The Future

After 22 years in the Scouting world, and lived all the things I have lived, some times I ask to my self "And now what?, what's next for me?

Well this isn't an easy question, or an easy answer.

First I have to answer to an other question: "Do I feel happy with this", Yes I do. "Do I have the will to continue?" Yes I have.

What is my plan? Well I have planned continuing as the Troop Scout master chief until 2013, when the 40th group's anniversary take place. After that event, move inside the group in to a management position, like sub chief or even Group chief. Also I would like to find an other position outside the group, for instance in the district or in the entire province.

Scouting in Mexico is divided by provinces, usually the political states, just like province Puebla, or Chihuahua. In Mexico City the provinces are made from the political delegations, just like Azcapotzalco, Cuauhtemoc, Coyoacan, Tlanepantla, etc. and each province divided in districts. Districts are conformed by at least 2 groups. Azcapotzalco has 2 districts, each one with 6 groups. So I still have some choices.

For how long? I don't know, I would like to think for the rest of my life, but sometimes the ways of life don't follow the track we design. So I can't know for how long or which way will end.

The only sure thing is, every day I live I'm making my best effort to be a better person, guide the young kids in the best way I can do and my capabilities can, to give them a light of hope and commitment, into this world flown by angry, death and disappointment.

It's a hard task, and I question my self if I'm capable to do it, starting in my own life. But I have to be strong and hang all the adversity and Be Prepared all the time.

Scout Oath (or Promise)

On my honor I will do my best

To do my duty to God and my country

and to obey the Scout Law;

To help other people at all times;

To keep myself physically strong,

mentally awake, and morally straight

My Weekends

After so many years in the Scouts, my weekends had become in a kind of routine. But not that boring routine, because every weekend something new show up.

I usually get up between 8 or 9 am, except if I have a camping or excursion trip, where I have to wake up earlier.

On weekends I have the opportunity to breakfast with my family, because inthe week, we don't see much each other. After that, took a shower and mostly times I dress with my Scout uniform. The activity starts at 4 o'clock at the nearest park to my home. So that's why I get dress with the uniform early.

Some times I go with my family to make the larder shopping. Some others, I get early to the park to see the kids and study scouts things.

Once a month, I gather with the patrol leaders, having a meeting to discuss activities, planning campings or excursions, or solving problems that show up.

From 4 to 6 it's the activity time. The troop gathers round in formation, we made the Scouts' pray and passed inspection. After that we start with plays and technical stuffs according with the month's theme. Every month' we try to study a topic, for example, in January we studied the principles of being scout: pray, promise, law and principles; also we study first aids, knotting, camping techniques, Morse code, flag code, reading maps and compass, activities which every scout must known.

At 6 o'clock we finish our activities, ending with the pray and breaking lines. Some times I spend a while talking with the kids or their parents, taking care of some group business.

Then I go with my girlfriend, to watch a movie o playing with her dogs, and we usually take dinner in her home. After we eat, I go back to my home and set to sleep.

When I go on camping, of course the history change, because I'm so tired and ager for a nice and hot bath, and sleeping in a very soft bed.

Sundays is family time and girlfriend time, sometimes we go out to the forest like "la Marquesa" and eat, or go to the movies, or visit friends, what ever the mood and the money can provide.

In the night at home, get ready for the next day; new week, new deals and new life.

Famous Scouts

During the history of the scouting, some well known characters had been scouts. The list goes to actors, actress, sports players, astronauts, presidents and even a Pope. I would like to mention some of them.

In Mexico:

Elena Poniatowska, writer

Jorge Ibargéngoitia, writer

Ximena Sariñana, Singer and actress

Jordi Rosado, Tv show host

Xavier Lopez Chabelo, actor.

In the UK:

Queen Elizabeth II

David Bekham, futbol player

Ema Thompson, actress

Tony Blair, former prime minister

Paul McCanrney, singer

J.K. Rowlling, writer

Bearl Grylls, adventurer, tv presenter, actual Chief Scout in England

In the US

Presidents: Barack Obama, John F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Donald Reagan

Actors/Actress: Harrison Ford, Candice Bergman, Henry Fonda, Dakota Fanning, Michael J. Fox

Sports: Michael Jordan, Mark Spitz.

Astronauts: Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Ken Mattingly

Others: Bill Gates, Walter Cronkite.

