From Pioneers to Chocolatiers the girls from Region did it all!
In the woods of Leuven, at De Kluis the Belgians had a National Event, Jambe the 2013 World Scout Jamboree. The day before we arrived, the storm had come the area was flooded so badly the fire brigade had to pump out the camp sites. The sun shone for a while and we arrived in style from an overnight in a Brussels youth hostel. The girls pitched and then the challenge began here are 48 pioneering poles a giant ball of string, make yourself at home and we did in great style and much surprise to the boys! The grand opening ceremony just reinforced the feelings of the group this was to be a wild, hard week with lots of fun. From Belgium games , to high ropes, low ropes climbing, scouting skills , sailing, kayaking, water challenge reggae dancing , tai chi, yoga , campfires sightseeing, local dancing , night hiking you name it we did it including winning the mass games on the last day. Then what a party!! To follow the international village, more skills and then the long good bye. It rained, it thundered there was lighting, we had the hottest day in Belgian history then it rained some more. We laughed, we got wet we took part in everything, we had fun we slept well and we got wet. We got hot we got dirty we had fun, we laughed we made friends from all over the world , we ate ice cream and the last day we were wet and a bit smelly. So the thought of a hot bath at the Crown Plaza Hotel and a real bed was almost too good to be true but true it was our fantastic taxi drivers dropped us off in style and in we went much to the amusement and bewilderment of the Crown Plaza staff who were great. We are from the UK we said we have been to Jambe oh yes they said we have seen it on the television ( Belgian National News) suddenly it all made sense. Much cleaner and refreshed we hit Brussels for the biggest ice creams you will ever see and a bit of shopping. The next day we dragged ourselves out of those wonderful beds had another shower just to make sure and set off for a well kept secret. Arriving outside a chocolate shop to be told we were now on a chocolate tour of Brussels checking out the best in chocolate and having to accept free tastings and to top it all a lesson in making your own chocolates, those being gift wrapped to bring home all with a bit of history of Brussels, a giant Smurf and famous buildings thrown in. How good can it get? Fortunately there is no limit on consumption or purchase of chocolate and with a final hour to buy lunch and a last minute gift our wonderful taxies were there to take us to the airport with not a minute to spare and it was over. With tears and farewells and our preciousmemories it was over until we could get on face book!!!! Friendship, challenges, finding yourself we did it all would we do it again you bet!!