I travel often with friends and Remi, with friends or solo. But I rarely travel with Remi alone. We are three days in and it's been such a cool experience. I get to see him become this independent little dude who is curious and funny and at times, totally inappropriate.
So let's recap the last few days:
On Monday, he asked two teenagers in the pool if he can race them. He had told me earlier he wanted to race them but that he needed to practice first. He did a few laps in the pool and then braved the waters. God bless their little hearts, they slowed down SO much for him but man, did they all have fun.
He is getting to the age where he is between totally willing to try Spanish and at the same time, afraid of making a mistake. I know it's a phase and it'll only get worse but it's interesting to watch him struggle with wanting to do something yet trying to be cool.
Stranger danger conversations are hard and I don't know how to have them without scaring him. But his response of "I'll beat the guy up and ran back to you" is slightly unrealistic.
He rode a horse for an hour on Tuesday in the Zephor Cove forest. After years of countless pony rides, a few outings to the Golden Gate Fields and all around interest in horses (while being totally afraid of them), he hopped on, controlled it and admired the woods. But the thing that stood out to me the most was how he made conversation with the guide. Asked how old he was. What animals he has seen in the forest. It's so cool to see that because when I was his age I was totally silent. I wouldn't have dreamed of engaging an older person in small talk. BUT... telling the guide (a true cowboy from Wyoming who won some rodeos last week) that spitting is like littering is probably not a good idea. Kid loves rules, especially when they don't apply to him (at that moment).
Coming home with a phone number of some kid at camp? What?! Apparently they need to hang out and we have to do it before we leave since we live so far away. I laughed and then thought, what the hell, I'll text it. The boys spent the next evening in the pool and the arcade.
Remi loves playing with my camera and every so often gets a few good pics. It's fun to see him capture his little moments and inspire his subjects to be silly, posey or serious.
As the week wrapped up, we've seen the gorgeous sunset of Tahoe, caught a magic show at Harrah's and took a latin music dance lesson. Remi was my lead and no matter how much I had to crouch he worked those spins and was a proud gentleman.
We had a great week together and I hope that Tahoe Spanish Camp will become a annual tradition for us. That kid.
