[From the Scene] 'Things are improving, we're just enjoying the moment'

SAEMANGEUM, North Jeolla Province -- The heat has been troublesome for 15-year-old Swedish Scout David Yao and his teammates when they first entered the World Scout Jamboree in Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, last week. But things are improving enough to continue their adventure, make friends with Scouts from global contingents and learn about different cultures, he said.

“At first (the heat) was a shock to us because we are from Sweden. But we are getting used to it,” said Yao.

“I have heard that some other groups received bad food, and some didn’t even get tents on their first day. But things are clearly getting better,” he said, adding that he can feel the endeavor of organizers and contingent leaders to protect the participants and successfully complete the Saemangeum Jamboree.

Several outdoor activities had been canceled due to the extreme weather, so Scouts did not get to partake in as many programs as expected, said Yao. But he said that visiting the Buan museum and participating in a kimchi-making class were interesting experiences, exposing him to Korean traditional culture.

Lina Mestari, a 17-year-old Scout from Morocco, and her 120 fellow Scouts had to take a 20-hour flight to participate in the Jamboree in South Korea. Despite the steaming heat of the Jamboree site, Mestari said she is willing to endure the situation and do her best to enjoy the quadrennial event.

“We are Moroccans, and it’s actually hot in Morocco. ... It's kind of hotter here, but we are Scouts and we survive. That’s what we do,” said Mestari.

Spending time with Scouts from different cultures is one of the biggest objectives of the Jamboree, said Mestari, adding that she is staying with the Scouts from Oman and Mauritius. As a Muslim, Mestari said that the food supply has satisfied her team, as the organizers have provided sufficient halal options in respect of the Muslim culture.

Along with active programs that thrill her, Mestari said she is looking forward to seeing the K-pop concert that had been delayed from Sunday to Friday. “K-pop is something that I really want to discover. Although it is delayed, I am still excited to see the concert.”

The young adventurers were continuing their activities as thousands of Scouts from Britain, the US and Singapore left the camp site amid health concerns.

The Saemangeum Jamboree kicked off with grand expectations to revive the Scout spirit that has been dimmed during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it faced criticism from all over the globe as the Jamboree territory was hit by a scorching heat wave, combined with inadequate preparation of the organizing committee. Korea, on a cross-governmental level, struggled to salvage the event, but decided to implement a contingency plan Monday afternoon as a strong typhoon was approaching the peninsula. World Scout said it has made a decision to make an early departure from the site, upon learning of the typhoon's arrival.

The Jamboree campsite seen from afar on Sunday was full of colorful tents, giving off a festive atmosphere, but shelter was necessary as the sunlight was too strong. Due to the nature of Saemangeum, a piece of reclaimed land, there was no natural shade due to the lack of trees, leaving all facilities and structures exposed to sunlight. Vine tunnels were the most visited place by participants in the scorching heat. A fog spraying system was installed to help cool off participants. It was great protection that allowed participants to escape the heat.

In the Jamboree Delta, the area for the press and non-Scout participants who wish to experience the Jamboree spirit, several young Scouts were chatting, seeking shade to cool themselves from the heat while also enjoying a festive mood with music. The camping site where all the teenage Scouts stay for two weeks is prohibited to the public and the press. Due to the tension between the World Organization of the Scout Movement which wishes to protect participants from excessive media exposure and the press trying to grasp the situation of the Jamboree site, the areas available to reporters kept changing, causing a stir.

Gosapo Beach and the nearby pine tree forest was full of Scouts enjoying outdoor activities, including swimming, a rope course, climbing and making camping equipment. Under the guidance of adult leaders and International Service Team staff, participants were enjoying their time, spending time under the trees, exposed to a cool wind from the sea.

“Simply walking around the jamboree site is incredible. You can meet so many people from different cultures, and you get to know new things every second,” said a 16-year-old Scout, Eleonora Vella. Although Vella and her two friends who came from Italy said the humidity was hard to adapt to at first, they agreed that forest rope activities were exciting.

Coming out of the water with her life jacket, a 17-year-old Swedish Scout Elora Brandt said she had enjoyed swimming. "It is not as hot as (when) I got here. The weather has gotten cooler."

"I really want to exchange scarves and badges with the Scouts from other countries, to cherish the memory of the Jamboree and see how other countries have designed their accessories," said Brandt.

Along with the teenage participants, adult volunteers from the IST have also been enduring the heat of Saemangeum, trying their best to help the Jamboree Committee manage the situation. Yara Straatman, a 20-year-old IST staff member from the Netherlands who is currently working as a nurse at Jamboree Hospital, said she participated in the event out of curiosity about Asia.

Similar to the Scout members, Straatman agreed that the situation at the jamboree has been improving.

“Many improvements have been made. The Jamboree Committee is listening to our requests better. I am working with Korean staff in the jamboree hospital, and things are working more smoothly compared to the first day,” said Straatman while hiding from the heat under the vine tunnel.

However, despite the improvements compared to the beginning of the event, Straatman pointed out that cleaning and sanitation issues still exist. “Picking up trash and cleaning the toilets are still not done, so I think that is an improvement that should be made from now on.”

As she pointed out, most of the toilets were cleaner than the previous media reports, but one restroom in the Jamboree Delta had feces under the sink. Although the cleaning personnel have been expanded to 894, and they are managing the facility every hour, more improvements seem to be needed.

Meanwhile, another Swedish Scout had his leg wrapped with a bandage because of a bug bite. He told the Korea Herald that he had generally been satisfied with the care that the Jamboree Hospital provided, but had to wait for a couple of hours to receive medical attention. More medical staff have been deployed from private hospitals and the military, but the system still needs to be adjusted.

About the battery station and 170 Wi-Fi routers installed throughout the jamboree area, Mestari of Morocco said it helps, but is not really necessary for the Scout activities. “We don’t really pay attention to our phones. As Scouts, we prefer to enjoy the moment. So charging our phone is the last thing we think about, but still, my team’s tent is right next to the battery station, so it is convenient," she added.