Journey to Roverway

I meant to write this blog last night, but my body clock is still 2 hours ahead, so I went to sleep at 8.30pm and I woke up at 5.30am (BST) so I'll write my blog now (at 6am) instead! 

Here goes... in case you hadn't worked it out yet, I went to Finland last week. Here's a blog of my journey to Roverway - I was going to try and fit it all in one blog, but apparently I just have too much to say! 

Thursday 19th July

Today was flight day. Luckily I had the day off because I still had loads to do: find my spare neckers, buy my euros, buy insect repellent, finish packing... I managed to do everything, and even have time to cook a nice curry for my lunch! I headed to the train station, where I got on a coach to Heathrow. Got to Heathrow in plenty of time, sat around for a bit, then checked my bags in, headed through security and sat and waited. And sat and waited. And sat and waited. My plane wasn't delayed, I was just super organised, so I was there really early! 

Eventually boarded the plane, flew to Finland, and met Jess in Helsinki. 

Friday 20th July

After meeting Jess in the airport (at about midnight, hence the change of day!), we (along with one of the patrols, the Pennine Rovers) had an adventure. We needed to get to the school we were staying in that night. This involved a bus and a tram. Except that it didn't. On the first bus, we were packed in like sardines. You try fitting 7 girls, plus a 65l rucksack and a day sack each, onto an already full bus. Entertaining is the word! During this bus ride, one of the girls got talking to one of the locals, who informed us that trams actually stop at midnight, so our instructions to get a bus and a tram were going to fail. Luckily, he was quite a nice man, and he told us where to get off, and which bus we needed to get to complete the rest of our journey. As we got off, we discovered that also on the bus were a bunch of foreign Scouts - German I think, but I can't remember - who seemed to have been given different instructions to us, and were aiming to get a bus as well. So the nice local man was right. We found the right bus stop, and got on another, slightly less full bus, along with some drunk locals who provided some entertainment. 

Eventually we arrived at the school, settled into our classroom, encountered some Spanish Scouts who wanted to smoke so much they were trying to climb out of our window (this effort failed), and eventually got to sleep. 

Still Friday 20th July

An early start, and another bus journey - this time a private coach - got us to the Olympic Stadium (from 1952) in Helsinki. Along the way, we met up with another patrol (from Ulster), and the rest of the IST. We piled into the Stadium, and saw the rest of the participants and staff who were at that opening ceremony - there were three opening ceremonies around Finland, because the participants were starting from lots of different locations. There were hundreds of Belgians, some very noisy Spanish, a Portuguese guy who had the best necker in the world, and loads of other nationalities that we hadn't yet seen. By the end of the week, we knew the nationality of a Scout/Guide by their necker (except when they started swapping them!). 

Highlights of the opening ceremony included seeing bits of the other opening ceremonies, seeing Santa, and singing the cheesy Roverway song (which includes the line "Follow your B-P spirit" - oh yes it really does!) 

After the opening ceremony, the participants were sent off with their various leaders, and the IST were told to wait. So obviously, we all took this as the perfect opportunity to play in an Olympic Stadium. The Belgians played Bulldog, the British Scouts pulled a football out, there was a frisbee flying around from someone... and us? The UK Guides? we took the chance to run 100m on an olympic track, and got a round of applause from our audience... Probably the only time we'll ever be able to do that - I can't see London 2012 letting us do it! 

Then we got on yet another coach, and travelled to the campsite...

More coming soon, but I should probably get up and get ready for work at some point!

Five Photos

So I didn't get a chance to blog whilst I was in Finland - it was just too mental! Loads of fun though, and I'm exhausted now, so it's nearly bed time, but just thought I'd give a quick update before I go. Ruth just challenged me to send her my five favourite photos from the trip (and there are quite a few, I'm uploading 92 to facebook as I type, and I've been relatively selective!) so picking just 5 is pretty difficult. I also have to explain why they are my favourites in less than 750 words apparently!! So, here goes! 

