South Africa 20 - finally...

OK, its been a while guys - but I've finally sat down to write this entry!
It's coming up to four months since the 7 of us got back from South Africa, that in itself is almost impossible to comprehend!

I realise that I really didn't put anything in depth for the month of August...don't think I will now. Hope that's not a big issue for any of you! Just don't feel that its necessary - given how long it takes me to type in that much depth!
Just in case you feel hopelessly left out from the last quarter of my south african journey here's a summary of what occurred:

- I skydived!!! Best thing EVER!
Photographical evidence of Phil and I jumping out of a plane from 9500ft can be seen here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=46202&l=adf54&id=511686961

- The electricity 'load shedding' threatened to rear its ugly head again but never really managed it properly!

- I got to know lots and lots of lovely people (who I hope to see again someday!) a whole lot better and felt soo incredibly settled in at times!
(and incredibly challenged and unsettled at others!)

- Learnt how to make marmalade with my South African grandmothers (not that I can remember the process now tho!)

- Had a half day at a spa for Jenny and Izzy's birthday. V.relaxing but unfortunately even more embarrassing.....story not especially suitable to be shared through this medium....

- Finished the educational posters for CCP to use to aid their teaching of kids in schools in the communities :D 60 something posters in all I think! All laminated and shiny!

- Learnt to Zulu dance and went to a church in the townships- amazing food, amazing people, amazing sermon.

- Went to the Drakensburg (a range of mountains an hour and a half outside PMB) with 50 odd school kids from GCS.
Stunning scenery, over exuberant kids, extremes of weather. Brilliant fun (two words - irish snap) and a challenging time for some of the team...

- We had many people to entertain and cook for and were invited to lots of different people's houses and ate a lot of food ourselves!

- As individuals within the team we all did a final devotional time, as part of our de-briefing - which proved to be some of the most amazing times. To see and hear of the ways we had all grown and changed as individuals as well as a team.

My highlights
- Coming into contact with so many wonderful people, from all around the world, who were so willing to give so much encouragement, blessing and love.
- Learning what it really means to be part of a team
- God - all the things He taught me, the incredible ways he loved me, challenged me, taught me, gave me fresh vision and changed my heart and my perspective. Words can't convey.
- Skydiving - already plotting the next one if its at all possible (but Mum doesn't want to know about that one so sshhhhh!)

My most challenging times

- The times when my heart was heavy; thinking of a team situation, friends and family, some of the poverty I saw and when I was learning exactly what it means to be burdened.

- Learning to lead - how I respond to different personalities, the importance of having people who you truly respect-who can stop you going crazy and how to take a really deep breath, brush it off and try again.

- Saying goodbye to everyone...sooo hard!
In the words of coldplay song 'the scientist'
"Nobody said it was easy, it's such a shame for us to part, nobody said it was easy, no one ever said it would be this hard."

The hardest goodbye (while in SA) was different to the one i thought would be....and the only one where I couldn't control the tears...

One of the main questions I have been asked (over and over again!) is:
'Did you enjoy it?'
The answer is yes, yes and a thousand million times over yes.
I would do it all again in the blink of an eye and am already plotting my next visit to the amazing continent of Africa!

Am now a massive advocate of Oasis UK and Project Gateway and will happily provide anyone and everyone with details of how to help out and how to get involved if they're interested (and occasionally even if they're not..... apologies if you have been on the receiving end of an extended SA ramble - I think Oli might hold the record for that one....but he did kinda ask for it :P)

Annnd the thing that I have missed the most above all else...
my team...the 6 amazing people I spent pretty much 24/7 around for 18weeks, who feel like family, who I miss like nothing else and who will be my friends for life (if they can put up with me...)
student life is damn lonely without them around.

The final question on everyone's lips will most likely (i'm no mind reader..) be...
How's life been since SA?
In a word: tough

In more than a word:
Eye-opening (if I thought I'd learnt all that I was going to learn about myself while I was out there I was grossly mistaken)
Challenging (Us Brits find something to complain about ALL THE TIME!)

Student life in Cardiff has been an absolute rollercoaster. I was a lot more ready to go to uni than I was when I finished school in some ways, but a lot less ready in others.

I have made mistakes I wish I could go back and change, found out the real meaning behind those three little words 'reverse culture shock' and been tempted to pack it all in and buy a one way ticket to Virginia Water/Africa/anywhere else more than once.

After saying all of that I have loved it aswell:
The freedom from parents and constraints of school (which I have obviously already experienced....but I'm in the same country this time)

Made some amazing friends who I feel like I have known for a lot longer than three months

'Choosen' a new church

Realised the true joy behind the words 'free food' and 'here, let me pay for that'

Immersed myself in academic studies which I feel I can be good at (A2 chemistry taught me exactly what that didn't feel like!)

and have been on placement in the community mental health setting....which gives me the invigorating knowledge that when I'm done with all the lectures and essays malarky (which is not my strength) I will be starting in a profession which I enjoy and will be happy in.


Today I had one of those rare moments of complete clarity, when the cobwebs that have begun to cloud your perspective and vision because of the daily whirlwind and puzzles of life are swept away; allowing a fresh outlook.

Best feeling.

For the first time in a while i was able to objectively survey the different areas of my life and honestly say that I wouldn't change a thing.

Almost simply because if I changed something I would most likely not know everyone that I know, or have lived through the experiences of my life. And whether I've realised it or wanted to accept it or not each experience or person has made a difference. Today that made joyful beyond comprehension.

That and simply being able to look up at the vast expanse of sky which is not limited by suburbia...but the simple things are never quite as easy to express eloquently, even if they do sometimes make more of an impact.

I hope that made sense. It doesn't rele matter coz i'm finishing with this.....

Throughout the ups and downs of life I wil cling to the truth that:
'Nothing is impossible with God' - Luke 1:37
This has been the recurrent bible verse throughout my gap-year! Its been an amazing one!!

Peace out x