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Memories from The Jamboree

Saturday, July 17, 2004

The sky was still dark. I walked through this path with trees and bushes on every side. Just now, just now, the angkot (public transportation fit for 12 passengers) driver ensured me that this was the fastest way to the Cibubur Camping Ground – got off in Pondok Rangon cemetery then into this back short cut. Really? While saying a little pray, I encourage myself. Last week during the Chaperone Briefing, the Committee had already strongly reminded us to arrive on location at 7 am sharp! To the friends who share the same tent, when we were preparing some stuff for the Jamboree I've already insisted them to come directly should their house is close even though for some whose house is not near, they gathered at UKI by buses prepared by the Committee.

My pray is answered! The sky has gotten clear and the sound of the crowd faintly heard through the speaker. I speeded up my steps and join them. Even the buses from UKI arrived afterwards. After doing some registration, we were ready to welcome the children.

Our tent, called CAHAYA (means light) got the children from Kebayoran, South Jakarta. I was trusted with 2 kids, Ahyat and Cule. They were different from my imagination. A bit big (13-14 years), often to joke physically and rough. In my heart I prayed “Lord, give me extra strength to serve them these 2 days”.

As time goes by with loads of activities like learning JAJ theme song, group yells, tent decorating, eating, doing experiments, and competitions we got to know them whose daily activity is selling plastic bag at Kebayoran traditional market. Honesty is the main principal they hold. During the competitions they protested fouls done by other participants. The anger continued until the competitions were over.

Fortunately during the group sharing held before bedtime, their anger could be dimmed. Every person was asked to share his/her impression during the 1 st day of the Jamboree. After all had their chances, Linda our tent leader, explained that chaperones presence and the aim of this event are to serve and share the love with each other, and they (the kids) were asked to do the same thing with other participant, to appreciate them as well. Even though they still looked pissed, they were willing to forget and will participate tomorrow's agenda in order. We were relieved and also admired their sportsmanship and yet most of us often considered them as uneducated and morally degraded community. That night that stigma proved otherwise.

Sunday, July 18, 2004

Shopping at JAJ's market and morning full of fun gym became opened our second day. The cook itself has its own unique technique. It started from making stove made from paint can, filled with sawdust (made compact by stepping on it). My admiration to the Committees, I'm sure that not only the kids could learn a lot from this “Me and Technology” themed event, but also us, the chaperones. During the cooking it turned out that the girl chaperones didn't even know how to cook whereas in fact we were expecting them to cook well. GOSHH!!! Nevertheless the team spirit and of course the demand from our stomach decided for a job distribution. Some did the cutting, some the peeling and the rest did the cooking!

Special for the cooking we use logics, we first boiled the vegetables and the sausages then we put the instant noodle along with the ingredients and the result my friend, YUMMY and GONE in minutes!

We spent all day long preparing the children for the finals competition, two from tens of experiments from the book. To be fair, we held a competition internally to find the best ambassador to fight in the final against other tents.

Finally the peak, our “Jet Balloon” made us through the final! There were fouls committed by other tent and the children became angry again. While trying to calm them we kept on encouraging our 3 representatives who made it to the final with the experiment “Air as media”.

When the MC announced our tent Cahaya as the winner of the scientist competition we all cheered and yelled happily. The upset look due to other tent's fouls immediately disappeared and turned into happy faces. We were so proud and touched to see the children standing there holding their trophy with smile on their faces. The rest of the children were also happy because there were presents for everybody because we were the winner for the best tent decorating.

They are really special children. All those negative perspective which has long been within them faded already. They are smart, naïve, have principal, and have the spirit of sportsmanship, willing to listen, willing to learn, even sometimes act more than their age. Until now I and some of my fellow chaperones still keep on praying them who have thought us the meaning of thanks giving, loyalty and honesty. Thank God for the beautiful opportunity from JAJ.