I know this because she has told me 117 times. As we are staying at a World Centre, we were required to send in our health forms ahead of time, as any Leader in Girlguiding (that's Leader, not Guider, read this poem if you are confused about Guiding terminology), would know. (If you enjoyed that poem, feel free to look here and here for many more. I dutifully collected the forms, in their sealed envelopes, and they reached Mexico, according to the trusty Royal Mail online tracker. Unfortunately, we do not know where in Mexico.
The day began in the morning, where I spent some quality time under a tree, reading something called a 'book'. I do not do this very often, so it was quite a novelty. I last read a book in 1998. I did a Masters degree once, part-time over two years; it took me the first year to read the reading list.
After my tree time, we enjoyed a hearty breakfast before embarking on a busy day of activities. Firstly, we had a moving Opening Ceremony, where the staff joined us for the raising of the World Flag. We all recited our Promise as the World Flag was raised. Maureen and Eileen presented Mapi, the World Centre Manager, with a gift from their Trefoil Guild (I'm not sure which Guild it is, and if I write once it's bound to be the other, so I won't write either).
Then it was time for the group photo, and we all looked extremely smart in our team polo shirts. Mine had funny marks on it due to the deodorant explosion recently, which has now been dealt with, thanks to a washing machine. We posed on the steps, in strict height order, before enjoying some snaps embracing the concept of discovering and growing.
The first session of the day was called 'Discover the World Centres'. If you are a Leader reading this, drop everything and start planning to bring a group to one of the World Centres. They are located in the UK, Mexico, India and Switzerland. There is also a Fifth World Centre pilot which is taking place in Africa. It is crucial that we show our members what they are part of. Contact your friendly local International Adviser and she will tell you all about how to go about taking a group abroad. There is a shiny new training programme (which replaced the GAINING training), called the Travelling Abroad Training Programme, which is now operating throughout the UK. To take a group abroad, you need to have the relevant licence, then 'have or be working towards the Travelling Abroad module'. Tell your units and get planning!
Let me just tell you a bit about eating arrangements here. We all eat together in a big Dining Room, where a staff member (or Zoë, who is a trainee staff member), sits at the head of the table and is the 'server'. The person to the left of the server is the 'hopper', and they are the only person who is allowed to move during the meal. So they go to the kitchen to collect the food when appropriate. This is a very simple but effective way of sharing a meal togther; it embeds a sense of community, something central to Guiding at every level.
The 'Trading Post' opened and, after much deliberation, I purchased a rather nice gilet; not very useful in 28 degree Mexican heat, but useful on the way to Brownies on a cold Monday evening in Chislehurst.
Various members of the group frollicked in the swimming pool, playing ball games, just like little Brownies, which was lovely.
Ok I'm going to get a bit serious now.
We did a session called 'Stop the Violence', which is the WAGGGS initiative to end violence against women and girls across the world. The statistics associated with this are staggering. Watch this video. I have to go now as the computer room is about to close, but I will continue this later....
Oh no - poor Mum (Hilary)! I know exactly how she must feel!
ReplyDeleteBefore any group trip, you start off telling people far away that you've never met that you're veggie just the once, because you naively believe they care about your particular lifestyle choice that actually means quite a lot to you.
And then when you've paid a lot of money to get halfway around the world, the kitchens have no clue what a vegetarian is and you get a hastily-assembled local equivalent of 'beans on toast'. What a disappointment!
Hence the knee-jerk reaction to always reiterate the dietary requirements. It pretty much happens every time :( Hope that explains it!
Okay, it's an admin mix-up in this case, and not some indifferent individual working for a tour operator. But please can you all make sure that my lovely Mum doesn't miss out on any of the exciting, local flavours now that she's in Mexico. I've always found that every country has a rich offering of indigenous 'pure vegetarian' food (meat used to be an occasional luxury / there was a subsistence economy / there's a nearby Buddhist enclave etc.) You'll have to tell Mum on my behalf to go and sniff it out.
Tell her we miss her muchly!!! xx