Troop 1819 - Daily News

Sunday, July 25, 2010: Arrival Washington, DC

- The TX group: Tr. Phuoc and 6 Scouts arrived Washington by cars and went to the hotel early.

- The Southern California Group: Tr. Huy and 5 Scouts arrived Dulles Airport around 5:30 pm (local time) after 30 minus delay causing by storm. They waited at the airport for more than one hour.

- The San Jose Group: Tr. Thai, tr. Long and 29 Scouts finally arrived at 7:00 pm after almost 30 minutes delay by bad weather. Two groups merged together at the airport. All troop moved out the airport at 8:00 pm.

- The bus came to airport at 8:05pm. On the way to hotel, the bus got a bit lost therefore the troop arrived a little off schedule. The bus driver drove around inside a luxury apartment and scouts had wondered "We thought we stay in Marriott?" Tr. Long said, “Yes, we have not arrived yet” then the driver and every laughed.

At the hotel, Tr. Nhan, his wife and his daughter, tr. Tuyen, tr. Phuoc and TX group welcome the group from California. After checked in, the troop 1819 officially formed and all scouts went to swimming pool for "Swim Test." at 9:15 pm. Some hotel guests were happy by "Can not swim" that night caused by Scouts' good reason and they watched the test. The life guard also was very cooperative. The swimming test finished on time at 10:00 pm exactly the spool closing time.

- In full uniform, the troop members came down to hotel conference room for diner at 10:30 pm (local time). Tr. Long introduced all adult leaders, tr.Thai, tr.Phuoc, tr.Huy and junior leaders to the entire troop (Bac Cali, Nam Cali, Texas). Tr. Long also officially introduced The Viet Troop to all guest from Washington Area leaders and family. Many Vietnamese leaders from Washington DC, Maryland, Florida, The International Central Committee of Vietnamese Scouting, came to welcome the troop. Scout's chaplain aid led the troop said "grace" sincerely and enjoyed their dinner.

. Troop members went back to their assigned rooms with their assigned patrol members. Tr. Nhan and tr. Long still discussed more detail about continuing support the troop. The International Central Committee of Vietnamese Scouting (ICCVS) promised support any needs during jamboree time, and asked tr. Vinh help to buy 44 Jamboree hats right away tomorrow after receiving news that Jamboree will not giving hats to participants.

- The troop members will get up at 4:30 am tomorrow, have breakfast, and head on to the camp.

Thanks to The International Central Committee of Vietnamese Scouting and Tr. An Vo the manager of Marriot hotel, tr. Tuyen, the chief engineer of Marriot hotel on behalf to "Lang Bach Hop Hoa Thinh Don" provided the dinner and boarding for the troop tonight, and the breakfast tomorrow. (BIG AAAAAA for cac anh.)

- Weather" :Currently: 81°F. Mostly Cloudy. 97°F | 75°F

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Monday, July 26, 2010

Sáng sớm hôm nay, chuông điện thoại reo vang khắp các phòng đánh thức các em dậy lúc 4:30 sáng. (Tr. Tuyến, chief engerneer của hotel đã setup tối hôm qua). Đa số các em đều thức suốt đem không chịu đi ngủ. Các trưởng thí cùng chợp mắt chưa đầy 2 giờ ví còn bàn chuyện suốt đem hôm qua vì Thiếu đoàn VN tương tối khá phức tạp.

5:30 sáng tất cả tập họp trại bại đậu xe, Tr. Long cho tập họp, điểm danh và nhắc nhở về sự tự hào của VN, của đoàn cũng như căn dặn các em về những đức tính căn bản để bảo vệ danh dự cho đoàn và cho dân tộc. Tr. Nhân và tr. Tuyến đem hamberger (Mc Donald), hash brown, apple just đến, thay vì sẽ ăn trên xe, các em ăn sáng luôn tại bãi đậu trong khi chờ xe bus. Tr. Nhân cũng vét hết các hộp thịt của tiệm 7-eleven được gần 30 hộp(dự trù mua 44 hộp) để phái đoàn đem vào trại trong chương trình góp thực phẩm cho người nghèo tại địa phương. Mội số các em xin phép sang 7-eleven để mua thêm thì xe bus đến. Lại phải đợi các em trở về trễ hơn dự tính,

- 6:10 am: Xe bus khởi hành cùng với xe van chở một ít dùng cụ đoàn đã được mua sẵn tại TX, Trên xe, tất cả các em đều ngủ gục vì thiếu ngủ. Xe bus lại bị lạc đường, chạy vòng đi vòng lại, trời thương gặp cảnh sát gíúp chận đường xa lộ (freeway 17) để xe bus vòng lại. Cuối cùng thì quyết định chạy thẳng vào cổng chính. Tưởng cũng nên biết trại nằm trong căn cứ quân đội nên có nhiều cổng để vào và vì có gần cả 1000 chiếc bus đem các phái đoàn vào trại nên các đơn vị được chỉ định vào cổng khác nhau theo miền và theo giờ. Đoàn chúng ta xin chọn vào sáng sớm (lại có tay trong) để hy vọng buổi chiều các em có thể đi chơi ngay được.

