It All Felt Like a Dream… a World Scout Jamboree blog

 

JULY 28, 2023

I woke up early that morning. It was the day I, Amira Jauziah is going to start new experience, experience that not everyone can get. I prepared myself in the morning, and went to Bumi Perkemahan Cibubur with my parents. I met all my friends, and all my unit member which has 40 people and 4 patrols of 10 people each. I also met my tent mate for the first time, her name is Aretha Putri. We didn't do anything till night, we met the Indonesian contingent leader and had a briefing for tomorrow.

There were 500 people there, we all gathered in a field and sat down to listen. There was Prof Kim, who was the ambassador for the jamboree mascot, Saebomi. She introduced us to Saebomi, a tiger from Jeollabuk-do. After all, we walked back to our room and slept.

 
 

 JULY 29, 2023

I woke up early for morning prayer then fell asleep again until 6:30. I ate breakfast and took a shower. My friends and I, who were preparing our backpacks, were then called to do a morning briefing. It was already 12 noon, I packed my belongings such as suitcases and bags from the room. Because the bus was quite far away, I took the car of Mr. Cipta, a physics teacher from Al-Azhar 1 who was also going to the WSJ, but he was in batch 2 which would leave the next day after me. The car was full of suitcases and bags.

Just before stepping in the bus, Prof. Kim, the Ambassador for Saebomi approached me and asked if I could do an interview with her. At that time I was very shy, but in the end I was brave enough because my friends are also joining the interview. The interview took quite a long time, around 30 minutes, before I realized that my friends and I had missed the bus to the airport. We finally decided to catch the bus with Mr. Cipta's car, it turned out the bus had only moved places at that time. 

During the trip I decided to sleep because the plane schedule was quite late. Finally we arrived at Terminal 3, the airport was full with jamboree participants wearing the red Indonesian contingent shirt. I ate dinner then checked-in. Before entering immigration, all participants prayed together and said goodbye to their parents, many of my friend’s mothers hugged me, it really relieved my heart because I was quite upset, my parents couldn't come to the airport and said their goodbye at Bumi Perkemahan Cibubur. We entered immigration, it was still around 7 o'clock. 

My team or what is usually called the Unit turned out to be the first to enter immigration. However, due to the large number of participants, they decided to immediately let us in. We boarded on Asiana Airlines, a plane from South Korea. Most of the passengers apart from the jamboree participants were Korean, that's when my friends and I felt that we were really going to go to Korea for the jamboree.

 

The plane took off at 9:30 p.m. A few minutes after take off, we got bread for dinner. I watched a movie and listened to a song for a while then decided to sleep. I woke up and ate the breakfast, mushroom porridge. We arrived in Korea at 7 am Korean time. When we arrived in Incheon we  had to filled in the Qcode and other things. At Incheon airport we met scouts from Australia, at that time the atmosphere really felt like a world jamboree with a total of 43,000 participants.

 

JULY 30, 2023

We took our suitcases and went out of the airport to the bus. We didn't go straight to the Jamboree location, we got 2 days for a city tour around Seoul and Incheon. Our first destination was Songwol-dong Fairy tale village. Unexpectedly, Korea's weather feels 10x hotter than Indonesia. Then we went to the second destination which was the Korean history museum. 

After that we went to a typical Korean restaurant, we ate Korean rib soup. That was the first time I ate kimchi directly in Korea. Then we changed our clothes into scout uniform because we were going to meet the Indonesian-Korean Ambassador at the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul. This opportunity is very special because only Batch 1 will get this opportunity, and I’ve always dreamed to be an ambassador when I grow up. Mr. Gandi Sulistiyanto gave a speech for us, then we all took a photo together. he also gave us a bag full of snacks. 

The journey continued, we went to the famous bridge made of glass, Soyanggang skywalk. Our last destination that day was Nami Island. We took a ferry to get there, the island is in the middle of a lake. Many local residents played speed boats and other water sports. When we arrived at Nami Island, we took photos and got free time to wander around for about 45 minutes. My friends and I decided to buy ice cream. On the way back with the ferry, it was getting dark. While we rode the ferry and we enjoyed the beautiful sunset.

