This was a great opportunity to swap badges, neckers and other things and to make lots of new friends with the people we were swapping with. Amongst other people, we made good friends with the Americans from new England, who invited us back to their campsite where we met most of their unit and ate pretzel sticks which they had brought over with them from the states.
Throughout the day there were rumours going around that unsurprisingly, Bear Grylls was around which seemed to excite scouts from all over the world, especially the Germans.
We then went back to our campsite and I swapped by coat for my soft-shell. We then went down to the long line of flags, where an Italian unit and us had been volunteered (by Alan) to take down the flags. We waited for about half and hour for a member of the jamboree planning team to tell us exactly what to do and then we each were assigned to a flag and took them down. I took down Canada.
We then went to where the main arena was and sat down ready for the opening ceremony. While we waited, many videos were played on the big screens including the first episode of 'Jam N' (all the episodes can be watched on the jamboree's youtube). The clouds seemed to part specially as the ceremony began . It started with every flag being brought up and countries name read out like at the Olympics (although more countries were represented at the Jamboree then at the Olympics (only four were not)). It was especially good, that when "United Kingdom" was read out, we were so loud that we cheered over the "United States of America" and they couldn't be heard at all! The rest of the ceremony was mainly the story of Sweden from early Viking times to today by the means of song, dance and some particularly racist looking cartoons. There were several acts which each were alongside a famous song which was known internationally. The Jamboree song 'Changing the World' was also played and everyone sang along to it. There was also a world record, where the most people all 'ploped' at once - watch the video and you'll understand. Bear Grylls also abseiled onto the stage and was warmly welcomed by scouts from all over the world. His speech can be found on the scout associations youtube. After him, there was a fire display and then the ceremony was over. We all walked back to our campsite together whilst chanting; I say Avon, you say Saurus, Avon....saurus, Avon....saurus and oggi oggi oggi, oi oi oi and do you like waffles? Yes I like waffles, Do you like pancakes.....you get the idea!
When we got back to the campsite we all signed in and had hot drinks, we were also visited by some of the Avon IST. We then headed off the bed as it started to rain.....
Kathryn, our unit leader who sadly was unable to come to the Jamboree, sent an email round every day about what our unit had been doing from what Kev and other leaders/IST had texted her. You can find what she said about this day below:
"Good morning everyone
Day six was rather a wet one - I think it basically rained for nearly the whole day but as we are used to lots of rain then I am sure it did not dampen anyones spirits and Avon was lucky to get the site set up on a Sunny day as yesterday groups were still arriving on site.
The Unit seems to have had a much needed day off to relax for a bit and were able to take some time to do lots of exploring (in their waterproofs!!) and had the chance to meet new people and make friends from Scouts from all over the world and take part in the first big badge swap. I am sure that our badges are very much in demand.
The leaders had to try and sort out the food shopping experience and second guess how many they would have to cook for, our young people brought nine new friends for dinner last night.
There was much excitement on site when Bear Grylls arrived , he got to tour around the site and met lots and lots of very excited young people. There is a You Tube video of his visit if you are interested. (Personally I could watch him all day!!!!!!) I think he was blown away by meeting all the Scouts and just seeing Scouting on such a large scale.
All day the excitement built as the Opening Ceremony got closer and after an early dinner all the Units began to make their way to the Arena - all 39,000 Scouts from across the world gathering together in one place to celebrate the official opening of the 22nd World Scout Jamboree. I can only imagine that the atmosphere was electric, walking next to Scouts from different countries and cultures, all excited and chatting away in every language imaginable.
With music from Abba (of course!), speeches, dancing, music and all the flags of the World being paraded the Jamboree was officially underway. The rain stopped and a sea of Scouts took part in an experience that none of them will ever forget - Bear Grylls was not able to parachute in so abseiled in instead and the celebrations started.
During the Opening Ceremony all 39,000 people spontaneously stood and saluted the fallen in Norway - even sat here that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I can honestly say I am very Scout and very Proud right now.
Later on Avon made their way back to their site and once again met Lucy (how that happens so frequently I am not sure on such a big site but it does make me a very happy Mum!) She saw the whole unit and phoned me to say 'Mum don't worry all your Scout children are looking fine and having the time of their lives'. Lucy is working in a cafe selling coffee and had to sleep in the cafe last night to act as security for the night (for those of you that can remember Lucy at the first meeting I am sure you will agree that Lucy would not make the best security guard) She was looking forward to a day off tomorrow and will go and catch up with Avon at some point.
I am not sure what time all the young people went to sleep last night but suspect that it was a late night for lots of them.
Kathryn
WSJ Bristol"
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