- Đến A.P. Hill khoáng 8:00 am, được chỉ định vào khu kiểm soát. Cảnh sát quân đội (MP) lên xe, xem danh sách đoàn từ tr. Long đếm số người trên xe hợp với danh sách và cho phép đi tiếp. Một người của trại lên xe đi kềm hướng đẫn xe bus về khu trại "Miềm Nam (Southern Region)". Đến khu Miềm Nam, Xe bus đuợc chỉ định vào khu vực "Bế quan tỏa cảng (Quarranty)" và đợi commission của đoàn. Như trên đã nói vì vào sai cổng, trong khi commissionor của đoàn thì đợi ở cổng khác. Phải đợi thêm 30 phút để commmisioner đến. Tr. Long đi với người này đi làm thủ tục nhập trại và còn lại tất được phép di chuyển vào đất trại trước. Trong khi tr. Long đi làm thủ tục, các em di chuyển vào đất trại, dựng lều, và xây dựng trại. Tại lều y lều y tế, hồ sức khoẻ của gần 10 người trong đoàn trục trặc vì nộp trễ nên Ban Y Tế chưa điều chỉnh kịp. Tr. Long lại phải bới ra từng hồ sơ lại để ban y tế xem và scan lại, may mà sồ sơ trên tay khá đầy đủ, nên cũng thoát được vạ. Sau khi điền bổ túc, báo cáo tình trạng sức khoẻ trong ít ngày qua, tr. Long sang bên hành chánh nhập trại. Lại trục trặc tiếp vì đoàn có 44 người. Họ chỉ giải quyết trao quà theo package bao bì gói sẵn cho 40 ngưòi, hẹn gặp lúc 4 giờ chiều để điều chỉnh. May mà biết trước nên tr. Long vui ra về khu trại của đoàn. Thêm cái may khác là đất trại của đoàn sát cạnh khu quản trị của tiểu trại 18, nếu không thì tr. Long được đi bộ mệt nghỉ.

Đến trưa, các em đi lãnh thực phẩm trưa, lại 40 bịch. (Mỗi bịch ăn trưa ồm có: sandwiches, sweet bar, yogurt, apple dices, juice, peanut butter & jelly & bread). Các trưởng chịu khó nhịn đói một chút, đợi khu phát thực phẩm phát hết xong. Tr. Long vào gặp manager để điều chỉnh lại, được hứa sẽ cố gắng đặc biệt thiếu đoàn VN này, nhưng nếu bị trục trặc thi cứ lên nhận thêm. Ăn xong, các em tiếp tục xây dựng trại tiếp vì chưa xong. Có lẽ vì thiếu ngủ, thêm vào sức nóng và độ ẩm trong không khá cao, nên các em làm việc uể oải. Cuối cùng thì cũng tạm yên ổn chỉ có điều dự tính ban chiều các em có giờ đi chơi phải hủy bỏ.

- 3:00 chiều, tr. Vinh vào thăm và mua thêm 100 feet plastic để lót lều vì 100 feet mua trước không đủ cho 24 lều. Sau đó tr. Vinh đi xếp hàng để mua xong 44 mũ trại. ($15.00/chiếc)

- 5:00 chiều các em đi lãnh thực phẩm, tr. Long đi lãnh 4 bình gas với các em. Các em nấu ăn, theo sự chỉ dẫn trong sách theo ngày. (Thực phẩm ăn tối: burgers, ground beef chili, cole slaw, peaches, grape juice).. Thực đơn trên Website của Jamboree. Ăn xong dọn dẹp và đi ngủ sớm.

- Tin đồn trong trong tiểu trại 18: Thiếu đoàn VN có bộ Ngũ Long (5 con rồng) rất đẹp, nhiều em đoàn khác đang lùng kiếm. (Hiện 5 Con Rồng này dự tính phát cho các em tối thứ Tư sau khi các em đi học hỏi kinh nghiệm trao đổi patches. Trong những lúc tạm nghỉ, tr. Thái đưa cho các em một số "patches" và chỉ dẫn các thức đi trao đổi.