So number 1: Me Jess and Sarah - I just love this photo. It was taken at the IST campfire. There was no fire, and there was a guitar, so basically, it wasn't really a campfire. Sarah and I messed around lots, using the long grass to poke people, and trick them into thinking it was a mosquito! Brilliant! I also don't have that many group photos from the week, they all seem to be on other people's cameras, so this is the closest I have got of a nice shot of multiple people! 

Number 2: The Boots by the lake - This photo is just Roverway 2012. scouting, lake, trees, it's awesome. Nuff Said. 

Number 3: This was one of my favourite things about Roverway - the random messages that kept appearing! At the start of the camp we had these - free compliments! Later on, people wrote nice messages, and they got stuck on the inside of the toilet doors, to provide some entertainment for "those lonely moments". They really amused me, and I definitely think I want to bring in something similar for my camp next year!

Number 4: This was at the main stage one night - a band was playing, and a whole load of the guides/scouts pulled their neckers off their neckers and started swinging them whilst dancing - which let me get some pretty cool photos, including this one.

Number 5: My last night at Roverway - my team jumped into canoes, paddled across the lake, and went to a sauna on a university campus, which included this beautiful lake. We had a BBQ whilst the sun was setting, and then wandered back to our canoes and paddled back to the party, feeling a lot cleaner than anyone else on site!! 

Done in less than 300 words. I'll write more when I'm more awake, but right now, it's sleep time!!

Net x

Time to Rock and Rove!

Well, it's 12.46pm on Thursday 19th July. My flight leaves at 18.05, and I need to check my baggage by 17.20 latest apparently. No way am I leaving it that late though! I'm aiming to get the 15.05 coach, which gets to Heathrow at 15.45. I'd much rather be sitting around there, knowing I'm in the right place, than sitting around here and rushing at the last minute! 

Things I have left to do: 

- freeze the rest of the curry I've just made - enough for me to have a big meal now, and leftovers for when I can't be bothered to shop when I get back! 

- Wash up

- Put all the little bits and pieces into my rucksack (including a birthday card from my big brother!)

- Pop round the corner and get some cash out for the coach to the airport. 

That's it! Then I will be off, for another guiding adventure!

No idea what my internet access will be like, so I might not update while I'm out there - we'll see! If I don't manage to get online, check out http://ggukrw2012.blogspot.co.uk/ the Girlguiding UK blog, which I'm sure will be more up to date than mine!! 

See you soooon! 

Short Updates

So it's packing time. Have a short timed update blog from me. Basically these are all the facebook statuses I want to write, but know I shouldn't, because I'll drive everyone crazy! 

18.25 - I love Fridays - especially when they're actually Wednesday disguised as Fridays. Finland here I come! (after packing, booking a coach, repacking, sleeping, buying insect repellent and Euros... y'know, those last minute things!)

18.50 - Just got my rucksack out from under my bed... it's a start right?! Can anyone explain why it STILL smells of smoke? The last time I went camping was the briefing weekend, and it didn't smell of smoke before I started!!

19.05 - So I'm packing and dancing away, and the macarena comes on - brilliant - turn that up... then. Wait. Nooooo run away. It's the smurf version!!

19.10 - Brief pause to write fun things on the IST facebook group, and to have girl chat with a friend. Necessary! You'll be glad to know I have enough underwear to last the whole trip, and a couple of days when I get back - I'm glad to know this anyway - I was concerned about the potential of having to do washing tonight as well as everything else! 

19.18 - scrap that plan. washing has to happen anyway. Forgot I went to Go Ape in my crags at the weekend. Definitely not passable as clean, and I'm going to live in them for 10 days, so might like them to start clean!! 

19.24 - Another stop - this time to phone my mother! I was instructed to call before I left for Finland, so figured I'd better get on it!! 

20.37 - Just back to packing now. Spoke to my mum for a while, and then disappeared to sort out some stuff for the Ranger unit I'm starting up in September, but now I am back and ready to roll... for a while. I may be stopping to book some flights to Switzerland temporarily in a little bit, for my next next Guiding Adventure! But first - sorting my washing out!

20.48 - washing hanging, talking to Jess on facebook chat - she started the conversation with: "on a scale of 1 to a million, how excited are you?!" Excellent. Packing needs to continue now. What's next?! 

