Home again - Prologue
We landed in London at 2.45pm and I am glad Stew had brought thermals out for me as I was freezing. The airline lost one of the bags but luckily it was delivered back to us on Monday. For the first time in 101 days I dried my hair after washing it, it is all very strange, on Wednesday I have got to get used to wearing tights and shoes again…..
People I have spoken to have asked me what my best and worst experiences in my sabbatical. There are too many fantastic experiences to pick out just one but watching gorillas relax eating bamboo, morning chats with lemurs or walking down the beach hand in hand with Malagasy children are close to the top! My stomach bug or scary encounters with locals were the worst but even that wasn't that bad. In all honesty everything I did was so different to my job everything was new and exciting.
Whenever Stew and I go on holiday we always talk about what we have learned while away, I don’t even know where to begin with all the experiences that I have had in the time. My understanding of the social and economic environment of both Madagascar and Uganda has opened my eyes and I can see what little I can do to help them. My initial thoughts when I went out were actually quite arrogant and naive thinking that I could change things on a larger scale but after living there I realised what is possible and what is not.
For me as a person, and this sounds twee but, I went away tired, stressed, overweight, insecure and I had lost the real me, but I have come back 24 lbs / 11 kg lighter, fitter, happy and I know who I am again - I am friends with myself. I have made plans for what my life can hold for me in the future and feel as if I have my mojo back and I am going to work bloody hard not to go back to the me pre-sabbatical. So those of you reading this that are close friends/colleagues and deal with me in day to day life - if you see me slipping back into my old ways slap me around the head and shout ‘sabbatical’!
So in the fabled words of Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes:
I've had the time of my life
No I never felt this way before
Yes I swear it's the truth
And I owe it all to you
Therefore I would like to thank my cast and crew over the past 14 weeks. I have met so many lovely (and a few not so) people that have contributed to my experience but would like to mention a few who made it so special (apologies if I have missed anyone). I miss you all!
Uganda unit: Tracy - who within 10 minutes of talking to each other we knew we had a special connection, by the end of two weeks were best friends. Steve - who made up the gang of three and was very cheeky. You brought out the naughty side of me! Joanne - one of the kindest people I have met and a sassy dancer who knew how to shake her booty. Looking forward to seeing you all again soon!
Sainte Luce unit: The Rice and Beans gang - Alix and Valeria, two wonderfully bright beautiful girls, who had come away to clear their heads of men at the start of the trip, but we put the world to rights by the end. A bit of girl power solves everything! Rom who loved an argument, hated insects (we changed that in 3 weeks) and was a knowledge sponge. Where shall we meet up first?
Reef Doctor unit: Chloe (so confident and clear on her life goals at 20 - I don't know how you do it) and Byron (Arsenal fan, never mind and all round thoughtful person) who were my dive buddies, weekend buddies and gossip buddies. RD wouldn't have been anywhere as much fun without you. Looking forward to catching up when you are in London next year! Thanks Roberto and Jackie for the underwater pictures. And of course Mofo the cat!
Madagascar holiday unit: A big thank you to Stew who came out to meet me for the holiday and made sure that I came back with him on the plane - it was touch and go. Thank you for supporting me going on my adventure. Thanks to Ian@reefandrainforest for organising such a wonderfully varied holiday for us, Jodie@sakatialodge for the underwater pictures and showing us the wonders of the Madagascar reef.
Finally I want to thank the Malagasy people for being themselves, I will miss them dearly.
And here it is, the end… or should I say the beginning of the new me……..
People I have spoken to have asked me what my best and worst experiences in my sabbatical. There are too many fantastic experiences to pick out just one but watching gorillas relax eating bamboo, morning chats with lemurs or walking down the beach hand in hand with Malagasy children are close to the top! My stomach bug or scary encounters with locals were the worst but even that wasn't that bad. In all honesty everything I did was so different to my job everything was new and exciting.
Whenever Stew and I go on holiday we always talk about what we have learned while away, I don’t even know where to begin with all the experiences that I have had in the time. My understanding of the social and economic environment of both Madagascar and Uganda has opened my eyes and I can see what little I can do to help them. My initial thoughts when I went out were actually quite arrogant and naive thinking that I could change things on a larger scale but after living there I realised what is possible and what is not.
For me as a person, and this sounds twee but, I went away tired, stressed, overweight, insecure and I had lost the real me, but I have come back 24 lbs / 11 kg lighter, fitter, happy and I know who I am again - I am friends with myself. I have made plans for what my life can hold for me in the future and feel as if I have my mojo back and I am going to work bloody hard not to go back to the me pre-sabbatical. So those of you reading this that are close friends/colleagues and deal with me in day to day life - if you see me slipping back into my old ways slap me around the head and shout ‘sabbatical’!
So in the fabled words of Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes:
I've had the time of my life
No I never felt this way before
Yes I swear it's the truth
And I owe it all to you
Therefore I would like to thank my cast and crew over the past 14 weeks. I have met so many lovely (and a few not so) people that have contributed to my experience but would like to mention a few who made it so special (apologies if I have missed anyone). I miss you all!
Uganda unit: Tracy - who within 10 minutes of talking to each other we knew we had a special connection, by the end of two weeks were best friends. Steve - who made up the gang of three and was very cheeky. You brought out the naughty side of me! Joanne - one of the kindest people I have met and a sassy dancer who knew how to shake her booty. Looking forward to seeing you all again soon!
Sainte Luce unit: The Rice and Beans gang - Alix and Valeria, two wonderfully bright beautiful girls, who had come away to clear their heads of men at the start of the trip, but we put the world to rights by the end. A bit of girl power solves everything! Rom who loved an argument, hated insects (we changed that in 3 weeks) and was a knowledge sponge. Where shall we meet up first?
Reef Doctor unit: Chloe (so confident and clear on her life goals at 20 - I don't know how you do it) and Byron (Arsenal fan, never mind and all round thoughtful person) who were my dive buddies, weekend buddies and gossip buddies. RD wouldn't have been anywhere as much fun without you. Looking forward to catching up when you are in London next year! Thanks Roberto and Jackie for the underwater pictures. And of course Mofo the cat!
Madagascar holiday unit: A big thank you to Stew who came out to meet me for the holiday and made sure that I came back with him on the plane - it was touch and go. Thank you for supporting me going on my adventure. Thanks to Ian@reefandrainforest for organising such a wonderfully varied holiday for us, Jodie@sakatialodge for the underwater pictures and showing us the wonders of the Madagascar reef.
Finally I want to thank the Malagasy people for being themselves, I will miss them dearly.
And here it is, the end… or should I say the beginning of the new me……..
Comments
Post a Comment