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| Hi Folks, The last time from Mexico. The Troop left Mexico early this morning for the USA. Due to prices on tickets, I am staying for one more day here in Cuidad de Mexico at the house of Karla Quintana, our Scouting Friend in Mexico. Before we left, we were invited to go to the "All Group Meeting" of our friends Gustavo and Geronomo. We were guided to a city park in Mexico City by our two young Scout friends where we met all the cubs, scouts and older scouts in this particular group. In Scouts Mexico, the youngest or cubs all wear yellow shirts. This group goes from 7 yr till 10. The next step up is from 10 to 14 and wear green shirts, from 14 to 21 they wear red shirts. Both boys and girls are in the same group. This they say makes for a stronger unit, and enhances participation and retention. For about 20 minutes the older scouts of both countries got together and compared uniforms with Gustavo interpreting. Gustavo and his younger brother have jobs as models for commercials on Mexican TV, and have been fun for us to follow around. We went to see the Pyramids at Tiotihuacan with them.Later, after pi�atas and fireworks (yes fireworks even in the middle of the city...it sounds presently like Afganastan outside with outrageously big bangs even as I write this) in responce to the festival of the three kings which is when the Mexicans exchange gifts, we showed our video of the mountain climb. They asked how cold it was and some other questions, and accepted us into their Scouting family easily and with the Mexican custom of warm familarity. With a last farewell, we were guided to the now familiar subway system to make our way back to the Hotel Antillas to pack and get ready for the flight. Early this morning we got a taxi, crammed everyone into it (except me) and headed off to the airport for a day of customs and flights. Due to the incomprehensible ways of the airlines, the Scouts went from Mexico City to Dulles in Washington DC, and then to Denver International! We came out of this outing in fine shape, with no frostbite or other injuries (even with exploding propane stoves, and fireworks bigger than tactical nukes) and an adventure into the extreme side of mountaineering that few other Scout Troops or even Venture Crews could do. We tried to make the summit, but conditions were not favorable, and we made the correct decision and decended in order with all hands safe. This is what Scouting as well as Mountaineering are all about. Teamwork, adventure, and knowing your limitations even while exploring the edge. We hope that this trip and story will be of interest and even inspiration to other Scouts. We will complete our reports and I will compile them WITH the pictures which have so far proved really tough to transmit from Mexico to make up both an interesting story, but we will also produce a slide show with we hope video clips included which we will be glad to show to any interested Scout or other groups. Thanks for your patience with our sporadic emails, and should you have questions do not hesitate to email me with them. John Bowen ASM T-136 still in Mexico City for the present. |
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| Scouttraveler Mexico | Reception Team |