- AT & T Cung cấp free internet services, charging station: co locker keys, bỏ máy vào charge, rút chìa khóa ra, trở lại lấy máy và để lại chìa khóa cho người khác dùng. Vì gần trung ương tiểu trại nên ngồi tại trại cũng vẫn vào internet được. Chỉ có điều không có giờ để vào thôi. Thank AT & T

Vấn đề: Một em đi lạc khu tiểu trại 15, được Staff đưa về và tr. Thái phải lên khu quản trại 18 lãnh về.

 

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Monday, July 26, 2010

From now, tr. Giao would received conversation daily by phone from Tr. Long (he was busy at camp)  and wrote  daily news from the troop then sent to all parents.

Dear All,

5:30 am - Troop had breakfast at Marriot Hotel in Alexandria. (Hashbrown, burger, sua dau na`nh -soy milk, apple juice, fruits).

Some scouts walked over to 7-11 across the street for additional snacks (sounds so familiar, we all know this "tradition" by now. :-)

6:00 am - left hotel

 8:00 am - arrived at AP Hills. The Troop Commissioner waited for the troop at a different gate, had to wait 30 minutes for him to come around to meet the troop.

 * Issue came up:  Jamboree don't give out hats. We have to buy, $15/each. We cannot survive without hats. Tr. Vinh from Florida rushed in and bought hats for everyone (about $650.00). Tr. Long is asking Hoi Dong Trung Uong and other sources to help sponsor the hats for Cac Em and are awaiting for response.

10:00 am - situated in to the troop camp site. Very good location, right behind the sub-camp gate. Cac em start pitch up the tents.

Cac Em and cac Truong received brand new camp items: stoves, gas tanks, pots & pans, chairs and tables. They get 2 bags of ice daily.

 Troop spent time assembling the chairs and tables, putting up 1819 sub camp gate.

Many boys stayed up late last night. Today, many are sleepy and having jet-lag.

Lunch: Each got a lunch-bag including: sandwiches, sweet bar, yogurt, apple dices, juice, peanut butter & jelly & bread.

Dinner: burgers, ground beef chili, cole slaw, peaches, grape juice.

What was heard from anh Long's speaker phone: boys chattering as they were washing their dishes after dinner.

 Weather: hot & humid, but not too bad.

 Enjoy your evening, everyone.

Take care, 

Giao Le

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Tuesday, July 27-2010

Dear All,

 There was a heavy shower of about 15 minutes around 10am today at AP Hills. Things cooled down quite a bit.

 After breakfast, Troop 1819 had a troop meeting. Cac Truong asked each scout to reflect on the first day and point out 1 thing that the troop need to improve for better operation. Cac em gave many valuable feedback.

 + Announcement from cac Truong:  Cac em MUST go to bed at 10pm to have enough rest for a full day of activity and be able to get up at 6am the next day. (Of course, cac em bargain for 11pm, but sorry, safety first.)

 Around 9am, cac em went off to the activities center, trading post, or visit other sub camps. Cac em had lunch at the kiosk (station) wherever they were having their activities.

Cac Truong stayed at the camp site to fix the, chairs, tables, camp gate and tents for cac em and started building the flag poles and setting up the area for flag ceremony. Then cac Truong also went out to the activity areas.

A Vietnamese volunteer, who came from Illinois, drove in 4 folding chairs for tr. Huy, tr. Phuoc, tr. Thai and tr. Long as he saw cac Truong working so hard, and the chairs and tables are only enough for cac em. (Please note that our Troop has 40 scouts, while other troops only have 36.)

 Around 4:30pm, cac em returned to our campsite and prepare to cook dinner.

Dinner:  Taco (yum yum), cake, fruits, juice.

Since we have extra lettuce, cac Truong will treat cac em cup-o-noodles and lettuce.

Every day, at 5pm, cac em pick up material to make breakfast and dinner at the troop campsite the next day. For lunch, cac em will grab lunch bags and eat at wherever they are doing their activities.

 Some of the activities cac em tried today:

- shooting bb-gun,

- archery,

- mountain biking,

- "disability" games (such as "one-hand volley ball, etc...)

- shopping at trading post,

- meeting with scouts from other states and trade badges/patches/pins/scout items (cac em bought the items to tr.Thai to "estimate the values" and advise cac em on further trading).

 What was heard from anh Long's speaker phone: boys laughing, tr. Thai, tr. Huy "dealing"  with other troops as they negotiated for our troop badges.

