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Anyone got a Scout or Explorer going to WSJ in South Korea?

630 replies

lazylittlelucy · 16/07/2023 16:57

Just thought I'd start a thread for parents if there are any on here.
My 17yo DD is going as an Explorer and is getting excited now.
Anyone else?

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33
AnotherThingToThinkAbout · 15/08/2023 14:30

CheersToMe · 14/08/2023 11:25

Mine has returned. Verdict - way worse conditions on site than has been reported and that you could imagine. But also had the best time!

Pleased you have your baby home. I am finding it very annoying that people seem to think that UK Scouts were just snowflakes in the heat. There was so much more wrong.

A friend is visiting from Australia and says their press is full of stories about how well their Scouts did as they are used to hot conditions. (skirting over any issues and hinting that Scouts from elsewhere were just a bit feeble by contrast, apparently)

OnionBhajis · 15/08/2023 14:33

Another - that's the Australian press for you they're a bit like that !

OnionBhajis · 15/08/2023 14:34

(See covid reproting ... and any opportunity to show how superior Australia is (perceived) in general!

AnotherThingToThinkAbout · 15/08/2023 14:35

OnionBhajis · 15/08/2023 14:33

Another - that's the Australian press for you they're a bit like that !

Yes.... I actually lived in Australia for a couple of years so it wasn't a complete surprise. Still annoying though!

AnotherThingToThinkAbout · 15/08/2023 14:38

OnionBhajis · 15/08/2023 14:34

(See covid reproting ... and any opportunity to show how superior Australia is (perceived) in general!

Example headline!

Anyone got a Scout or Explorer going to WSJ in South Korea?
OnionBhajis · 15/08/2023 14:38

Ah can completely relate 😂.

OnionBhajis · 15/08/2023 14:39

Omg that is SO blatant isn't it. It isn't surprising they often have a chip on their shoulder about British people when that's the level of reporting...

OnionBhajis · 15/08/2023 14:40

And people wonder why we don't want to move back 😂.

stealtheatingtunnocks · 15/08/2023 15:30

thats caught my attention - I lived there for a while and loved it but wasn’t tempted to emigrate. I’d never experienced blatant comprehensive misogyny or homophobia before being there.

I spent longest in WA, there was a lot of hubris about how good it was to live in Perth (which it was, I bet they’d think their suspected murderers would be the biggest and bestest of them all) and my lasting memory is of how far away from everywhere the city is.

perth felt like oversized country hamlet, really, it felt like everyone knows everyone else’s business and history and they all have the same life experiences because the distances to eg go to Uni in the next town are vast. If you didn’t fit you’d never fit, it was a big city that felt like the small very rural village I’m from.

that’s why I’m hesitant to see this woman as guilty, Lindy Chamberlain has been mentioned and I’m old enough to remember it. She was the wrong sort of woman condemned for doing and saying the wrong sort of things. So I’m uncomfortable with my interest in this odd case and am mindful of my own speculations because I don’t think I’d have been the right sort of woman for Australia either.

having said that - beef Wellington is a complex dish. I’m veggie, so I’ve never made it, but that’s hours of effort. Woudlnt a BBQ and some cold salads be more typical for a family lunch?

stealtheatingtunnocks · 15/08/2023 15:43

Wrong thread, sorry!

lazylittlelucy · 15/08/2023 17:38

As if DD's unit haven't endured enough hiccups, their flight from Incheon to Munich has been diverted to Nuremberg 🙄🙄
They have to re-fuel and then hope to get back to Munich to make their flight to Manchester. Luckily they had a 4 hour layover anyway. But it's gonna be tight 😱

OP posts:
OnionBhajis · 15/08/2023 17:39

Oh gosh so she's not back yet! Hope all goes well and she's back soon!

PuttingDownRoots · 15/08/2023 19:04

Fingers crossed @lazylittlelucy
If its a big group, maybe they will hold the flight, must be easier than trying to arrange onward travel for a bunch of teenagers!

lazylittlelucy · 15/08/2023 19:13

Thankfully all sorted now. They have landed in Munich with 2 hours before their connection. There were 6 WSJ units on that flight so I guess they prioritised them to get to Munich. They are due to land in Manchester at 11pm

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CheersToMe · 15/08/2023 19:56

Phew. Fancy being on that flight as a non-scout!
Tissues at the ready for the reunion.

Back to the #scamboree - we know, that despite what the Australian press says, the heat wasn't the issue, it was the lack of infrastructure to support being in the heat. Lack of shade, cooling facilities, rehydration drinks, decent toilets, showers, medical facilities etc etc. If those had been in place, along with decent nutrition, the participants would have been able to manage the heat better.

The humidity on the site itself was punishing. A few miles down the road it was still 35 degrees but didn't feel like 50 degrees as it did on the site.

NELEAF · 15/08/2023 20:51

IST son got home yesterday and was sad to come home - but I got the biggest hug ever from my 6ft 4 skinny giant - in public too ☺️ he has gone into details about how shambolic the site was - however, he said it was one of his best experiences and he can't wait to get back to Scouts so he can talk to the kids who are likely to be applying for Poland to make sure they are not put off by the press - Poland's site was ready for the Euro Jamboree in 2020 - so they're already pretty much already there. And yes he's already itching to apply for 2027! 🤣

lazylittlelucy · 16/08/2023 00:39

And... that's that. The big adventure over and done with. May post later with DD's musings, and will keep an eye out for @RedToothBrush 's comprehensive research on the shambolic Korean organisers and for any reparations that may follow.

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PeasInOurTime · 16/08/2023 01:27

Mine is on the last day today. They went to DMZ yesterday to find it closed due to it being a public holiday. They were all disappointed!!! Theme park & baseball today then an early start for the flights home. She says she’s sad to leave but also excited to come home.

lazylittlelucy · 16/08/2023 01:37

DD hasn't been able to talk much. She's exhausted, having been on the go for 24 hours.
Oh, and one of her friends has just tested positive for Covid. So fun and games before our family holiday on Monday 🙄

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handmademitlove · 16/08/2023 08:08

@PeasInOurTime ours went to DMZ yesterday - although the viewing platform was closed, they had alternative options organised by the officials such as the us base and art exhibitions. Strange that yours didn't have that option?

PeasInOurTime · 16/08/2023 08:12

They had a camp tour but DD said they didn’t have time to see it properly. I think it’s more that this was something they’d been looking forward to for months and with all the disruption they could have gone when it was open.

BookShop · 16/08/2023 08:28

DD is back and the washing is done. We’ve seen pictures of both the bite marks and toilets. Horrific. She is a tough little cookie, definitely not a snowflake. Despite all her comments about the badly run set up and organisation she cannot wait for the next one!

CheersToMe · 16/08/2023 08:49

PeasInOurTime · 16/08/2023 08:12

They had a camp tour but DD said they didn’t have time to see it properly. I think it’s more that this was something they’d been looking forward to for months and with all the disruption they could have gone when it was open.

DS missed his opportunity in week 1 and wasn't able to rearrange because apparently security clearance means it has to be booked minimum 3 weeks ahead? Odd that it was booked for a public holiday though.

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