This bunch of campers are hard work. There are almost 100 of them and as a group they are very high maintenance - there are people being hospitalised left, right and centre - there are many people with mobility issues who are very dependant on us for lots of little things (which would be well and good if there were enough staff) and I get a negative energy from the group. Complaining seems to be a hobby for some of them! One guy asked me how an inter-generational activity went - I told him how nice it was. His response was "Pah - that's not a real activity if it was harmonious." He then proceeded to tell me that the chef should not make public appearances in the kitchen because she is a) overweight and b) a lesbian. At that point, I found him too offensive to be around and disappeared. I've had 3 campers being verbally abusive to me - 2 of them had the decency to apologise afterwards.
I wonder whether the dynamics between group 1 and group 2 of seniors is so different because that's just who they are - or whether people are feeling lost among the larger numbers and that is bringing out the antagonistic sides to their nature. Tomorrow night the director is hosting a "how is it going?" night for the staff. I sense there will be some burnt out and angry people there. Venting a little in this e-mail has softened my edges.
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