21.05 - now there are a few more clothes in the pile on the floor. Just realised I haven't printed flight tickets - minor details! I think I'm already over packing. Never mind, we'll see how it goes!

21.33 - can't find my spare international neckers. Pretty much a disaster. And I stood on a mallet. Hurting lots right now! Putting my fan on - it's getting heated in here! 

22.22 - still haven't found my neckers, and haven't done much since I realised they were missing! Phoned my mother to stress - she said if I still haven't found them when I've finished packing, then to go to CHQ tomorrow and buy some new ones. What a sensible mother. What a faff that sounds like. I hope I find them. 

22.54 - Hand luggage is pretty much packed - including sleeping bag and most of my clothes. Next step - main rucksack. Tent is in, spare shoes are in. Not sure I've got that much more to go in really... 

23.04 - Getting tired! Just opened my new water bottle though, very excited!! Got a new camp plate too and some sporks - just gotta find something to label them all with now, and I've lost my permanent marker and I have no nail varnish... next plan? STICKERS! 

23.14 - Found my permanent markers! Labelled sporks and plate, packed pen so that I can reapply as necessary, as nail polish is looking unlikely. 

23.23 - updates getting more regular as I'm struggling to concentrate on the packing! I think I'm almost there. I feel like I've hardly packed anything, but that's probably because I seriously over pack for weekends... everyone needs to take a Bop It on a weekend camp right? So I end up with 5 bags, and now I only have two. Honestly think I have everything though. Might even have time to go into London tomorrow if I can't find my neckers - that'll be fun! 

23.27 - I think it's bed time now. There are a few things left to pack, but nothing too major - socks, and flip flops, and electrical items. I have lots of space in my main rucksack, which is good because I'm a bit concerned about having a wet tent on the way home!! 

FINLAND SOON - 23 hours and I'll have landed. Crazy. 

Next Adventure...

So my next international Guiding adventure is getting really close! I'm off to Finland in less than a week for Roverway. When I'm there, I'm going to be part of the IST team, in the Catering section, which should be cool. I'm not big on the catering normally, but I'm sure I'll have an awesome time, and I'm looking forward to the challenge :) 

Two weeks ago, I wasn't very excited about Finland, because I hadn't realised JUST HOW CLOSE IT WAS. Now I am very excited! Apparently I'm the last of the Girlguiding UK contingent to arrive in Finland, which is probably a good job, because here's a list of things I have to do for Roverway before I leave:

Things to buy:

- a new water bottle

- a sleeping bag liner

- a rucksack cover

- something that I have definitely forgotten

- British flags etc.

Things to pack:

- Everything

Things to find:

- my passport!

- My EHIC card

Other Stuff to do:

- Work out which bags to take

- Work out how to fit everything into my bag

- Change Pounds to Euros

- Book a coach to the airport

And here's a list of things I am doing before Roverway which don't involve Finland at all:

- Going Ape with my friends that I met at Sangam, including Claire who is Australian and I won't see very much at all!

- Work (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday)

- Sorting out my new Ranger unit which I'm starting in September

- Talking to the bank about Rangers

- Sorting out the camp for next August that I'm Activities Manager for!

There are probably plenty of other things for me to cram into my week, but I'm really quite excited about Finland, and I'm not sure whether I'm going to be able to concentrate on much else after this weekend! Can't wait to see everyone there, and to get to wear the IST hats! You are all going to be SO jealous when you see the photos of them!

Life Post Sangam

I'm having a little bit of an emotional moment right now. I have just spent an incredible weekend back in Leicestershire, with a whole bunch of guiders who I have known and loved for a long time, and some that I've only known for a really short time, but love just the same. I spent it on the campsite that I grew up on, Topstones, where my first ever camp was, where my favourite camps have been. The site where I've had the most campfires, and probably sung the most songs. The site that was the location for my selection weekend for my very first India trip. So in short, the 14 acres of land that have changed my life the most.

And then I left it. Without even a second thought. Because I always go back. And now I'm lying in bed, wondering when I'm going back, and I couldn't tell you. Normally it would be "next summer-  county camp" or "September - SS weekend" or "Friday - campfire" but I have NO idea when I will be going back again. If I will be going back again.

