Cover Photo: Debra van der Lem
Text: Debra van der Lem
Edit: Mike Dent, Sophie Spickenbom
Since the first Roverway took place in 2003, and this Roverway in Norway is already the 7th edition, many friendships and even romances have developed over the years. It is quite likely that a number of couples found their origin within Roverway along the way. Having one of them present with their two children this year still is unique. Read about Olivia and Stefan, and their story that goes back to Roverway 2016 in France!
Stefan, from Finland, and Olivia, from Switzerland, both joined the MOOT in Canada in 2013, but they don’t remember having met back then. Stefan realises that this probably had to do with being stationed at the furthest gate during some of his shifts or helping at the site of the evening and night entertainment as the fire coordinator. He didn’t meet that many other IST during that event.
For his studies, Stefan moved to France in 2016, but ended up joining Roverway with the Finnish Contingent. One day, during lunch time, Stefan sat next to some of the Swiss Contingent and conversations came easily. Olivia and he had a click instantly and they were happy the French had organised a specific IST programme. They spent quite some time together and one of their favourite spots was Café de Flore, which was the IST bar.
Stefan lived in Rouen in the west of France and Olivia in Switzerland, which meant a lot of travelling back and forth. At least, France was closer than Finland. Olivia remembers the hassle it took to go and see Stefan. Although a TGV got her to Paris quickly, the different metros to get to the other side of Paris took up so much time. The journey (one-way) would take 8 hours if there weren’t any delays, so each travelled for 16 hours, twice a month. Now that’s real love and commitment!
After two years, when Stefan had finished his postdoctoral studies and his job ended, he and Olivia had the feeling something had to change. The travelling tired them both and moving to Switzerland seemed the most sensible thing to do.
This was around the time Roverway happened in the Netherlands in 2018. Stefan even joined the Swiss Contingent, while in the process of moving to Switzerland. Both helped to make the Swiss Foodhouse a big success.
Now, six years after Roverway in the Netherlands, they are here with their two children. This time, they joined the Finnish Contingent, as this is also a part of their shared history. This is the first time they have joined a big camp with their little family, but it felt right this year.
As IST, they have been everywhere around the Roverway campsite and walking around has brought back so many memories from meeting at Roverway in 2016 and working together in 2018. “It’s good to be here and remember how it all started. We’ve talked so much about our time at previous Roverways over the last two weeks.”
Olivia and Stefan are already talking about their oldest daughter joining Scouting soon, as Beavers start at an early age in Switzerland. They both hope their children will love Scouting as much as they do. When Stefan realises that his children might one day attend Roverway themselves, he has a surprised look on his face for a moment. Then Olivia and Stefan both smile tenderly at each other. Roverway brought them so much and why not hand that over to a new generation.