We had dinner with chicken that we grilled ourselves, then returned to our hotel, Blue Ocean Hotel. Because the location of Nami Island is a little far from the hotel, the journey takes around 2 hours. but it didn't feel long because I used up all my energy and slept. 

The room I got have 2 floors, I slept downstairs and my friend Aretha slept upstairs. the room has a washing machine and tv. and a big glass windows, making the room looks large and comfy. I took a shower and changed into my pajamas, because Aretha and I weren't that close at that time, we decided to chat before going to bed. I went to bed after I watched a Netflix's film on the hotel TV.

JULY 31, 2023

The next day I woke up, showered and prepared things for the day's activities. I went to eat the breakfast that the hotel had prepared. The first destination that day was a ginseng shop, there they thought us about ginseng. We went to eat Korean shabu-shabu. then we went to Gyeongbukgung Palace, the Joseon royal palace which was built in 1395. There we met scouts from the UK, that’s the first time I’ve ever exchanged badge. Continuing the journey to Dongdaemun, which is the center for Korean souvenirs at cheap prices. We also went to Shilla Duty Free, a mall filled with luxury brands and cosmetics. 

After a while, we went to Myeong-dong, a very famous street food center, containing typical Korean food and various shops. I bought odeng, teokppokki, jajjangmyeon, tanghulu, gyerangmari and many more. We went to eat dinner, I was very happy because we ate on a ferry over the Han River. Yes, an atmosphere that I never imagined would happen. we enjoyed meat soup that tasted like Indonesian rawon, then I walked a bit and took photos around the banks of the Han River. 

We went back to the hotel, and it was already 12:00 at night. I took a shower and it turned out that I was hungry, Retha and I decided to go to a convinient called 'Nice to C U' and bought shin ramyeon, my favorite ramyeon. 

AUGUST 1, 2023

I woke up early and went to have breakfast, then I took my suitcase to the bus because that day I was going to the camp site. We stopped by a museum about red pine trees which only exist in Korea. That day lunch was at 11 o'clock, earlier than the usual lunch time. the menu is chicken which contains sticky rice and ginseng, honestly I can still imagine the taste of the chicken because it doesn't really suit me and my friends' tongues. Then we headed to Incheon airport, there the World Scout Jamboree committee had prepared buses for everyone to go to Jeollabuk-do.

 It took 3 hours 30 minutes to Jeollabuk-do. We finally arrived at 3.45, while heading to our subcamp, everyone on the bus was shocked to see how big the Jamboree location was. When we got there, the condition of the land was a bit muddy, the location was a reclamation. The conditions were muddy and difficult to pass, there were also many areas there that had quite large puddles of water. First, the others and I moved pallets weighing 15 kg, for the base of each tent. The pallets had to be lifted by 4-5 people because of their size and weight, whereas each tent had 4 pallets so we had to lift 90 pallets in muddy and slightly flooded ground conditions. 

We finished lifting pallets at 8, when it was starting to get dark, then we continued building tents which finished at 10. We didn't have time to eat dinner that night because we were busy, also the food house was late in getting halal food. but that day was very exciting, it was the first time I felt that teamwork was so difficult if only one person was selfish. Because I was very hungry, I finally decided to unpack my suitcase and eat the corned beef I brought.

 

AUGUST 2, 2023 

Woke up early and picked up food supplies a distance of around 700 m. At that time I didn't know that the food basket were heavy and the distance was also far. that morning we cooked egg omelet with sausage. after that I showered and washed clothes. However, because I didn't have time to make a clothesline, I clipped my clothes around the tent. That day we decided to rest because we still felt tired from yesterday. Unexpectedly, that afternoon there were so many Korean planes passing by in beautiful formations.

At 6.00 pm, we changed into scout clothes. that evening all 43,000 participants will gather in the main arena to watch the opening ceremony. we all gathered with various countries from our subcamp, everyone wore scout clothes from their own countries. On the way there, we all sang encouraging songs from our respective countries, and chants. There are also Scots who bring their traditional musical instrument, like bagpipes.