And the list goes an goes. And today many new scouts are becoming into great leaders of the world, from who tomorrow we will talk about.

Some others were called as honorary Scouts because the movement wasn't created when they proved their courage or contribution to the humanity. Some of them were:

Sir Charles Lindberg, first pilot to cross the Pacific Ocean by plane.

Roy Chapman Andrews, explorer and naturist.

Orville Wright, co-inventor of the first air plane.

Lincoln Elsworth, arctic explorer.

Frederick Russel Burnham, Military Scout and explorer. He taught woodcraft to Baden Powell, in many cases considered as the father of the art of scouting.

I Thing I can be proud to share with all of them, is the fact of being a Scout, and do my best effort and contributing by making this world a better place for all.

Other Experiences

As a Scout, you have the opportunity to live many things, national an internationals events, community support programs, and many other things.

For instance, as far of the big planned and anticipate visiting of the Pope Johannes Paul II in 1999, I had the opportunity to serve and set as a human fence a longside the "Calzada de los Los Misterios" track way were the Pope passed heading to the "La Basilica de Guadalupe" and made his first mass in that visit.

Some of my friends call me, informing that the scouts were requested to help. So, as a catholic, this was a one time chance to be able to see the Pope.

The randevouz point was in a school near by the Basilica, on calzada de los Misterios. In the night January 22th, many scouts from different parts of the city, even from other states arrived at the school. The good vibe has in the air, all excited for the visit and the opportunity to see to His Holiness.

About 3 or 4 in the morning we were noticed to take place along side calzada Misterios. I got amazed when I saw the people sleeping in the street, carrying their mattress cushion, blankets, and pillows. The visit took place on January and the nights were still cold. Regardless this situation, moms, dads, sons and even grandmas and grandpas were sleeping, setting aside a spot to have a chance to see the Pope.

Slowly and peacefully, we took our places, mostly sleepy and with cold, but happy to have the chance. By 5 am, we watched passed the special guests, high Church priest, Bishops, Religious man and woman, after them all media personnel. We could say hello to Javier Alatorre and Lily Tellez who passed in front of us.

The first sights of light showed up, and the thrill grown. Finally around 8 am the vehicles passed and the excitement increase. Suddenly we started to listen a kind of sound wave, growing and getting close to us, a lots of white-yellow flags waved repeatedly. In the distance we started to see a well known vehicle, it was the "Papamovil" with it's particular case form, an the see-through glass wall, letting us see it's inside.

An there it was, this emblematic person, dressed up in a shining white, waving his hand and looking in all directions.

You can imagine the excitement of all of us when we saw him, many people shouted, clapped their hands, and some other cried. I was excited too, felling a great happiness inside. Due the speed of the vehicle, we just saw him for a few seconds, but were long enough to felt all this excitement.

Nobody moved after he passed, we all knew that he passed again in the returning way. 3 hours passed, and the sun was more brighter than ever. Of course, we got a nice lunch, sandwich, fruit juice and some candy. We hadn't ate since the night, perhaps 6 or 7 hours before.

Finally he passed again, in front of us, and again all the people around were excited. This time he was sitting in his chair, looking tired and he wasn't saluting.

After the car passed, the people started to leave. My friends and I returned to the school were all our wear was, and returned to our homes. Tired but happy for been in that place and witnessed an historic moment.

Just for the record, Karol Wojtyla was a scout in Poland. Years after he become into Pope Johannes Paul II

The Last Patrol

Scouting life is in constant movement, since you enter you are challenging your self and the people around you. As the time goes by, and you're growing, you're life in scouting grows too.

There's an internal structure, divided by ages and the kind of activities. As I mentioned previously, the youngest branch are the Wolf Cubs or "Lobatos" for kids from 7 to 11, taking the universe of Ruyard Kipling's The Jungle Book (the same story as the Walt Disney's movie); with the girls there was a change, about 5 years ago, when they were Gazelles (Gacelas) and a very nice story in the Andi's Forrest, but this no longer exist, now they are girl Wolf Cubs.

After that, there is the Troop, boy and girls from 11 to 15 (in the modern scheme), from 15 to 18 the Community, and finally, the Clan also known as Scouts Rovers.

But in my days, such thing as the Community doesn't exist, so I lived the Troop from 11 trough 18.

1995 was my last year in the Troop, becoming as and older an experienced trooper, being a patrol leader and guiding a patrol of 6 members.