So now, I've left behind Sangam, I've left behind Topstones. I'm sure I will be back to both of them at some point, but I don't know when. The friends I've made in both places will be coming with me, because, although it'll be harder to keep in touch, they're friends for life - Guiding does that to you. But now, it's time for the new chapter in my life...

I've moved to Surrey, and I've dived straight in, there's no doubt about that. Head first into a 12 ft pool. I'm starting up a new Senior Section unit in Woking, and I'm hoping to help out in a fairly major way with the big international camp that's happening here next year - more to come on that in the future when I've found out a bit more!

And I'm still plodding on with my Queen's Guide - which I really need to finish soon! That will take me back to Leicestershire, because I will be filing all my paperwork through that county, and ultimately be presented my award by them. That county gave so much to me when I was younger - and so much support through my award, especially Ruth, the Queen's Guide Advisor - it's good to give something back, even if it is just a number to add to the tally.

I'm so excited about the new challenges appearing in my life, and it's Leicestershire, and Sangam, that gave me the confidence to go out and take those challenges on, so it's really sad when I have to say goodbye with no set plans of going back, but it'll happen. I grew up there, and I'll always go back to my roots.

Philippa's Coming Home

Today, or maybe tomorrow, I've got lost in the time zones, Philippa will be arriving home, back to the UK. Emily and Steph are travelling, and Jessica is already back in New York. That's it. The last of the Sangam Volunteers for the 2011 - 12 season has left Sangam.

I was really privileged to get to meet all 9 of the other Sangam Volunteers whilst I was there, as my term overlapped with all the other terms.

I spent around about 3 weeks with Ana, Amina, Emily and Steph, 6 weeks with Sophie and Aleia, 2 months with Jessica and Philippa, and 3.5 months with the wonderful Ellen. From each of them, I learnt something about themselves, their lives, their culture (yes, even Sophie and Philippa, who both grew up and live within 3 hours drive of my home town), and from each of them, I learnt something about myself.

I know that some of the other SVs found leaving Sangam really emotional, their lives had changed, and won't ever be the same. I never quite felt this way. I guess I changed in some ways, but overall, the experience didn't change me. That's not to say that spending 3.5 months at Sangam didn't affect me, quite the opposite, it solidified who I am. It made me more sure of myself, my decisions, my life. It made me more confident that I am heading in the right direction with my life, and that I'm becoming the person I want to be, even if I'm still not entirely sure who that person is right now.

But with Philippa on her way home, I find myself emotional. The last of the Sangam Volunteers for the 2011 - 12 season has left Sangam. The last of the 9 girls I had the pleasure to meet, live and work with has left. The season that we created is over.

And all I can see in my head is a postcard, on the wall of the programme room, that I'm not sure anyone ever really noticed, especially once it was surrounded by photos of SVs in the pool, and on an elephant. The postcard is one that I put there, probably the first thing I really felt I did as an SV, putting that postcard on the wall. I remember it so clearly. Sophie was saying that they'd been talking about decorating that wall the whole time they'd been in India, 3 months by the time I got there, and all they'd managed to do was put up a map of Pune. I walked to my dorm, found my things that I'd brought to put on the wall, and found the postcard, which fitted so well with what I'd already come to learn about Sangam. It declared "Chocolate Makes The World Go Round".

By the time I left Sangam, that wall was almost full, full of photographs, and memories, and resources left over from sessions, and flag ceremonies, and things that just got stuck on the wall for no real reason. My photo was up there, along with all the other past SV team photos from the season.

And my guess is that now our season is over, that wall will be cleared, maybe it already has been, ready for a new team of SVs to come in and leave their mark. With Jessica, Philippa, Emily and Steph leaving, the little things that made our season ours, that wall, gecko, the beatles let it be, all of that is leaving too.

I know I did some incredible things at Sangam, and I like to think that things that I did will go on for the next season, and the next season, and maybe several seasons after that, but it feels like now, 3 months later, I am finally leaving Sangam.

Philippa is on her way home. The last of the Sangam Volunteers for the 2011-12 season has left Sangam.