Post on 21-Jun-2018
transcript
32nd Scout de Mexico Art and Expression Encounter
Tijuana, BajaCalifornia/November18‐20
Hi my name is Ryan Edwin Reyes, 13 years old and a 2nd Class BSA Scout from Fontana, California USA. I belong
with Troop 2 of Mt. Rubidoux district from the California Inland Empire Council. I would like to tell you about a
wonderful experience I had at the 32nd Scout de Mexico National Jamboree held in Tijuana, Baja California. My
journey into International Scouting began this past May at the International Camporee held at Camp
Mataguay in San Diego, CA. Both my father and I attended the camp as volunteer staff and had a great time
meeting scouts from Mexico, Baja California, the Yucatan areas, Canada, South America, and various California
councils. We both worked the Pioneering event and stayed to help the staff wrap up the event. It was on the
last day where we heard of the invitation for any BSA scouts to come to the National Jamboree being held for
the first time in Tijuana sometime in November.
With that being said, I was fortunate to meet some scouts from Tijuana
on the last day, Scout de Mexico Group#25 – Kumiai Ti’ilak from
Tijuana, BC. I exchanged emails and Facebook accounts after which I
built great friendships with the scouts from that group. Well as the
date got closer and closer my friends asked if I was going, and with
much effort by my dad and the CIEC and Scout de Mexico groups, the
BSA received an official invitation to come to the event.
I was very excited with not only seeing friends I met at Mataguay, but to have the
chance to go to another country’s Scout Jamboree. I am very happy that my scout
friend Montse Estevez and her family so graciously offered their home, transportation
across the border and a ride to the event. As much as people might think that heading
south of the US border would be a big safety concern for Americans, we didn’t see have
any problems. The people we met and the country was very beautiful.
After a great night sleep at the Estevez household we headed to
the event. I met up with the rest of the group and WOW we all
grew up since May. I was very excited to see everyone and meet
new scouts that did not go to the International Camporee. I also
saw many familiar faces from other scout groups that did.
Everyone from all parts of Mexico and Baja were all checking in.
In the meantime it gave me an opportunity to get to know my
friends a lot more than endless chats on Facebook. It seemed
awkward at first but we were all there to have a good time.
After the morning check in the group, setup camp and we were off to
the opening ceremony. There must’ve been over 900 people at the
camp and you can see many of the event booths being setup across
the park. The opening ceremony was quite exciting to watch and be a
part of. I am happy our Troop leader Francisco treated me no
different than the other scouts in his group, well that is except for
doing push‐ups for forgetting something.
Two color guard groups marched in and performed the presentation of the National flag of Mexico and the
World Organization Scouting Movement flag. Following that, I participated with my group in saying what
would be the same as our pledge of allegiance and some other thing’s in Spanish. What were cool were the
different cheers yelled across the field from the different Scout groups from all over. The groups were
arranged on the field from Cubs (yellow), Troops (green), Walkers (blue), and Rovers (red). The executive and
head Chiefs of Scout de Mexico gave the opening welcome and we all headed off to the different events.
There were various events and stations across the park. Some were cooking,
chess, woodworking, singing, dancing, robotics, arts, and various other crafts.
It was fun to see so many scouts having a
good time not only at the stations but also
meeting and greeting each other. I think
my uniform and being the only BSA scout
present in the entire event attracted many
curious scouts. It was great to feel like a rock star, but it was even better
just to talk to them and learn about each other’s scouting stories.
Well the fun didn’t stop when the sun went
down. Saturday’s festivities continued with
a trip to the amphitheater where the
evening ceremony included a dance
number and lots of singing and dancing
throughout the night. I think everyone
knows the OPPA GANGNAM style dance
because the stage was packed.
Just as I thought, the night was over my
scout friends from my group surprised me
with a birthday cake and well, the picture
says what happened to the cake. You would
think that lights out meant go to sleep, but
not these scouts. We all watched a movie,
till we passed out.
It’s Sunday morning off to breakfast and
more activities. My goal today was to do
some neckerchief trading, meet more
friends, exchange Facebook and email
accounts with other scouts. Me and my dad
headed off to visit the International booth
were we met up with our new friends from
the Scout de Mexico International
committee. Ms. Carolina Aquayo and Mr.
Fernando Brodeschi. Here we are showing the hand symbol for Messengers of
Peace. The theme to their booth was to promote the World Jamboree being held
in Japan.
As we walked around, my dad and I were asked by many scouts to sign their scarfs, explain our patches, or
have a photo op. It was so cool and exciting, even some members of my group were asked for autographs.
Sunday had even more events. The dance and signing competition followed by another evening presentation
and a special ceremony that was being broadcasted out on the Internet.
As a surprise from our scout group, both my dad
and I were honored by being welcome as a
member of the group and receiving the group’s
scout patch Kumiai Ti’ilak. I also learned that
never be the first one in your camp to go to sleep
early. I got a sharpie mustache and more artwork.
Wow!, Monday so soon and time to go home. But what would a trip be
to Mexico without meeting in person a rock star herself National Chief
of Scout de Mexico, Ms. Lorena Gudino Valdez. It was an honor to meet
someone who inspires many young scouts to stay in scouting and have
fun. I had to say good bye to my friends, but not for long. I will soon be
joining my group as a scout of Scout de Mexico, which I plan to learn
their scouting ways and return that knowledge to scouts in the BSA.
Thank You Scouts de Mexico for a great
time. For more photos of the event visit
my Facebook page.
www.facebook.com/ryanedwinreyes
Yours in Scouting,
Scout Ryan Edwin Reyes
Boy Scout of America & Boy Scout of the Philippines
Email: ryanedwin99@yahoo.com
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