While the summer of 2014 was coming to an end I was longing for my trip to the 2014 Armenia Scouts Jamboree. The Jamboree is one of the most anticipated events for any Armenian scout in the Homenetmen organization (an organization that works to provide sports scouts and other activities for young Armenians around the world). The trip is held in Armenia every four years. Armenians from 17 Countries and 36 chapters attend, this year was the biggest ever with over 800 scouts attending.

I had been to Armenia once before but those were family planned trips and we stayed in the city. This time it was different. The trip was totally parent and family free, just scouts in the cities and towns of Armenia. What made the trip really special was that one week of the trip would be spent on a campground. Camping in another country was something I wouldn’t have dreamt of doing, especially since Armenia is a third world country.
The trip started when we all arrived at LAX, I had traveled many times before, but never alone. After checking in our bags we said our goodbyes and went into the security line. The wait at the gate seemed endless, what we did too pass the time, 4 hours to be exact, I don’t remeber but eventually we got on board. After hours of flying, then landing in Moscow and flying again our airplane had finally arrived in “Zvartnots” airport Yerevan, Armenia.
As the first of many planes carrying scouts arrived my friends and I headed out into our shuttle and it began moving. After half an hour the lights of the city of Yerevan were visible. A city almost entirely under construction. The architecture of Yerevan was different than anywhere I had ever seen. Tall modern skyscrapers poking out of Soviet era apartments and Armenian themed offices gave the city a feel like no other. Eventually we got to our hotel, “Ani Plaza”, and went to sleep. For the next four days we wondered the city of Yerevan, surprisingly safer than I thought. We ate, drank, and walked around the city till our feet were sore.
Our time in the city ended after the four days but the camp hadn’t even begun. We waited in the front of our hotel for our bus. We loaded our stuff on and got ready to go to the camp in a small village on the side of a mountain called “Byurakan”.
We arrived at night, the view of Yerevan from the mountain was incredible. Most of the other 800 scouts had already arrived. We were given name tags that indicated where we were from (in our case, Western USA). We were the largest delegation there with more than a hundred people so it did take long to set up but we eventually got to sleep. The next week would be one of the funnest weeks I have ever had. The week began with the first few days which included constant introductions of Armenian scout officials and “ice breaker” activities. We also went back to the city and had time to spend there and shop. During these days we also visited museums and sites of ancient peoples and monuments. One of the most heart-wrenching moments was visiting the Armenian Genocide Monument the “Tsitsernakaberd”. A monument placed in remembrance of the Armenians who died in the Armenian Genocide and visiting a place called “Yerabloor” the Arlington of Armenia  .
The next few days of the camp were very fun. We had more in-camp games and activities including a day where each country had made booths and gave everyone food from the countries they were from. The countries there were introduced one by one. We had people from 17 different countries:  Armenia, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Kuwait, East Coast of the United States, West Coast of the United States, Canada, Australia, South America (Argentina and Uruguay), France, England, Netherlands, Iraq, Greece, Jerusalem and Iran. The camps funnest activity was a race through the neighboring villages. Making your own food and talking to villagers as all a part of an intensely tiring and engaging race through villages towns and back. Rock climbing and  hiking to an ancient castle ruin were also very cool. The nights consisted of campfires led by a few countries at a time. Often interrupted by intense rain these were cut short and turned into singing and dancing under the covered cafeteria.
Unfortunately all good things do come to an end. The last day was especially sad having to say goodbye to all the people we met from around the world. We even made new friends from our own delegation growing closer. Even now i still hang out with these people. The drive from the camp back was depressing and tiring. Our hunger was overwhelming and as soon as we got back to the hotel we ate and the sleep deprivation got to us.
  The scramble to get up at the hotel to catch the red eye was rough. The whole thing was a blur, packing getting a shuttle.  With the plane finally taking off above my homeland I made memories that will last me a lifetime. A few sleeping pills, gross airplane lunches and multiple airplane turbulences later we landed in the LAX airport and prepared ourselves for the hardest part of the trip, the fact that we had school the next day!