First briefing

And so the adventure begins!

Our first ever team photo!

After finding out that we had been selected for GOLD after INTOPS, we first met as a team at First Briefing at Tolmers in Hertfordshire in February.

We spent much of the weekend getting to know each other as a team, diving straight in with the important things in life: we do all like chocolate, right?! Who drinks tea? Does anyone talk in their sleep?

Anna, the GOLD Co-ordinator, and Carly, representing Girlguiding, were on hand to guide us through the weekend and all the team leaders delivered trainings on different topics.

An energiser in between trainings in the sunshine

The leaders of Team Guyana and Team The Gambia walked us through our GOLD journey - and pointed out that it never really ends! Once a GOLDie, always a GOLDie.

Emma from Team The Gambia and our GOLD journey in footsteps!

We were introduced to the different group roles and decided who was going to do what - you can read more about the roles of different team members on our Meet the Team page.

Team Peru in deep discussion over the important things in life - team kit colour!

After trainings on fundraising, PR, kit and packing, we had an evening of Winter Olympics themed entertainment - complete with events to bring out our competitive side.

The team after warm-up...

Getting competitive during leg ice-hockey

Ice dancing to Bolero

Team Peru winning the biathlon

Teams Latvia and Cambodia in a close-run bobsleigh race

All the 2014 GOLDies (that's people who go on GOLD by the way)

Peru, Cambodia, The Gambia and Malawi team leaders as the Jamaican Bobsleigh team

After a close-run series of events, Team Peru emerged victorious!

The victorious Team Peru with our medals

On the Sunday, we had more trainings on health and wellbeing and culture shock. There was also lots more team time involving sweets, where we began to plan our challenge badge.

Hannah, Claire and Katherine during a rainier Sunday energiser

That was all we had time for. After a busy weekend, we all headed home, buzzing with ideas (or perhaps that was caffeine...) and ready for our GOLD journey to begin in earnest.

Lots of GOLD love,

Team Peru