The longest entry (possibly) ever
This last Friday I left civilization to venture into the darkened land of Gomezinien to report the horrible state of the country. The people were being used as slaves in General Gomez's (the dictator) coca-fields.
So I, and about 25 other scouts, were introduced to the country Friday evening and they tested some of our abilities in first aid, morse and other useful things. I was in a group of five: Barbara from my own group and Kristian, Ida and Jakob from another group called "Gallerne". They were 14, 12 and 13, I think. The trip was meant for 12-15-year olds - Barbara and I were there on a special permit.
We slept inside that night.
The next morning they woke us up around half past six in the morning - they'd taken all of our watches and cellphones, but I knew when the sun would rise (6.58) so we knew what time it was, kind of. We had burned and oversalted oatmeal for breakfast, so most of us had nothing to eat before lunch aside candy and biscuits.
We then walked a lot, to hear a mayor critique the system. He was, of course, abducted by Gomez's soldiers. A man tumbled out of a green trash can and told us that he'd been trapped in Gomezinien for 15 years, and he could show us some of the way to the rebellious guerilla's camp. So we walked a lot more and countless people counted the way and we ended up in the camp. Their leader, El Loco Toro (sp?), wanted us to prove our worth by forging a knife and help him bring down Gomez. Throughout the day we forged a knife, went on different missions (setting up traps for Gomez's soldiers, finding notes written by cocaine-smugglers to Gomez among other things) and wrote articles on what we were experiencing. Somewhere along this road Barbara and I began talking to some 13-14-year olds (we should've been in their group from the beginning, but the Galler-people had been 5 from the beginning, but seeing as two of them were sick, Barbara and I joined them instead. The other boys (from 1. Riisskov) were more fun, though. One of them even listened to Opeth.
Either way - at nightfall we had dinner and handed in our knives. We then had 20 minutes to find some things in the forest, and were after wards sent to somewhere far away. So we walked and walked and walked. Ida had troubles w. her knee and Jakob felt ill (he said..) - therefore we were only three. After having met some interesting people (one of them spat tea on Kristian's trousers and my boot by accident) we were showed where we should sleep. So we went in the direction the map said, and found nothing aside fence and trees. So we returned to the last place we'd met people to ask for help. We were told that the people were in place, so we left again - this time joined by some boys from another group. We took the same path as last time and.. what a chok! It was STILL a dead end! OMG! MAGIC!
Back we went. We met the rest of the groups (including 1. Riisskov) and began walking up a different road. Alex, Barbara and I were quite certain it was the right direction, but some boy had to argue, and, in the end, we gave in. We walked back to the other road and ventured into the forest once again. And it was STILL A DEAD END! DOOOOOM! Some of the younger ones were scared by now and thought we were lost. We ended up walking down a larger road which frequently had cars driving past us. Someone (it later turned out it was Ida from my group) stopped a car and called her mum, who called one of the leaders who came for us some time after. It was about 2 o'clock in the morning now. We built a bivouac and finally went to sleep around 3 AM. It seems it was about -10°C, and I did indeed spend the four hours shaking horribly and feeling like I was freezing to death.
The leaders came for us around 7 AM. My boots were completely frozen and impossible to put on, so I had to put my toes into them and walk down to the campfire to melt them. There was no oatmeal left as I came there so no breakfast for me this time. I walked back to the bivouac and packed my bag. Went back to the campfire where they'd just eaten the rest of the second pot of oatmeal: no food for me. As we left I'd had an apple and a banana for breakfast. Yay.
More things were done (we took pictures of Gomez trading cocaine for money) and we returned to the guerilla camp. Barbara, Jakob (who had returned) and Kristian (Ida's knee still hurt) went orienteering and I was allowed into the hut to have some real breakfast. Two hours later Barbara, Kristian and Jakob returned and so did I (after chopping some wood) and soon the other groups came as well. We handed in our articles and waited for the leaders to figure out which group had the most points. Barbara and I talked to the boys from 1. Riisskov (who were all younger than my younger brother but more fun and less annoying.) Two hours went (or so) and finally! They knew who were the winners!
There were several categories, amongst them Best Articles, Best Knife, Best Behaviour, Best Orienteering and some more that I've forgotten. My group were second in Best Knife and Best Article and (was I told after wards) Overall, but as Ida'd called the leaders the night before 150 points were taken from us. As all groups but one (which wasn't the winning one) were lost, I still consider us as second best ;) I v. much doubt we would've found the place without help - any of us.
So my mum fetched Barbara and me - it was around 2 PM now. Alex said "see you," even though we probably won't.
I showered and went to bed around 4, ate dinner around 7 and went to bed again around 8 o'clock and slept until morning.
