Off I go!

I leave for India today!

Seems like a very long time coming but finally I'm off!

A massive thanks to everyone who helped me get this far. Your generosity and support is something which will get me through the hard times and make a ll the good times even more special!

See ya in a year Scotland!

Training

Last month I spent four days on the Hebridean Island of Coll. While there I met over 80 enthusiastic volunteers and learned a lot to prepare me for India.

Training is a specially designed course provided by PT to prepare it's volunteers for their challenging year abroad. It was one of the reasons I chose PT for my Gap Year as I think it's a really important idea.

Before training I felt totally unprepared for India. But the course was very helpful. We had many discussions about the customs and culture of India, talks on many subjects from health care (fluids!) to keeping people up to date. One of the most helpful things I learned was how to teach. We had to plan and execute two lessons each. This was perfect for teaching us how to teach (sounds strange but it's true). I blindfolded my classes. Thus, I learned the limitations involved with teaching blind students and what I can do to make the lessons more accessible. It was a great help.

The training was intense, a lot to take in and not a lot of time to do it! Staying up past midnight chatting certainly didn't help!

I also met the 23 other girls I'll be going to India with. Everyone was really nice (phew!). I also finally met my partner! I believe we got on well.

Also had a great two nights in Oban, my first hostel stay!

Good Luck to all the Thailand, Senegal and China volunteers I met too!

TL:DR - Training prepared me and I met loads of great people.

Fundraising Recap

As many people know, I had to raise £5,400 to fund my year away with Project Trust. This seemed impossible, I had never owned so much money in my whole life!

I started fundraising in October. Despite the great fundraising booklet PT and advice on Selection I had been given, things got off to a slow start. I'd admit at this point I thought I had loads of time. That time quickly ran out and the fundraising deadline loomed. Amazingly, I was given a massive donation from a group of incredibly generous people. It's something I'll never forget! Things started to pick up after that.

To fundraise I sold handmade gift items which I sold at craft stalls and to order. This raised £450 overall. I wouldn't recommend it as a fundraiser as it took so long to achieve and was a lot of work. However, I love crafting and found it satisfying.

Craft Stall in MacRosty Park

Another fundraiser was a three day Sponsored Silence. Two brave friends joined me in being silent. Amazingly we managed!

My final fundraiser was a Bingo Tea which was great fun and raised £550!

Overall fundraising £5,400 was a huge challenge, but one I overcame. Without the kindness and generosity of friends, family and even strangers it would have been impossible. I feel so privileged to be able to go on this journey and even more so to know such amazingly supportive people.

Thanks a million everyone!

Neglect...

Sorry I've been neglecting this blog recently, things have been understandably hectic! Not to mention the infinite distractions which appear as soon as I go on the internet.

C-c-c-changes!

So, despite what I previously thought and told everyone, I'm no longer going to be spending a year in Cambodia. Instead I'm going to be in hot and spicy India!

I had been previously warned by Project Trust (PT) that the first project I had been chosen for may fall through. In fact it was the whole reason that every PT volunteer chooses three countries to go to on selection. So I was aware that I may not end up in Cambodia. Therefore when PT called and told me that due to various reasons I was being relocated, I was shocked but not too surprised (if that makes sense!).

Initially I was, of course, disappointed. After spending so long finding out about the fascinating country that is Cambodia, I felt slightly lost knowing I was no longer going there.

However, once I accepted the fact that I wasn't going where I thought I was I became excited with the idea of going to India. This was my second choice of country from selection and somewhere I'd always wanted to go.

Another big difference additional to the country  was the work I'd be doing there. In Cambodia I was to be caring for orphans. In India I'll be teaching. At first I was conflicted about this, after years of being in education I wanted a break from school etc to experience more from life. However, after some consideration and discussions  I realised that this was a naive argument. In fact, the fact I have been in education for years means teaching would be the prefect thing for me to do for many reasons. Firstly, I know far more and I'm more experienced about education and learning than in childcare. I was also getting concerned about my ability to be a carer due to my lack of experience, I'm sure I would be able to eventually but the pressure initially may have been too stressful.  Secondly, I feel very passionate about education. My education is something I am incredibly privileged to have and feel is my duty to share. Therefore teaching in India is prefect for me.

So TL;DR - I'm not going to Cambodia but happy to be going to India and am very lucky to be able to do so too!