it felt as though the outside world no longer existed. In that ultimate moment of freedom and playfulness, nothing else mattered.

Later, just after dinner, we sang in four-part harmony with the whole group as usual. Sometimes it was hilariously chaotic at first as the voices struggled to align, but other times the music was so moving it brought tears to my eyes. At one point, another soprano standing next to me said, “Sometimes it feels like happiness is almost tangible”. She captured the feeling perfectly in words. To hear all our voices together evoked a feeling of home in me. Not in a house, but in a feeling.

We ended each day together with a “closing of the day,” a moment that often felt like a calming breath amid the busyness of the excited camp life. This ritual created a beautiful balance between staying close to my own thoughts and feelings and being part of the group in all the laughter, conversations, interactions, dancing, swimming and singing. It was a moment to take a step back and realise how grateful I was that I went to this camp of which I had no expectations of at all but turned out to be an incredibly beautiful experience. I realised that sometimes I need to take a plunge into the unknown. The priest’s words during the “Closing of the day”  often captured the spirit of the day perfectly. The insights he told stayed in my mind as I prepared to sleep in my tent, or they created valuable conversations by the campfire.

From now on if someone asks me what my favourite memory attached to rain is, I would describe this day with a fulfilled heart. As I looked around at everyone sitting peacefully by the fire that evening, I felt so connected to this group of people from such diverse places, cultures, and backgrounds. In just a short time we had grown into a close-knit group. It was an atmosphere where everyone could be their authentic selves while truly seeing one another.

Not only had the group grown, but I also felt enriched by all the new experiences and precious moments. The meaningful conversations, the immersion in nature, the playful moments, the warm hugs, special friendships, every radiant smile and the shared adventures had filled me with a new, authentic sense of energy and joy. I knew all too well that this time in Poland would come to an end, and we would all go our separate ways again, but I cherished the thought that each of us would carry the warmth and richness of these summer weeks into our lives.

•  Maya Woltjer, participant of IYC 2023  •

If you enjoyed Maya’s story you can read more articles here.