#ThisisNotTheEnd

I'm not long home from my Project Trust Debriefing course, a two-day shih-bang that's traditionally held on the Isle of Coll. If you haven't been following my blog, the Isle of Coll is the home sweet home of Project Trust, it's where I had my selection and my training. Debriefing is very important in any situation, it gives you a sense of closure. Closure is something that i've needed. It's difficult to look to the future when you're wishing you could turn back time.

I left Largs on Sunday, taking the train to Glasgow for my three hour train to Oban. I spent a night in a backpackers with the rest of the Project Trust group. We shared our very large debriefing with the volunteers from Malaysia and Hong Kong, who we hadn't seen since training over a year ago. It was so cool to see them and hear their really incredible stories that differed worlds apart from ours. The Malays were impressed with our South African dance moves, we were impressed with their traditional dress and fascinating lack of social skills (joke.)

Reunited with my RASTA SISTA

Dance moves to be proud of

Our night in the backpackers was great fun but a little too much fun for some, I won't mention names but you know who you are! The next morning was exhausting but we managed to wake up bright and early to haul our rucksacks to the harbour in time for the ferry. The ferry to Coll is about three hours long. I used that time wisely and finished my community report for Project Trust. Walking off the ferry brought on some serious de ja vu. The first time I ever stepped off that ferry, I never knew If I'd be coming back. It's been a long journey.

Arriving at the PT center was great fun. We all settled into our rooms and had a nice lunch. Sooner or later, it was time to get into the serious stuff. The whole day was spent reflecting on the past. We analyzed our years, took pride our achievements, realized how we had grown and discussed what we had gained.We spoke about our community reports, global citizenship and global issues that we had witnessed overseas, such as racism, religion, racial segregation and aids.

Each group chose a topic to focus on, ours was the issue of South Africa's Apartheid. Our main discussion went something like this;

Before arriving in South Africa, we only recognized the apartheid as part of South Africa's past. We never  expected to witness the mass effect that apartheid still holds over South Africa. Bars for specific races, superstores where only white people shop and racially segregated towns were few of the obvious  statements. Twenty years ago, black people wouldn't have shopped in that superstore because they weren't allowed to - by law. Apartheid ended a long time ago but it's still grasping onto South Africa. The issues aren't so obvious  in cities like Cape Town, where progress is fast and the past is a thing to be left behind you. It's in the small towns, here and there, where you notice the lingering stares. 

What we found most difficult to deal with was the racism. More specifically, racism from people our own age. Black, white, coloured, anyone, everyone. People our age were born into a democratic South Africa. They were born into an Apartheid-free South Africa. So where does the fear and hatred come from? I can only assume that it has been passed down through the generations that had to suffer the impact of apartheid. It's so frustrating. Falling in love with South Africa can break your heart.

Day Two - it was a day to put the past behind us and look to the future. How could our experience help us? How could Project Trust  continue to assist us? We discussed our hopes and dreams, plans and expectations. We learned how to make the most out of our year. We also discussed the nasty issue of our deportation. I'm confident that my appeal will be attended to; all I can do is wait and see. We also went to the beach.

Beautiful Coll Beach

This didn't work for me

It didn't really work for Katie either

Before our dinner, we had a short closing ceremony. The second John Fraser whipped out the poems, I knew I would be in tears. I was right, I was in tears. This is a poem by Robert Frost. It was also read to us on training, before our South African adventure even truly began. It holds a much stronger grasp on my heart now, after all that i've been through. The poem is called - The Road Not Taken.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

The other South Africans and I had a surprise for our fellow volunteers. We sang "Nkosi Sikeleli", the South African National Anthem. Nkosi Sikeleli Afrika translates to God Bless Africa. We were definitely very enthusiastic with our singing. After the anthem, Kieran burst into Shosholoza, where we followed his random lead and sang the best part of that. After our lovely roast chicken dinner and white wine, we split up to get ready for the CEILIDH! Having a ceilidh is another good old Project Trust tradition. Oh my, it was so exhausting. I danced every second dance and had a drink every second break. It was very hot and sweaty, very busy and even a little bit violent but it was all in good fun.