The walk to the main arena was very far, about 5 kilometers from my unit tent. Before we got there, we could already feel the music and lights from a distance, everyone was shouting excitedly. The main arena stage is actually very large, if you want to enter, you need to go through a body scan first. we sat and enjoyed the concert and speech from the president of South Korea. Several people from my unit decided to go home first because they were very tired, while I and the rest decided to watch longer. Until one person from our unit fainted, that's when we decided to go home. 

Ambulances were passing by causing traffic jams, the streets were filled with people who had fainted and were on IV drips, the conditions that night were unimaginable. the journey home was very long, I had to carry the bag of my friend who had fainted, I had to force my numb legs to take a step. Yes, that night was really scary but was super fun in the same time. 

    

AUGUST 3, 2023

That morning I woke up at 3 to take a shower, then I prepared myself. We were going to do an off site program, a program outside the campsite, where we had to take a bus. We walked to the bus station which was approximately 4 kilometers away, then we went towards Buan. The first activity we did there was archery with traditional Korean arrows. then we went to the 2nd activity, traditional Korean musical instruments, we learned to play them. 

We decided to take a break to eat our lunch and snacks. I have learned Korean for some time and tried to buy using Korean. It turned out that the salesman admitted that my pronunciation was good, so we chatted for quiet a long time. Our patrol went to play traditional Korean toys like ddakji, jjekgi jjagii and many more. We also tried writing the word jamboree in Hangeul, the original Korean letter, using a brush and black ink. After we finished we got pins and jibbitz for bracelets, then we took the bus back to the campsite. Unexpectedly, that afternoon the jet planes flew again with their choreography. 

That afternoon, 3 of my neighbors from the UK approached my unit, Emilia, Libby and Stan. we chatted together for so long that they invited some of their friends, Phoenix, Hendry, Luca, Reuben and Aaron. Coincidentally, Phoenix, who was on duty getting the water supply, invited me to go together, we talked about our own countries. yes, phoenix is ​​such a fun person to talk to. 

That evening, Henry invited us to go to a night concert. but that night felt so tiring that I finally decided to go home first, until that night I got lost and finally was able to come back.

     


AUGUST 4, 2023

That day the weather was very hot, we had activities in sector A, but didn't do it because the weather was very hot. Until 2 p.m, our UK friends invited us to go to Delta, which is really far from our camp, about 7-8 kilometers. There was a shop containing Jamboree souvenirs. We decided to walk because the bus queue was usually very long, we stopped at the green tunnel which was filled with people trading badges. When we were only 1/4 of the way through, my friends and I were called by our leader to go to sector A. We didn't want to go there, we decided to go to Delta by bus which turned out to be not as bad as we imagined at first.

We took the bus from stop 3 to stop 14, then walked 1 kilometer to the bridge leaving the campsite. That's when we were surprised because we didn't know that Delta was really big and exciting. there was live music, food from various countries, scout shop, jamboree shop. My friends and I stopped at an Indonesian stall selling ayam bakar, nasi goreng, bakso, es dawet and many other things. I bought ice nutrisari there for 3000 won. 

Then I queued to enter the jamboree shop, I bought a Saebomi doll that I had been eyeing since the beginning of the jamboree. after that we toured the delta and decided to go back, but we didn't know that the delta was outside the jamboree site so we needed an ID card to enter. I used my ID, but my other 2 friends didn’t. we all panicked and called our friends who were in the tent. until finally we were allowed to enter even though we didn't use an ID. 

          

AUGUST 5, 2023 

That day I woke up to the news that UK were leaving the jamboree. There, all of our units felt the same sadness, it felt like we had lost our only friend. They packed up their tents and belongings. Those of us who lived opposite them sat watching them leave, yes that moment was very sad, because we had only been friends for 3 days. 