A long weekend, but a good one overall.
Also a long entry. OMG how exciting! ..or summat
So I, and about 25 other scouts, were introduced to the country Friday evening and they tested some of our abilities in first aid, morse and other useful things. I was in a group of five: Barbara from my own group and Kristian, Ida and Jakob from another group called "Gallerne". They were 14, 12 and 13, I think. The trip was meant for 12-15-year olds - Barbara and I were there on a special permit.
We slept inside that night.
The next morning they woke us up around half past six in the morning - they'd taken all of our watches and cellphones, but I knew when the sun would rise (6.58) so we knew what time it was, kind of. We had burned and oversalted oatmeal for breakfast, so most of us had nothing to eat before lunch aside candy and biscuits.
We then walked a lot, to hear a mayor critique the system. He was, of course, abducted by Gomez's soldiers. A man tumbled out of a green trash can and told us that he'd been trapped in Gomezinien for 15 years, and he could show us some of the way to the rebellious guerilla's camp. So we walked a lot more and countless people counted the way and we ended up in the camp. Their leader, El Loco Toro (sp?), wanted us to prove our worth by forging a knife and help him bring down Gomez. Throughout the day we forged a knife, went on different missions (setting up traps for Gomez's soldiers, finding notes written by cocaine-smugglers to Gomez among other things) and wrote articles on what we were experiencing. Somewhere along this road Barbara and I began talking to some 13-14-year olds (we should've been in their group from the beginning, but the Galler-people had been 5 from the beginning, but seeing as two of them were sick, Barbara and I joined them instead. The other boys (from 1. Riisskov) were more fun, though. One of them even listened to Opeth.
Either way - at nightfall we had dinner and handed in our knives. We then had 20 minutes to find some things in the forest, and were after wards sent to somewhere far away. So we walked and walked and walked. Ida had troubles w. her knee and Jakob felt ill (he said..) - therefore we were only three. After having met some interesting people (one of them spat tea on Kristian's trousers and my boot by accident) we were showed where we should sleep. So we went in the direction the map said, and found nothing aside fence and trees. So we returned to the last place we'd met people to ask for help. We were told that the people were in place, so we left again - this time joined by some boys from another group. We took the same path as last time and.. what a chok! It was STILL a dead end! OMG! MAGIC!
Back we went. We met the rest of the groups (including 1. Riisskov) and began walking up a different road. Alex, Barbara and I were quite certain it was the right direction, but some boy had to argue, and, in the end, we gave in. We walked back to the other road and ventured into the forest once again. And it was STILL A DEAD END! DOOOOOM! Some of the younger ones were scared by now and thought we were lost. We ended up walking down a larger road which frequently had cars driving past us. Someone (it later turned out it was Ida from my group) stopped a car and called her mum, who called one of the leaders who came for us some time after. It was about 2 o'clock in the morning now. We built a bivouac and finally went to sleep around 3 AM. It seems it was about -10°C, and I did indeed spend the four hours shaking horribly and feeling like I was freezing to death.
The leaders came for us around 7 AM. My boots were completely frozen and impossible to put on, so I had to put my toes into them and walk down to the campfire to melt them. There was no oatmeal left as I came there so no breakfast for me this time. I walked back to the bivouac and packed my bag. Went back to the campfire where they'd just eaten the rest of the second pot of oatmeal: no food for me. As we left I'd had an apple and a banana for breakfast. Yay.
More things were done (we took pictures of Gomez trading cocaine for money) and we returned to the guerilla camp. Barbara, Jakob (who had returned) and Kristian (Ida's knee still hurt) went orienteering and I was allowed into the hut to have some real breakfast. Two hours later Barbara, Kristian and Jakob returned and so did I (after chopping some wood) and soon the other groups came as well. We handed in our articles and waited for the leaders to figure out which group had the most points. Barbara and I talked to the boys from 1. Riisskov (who were all younger than my younger brother but more fun and less annoying.) Two hours went (or so) and finally! They knew who were the winners!
There were several categories, amongst them Best Articles, Best Knife, Best Behaviour, Best Orienteering and some more that I've forgotten. My group were second in Best Knife and Best Article and (was I told after wards) Overall, but as Ida'd called the leaders the night before 150 points were taken from us. As all groups but one (which wasn't the winning one) were lost, I still consider us as second best ;) I v. much doubt we would've found the place without help - any of us.
So my mum fetched Barbara and me - it was around 2 PM now. Alex said "see you," even though we probably won't.
I showered and went to bed around 4, ate dinner around 7 and went to bed again around 8 o'clock and slept until morning.
A long weekend, but a good one overall.
Also a long entry. OMG how exciting! ..or summat