World Thinking Day is a chance to celebrate international friendship and share adventure stories. We recently caught up with volunteer Laraine from Banff and Buchan to hear about the international friendships she’s made and the trips she’s been on.

The international bug started for me at a young age, when, like many young Guides, I made the trip to Switzerland, for a stay in Hari’s chalets. We walked miles and loved every minute of it.

When my daughter joined Girlguiding, she developed the same bug and started attending various camps via INTOPS, and I must admit envy was creeping in, thinking I should do something more.

The turning point was 2016, after returning from a county trip to Sangam, I repacked and headed to an international camp in Ayrshire. On day 1 I formed a friendship with a group of Canadians from Calgary and a group from Ayrshire. The camp was the best week I ever spent, and we as a group formed a strong bond. 10 years on I still have these friendships and through various Canadian visits between us, we now have guides and rangers also making Canadian friendships. At another part of the camp, my daughter was also making her own international friends, who again to this day she has kept in touch with.

Friendship leads to connections and we are excited to be hosting a group this year and sharing an international camp experience at Poacher. How may new friends will I have by the end of this camp I wonder! I’m also delighted that this year I’ve sponsored a Canadian young leader, who is staying with me. And of course I have her signed up as a unit helper.

Age is never a barrier… I’m taking 20 Brownies to Paris this year! No one should have a fear of taking young members away, my advice is to fundraise and work with a team that communicates well.

One of the best ways that I can really show you how Girlguiding embraces friendship was a couple of years ago. Anna, my daughter, had returned from Sangam after volunteering for 3 months, again having made many worldwide friends. One friend, from Australia, went on to volunteer at Our Chalet. She invited Anna to visit and said ‘bring your mum!’. I wasn’t going to say no, so next thing we were on a flight to Zurich and staying in Our Chalet. We had both visited it together before, however never actually stayed. It was such an experience to have as mother and daughter.

Girls, from all over the world spent an evening swapping badges in the chalet, the girl’s conversation turned to music, and how their likes were so similar. It turned out Taylor swift was playing in Zurich the next day and next thing I knew was I was escorting the international nations to a pop concert… no ordinary concert… it was Taylor Swift! (Put my street credit up with my brownies when I told them.) It just shows how bonds form, so quick, the language barrier doesn’t exist, and the chat in the car on the way to the concert was so full of love and friendship which I know has continued for these girls.

Regardless of what international adventure I am involved in, the question is always asked, why do you do it, are you crazy? Well I love giving girls opportunities, and seeing them smile, develop and of course make Girlguiding friends which will last forever. What more can I ask for.

Thinking day for me is always very special, when I send greetings all over the world and of course hear from my guiding friends!

Check out this amazing video Anna’s daughter made of their international adventures!