In the afternoon, my friends and I decided to go to sector A, to catch the Hwarang Award, we walked about 3 kilometers there. We did 1 activity, namely trying to tie a rope, after that we broke for lunch. but the activity was closed, we decided to play wet with the watergun game. after that we went to the world maze, which is a maze with lots of activities in it.

 

AUGUST 6, 2023

Today there are no activities open because today is culture day. everyone decorates their unit and wears their country's traditional clothes. However, Athaya, Alis and I were invited to be on a Korean TV show, we were invited along with 15 other Indonesian friends. When I was waiting, there was Korean air force performance. We went out of the campsite to a church in the Gunsan area. We were given ice cream and gimbab lunch. There we were invited to visit the museum and tour around the Gunsan area, we were also invited to have dinner at a restaurant with the church peoples. 

We thought we'd be home at 4, but we got home at 9 p.m. Yes, it was a very exciting day and an opportunity that not every wsj members can get. On the way home, we got news that there would be a rainstorm, I immediately called my tent mate. yes panic is all I remember that night.

 

AUGUST 7, 2023

That morning I woke up early to get ready to go to the offsite program. That day we went to a mountain and the center of Gochujang, Sungchan Gochujang. we headed to the bus then started a fairly long journey. When we got there we did the trekking with our feet barefoot. At that time there were some people from the Philippines who along the way talked to me, he was very funny, we also talked about the world of entrepreneurship. We stopped at a large puddle to wet our feet, then looked at the rain and turned back. 

We didn't go straight to the bus because it was already lunch time and we decided to have lunch and rest first. I bought matcha ice cream there, and got back on the bus. Unfortunately my wallet was lost somewhere in this area, and are missing until now. We continued our journey to Sungchan Gochujang, we made a shrinking keychain.

Then we went into the building and made gochujang sauce and ramyeon shabu-shabu. Yes, that day was super fun, it was also our last day of the Jamboree because there would be a tornado the next 2 days in the camping area. The government decided to evacuate us from there. After leaving the building and taking our bags to the bus, that's where I made a big mistake. I changed bags and forgot to put my passport and visa in the plastic bag, so they were wet. Fortunately it can still be saved. 

That night, while cleaning the tent and suitcase, I realized that my wallet was missing. I panicked and asked the hub staff, but they couldn't do anything so I gave it all up. I finally had the idea to go to the bus HQ where I thought at first that it was indeed lost there, I tried asking the staff there who was Korean, but he couldn't speak English. This is where I felt that the Korean I've learned are very useful.

I explained what happened, and told him the characteristics of the bus we had taken that day. I felt like crying that night, my legs went numb, my hands trembled. The man called the bus driver that day and asked everything. My wallet wasn't there, the man was so kind, he gave me a scarf, his business card and a Korean peach because I haven't eat anything that night. He drove me back to the tent in a golf car.

                               

AUGUST 8, 2023

I woke up with everyone cleaning the camp area. All of the scout were moved to the safest place possible, some are going to Seoul, and to other place. Us, the Indonesian were moved to Wonkwang University in Iksan. All the 1500 Indonesian scouts stayed at dorms in the univs, with Mongolia, India and Ecuador. we cleaned and returned all the stuff like stove, gas and tents. we packed all chairs, table, and stack the pallets. It was super tiring. After all are cleaned, we got the permission to get a bus, I wasn't strong enough to get my luggage to the bus cause I had headache. 

The weather was super hot and I was burning, I sat down so that my headache are gone. but I fainted and act like I didn't because everyone was also feeling the same way. After 3 hours, finally we got our bus, bus number 257 out of 1000 other busses. All the areas are flat now, no more tents, everyone is going out of there. 

I slept on the way to Wonkwang, which is not really far from the campsite. I got my room number, the room itself was nice, it was pretty big. I went to burger king with my friends, it was about a kilometer walk. After getting our food we walked a bit more around Wonkwang, it's such a nice university. There were night performances, but me and Aretha were really tired, so we chose to play with our phone in our room and we both didn't realize that we accidentally slept till morning. 

