Final Thoughts
Trip Start
Nov 01, 2005
1
80
Trip End
Apr 14, 2006
Reading, United Kingdom
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Fiji was a different world- more like Uganda, and I loved scuba diving. I wouldnt've wanted to learn in England (far too cold!) and theres such an abundance of fish/sharks etc over there- and of course the heat and sun was great too! I've effectively had 3 summers in a row!
New Zealand was different again- I loved seeing the whole country, even if I did get a little sick of it by the end. I made some good friends, and it was nice to be able to get to know people and not constantly having to move on. And of course the activities were amazing! I'll never forget all the experiences I had down under.
The best bit about Australia was seeing mum- it was so nice to see a familiar face, and have someone to hang around with and share the sights with for 2 weeks. I loved Sydney- if it was closer, I'd definitely go back more often. Certainly a New Years Eve and Christmas I'll never forget!
And then of course, there's Uganda. Completely different to everywhere else I've been, and different experiences too. It gave me the chance to become part of the local community, absorbed into the culture, and hopefully bring a bit of happiness and knowledge to some of the children there too. People were very friendly, if a little wary to start with, and it was an experience in itself just to be a minority race. I cant say it was easy- but it wasnt meant to be. Wherever you are, certain things are sure to annoy you, and the fact that the way of life in Uganda is on a completely different spectrum even to England made it hard at times. It wasnt easy to see the poverty and suffering that so many people suffer in Africa either. I dont think I have the right state of mind or resolve to live and work in Africa permanently, but I have learnt to appreciate the abundance of things we have in England so much more. It does feel like a world away now, and I have to keep reminding myself that everyone else is still out there. I am, without a doubt, however, going to go back one day, if not just to see all the friends I made out there. It might be a while, and I still want to do more travelling in different parts of the world too, and of course- I need money first! But I do want to go back.
I might as well take this time to let those who know me know what I've decided to do about rowing. Before I left, I wasnt feeling all that great about my training, especially with me no longer being a junior, but I planned to at least do some exercise while I was away and see how I felt when I came back. Well, I did do some. Not much, and not enough to go straight back into training when I returned, but enough. This kind of travelling doesnt happen very often in a person's life- so why waste time training?! Anyway, I've decided, for the time being, not to return to World Class Start. I felt like they and I had different goals- quite rightly, they are mainly focused on performance and reaching big GB events. I, on the other hand, always thought it should be about enjoyment- there's no point continuing if you dont enjoy it- and since last September, I simply havent been enjoying rowing. I figured I had a 5-month break forced on me- and if I missed it, I could return, if not, then I wouldnt. And to be honest, its been so nice not to spend hours every day training, worrying about results and performance, going up and down, up and down that river in wind rain or shine. So thats it. Sorry if you'd put all your hopes on me being the one person who you could say in 2012 'I know her!!' but to get there would require so much work and effort that I'm just dont think I can put in. I'm hopefully still going to row occasionally, and I'm sure I'll take it up at uni again, but not to the level I was at before. It's really hard to tell people about this as I feel like I'm letting people down, so if you read this, please dont quiz me about my decision!
Anyway on a lighter note- here's my Top 5 Awards from the last 5 months :D
Top 5 Activities
5. Helihike (well, mainly the helicopter ride!)
4. Chucking myself into a canyon attached to a rope
3. Swimming with Dolphins
2. White water rafting (x2)
{drum roll please}
Gotta be
1. Throwing myself out a plane at 13,000ft: Skydiving
Top 5 Meals
5. The repeated 'School Dinner' (deep fried potatoes, meat, rice, cabbage, gravy... every day. For 3 months. MMM.)
4. The huge Bellagio Buffet
3. Rabbit (I think) and pineapple on Caqalai
2. The Authentic Mexican Meal in LA
1. The meal in the Thai restaurant in Sydney!
Top 5 Evenings
5. Going out before retiring to our tents in Queenstown
4. Watching the amazing fireworks with mum in Sydney
3. Going Scotland crazy on Burns' night
2. The big night out in Wellington
and......
1. Sitting around, singing, drinking kava (yuk) and playing musical statues in Caqalai.
Top 5 Sights
5. Seeing how much enjoyment the children got from playing with the parachute at Good Hope Organisation
4. The Golden gate bridge
3. Seeing the sun set over the African plains on safari
2. The snapshot in my mind of the village huts, swaying palm trees, kids running around and mountains in Fiji
1. The stunning lake Tekapo, with Mount Cook in the background
Top 5 Strangest Things I've eaten
5. Goat
4. Crocodile sausages
3. Ostrich steak
2. Camel
1. Kangaroo (boing)
Top 5 Songs
5. Listening to Greenday 'Time of your life' while driving through Kampala, feeling nostalgic. PLEASE click the link so you can hear the song! Its no.5
4. Playing 'Eye of the Tiger' as we roll through the mountain valleys in New Zealand on the bus. Select no.1 to hear a sample
3. Listening to the Enya album as we drove through Fijian countryside Enya Album
2. Singing 'No Woman, No Cry' in the back of a steamed up minibus on my way to Suva You know the drill, No.1
And Number One Song....
1. Thinking of home the other side of the Atlantic listening to the guy from Birmingham play Wonderwall (track 1)
And so, the end is near, and so I face the final curtain. My friend, I'll say it clear, I'll state my case, of which I'm certain. I've lived a life that's full. I've travelled each and every highway. And more, much more than this. I did it my way.
(Final apology for the cheese overload) That's it! Hope you've enjoyed reading about my travels, and I'm sure there will be more in the not-so-distant future.
THE END
