Oxfordshire Jamboree Unit 2011
Follow the activities and updates of the Jamboree Unit to the 22nd World Scout Jamboree to be held in Sweden, 2011.
Final Day
Author: Jambo Leader Blog | Date: 12-08-2011
Final Day blog post
Wow so it's here, home time. We have just got everyone on the bus they are all buzzing leaders included, they are SO excited to see everyone again as well as been excited to be going home. The stories of hoho all seem to be of fantastic experiences both of food, sights, activities and meetings. An overall fantastic experience. Next part to come from the UK.
Well it was a very straight forward trip through Heathrow we even managed to arrive earlier, and that was after a couple of nice circles of central London to look at the nice view, during the flight there were a couple of highlights, the first was giving the young people a quiz based on their knowledge of the leaders as well as a baby photo quiz of the unit. A special mention needs to go to Jacob and Hannah who managed to speak to the stewards and were able to get the jamboree song played over the speaker system in the plane, although it was a little tinny having both units on board singing was probably a little strange for the other passengers.
The journey back and the farewells were some of the hardest hours of my life. During the coach journey we discussed a thank yous the unit might have as well as the plans they have for changing the world when they get home, the leaders then did their personal thank yous and thoughts to the unit which did make most of the people on the coach cry, for once I was able to hold myself together
We did have a slight surprise for all of the parents as most of the unit had managed to swap a uniform whilst away so whilst in the airport we had all changed from our UK uniforms into one of our international uniforms so that when we got off the bus we were a unit of scout around the world. with uniforms from USA to China and from Thailand to Sweden. it shows how truly global scouting is.
It was clear to see that their were a lot of excited parents waiting for the unit in the car park of St Gregory the Great school, there was even some tears from them before we even got off the bus. It was very emotional watching the unit meet up with their family and friends, over the last three weeks we have grown to be a family and I felt like a lost parent saying farewell to 36 fantastic young people. I finally broke down when it came to the final farewells after doing a 'le plop' for the parents I had a chance to publicly thank Shaun who has been a fantastic support to the unit over the last year and also to my three leaders. I can honestly say they are the best team I have worked with and I feel privileged to be able to say that they are also some of my best friends and I will never forget all that we have done together. The final final farewells now started with hugs from leaders, young people and parents most with tears in their eyes, a very emotional and joyous end to a life changing journey.
I have many final thought about the entire experience , the main one is that it has changed my outlook on life, I have often said treat each day as if its your last, well I now feel as if I live by treat everything that its the first time you will see it and also the last time you will see it, I have gained so many friends that I know will stay with me and the unit for the rest of our life's. I hope you have enjoyed the blogs there is a lot more I want to say but I think its best that I get some rest and relaxation before whatever next challenge comes my way.
Lost in Translation...
Author: Shaun Kendall | Date: 11-08-2011
I can't believe the final full day of this amazing jamboree experience is over.
Today was spent sightseeing in Helsinki when I say sightseeing what I mean is
drinking tea and eating cake with Anna and Becky who both were visiting Helsinki
today. I managed to get there on the train myself although got very confused
when someone in a train company uniform started talking to me he was asking if I
wanted a coffee I thought he was checking tickets very confusing.
After
exchanging news with the girls I was pleased to hear that they are having as
great a time as me and they have seen some of the unit who are also having a
great time which made me feel happier not that I can get much happier. After a
little sightseeing we managed to buy some proper tourist tat and then invited
mike parks for a drink. Mike is in charge of the entire UK Contingent 3500
people in units and all we can say to him and his team is that it has been
excellent and we have loved it all so well done them, especially when they have
to deal with some leaders that maybe rant as naturally happy and enthusiastic as
us.
This is now the point where the day started to go a bit wrong. The
girls took us to the moomin shop and we happens to see a shop that sold hats and
party bits..... All the rest of my euros are gone and 3 new hats are in my bag I
also bought a postcard for minna to say thank-you for looking after me I have
already given her my tea pot and tea gift but felt bad as I have drunk it not
them. I choose a postcard in finish of a cartoon she told me she liked and wrote
on it on the train.
This evening we ate wraps and Tom cooked finish
pancakes which we ate with this great raspberry jam, minnas and toms friend
Hanna came over for them too. after food they had prepared some gifts for me so
I now have some more lovely liquorice sweets, a Finish CD of hockey songs (
Finland beat Sweden 6-1 in the world championships ) a book about Finland and
then my favourite bit a diploma saying that I had survived Finland and what I
had done which includes the sauna and lake, as well as some of the local foods
and drinks that I'm now a fan of.
After this I thought it was a good time
to give my postcard as a final thank you. I handed it over feeling very good
that I had found something that a knew she liked. Everyone started laughing a
bit too much though. Once they were in a state to talk they translated the
cartoon for me; the cartoon is about a rude hedgehog and in this one it just
said ' go away and F Off' which isn't what you want to say to someone who has
been really nice all week luckily it was all taken in good humour after all it's
the thought that counts.
Tomorrow is Home time for the unit, it's come
round so quick and I'm sure they all can't wait to share their journey with
everyone they have all truly been fantastic ambassadors for Scouting and
Oxfordshire and I hope they will go forward and change the world.
I will
add a final post tomorrow when we are all home.
Paul
To anyone with Jambo Blues....
Author: Shaun Kendall | Date: 11-08-2011
From Tim:
This adventure haas been great! Although I know that some of the participants
and a few others have Jambo Blues. So I wrote this on the trip to Finland
thinking it might make anyone feel a bit better.
Life is
like a boat on water
In life, there will always be up
and downs. Most of my downs come from memories.
I looked out across the water
at the back of the boat going to Finland, and realised that the boat represents
life. Always moving foreward into the unknown. Into the mist. The water sprayed
out the back is the remains of life. And the ripples are memories.
We were
moving away from an island that was surrounded by others when I realised, I
won't forget the Jamboree. I never will.
However some ripples die out and are
forgotten, but the rest, even if they are small, remain. You never lose
memories. As the island faded away in the mist, a seagull flew over the back of
the boat. As if he was looking back over his memories. That bird became a
metaphor for me and can be for all of us. I can look back over my memories too.
Even if I am always moving foreward, always getting older, I know that I can
still remember.
Thank you to everyone and for all their support once
again,
TiMcG