 Again, summarizing from Bac Cali:

 Giao Le

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Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Dear All,

 You have seen the pictures. They worth a thousand words.

Anyway, today Troop 1819 got up and had breakfast early at 5:30am.

One scout from Texas had asthma. Tr. Long & tr. Phuoc stayed at the troop campsite to watch the scout (two deep leaders). Tr. Long had some time to write some news update and upload some pictures, as you have seen. Tr. Phuoc fixed any broken or incomplete things in the troop campsite. The jamboree staff came to visit and brought them lunch and additional first aid stuffs. The scout from Texas had a good rest and got better now.

Tr. Thai and tr. Huy led the troop to the arena for the Opening Ceremony. The hike from the troop campsite to the arena was about 1hr30min, one way. Please keep in mind that AP Hill is huge and cac Truong and cac em walk from places to places. They have no car, not even a bike, walking is their only means to get around. The opening show ended around 11:30am. (Obama did not show up!!!) Cac em and tr. Thai, tr. Huy went off to their activity areas and had lunch there.

 Today, tr. Hui (Nam Cali) and tr. De came visit the troop. Some scouts went fishing; some worked on merit badge; some went to check out the stage where they will be performing this Friday; others went mountain biking.

Cac truong in Virginia will bring in a boom box and extra wash tubs (cha^.u rua che'n) for the boys tomorrow.

 From anh Long's speaker phone: boys whistling, chatting, kidding around...

 G'night everyone,

Giao 

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Thursday, July 29, 2010

Dear All,

Today, Troop 1819 was visited and treated with crispy bbq-pork & baguette & three-layer- cake (thit heo quay, banh mi, banh da lo+n) by cac Truong and the "Girl Scouts" from Virginia.

We learned that there are busses for the campers to ride to places around the jamboree. Just have to know the bus routes and schedule. Most people like to walk since sometimes it takes longer to wait and go around on the bus.

There were a couple of thunder showers today. Cac em learned to sit down, stay low, stay away from the high trees and poles during the thunder showers.

 Cac Truong Phuoc, Huy, Long, Thai had a nice lunch today. Tr. Hoang (Florida) from the kitchen staff treated cac Truong VN canh chua ca, ca chien cham nuoc mam gung, com ga xao rau cai. Tr. Hoang promised if the boys catch the fish tomorrow, he will teach them make "ca' kho to^". Tr. Hui posted photos of cac em fishing as you have seen. A few boys completed their fishing merit badge.

Cac em cooked macaroni and cheese for dinner today. After dinner, cac em to practiced their skit, getting ready for the performance on Friday night. Tr. Huy, tr. Phuoc brought more great costumes and flags for the show.

The troop received many compliments from other campers on the unique camp gate, the nice behavior, and the good scouting spirit that they have observed from the troop members.

 Our 4 truong Huy, Thai, Long, Phuoc shared a concern that it is quite a challenge, and a headache, running a troop with cac em from different Lien Doans, different working styles and characters, who haven't had enough time to bond and to understand one another. Everyone is trying their very best for the troop.

WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGHS GET GOING.

Take care,

Giao Le

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Than gui quy Phu Huynh,

Cac Truong va cac em trai qua 1 ngay nong va mua, bu lai duoc uy lao boi BTV do Tr. Nhan mang thuc pham VN vao trai.

Ca nhan toi va cac truong da co gang di nhieu noi nhung kho kiem cac em vi dat trai qua lon, cac HDS qua nhieu.

Da so cac em di tham du Kayaking va di trao doi huy hieu...

co le Tr. Long se cap nhat voi Tr. Quynh Giao

Than men,

Ly Nhat Hui

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Friday, July 30, 2010

Dear All,

Friday:  cac em performed a great show.
Saturday:  cac em relaxed and enjoyed the Main Area Show.

*Little fun during Kayaking:  One scout from San Jose flipped over and fell down the water. Life Guard got him up safely immediately but then security evacuated the entire area. All kayakers have to get up, get off the water, make sure the area is all clear before the boys can enter the water again.

Hope we all enjoyed the great pictures of cac truong helping cac em putting on costumes for the show that tr. Hui Ly posted up.

Tr Hoang (Florida):  "IThe show was a great success. It was much, much, much more than I could imagine."

Tr. Hui Ly: "Cac em was so excellent."

Tr. Long explained that there are 4 Regional Arenas (each serves about 10, 000 people). Troop performed for the Southern Arena. Many people complimented the troop and asked to take pictures with the "stars". Other regional Arena asked if cac em can come and perform again. Tr. Thai plan if we do (luu die^~n :-), we will change into costume first, then take the bus there. (Instead of have to walk 45 minutes to get there and put on the costumes, the "stars" will be too tired).