There's a special ceremony to make this change, called Pass Ceremony. In each branch there's such ceremony, from Wolf Cubs to Troop, and from Troop to Clan.

Because I wasn't a Wolf Cub, I hadn't lived a ceremony like that. And my time to live one was close.

We started the year with our traditional excursion to the mount of San Miguel in the forest known as "El Desierto de los Leones" in Cuajimalpa. On April, I remember there was a competition against other troops, a technical competition about, knots, bonfires, morse code, first aids, fisical skill, and all kinds of thing that we do. I was sure that my patrol could get the first prize, an I prepared my patrol to that. Studying and practicing hard.

On the day of the competition, once we arrived at the place, I remembered analyzing my competition. There was only two or one patrol who could give us a good fight. From my group, there was not real competition, all my patrol leader friends were experienced but their patrols had young and unexperienced boys, so they weren't a threat to us. Also the girls patrols, who had good patrol leaders, including my sister, but having the same situation.

Before start the competition I gather my patrol around me, and told them something like this: "Guys, I'm not coming as a spectator, I come to take the first place an win, I will give all my guts and effort in order to win, that price will be my goodbye present for you... Are you with me?"

And so we did, we did our best, running faster, climbing faster, shouting harder and being almost perfect in everything.

The result was obvious, we won the first place. As a patrol leader I received the winning price, a wooden diploma, and a practical gas stove.

I was so happy, and felt with pride, not to me, to my patrol and friends. I did what I promised to them.

Two weeks after, I say goodbye to my Patrol and to the Troop, leaving behind 7 magnificent years of my life, fulled with terrific experiences, a lots of good and life time friends, and with the most cherished memories that I still have.

A new phase in my life was beginning and new and great experiences were lived, but not so deep or cherished as I had with the company of my Patrol, the Bufalos patrol, who gave me great adventures and good friends.

The Phantom Patrol

Perhaps all once in our lives had experienced a supernatural event, and for some others, it's a way of living (like the guys in that shi.... awful tv program).

But for me it's an unusual topic. I hadn't experienced supernaturals phenomenon, or ghost encounters.

Maybe once, in a short excursion to... yes you guess, San Rafael. The place that I wrote before.

For a better understandig of this place, San Rafael is a rute to climb the north side of the Iztaccihuatl volcano, better known as the "head", and it's very popular rute for the climbers.

As you noticed in my previous blog, is not a easy road, you need to pay attention on your steps, because there are some tricky places, and you may suffer an accident.

This legend is about a Scout patrol who losted in the forest of San Rafael. This is an old story, some say this events took place in the 1960's decade.

This patrol was on a trip into this forest, and they had walked all day. In some point they decided to rest and set their camp. When the cook set the fire to cook and asked for the food, they realized the food was missed. Soon asked for the boy who was in charge of it.

"Where is the food?" -"I left it down the road, it was heavy and I was tired..." All the kids were angry with him, and ordered to climb down and find the food, they only had broad beans and it was the food for the hole camping.

The kid obeyed and went to find the food. A few hours past and the kid didn't return, the dark was coming and all the kids went to find his friend and the food. They never showed up.

The legend says, when you're on a trip in this place, you may find a scouts asking repeatedly for their friends. In order to not been taken by them and lost you road (or taken your soul), you have to answer that you're looking for their friends too, and soon as you find them you will tell them.

In my trip, we went to catch up a patrol who went on camping in the forest the day before. In this time, we walked fast and there was no delay, it was a go/back trip.

We stopped to take a little rest and in the place we stopped I saw a pair of scouts setting a bonfire, and cooking their meal.

I remember saw them different, kind of pale, with a wasted clothes and even old badges in their uniforms. One of them passed in front of me, as I walked formed in line catching up the others. When they saw us, instantly started to ask if we had seen their friends. My Scoutmaster Chief answered that we hadn't seen other scouts, but if we saw them, we will let them know.

At the moment, my mind doesn't payed much attention to the situation and never related the ghost history with these boys. What I can remember is watching a little fire, beside the road, made by dry leaves. This call my attention, because I hoped to see some pieces of wood to sustain a good fire, and the particular smell of the broad beans.

After that, we meet our friends, made some activities and returned to home.

