MISTER JON EATON

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We caught up with Mayhew community outreach worker Jon Eaton in between games of Boom-o and Pass the Pigs with the Manchester-area boys on January 8^th, 2005.  Our exciting interview with "the British Jon" (for more about that great "Connecticut John," check out John Lynch's bio) has been translated into American English for the convenience of our readers, but check out the British English glossary for hints on how to talk just like Jon!

You were born in Manchester, England, and now you work for Mayhew in Manchester, New Hampshire.  Are there any difference between the English city of Manchester and the New Hampshire city?

Well, Manchester, New Hampshire, may be the largest city in the state with 100 thousand people, but Manchester, England, has 6 million people, so it's a bit larger—The city of Manchester, England, has 5 times more people than the entire state of New Hampshire!  Also, cars in England drive on the opposite side of the road, and gas is more expensive at $7 a gallon.  In Manchester, New Hampshire, the air is cleaner, and people seem more relaxed.

You do not have any brothers or sisters, so did you share your house with any interesting pets growing up?

I had a horse, turtles, an iguana, a boa, 6-inch Australian stick insects, cockatiels, cats, dogs, and fish, although not all at the same time!

How did you come to work for Mayhew?

In 2000, my friend Andy Papoola and I decided that we wanted to come to America to work for a summer camp.  We went to the city hall, where 60 different American camp directors had all set up tables to tell people about their camps.  There were many fancy displays to attract people's attention, but Andy and I found one camp that kept things quite simple: just two guys with a book of photographs.  The first picture in the book was a picture of Mayhew Island.  Jeff Lucero interviewed us, told me, "This will be the hardest thing you'll ever do in your life," and asked us to come back in 15 minutes if we were still interested in the job.  Andy and I couldn't wait 15 minutes, so we came back after 10 minutes!  Jeff and Sean were happy that we wanted to work for Mayhew, and we were so excited that Mayhew wanted us to work for them.  After three amazing summers on the Island, Ed Thompson invited me to join Mayhew full-time in 2002…and here I am! 

What were your first impressions of New Hampshire?

The summer weather was warmer than in England, people's accents were different (and they sure had a difficult time understanding my accent), and American pizza tasted much, much better!

What do you do when you're not busy with Mayhew?

I enjoy playing the guitar, reading, snowboarding, photography, and all-day movie marathons.

Can you describe for us one of your all-time favorite Community Night skits?

In 2000, we performed some Irish music for the Island with Damien Fahy on the tin whistle, Keith Gray on the wash-tub bass, and me on guitar.  Mid-song, Andy burst out of the library wearing his shorts pulled up to his chin and convinced Zach West '00-'01 to join him in dancing an Irish jig!

For you, what was the most challenging climbing element on the Island?

Doing the Schwing blindfolded was the scariest thing I've ever done, but after I convinced myself to try it once, I climbed right back up and did it again!

If you had to eat one Mayhew food at every meal for an entire session, what would it be?

I'd choose peach cobbler or make-your-own sundaes…

If you were to perform on American Idol, what Mayhew song would you sing?

I'd sing "The Second Story Window" and get some audience participation going!

If you could bring something from England to the Island, what would it be?

I'd set up a fish and chips shop next to the Mayhew Market.

You have a reputation for creating unconventional cabin plaques.  What's your plaque-design strategy?

If you want to make sure you're remembered, make sure you don't go mainstream, even if you do get some strange looks!

What Mayhew traditions would you like to see the rest of the world adopt?

I think everyone would do well to have a Quiet Hour every day, stay away from television, and take a Sunday Funday trip each week.  And if we all agreed to be respectful, be responsible, challenge ourselves, and work to build our communities, just imagine what the world could be like!

Okay, really, what's so funny about that snail joke? 

I enjoy watching people's reactions.  Here, let me explain: you see, there's this snail, and he wants to by a car, so he…

At this point, our interviewer unfortunately had to leave, but if you haven't already heard Jon's snail joke several hundred times, just ask him and he'll be very happy to tell it to you!  In the meantime, check out our British-American English glossary so you'll better understand that joke next time Jon tells it.

What the HECK is Jon talking about???  Check out this British English to American English translation guide to find out why you should always have the ketchup ready when Jon orders "chips!"

Jon's Cabin Groups

• Fire Vulcans
• Ancient Griffins
• Highlanders
• Pathfinders
• Eye of the Storm
• Aura
• Achievers
   

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