                           

AUGUST 9, 2023

That morning the Indonesian gathered together to go to off site program. we first went to a jewelery museum, then we went to a stadium to eat our lunch. The last place we went  that day was a Curch, me and my friends only sat in the middle of a grass field because we were quite tired, we made a circle of 8. We played games, we chatted and also lie down because the wind that day was calming.

We went back to our dorm, there was actually a really beautiful sunset that day, and a rainbow to!! It was night, I went to a stadium to watch performances, the performance was supposed to be at an outdoor stage, but it was raining that night so they moved to a stadium. There were trainees from JYP dancing, also the Indians performances. I went back to my room at midnight

                                     

AUGUST 10, 2024

I woke up in my room from the sound of my window banging. The typhoon tornado started early that day, the wind itself was really strong. There was supposed to be breakfast at the building in front of my building but because of the typhoon, I ate meat with rice and sambal. I got a news that I was going to perform the dance I practised for the past 2 months, the dance is called wonderland Indonesia. All of us gathered at Cinta and Meira's room, we all helped each other's makeup. 

We ate lunch and head to the stadium, there were a lot of people there. I was super nervous because me and Aretha was just performing with the 2 of us, and its supposed to be 4. After performing I went back to my room and packed my stuff because we're going to Seoul tomorrow and wouldn't have time to pack our stuffs. 

                    

AUGUST 11, 2023

I used my scout uniform again that day, all of the 43.000 people are gathering together at Seoul World  Cup Stadium. From Iksan to Seoul took 5 hours, when we got there they gave us a bracelet to enter the stadium. I freaked out when I got the news that the Indonesian's are getting the front row seat, it was a dream of my life concert. it was the first ever concert in my life, and I'm watching some of my favorite Korean idols?!?! There was NCT DREAM, MAMAMOO, THE BOYZ, KARD, TNX, ITZY, FROMIS 9, KANG DANIEL, P1HARMONY, IVE, NEWJEANS, ZB1 and a lot more. 

I lost my voice that night from screaming to much, it was a core memory of my life. I could still remember how excited I was that night, I also got a Lego set, lightstick, BTS photocard and a raincoat in a tote bag. It was 11 pm and we had to go back to Wonkwang which took another 5 hours, we would be there at 2.50. Because at 6 am I'd be going to the airport, I packed a bit, ate bakso and slept at 3.30.                                              

                                     

AUGUST 12, 2023

My mobile data ran out that day, my alarms didn't rang. I woke up with a woman entering our room, it was 7 in the morning and the bus should have gone at 6. I was still wearing my scout uniform, I quickly rushed with Aretha and ran to the bus station which is a bit far away. My unit leader was really angry and everyone else are, they tried ringing my phone but couldn't, it was purely me and Aretha's mistake.

I slept on the way to the airport, There was lot of people with camera shooting, the airport gave the scouts somethings. I did my check-in and waited to go through the imigrations. Me and my friends went to our plane gate, instead of sitting to wait for the plane, I walked through the whole airport to find a bookstore with Athaya. I bought boneless chicken and a strawberry juice for lunch.

The plane took 7 hours, from 3 p.m. Korean time to 9 p.m. Indonesian time. When we all arrived, we all said our last goodbye. I cried knowing well that I wouldn't meet Aretha and everyone else for a long time. I also said goodbye to Rafli, a friend I wouldn't expect to be close with, he lives far away from me, he lives in a diffrent island. Got my luggage and went out of the airport to find my mom, there was also my grandpa, grandma and my brother Alfin. 

 

THE END 

The jamboree has always been the best experience in my life, every second and every minute of the  jamboree are deeply plant in my heart and would always be a core memory. Thanks to my parents who had gave me the opportunity to join the Jamboree and thanks to all my friends for all the love, supports and cheers. Thankyou to my jamboree friends for helping me through ups and downs this whole jamboree. I love the jamboree and would never regret anything from it... looking forward to the next world scout jamboree!!

jamboree vlog made by kwarnas: https://youtu.be/Y9-ouiLa88U?feature=shared