[HANASHIR:2994] Re: what to pack??

[LSalvay <LSalvay...>]

For first-time HN-niks:

By all means, bring a tape recorder that RECORDS (some don't have 
microphones, and would therefore be useless), and lots of blank tapes and 
extra batteries. You'll want to record virtually ALL the singing sessions 
(including the services, if Debbie will let us!--last year she didn't). 

What do we do all day at HN? Eat. Sing, sing, sing, daven. Eat. Sing. Sleep 
(a little bit). Daven. Eat. Sing, sing, sing, eat, sing.....You get the idea. 
There's a lot of "tuchas time" as we sit learning songs, or singing songs, or 
teaching songs. And of course, for those more kinetic individuals, it is 
possible to get up and dance to the music as the spirit moves you (and as the 
room size might allow). (Jess Gold is an expert in the dance/spontenaeity 
department.)

We do spend most of the time indoors -- which is somewhat unfortunate when 
the weather is gorgeous, which it sometimes is in early June in Wisconsin. 
But there is a small amount of free time sandwiched into the "sing, sing, 
sing, eat" schedule, so you can take advantage of whatever nice weather might 
come along.

Oh, also, I've found that it helps to bring a tote bag of some sort to schlep 
around all the music/song lyrics you will end up collecting every day -- 
(plus your tape recorder, tapes, etc.) And, it's a good idea to keep a water 
bottle with you -- you tend to get very parched with all that singing. Some 
of us have made a habit of stopping at a convenience store on the way to camp 
to each buy a gallon of "drinking water" for the session (the tap water is 
not real drinkable.)

The accommodations are GORGEOUS as camps go -- more like a motel than a camp. 
(At least, this applies to the Bayit and the Lodge. The Dormitories are more 
like the bunk-bed-filled camp cabins we all remember, but even so, they're 
still pretty nice.) And, the food is great, too!

Oh, BIG CAVEAT: If you bring a camera, DO NOT try to take any flash photos of 
Debbie F. This can cause her serious neurological problems, and everyone sort 
of "knows" that this is a big no-no. But, no one really totes cameras around 
anyway. You might get some outdoor group shots on the last day (Sunday a.m. 
before everyone departs), but we're mostly too busy singing and enjoying each 
others' company to worry about getting photos. It's the musical memories that 
are the best, anyway!

Hope this helps you first-timers! Looking forward to meeting all of you!

Linda Salvay

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