Partners

The Malaysians in traditional dress

South Africa 13/14 Girls

Partner Love

Ceilidh Fun

The Lads

The whole night was great. The whole course was great. My journey with Project Trust isn't over, it will never be over. As Project Trust said, #ThisisNotTheEnd. PT really like their hashtags. I've got to say though, my new favourite Project Trust Hashtag has to be #ThisisProjectBus. It was a statement made by one of the volunteers who insisted (as a joke) that our fundraising money was spent on pimping out the new PT buses. All Abroad For Africa, Asia and The Americas!

#OverandOut

SNAP!...

23/03/2013 

BINGO! My bingo night is quickly approaching, less than three weeks to go now. I have been told we are expecting to raise £500. FIVE HUNDRED POUND! I really can't wait, if it can raise that amount of money, it will be my biggest event yet. Not to mention I am a mere £600 away from my total! This Bingo is being arranged by a family member. I am so grateful for it, I know how time consuming organizing such an event can be. For any locals reading my blog, here are the details:

BE THERE FOR 7.40PM

EYES DOWN 8PM

WHITLEES CENTRE, ARDROSSAN

________

I realize I have not yet mentioned spending money, an important topic. So here are the basics!

As well as the £5400, Visa costs and inoculation costs, we also need spending money. Some lucky volunteers might have this money sitting around and don't need to worry about it, but unfortunately that's not me! We can't fundraise this money for obvious reasons, it is not for the charity, it is for our personal use. Whilst overseas we have the opportunity to travel, and in this time we rely on our own money. 

Project Trust advise that we take this money on a credit/debit card that can be used overseas and from home. This way parent's can put money on the card in emergencies or for birthdays/Christmas. It is also a lot easier to replace when stolen! I am currently considering a Travel Money Card from the post office, it has all the same perks and more - doesn't cost to lift cash from an ATM.

Volunteers are advised to take roughly £1000 and no more. It would be unfair for one volunteer to have £1000 and for their partner to have double that. When you think about it, £1000 for a year is not very much money, at all. So we have to use it wisely!

I have decided to start saving this money. I am giving my dad the cash to keep by for me, that way I won't - can't - spend it! So far I have  given him a grand total of....£100. Only 10% but it's a start! I aim to give another £100 in two weeks. I am also going to put birthday money towards this fund. I think I will slowly but surely be able to save the money...I hope so any way.

More on money... now that I have my training dates, it will soon be time to book my travel to and night in Oban. Thankfully, these two combined are less than £50. Oban Back Packers have recently moved to a new venue! Click HERE to visit the website. 

On to a more FUN topic, camera's! Taking photo's will be a huge part of my year in South Africa. At first, I just assumed with myself that I would take my Nikon D3000, a chunky DSLR. On second thoughts, I would be completely devastated if it were broken or stolen. So I decided to save a bit of money to buy a smaller digital camera that would offer everything a DSLR can. I ended up with a Sony Nexr, it's certainly got the same, if not better quality. It's also tiny so can be easily hidden! I even have a padlock for the case. Ain't nobody'gon pick pock me.

My new camera!

TOTAL £4830

"You have been selected to serve abroad......"

21.06.12

It's been less than a week since I got back from selection. Since the day I was back I have been watching the postman like a Hawk. I have been so nervous and frustrated waiting for this letter! I think everyone has. We have a Facebook group for everyone that was on our selection course, so it's great to hear about everyone being selected and who is going where!

So the first thing I seen when I opened the letter..."We are delighted to be able to tell you that you have been selected to serve abroad as a Project Trust volunteer." 

And the first thought's that went through my head? OMG.

