World Jamboree 2019.

How do I even start?

WJ was the most amazing experience of my entire life.

I remember my first year in Scouts, when I was eleven, there was a presentation done on WJ. It was done by a Venturer from our group, who had gone to the 23rd WJ in Japan.

I remember sitting there vividly, listening to the amazing stories that he told, watching the slideshow he’d put together.

I remember him telling us about Culture Day, and I remember thinking that it sounded like the coolest thing ever.

I remember leaning over to whisper to my friend that I wished I could go to something like that, and I remember thinking it would never happen.

And now I’m sitting at home, thinking back on the most amazing twenty days of my life.

Not only have I had the opportunity to go to the biggest WJ ever, but the chance to be a global ambassador for Canada as well. I hope that throughout this experience, I have showed you all the power of the scouting movement, and the amazing adventure that these jamborees are. I hope I’ve inspired somebody to go to one.

I think that this jamboree has changed my life. I’ve met people from all over the world, I’ve made friendships with people who live very different lives then me, I’ve learned about different cultures, tried new adventures, and smiled more in twenty days then I have in my entire life.

And upon arriving home, I slept longer then I ever have before.

Even with a four day precamp, twelve day jamboree, and hosting some UK scouts in Canada for four more days, the jamboree couldn’t be long enough. I think everyone at home is already tired of me talking about it, because I’ve always got another story to tell. Sometimes I already miss the jamboree so much I have to remind myself that there’s going to be another one in four years. I miss walking to my tent under the blanket of stars, I miss the chatter of a hundred different languages, I miss the way everyone was so friendly, I miss eating dinner with people from all over the world.

But I’m so glad I was lucky enough to have that experience. I hope everyone gets to experience something like that in their lifetime, because it’s honestly the coolest thing ever.

So now it’s time to start fundraising so I can go to Korea as an IST. I’m already excited, and I can’t wait to see everyone gathered together again.

So for now I’ll have to continue telling stories and showing pictures to anyone who’ll listen, and think back fondly on the memories I’ve made.

Farewell,

Callista