International Experiences
katies experience working
at Our Cabanna In Mexico
Last November (2009)I travelled to Cuernavaca, Mexico to take up
the six-month Event Administrator position at Our Cabaña.
Only having found out two weeks earlier that I had been selected
for the job, I did not have much time to prepare for my trip and
arrived without learning any Spanish. This meant my first challenge
was navigating my way on public transport from Mexico City airport
to Our Cabaña.
I could fill pages and pages writing about all the things I did
and the people I met while I was in Mexico. Instead I will first
tell you a bit about life at Our Cabaña and then share some
of my highlights.
As you know, Our Cabaña's primary function and the thing
it is most famous for is running international friendship events
for members of WAGGGS from all over the world. In my role as the
Event Administrator I spent half my time handling the bookings for
over 50 events coming up in the Centenary years, and the other half
in the programme team planning and running activities and trips
during events. There are a number of key components to each international
friendship event at Our Cabaña. First, the international
festival where you get to learn about the other participants and
share games, songs, food and activities from their countries. Next,
trips to local towns and archaeological sites (Aztec pyramids).
During every event we carry out a service project with children,
teenagers or senior citizens from the local community. Learning
about Mexican traditions and WAGGGS initiatives as well as time
to relax by the pool or explore the local area fill in the gaps.
Finally, the all-important Mexican fiesta on the last night!
Each event has its own flavour, and is shaped by both the participants
and the staff. Our Cabaña has a rolling programme for volunteers
so there are always new and fresh ideas, cultures, songs and activities
to share.
During my six months, I worked with colleagues from Argentina, Canada,
Finland, Germany, Mexico, Sweden, UK, USA and Uruguay. As well as
this, I met participants from a much longer list of countries.
I have many, many happy memories and highlights from my time at
Our Cabaña. I was able to learn a great deal about Mexican
culture, as well as to explore various parts of the country on my
time off. I learnt Spanish, worked with the Guías de México
during their weekly meetings in the Cabaña's gardens, met
the Mexican President's wife Margarita Zavala (who is a great supporter
of the Mexican Guides), and was invited by her to welcome Michelle
Obama on her official visit to Mexico.
I was lucky enough to visit the site of the monarch butterfly migration
three times this year, to see the amazing sight of millions of butterflies
clinging to the trees in the Sierra Madre mountains. Through the
Yolos, Our Cabaña's scholarship scheme, two participants
from Jordan were able to attend the Butterfly and Thinking Day event.
This was very special for them, for the staff and for all the other
participants, as these ladies would not have been able to attend
without kind donations from "yolos", which means friend
in Nahuatl the local native language in Morelos, the state where
Our Cabaña is situated.
My proudest moments include being involved in the Central American
Gathering, a meeting of over 100 delegates from all over Central
America, which was conducted entirely in Spanish - a definite challenge
for me. Celebrating Thinking Day at a World Centre will also be
a special experience, but this year I was asked to organise a full
day of Thinking Day activities for 200 Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.
I planned activities on the theme of "Together we can end extreme
poverty and hunger" for members aged between 5 and 85, in English
and Spanish. One of the activities was packing care packages of
basic food and household items for senior citizens in the local
community.
I cannot recommend a visit to Our Cabaña enough. Whether
you visit for an event, as an independent group (the programme team
will plan a programme just for you), or apply to be a volunteer,
I am sure you would not regret it.
I hope to return to Our Cabaña someday, and to visit other
parts of Mexico I did not get to on this trip. In the meantime,
I am continuing to support the Yolo scheme by creating a fundraising
activity pack. If you would like more information on this pack or
to be added to the email list to receive it when it is completed,
please contact me
Two successful weekends held
in 2010 - look out for 2011...where in the world will we go next?
A taste of Russia comes to
Bedfordshire
During March and April 2009
international weekends were held at Woodcroft and Mollivers giving
Guides of 12 years old and over the chance to find out a little
about Russia and Guiding internationally We started by blowing eggs
- a bit messy for some! and then decorating wooden spoons. We also
had a 'speed dating' session so that we could get to know each other
better. The next day we painted the eggs and decorated them. We
also made Russian biscuits, international keepsakes and played Russian
games. The food had a Russian theme with a chance for everyone to
try something new. At campfire the girls were encouraged to produce
an entertainment for an international camp. On the Sunday we held
an Olympic Games of sorts...and the girls made up a piece of rhythmic
gymnastics
Watch out for the dates for next year's weekends - not sure where
we will be going but it is sure to be fun!!
Last updated
17 August, 2010
