By Anthony Lam
Scouting is a network without borders. We have met many Mexican Rover Scouts who have made their individual impact on us. Many of the Rovers who joined us that night purposely made the weekend trip out from their towns from across Mexico to meet and spend time with our contingent. One of those individuals was Becky, who traveled 3 hours by bus just to be with us. She lead the bonfire, spoke elegantly in English, and supported our needs for the service project without a hesitation.
Unfortunately she had to bid us farewell to travel back to her hometown to compete in a University level chemistry competition. (Good luck Becky and thank you!). She expressed her thanks for the service that we are providing to the local Scouts and gave us beautiful hand crafted maple leafs as an everlasting reminder of her. On our maple leaves, Becky spray-painted a fleur-de-lis – the same symbol tattooed on to her wrist. The fleur-de-lis is a symbol that holds all her wonderful memories with Scouts, and how Scouting has become an important part of her. Our souvenirs have the same symbols because Becky wants us to know that we are also a part of her best moments in life.
As a Rover, I value the chance to meet and instantly make friends with other Scouts from around the world because it allows me to better understand Scouting from a culturally different perspective. Even in the short time we’ve been here, the Mexican Rover Scouts have shown us that they are excited to share their culture with warm embraces. As a contingent, we are all learning so much from our Mexican Rover brothers and sisters, and we have already begun life lasting friendship.
This article also appears on RivortonRovers.ca.
4 replies on “Scouting and Friendship: Day 4 of #iProj14”
Muchas gracias Anthony for sharing this wonderful post. Glad to hear that you’re all making great friends in Mexico. And what better way to spread peace, friendship and mutual respect than by meeting your peers from other Scouting groups and exchanging ideas, thoughts, stories and cultural views.
It reminds me of Paramahansa Yogananda who once said “There is a magnet in your heart that will attract true friends. That magnet is unselfishness, thinking of others first; when you learn to live for others, they will live for you.”
Keep rocking PCCRovers team, and keep up the great work.
P.S. Many thanks to Mexican Rover Scouts and Becky for your kind hospitality and friendship.
And I can add:
I slept and dreamt that life was joy.
I awoke and saw that life was service.
I acted and behold service was joy.
–Rabinranath Tagore (1861 – 1941)
Amazing!
Thank you guys for all the things that you teach us! Thank you for all the friendship! Tahnk you for your time and your amazing skills in the scouts hall