Friday
All of us had traveled (some further than others) to get to London where we agreed was a central point for all of us to meet up. We stayed in the Elephant and Castle (those of you who were at first briefing will see the link here) area of London and some of us (Clare) got very lost and was glad that Jenny knew her way around very well. We also were given our new uniforms for Tanzania.
Once we were all together we thought of our priorities and went for dinner. Over dinner we discovered how deep our team are with conversation ranging from the new promise to ethical debates.
After dinner we were very lucky to be able to walk along Southbank back to the hostel and got the opportunity to be a part of the amazing atmosphere.
Saturday
Although we did miss everyone from the last briefings, it was nice to do everything at a slower pace (still in our pyjamas). However, Jenny had to run off to a wedding (a friends not her own) and we informed her of things that we were discussing via text. We started off our day out with walking through London stopping at the Globe to try and get tickets and then had lunch on the steps of St Paul's whilst listening to the St Johns Ambulance brass band.
Then we made our way to CHQ (which Clare had never been to before) to do some more planning and started on who would be in charge of which sections and made lists of what we still had left to do not only with regards to Tanzania but with our lives too.
Once we realised how much we had actually done we went back for a team nap followed by a ridiculous amount of pizza followed by another walk along Southbank.
Sunday
We all traveled back home with our to do lists of things to do before next briefing which is in two weeks. This weekend made us all realise how real and soon the trip actually is. (Six weeks tomorrow as Hannah text us to say earlier)
Here's a little bit about each of us ...
Leader
My name is Jenni, I’m 21 and I’m from Newcastle, a firm northerner! I have just graduated from Durham University and am just about to begin teaching primary with Teach First when we get home. I chair the Girlguiding British Youth Council delegation, sit on the WAGGGS Europe external representatives committee, and am hoping to join a new Guide or Senior Section unit super soon. I am delighted to be leading GOLD Tanzania 2013 and have loved meeting my fab team who I have complete faith in to be brilliant.
Documenter
My name is Clare Nolan and I am currently twenty and I am from Liverpool but I am studying for my degree in R.E. in Chester University. I am a senior section leader in Liverpool. I am hoping to eventually be a teacher, teaching Religious Studies. I am looking forward to meeting new people in Tanzania and seeing what guiding is like out there. My favourite thing so far has being a part of team fab and knowing how lucky I am to be a part of such a great team.
First Aider
My name is Megan Singleton and I am currently twenty four, I am very excited to have my twenty fifth birthday on Project! Currently I am Studying for a Masters in Health Psychology and Work full time. I Guide in Leicestershire with 1st Ashby Rainbows. I am very excited to be part of the Tanzania 2013 team and can’t wait run lots of games and activities.
Resources
Heya my name is Hannah, I’m 20 and from Worthing West Sussex. I’m currently a pre-school teacher at St Matthew Pre-school. Guiding is a huge part of my life, I am a brownie leader at 17th Worthing but also help run a 2nd Worthing Rainbow and 13th Worthing Guides. As well as doing 3 units, I attend 2 Ranger units and also a peer educator for my county. I have been on county and region trips before to South Africa, Flamboree in Belgium and exchange project with USA Girlscouts. I am very much looking forward for being part of team Tanzania and increase my knowledge of guiding in the country to bringing back new ideas and activities to my units.
Treasurer
I’m Jenny Wilson, aged 25 and newly reunited with being a resident of London. Just prior to moving back to London, I lived in Swindon where I was a Brownie and Guide Leader as well as District Commissioner. This will be my first proper international Guiding adventure and I’m really looking forward to getting an insight into the Tanzanian approach. When not Guiding I work as a civil servant looking at science policies for developing countries and disaster risk reduction.
Secretary
I’m Rebecca Mayall and I’m 24 but will celebrate my twenty fifth birthday the day we arrive in Tanzania. I live in Sutton and work for two little museums running school visits and birthday parties. I also work for a charity called Sustainable Merton where I run the office and assist on projects. I’m a Brownie and Senior Section leader and this is my first international guiding adventure, though I plan on doing my international licence and going on more trips abroad. After returning from Tanzania I will be off to study for a PGCE in Primary education with my dream of becoming a Special Needs Primary School teacher in the future. I’m looking forward to meeting new people and learning lots of new activities and experiencing a new culture.
...altogether we make team fab
This time we were a little more prepared, we knew more about each other and we also had things that we had to bring this time, something for entertainment and a presentation about our country.
Over the course of the weekend we discovered more about each others countries, and were trained in our individual roles which made us more confident in the fact that we now knew what we needed to do.
Although there was a lot of information handed to us in such a short period of time (we were thankful for handouts) on Sunday evening when it was time to leave, we all suddenly felt quite sad. Not only was it the end of the weekend, but it was also the last time that all the teams would be together in one room, it was also time to say goodbye to (the brilliant) Carrie who had supported us so much through our journey til now.
However, with two more weekends planned and the actual project there's still loads to do!
The first time our team got together, we were all so nervous to finally meet who we're in a team with, but turned out that actually we all work together really well!
Friday
After a long journeys, (but not as long as Jenni's) to Cuffley where no one seems to know where it is. Finally we got to meet each other properly and we had a game of articulate like no other.
Saturday
A long day of planning; roles, badges, trying to figure out if we were ever all going to be free on the same weekend and other bits of Tanzania information. With a couple of energisers in between activites in order to try and keep us going. Safe to say that we were all starting to get excited about our GOLD journey. Finally, after a brilliant nights entertainment revolving around 150 years of the tube, team Tanzania won the activities (cause we're fab).
Sunday
Last minute information, what is expected of each other and the final tidy up ended our weekend with our teams, with everyone now a bit more confident in knowing what will actually be expected of us next time.