When we passed again across this place and taking again a little rest, I went to find hopefully the ashes of the bonfire; there wasn't any ashes, no one, not a single trace of fire. -"What!, why there is no ashes, or signs of fire?, this is not possible." I said to myself.

A few weeks after, in a meeting with my friends, we remembered the events of the trip, funny situations and all kind of stories. Then someone said:

-"Hey, do you remember the pair of Scout that we found? Didn't seemed strange to you?"

All started to tell our impressions, how they looked, the old and wasted uniforms, the old badges, the pallid skin, even the eyes look, the kind of look that you stare but it doesn't fix on you, very strange.

After all this comments, another said -"Do you remember the legend of the Phantom Patrol that we were told in the last camping?, the look, the comments, everything fits with the story... perhaps they were them..."

Suddenly nobody say a word, we just look each other, swalling saliva and change the topic of our conversation.

Were they really them? I don't know, If I had a ghost experience?, maybe. The only thing I can be sure is all the events that took place, the look like of these boys, the smell of the broad beans, and the questions that they made us.

Every time that I go back to San Rafael, the first thing that I think is "Do I ever seen this guys again?"

UFOs, a closer encount

There's a big controversy about the real existence of UFOs, some say they're real and exist and others that it's all a plot and there is no real evidence of their existence.

As far as I concern, I can't confirm or either deny it's existence, what can I do is talk about an experience I had during a camping.

We went to a place called "Las Palomas" near by the Otomi's ceremonial center, in the Estado de Mexico.

This is a nice place, a big valley with big stones suck in the middle. In the rainy season is a big pool, a lots of rain fall down an you need to set properly your tent in order to prevent a flood in you tent. That wasn't my case, I went with an another patrol member who had only a few months in.

We were able to set the tent in a higher ground, more like a little cliff, along side a little river. In those days the patrol had the typical triangular shape camping tent, called two water or Canadian shape.

As soon as we could, setted up the tent, and started to eat. The rain doesn't wait to much to appear, and made us to find shelter inside the tent. This situation repeats perhaps 3 times in during the day. Each time we just watched how the water filtered in the tent soaking all the stuffs.

By night we made a few activities before started to rain again and finally got into the tents and tried to get some rest.

It was the worst night I ever had in camping. All the gear was wet and soak, my sleeping bag, was a water bag, all my clothes were wet; really awfull.

It was impossible to got sleep, wet and cold. After several cramps in my legs due the humidity and cold, I decided to go out the tent, It wasn't raining any more and the sky was clear an full of stars, and I think it was less cold than the tent.

That was when I saw a shivering light, bright and colofull. It wasn't an ordinary star, this was a kind of circular 5 star shape, and shone in colors, like fireworks. I'm sure it wasn't fireworks because the light never stopped and was static. Red, blue, green, yellow and white, those were the colors that shone.

It was impressive. Soon after, I woke up to my friend, who made more noise with his teeth than a drill.

-"Uriel, wake up!"

-"I'm wake up, I can't sleep, what do you want?"

-"Come hurry, look to this star"

-"What? isn't cold out side? I'm freezing.

-"No it's not, come on hurry, besides the sky is clear and all the stars can see"

He got out the tent with a towel as a blanket, his sleeping was all wet, and it was impossible to sleep in it. I couldn't take my eyes off this star and told to him:

-"Look, do you see that star?, It isn't a little bit peculiar?"

-"Mmm what is so special about that star? I'm freezing and I can't sleep, I'm tired!"

-"This isn't an ordinary star, changes its color and glows all the time..."

-"Mmm, you're right!, but why, why it changes it's color?"

-"I don't know... perhaps is an UFO..."

-"...UFO?... are you sure?..."

-"Well what other explanation you can find?... look! it glows and change colors".

-"... mmm, ahhh, I'd better get in the tent, I feel sleepy and I don't believe you..."

If you could only see his face, it was white.

Well, today I still can't find an explanation to that star. A few months after that camping, I saw that star again, here in my house. My bedroom's window has a view to the Chiquihuite mount, better known as the antennas mount, in the north side of the City. And one night I saw it again, it was the same kind of star, shining, glowing and changing colors. Soon I shouted to my father to saw this. I remember telling him that this star was the same as one that I saw in the camping.

It was really amazing!

The UFOs exist? I don't know. But I'm sure that it wasn't fireworks or antenna or a plane or something like. I haven't seen that star again, but it worth a hole memory in my mind.