The main thing was cac em enjoyed their own performance and learned a lot; TEAMWORK, ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS, LEADERSHIP, PRIDE of THE VIET HERRITAGE, PRACTICE SCOUT LAW (CHEERFUL, FRIENDLY, OBEDIENT, etc...)

Tr. Phuoc and Tr. Huy helped bringing awesome costumes, flags, sticks, etc... for cac em. Cac em Nam Cali and Texas quickly catch up and fit in the show with cac em San Jose. Cac em tried their best and fun.

We cannot thank cac Truong at the jamboree enough for their great leadership and support to cac em. Some days, it was very tensed and there were tough situations in the troop; but all were trying their best to work together and resolve the issues. We all learned and growth from these experience. YAY!

Thank you all parents for your great support from home as well.
Take care, everyone.

Giao Le

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Sunday, August 01-2010

Dear All,

On Saturday night, cac em and cac truong returned from the Arena show and went to bed late, around 12:30pm. Tr. Long went straight to bed, everybody did not see him and thought "the old man" was lost in the crowd, but then found him in the tent.

Sunday morning each troop member went off for their religious service (ddi le^~).
Because of traffic jam, the Flag ceremony of Troop 1819 was pushed down to 2:30pm instead of 11:00am as planned.
Among the people came and joined the troop for the flag ceremony, we saw:
- tr. Khoa, Texas
- tr. Viet, Nam Cali,
- tr, Chuong, Australia,
- tr. Nhan and his family and cac truong from Virginia and Maryland,
- scouts and scouters from LD Thang Long
- parents from Texas.
SBTN came to have and interview and report on this event.

Tr. Long came to the "post office" to pick up and deliver the followings to cac em:
* a thank you card from Mr. Peter Tran, Douglas Tran's father, to all Truong,
* a letter for Douglas Tran,
* a package for Tuan Nguyen, and
* a package for Alex Nguyen.

All scouts and truong are doing well and relaxed now.
Cac em cooked chicken and rice for dinner today.
Tr. Hui Ly and tr. Long posted more pictures up for everyone.

G'nite everyone.
Take care,
Giao Le

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Tuesday, August 3, 2010

After lunch, all troop members packed their personal gears, took down tents, flag poles, gate, disassembled table/chair, clean up all campsite, just kept only 5 canopies. Move plastic were used as tents ground bed under canopies for sleeping tonight.

- After dinner, we cleaned up cooking utensils and patrol boxes.

- All tents were resold to tr Hui with discount prices (to ship back to LD Chi Linh in Orange county)

- Tr. De was going to pick up all cooking utensils, canopies, tables. (we hear they will be donated to Scouts in Africa country.

- LD Thang Long would pick up four patrol boxes. LD Thang Long built these boxes for us to use at the jamboree.

-  Troop members slept under canopies or under sky. We planned to wake up at 4:30am and fold/packed the last 5 standing canopies. Worn class B uniform tonight with instruction wearing full uniform when we left tomorrow. The bus should come early at 5:30 am.

- Around 2:00 am after mid-night, troop commissioner waked us up and told us to move everything to big tent because the storm will come soon. After we moved, we took down/packed canopies. We covered all troop equipment with plastic ground bed. Tr. De will picked up after camp. The storm was come with heavy rain.

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Wednesday, August 4, 2010

The bus came late at 7:00 am, we said goodbye and thank to our commissioner. Received our breakfast bags before we left the jamboree.

- The bus headed to Washington, DC to visit the area. We missed a change to visit capitol building tour (we got the tickets in advance) because the bus came later.

- One again, Truong nien in Washington area provided lunch “Banh mi”, water bottles and orange. We ate lunch on the grass.

- We visited Eden Center in Falls Church, Virginia, said goodbye to troop members and Tr. Phuoc from Houston. Before we headed to airport, Tr. Nhan gave Tr. Long cash to buy dinner on the plane.

- At the airport, one again, Scouts and tr. Long and Tr. Thai said goodbye to Scouts and tr. Huy from Southern California.

- San Jose group; 31 of us came home: On the plane all Scouts and 2 leaders were sat together, before took off, the captain announced welcome our troop. Everyone on the plane applaud the troop. Dinner time, Scouts were instructed to order dinner meal of their choice. At the SF airport, parents and family member were waiting for us with the big banner, and “banh bao”.

- Southern California group plane was delay until next day. Tr. Nhan drove them back to Virginia until next day.

foresttent