By Honorary Reporter Laura Lopez Velazquez from Mexico
Photos = Daniel Armenta

The 25th World Scout Jamboree was held in Korea from Aug. 1-12 at Saemangeum, an estuarine tidal flat in Buan-gun County, Jeollabuk-do Province.

Daniel Armenta, 17, a scout from Mexico City, Mexico, was among 756 members from his country to attend this global event. In an Aug. 13 interview conducted through a Google Meet video call, he shares his experience at the festival.

Briefly give your scout background.
I officially became a scout when I was 7 but have participated in related activities since age 3. Ropes and knots always fascinated me as a child. My mother, who was also a scout, took notice and got me into scout activities early.  What activities did you experience at the World Scout Jamboree in Saemangeum? 

Activities were held both in and out of the camp in Saemangeum. On the first day, we had a blast with the "commando track," essentially an obstacle course of crossing a handrail, going under a bridge and rappelling down. We also had water activities and excursions to museums and traditional palaces like Gyeongbokgung in Seoul to appreciate the beauty of Korea. Finally at the closing ceremony, we attended a K-pop concert where I got to listen to my favorite groups and even became a fan of new ones. 

How did you display Mexican culture on "Cultural Exchange Day?" 

We set up a booth with Mexican candies, games and cuisine. It was encouraging to see our booth become one of the most popular. People were curious about spicy candy and had a lot of fun playing a lottery. We also served tacos with traditional Mexican mole sauce, which they absolutely loved. Additionally, we dressed in typical Mexican attire and performed traditional dances such as "Danza de los Viejitos" (Old Men Dance). 

 

What aspects of this trip did you enjoy most? 
Overall, I found the cheerful nature of Koreans charming. Their social norms are quite different from what I'm used to in Mexico. For example, taking off your shoes before entering a home and offering something with both hands are gestures foreign to Mexico. I also loved dining at a traditional Korean restaurant and was impressed by the cuisine, architecture, technology, urban organization, hygiene and recycling practices in Seoul. 

What concluding message do you have for readers of Korea.net? 

I encourage them to seize the opportunity to attend a Jamboree if they get a chance because it's an incredibly beautiful and inspiring experience. The cultural exchanges among nations are fascinating and you can make friends for life. To summarize, the message Jamboree imprinted on me is that no matter how tough things are, everything has its time and rhythm, and in the end, everything happens, arrives and changes. As (Scout Movement pioneer) Robert Baden-Powell said, "If you have the habit of taking things with joy, you will seldom find yourself in difficult circumstances. 

msjeon22@korea.kr

*This article was written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.