Camp Life...

Hey y'all - still in Yerevan catching up on sleep and hair washes since camp but just thought we would take the time to fill you in on all that happened at the Armenian National Camp 2011! Well not all, could be here for hours, however we will do our best to share the experience with you!

Monday 25th July 2011

Depart from the NUGGGS Office in true Armenian style - the girls were told to meet at 11am for a 12 noon departure as they are always late - 12.40pm we set off!!  We had a bus take us on the supposedly 5 hour drive from Yerevan to Sisian in the South of Armenia - it was hot and sticky yet we had plenty of entertainment, dancing and singing from the Armenians and a few tunes from the olde UK ipod! Seven and a half hours later, after a a temporary stop as the bus broke down and some al fresco toilet relief, we fianlly mae it to camp! woop! Just enough daylight to get tents up and organise camp kitchen and toilet!  The evening provided us with our first opportunity to join and Armenian 'Camp Disco' - hesitant dance moves at the start of camp - ole snake hips by the end!

Tuesday 26th July 2011

First morning on camp relieved to us how hot this week would be and how little shade we would have to cover our pale UK bodies - let the tanning commence!  We were split into patrols, Amy, Caroline and Jade in one Patrol and Kelly, Marie and I in the other and set about setting up camp! We all helped to tidy the outhouse on camp, prepare emergency sleeping areas if need during camp, clear space for our GOLD training sessions and make a dining area for each patrol to enjoy camp! Hard work in HOT heat! It was great to explore the old outhouse thought as it was used in Soviet Armenia to teach men how to operate machinery, make tools and different types of craftmanship!  That afternoon we started our GOLD training sessions, Marie was up first - WAGGGS Global Actions Themes, Women Empowerment.  She delivered a brilliant session and set the bar high on the ole standards front!  Evening was filled again with Armenian dancing and a beautiful bonfire and tea to heat us up for bed!

Wednesday 27th July 2011

For breakfast we were treated to some egg ommlette - which was a massive difference to the constant bread and cheese (however i wasn't complaining, I loooooooove the Armenian Cheese!) Yum! We the got stuck into our GOLD training, que Kelly and he training on 'International Guiding' - another great training! Marie and I had some rest time during this trainings so set about washing! Team work as one held the hose of freezing cold water as the other one scrubbed their hair and shave the legs! Quite a feat in itself - feeling mighty fresh we set off on a hike with the rest of the camp to this beautiful waterfall.  Apparently the waterfall is used to generate power for Southern Armenian and you can only see it at certain times when the power station turn the waterfall back on - all very strange yet the view was stunning - que the photoshoot!  Back to campsite and after dinner we were invited to join the Armenian's for a game of 'Truth of Risk' - fun times that included Marie singing our national anthem and Caroline producing the oddest sounding ambulance  noise!

Thursday 28th July 2011

It was soon back to GOLD Training with a double session day and to start the day it was my turn, 'Programme Planning', this seemed to go well and the Armenian Leaders and Young Leaders seemed to be finding our trainings enjoyabe and useful - always good! Then after lunch we were straight back to it with Carolines training 'How to run a Guide Unit'.   Our free time in the afternoon was mostly taken up practicing for the evenings entertainment which would be an adaptation of a Fairytale - a bit like Goldilocks and the three bears yet no Goldilocks, instead a Mariela!  Jade, Caroline and Amy's patrol went first with their play where Amy and Jade were beautiful trees, accompanied by leaves duct taped to their legs and tree branches as arms.  Caroline was Shriek and wasnt invited to the disco - she had missed her Armenian call and gracefully snuck into scene an d just lay on the floor - hilarious! It was then the turn of Marie, Kelly and I, Marie and Kelly being Class A detectives and me playing the part of Mariela - where i had to adorn pigtails, dress and Carolines make up! Brilliant banter with the kids and another great night on camp!

Friday 29th July 2011

Today was an exciting day on Camp - Jade training on 'PR and Recruitment' seemed to bring positive vibes and we were joined on camp by a Sisian Television Crew  who filmed all the aspects of the camp from the Campsite and tents to the running on GOLD Sessions - we have all now made our Armenian TV Debut!  The film crew also did interviews with Amalya, the Chief Commissioer in Armenia plus all the leaders from the 7 different Guiding regions that were at camp - and your truely was interviewed looking mighty sweaty with greasy hair and not a drop of make up - Sandra would be so proud!! Apparently the footage was shown in every news bulletin for two full days - Great PR for NUGGGS and Armenian Guiding - we will try and get a copy and show you all!  In the afternoon we went a hike to the Armenian equivalent of  Stonehenge - yet its at the top of a bloody great climb! But we all made it and the views were worth it - 'is there nothing G.UK flip flops cant do?' We also visited an Armenian Zoo that is VERY different to a UK zoo - there was a pigeon in a cage! LOVE IT!! Then a relaxed and chilled evening talking to the kids and learning more Armenian Phrases!

Saturday 30th July 2011

Today was the day of our 6 and final training on Camp - 'Environment' Training by Amy! By this stage we were all quite tired yet the enthusiasm from the Armenian Guides pulled us through and we had a fantastic final training finishing with a recyclable fashion show! All the GOLD training participants were presented with a certificate for their participants and all were thanked for their energy and enthusiasm.  After lunch we then walked into Sisian's town centre, visited the church and local monuments plus we found a shop and scoffed an ice cream each - Caroline and Amy had two - ohhhhhhhhhhhhh!  After dinner back at the campsite we had to practice in Armenian a comdey sketch - we literally made a fool our ourselves no idea what we were saying/singing but apparently it was funny!!  Then Lilit asked us to teach the Armenians some traditional Scottish Country Dancing, que the Gay Gordons Armenian styleeeeeeeee! Awesome night filled with laughter and fun!

Sunday 31st July 2011

Last full day on camp - sad times - but we were all know desperate for a shower!! Just as well it was an Armenian Holiday called 'Varty Var' translated mean 'wet day' where you through water on anyone you see and they cannot complain! Awesome holiday so we had a massive camp water fight  with a bit of water balloon Dodgeball and a bit of water balloon Vollyball!  Just brilliant - i couldn't help feeling victimised though as i kept being pushed to the front!  I was only standing at the back so the kids could get wet and enjoy the fun- haha!  Then into clean warm clothes and official uniform for the closing ceremony as such.  We were thanked for joining in all the fun at the Armenian National Camp and given a certificate and badges for delivering the GOLD Trainings.  We also said a few words, thank all for their participation and making us feel so welcome and presented everyone on camp with one of our GOLD 2011 Badges.  Then it was disco time - we danced Armenian styleeeeee until the wee small hours, a few of us assisted by a wee glass of Rose Juice Wine - even included a wee singsong round the bonfire - Marie was in her element!

Monday 1st August 2011

Final morning on Camp, Tents down, bags packed, last use of the 'dinny squat' and we were off! Only 10 minutes late i was phenomenal! The return route was only 5 and a half hours this time yet in 47 degree heat it was quite the challenge, all just dreaming about the shower's at ENVOY! hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

xxxx