Blog post by Laura
Basically, don't get too comfortable and expect the unexpected. Not too much can be disclosed about what happened on this weekend but the first challenge that faced the majority was finding your new tent buddies and pitching a tent in the dark. The rest of the weekend followed in this manner with the situation constantly changing to assess how you might cope on a trip where you don't know the language and things change suddenly meaning you have to work together to come up with a new solution, activity to do etc.
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| Sarah chatting with another INTOPS participant. |
It was very challenging and tiring but you got to meet almost everyone at the weekend and at the end there was a real feeling of comradeship that we'd all survived. Several International Opportunities within Guiding were explained to us including volunteering at a World Centre, next years Roverway Camp in France and of course GOLD with everyone encouraged to apply.
The Latvia team members all met at INTOPS except for our leader Net who was already Latvia bound once again. So we were hand picked with her in mind!! Sarah K and I (Laura) were actually tent buddies too. Katie attended as she really wanted to do GOLD and Latvia was actually her first choice. Sarah K also really wanted to do GOLD and like me had to do it this year before sadly becoming too old, it was now or never. Sarah S attended INTOPS for use as the residential experience for her Queen's Guide Award and while she was there she thought, why not apply for GOLD.
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| Katie, Ellen, Laura & Sarah completing a challenge. |
I for one thoroughly enjoyed the INTOPS weekend, especially meeting like minded and inspiring young woman from across the country, many of whom I've been lucky enough to get know a bit better through GOLD. So far the GOLD journey has been amazing and it just keeps getting better.
