All girls and adults going on Anglia trips send in
a report on their return.As
all trips are unique, so is each person’s perception of the same
trip.However, they all have many things in common.
The anticipation before the trip – how will they cope travelling
with friends they don’t yet know; how will they cope with the culture;
how about the fund-raising?
Then they progress to the trip itself – the excitement
of finally going; their travel experiences; meeting new people;
making new friends; learning lots and lots.Although things may not always go to plan, WE COPE!!!
Then comes the departure – always with many tears
and exchanging of addresses.Many
travellers continue their friendship well after the actual visit.
And not just for a few months – there are many tales of friendships
lasting 40 or 50 years!!!
Here are what some of them had to say on their
return:
I have gained a lot from the jamboree
and this trip. I think I'm more grown up than I was before and I
have gained a lot of friends all over the world. I am keeping touch
with most of them!
I am very proud and grateful to have been given the opportunity
to attend the Jamboree from which I gained so much. I am also grateful
to our leaders who gave up so much time and energy to make it so
worthwhile.
The next jamboree is in Essex in 2007 and I have already signed
up to receive information about going as an International Service
Team member. I cannot wait!
Ellie, a Guide from Essex who attended the World Scout Jamboree
in Thailand
The trip for me was all about meeting new people and I am still
in touch with a lot of them. Most of our group are going to meet
up with some of the Irish scouts and I'm also going to a party hosted
by one of the Norwegian scouts studying in England. Over time some
of the memories of the camp and activities will fade but I know
for sure the people won't!
Claire who went to an International camp in Holland
Nobody could believe it was already time to go home, and though
a warm shower seemed something of the past, I think we all wanted
to stay just a bit longer! The plane ride went too fast, and before
we knew it we had collected our luggage and were greeting our parents
once again. If there is one thing I learnt in Sweden that I had
to pass onto other Anglia International campers, it would be this:
Enjoy and make the most of every moment, don't take anything for
granted, because before you can think, it will be time to go home!!!
Fiona from Cambridgeshire who travelled to Sweden
Sarah, a Guider from Cambridgeshire East took part in a Japanese
Cultural Exchange
'When I initially accepted the opportunity to participate in the
Japanese Cultural Exchange Programme, my feelings were a mixture
of excitement and apprehension. Having now experienced the Japanese
culture first-hand, I can honestly say that I am surprised at how
much I benefited from the trip. The theme of the programme was based
on the Johannesburg Earth Summit in 2002, "Education for Sustainable
Development". I had anticipated learning about the environment
but in reality it went much deeper than this. Living so close to
the nature of this amazing country and enjoying the views of Mount
Fuji, I learnt to use all my senses and appreciate my surroundings,
not only through the things I saw but also sounds, smells and textures.
I learnt more about myself and the people I was with, the similarities
and differences between our cultures and the shared environmental
responsibilities that we have. My greatest memories of this part
of the trip were walking on 12 metres of ice in a cave deep inside
Mount Fuji (something I nearly was not brave enough to do!) and
the amazing views of sunrise over Mount Fuji and Lake Tanuki.
I feel very privileged to have been welcomed into the home of a
Japanese family during our home stay programme. Despite my hosts
speaking very limited English and my even more limited Japanese,
we managed to communicate - mostly though the international language
of 'smile and point'! Knowing that as part of the worldwide Guiding
community we automatically had something in common, language barriers
were forgotten and we were made to feel extremely welcome. We were
totally immersed in the Japanese culture eating traditional meals
with chopsticks and visiting local sights - temples, limestone caves
and castles. I was also able to share the traditions of British
food with local Brownies and Junior Girl Scouts at a Saturday fun-day,
and they in turn shared the traditions of Japanese food, in particular
rice, with me.
The time I spent in Japan will live on through the memories I have
and I will treasure the friendships I have made throughout this
unforgettable adventure. International is certainly one of the best
bits of Guiding and I would encourage anyone, regardless of age
to take advantage of every opportunity that they are offered!'
Sangam
When I was ten, at our open evening at Guides I listened to a girl
talk about a trip to Japan and thought to myself 'I want to do that'.
Five years later here I am talking about my own trip to India. Never
in my wildest dreams did I think that I would be selected to go
to such an amazing place which will remain an unforgettable life
experience for me.
We went on a visit to mobile crèche, a charity that gives
children a safe environment where they can learn while their parents
are working on construction sites. It is so sad to know that while
India has modern buildings being built, the people who build them
live in slums with almost nothing and are shipped around the country
as if they are pieces of machinery, not people. Seeing the children
playing was really rewarding and when we got out balloons they were
so excited. It really makes you think about how much we take for
granted at home and how lucky we are compared to so many people
in the world
While we were at Sangam, we also had the chance to learn a lot more
about WAGGGS and the triennial theme. These sessions really inspired
us all to stay in guiding and hopefully do more work in international
guiding, which is so important in the 21st Century. I learnt from
my experience, that everyone around the world can get on, as long
as we respect each others beliefs and cultures - we are not so different
after all.
At the end of our two weeks at Sangam we ran a children's camp for
3 days. It was so rewarding, exhilarating and truly beautiful. All
the children came from Mobile crèche centres from around
Pune.
At the end of our unforgettable stay in Sangam we had made beautiful
friendships and learnt things that will change our lives. I think
that everyone will agree that we have all changed as people and
our eyes have been opened. Let us hope that the 'Spirit of Sangam'
can stay in us forever.
6 March, 2005