I am so pleased that I have been selected, I'm so excited! I want to get into fundraising right away but my fundraising pack doesn't come for another 2 weeks! I have made my Virgin Money Giving Fundraising page. It's a start, and I already have my first donation! http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JasminesYearToAfrica

I also got my first country choice, South Africa here I come! If anything goes wrong with South Africa, I will go to Namibia. If anything goes wrong with Namibia, I will go to Malawi. Perfect!!

Now I know that I'll get to return to Coll! For Training!

Selection course, where it begins.....

10.06.12 - Journey

I'm on the train to Glasgow. People seem to be looking at me funny, I reckon they think I'm running away! I wouldn't be surprised anyway, I have a huge rucksack and I'm dressed like someone that has been on the streets for a while. Oh well, comfort first!

Now I'm on the coach, I have been on it for 1hr and 20 minutes. At the moment were driving along the "Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond" It's so beautiful. The driver is playing giddy Scottish songs and keeps making jokes like "let's take a head count!" and "is everyone on board?!"... because there is only me and one other person on the coach! The rain is hammering on the window and the clouds are really low, the peaks are visible above them, it's such a pretty picture. I keep trying to take pictures out of the window, but it ends up with me hitting myself in the face with my camera when the ride gets bumpy! I keep trying to read or listen to music, but I'm too excited.
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The Coach to Oban

10.06.12 - Oban

Today has been brilliant. I arrived in Oban at 1.30. As soon as I got here, I headed to Backpackers (the bus drove by it on the way) I left my rucksack and then headed out. For a good 3 hours, I wondered around Oban myself. I went to check where to get the ferry in the morning and I got some chips for lunch...oh my goodness, you can't get anything without it being deep fried! At 4, I headed back to Backpackers. I was a little early returning, but so were four other people. So that's how I met Peyton, George and Jo! They are all so lovely jubbly (: Peyton and I, who were luckily in the same room, checked in and got our room keys. We
 spent the day with Jo and George who are both staying at a local b&b. Something I won't

forget was heading around to the big church which had a beautiful Hogwarts feel...Peyton and I paid 20p each to light a candle, place it on an alter, make a whish and blow it out. -insert from after selection: I can now say that my wish came true!- A little later on, everyone was in our room! Both our room and the one across the hall had been reserved for PT. So there was about 9 of us so far. It was really good to get to know everyone, we had a huge - tense -  game of monopoly, it was so funny! Later on, about 9.30 I went with some girls to pick up more people from the train station. When we got back I came to bed...very comfy for £19! I share the dorm with Peyton, Rosie, Joss and Emily. - I thought I would fall asleep and go to bed but I didn't so that night me and Rosie went down into the lounge for a while. (in our jammie's - that's that question answered!)

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 Our Backpackers Dorm

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Monopoly game in Backpackers

11.06.12 - Coll
We arrived in Coll after the very fun 3 hour ferry journey through the Sound of Mull. Everyone who had not met yet, got to meet on the ferry. Everyone is so brilliant, I've never met so many amazing people at the one time! We played cards on the ferry, it was a good laugh. On arrival at Coll, we were taken straight to the PT centre! As soon as we were there, we dumped our bags and went off to do some admin, just basic stuff like handing in forms we had not posted. After that, we had a little introduction to Project Trust and then...BAM, straight into "Projects Available".
From Projects Available, I added Malawi onto my mind's list of interest. I also decided that I would like to do teaching and childcare together. In between "Projects Available 1" and "2" we had lunch. We sat in the lunch hall with the staff mixed between us and ohhh it was so yummy. Just what everyone was dying for, soup! After lunch we were put into groups that we would stay in for certain tasks throughout the week. I was in a group of 5 with Sophie as our Team Leader. First was "Ice-breaker and construction". We had to make a model out of straws! The funny thing was, no one's model won, we were all rubbish! 

At the end of the day, we were all driven off to our hosts house, where we would be living for the week. I was partnered with Rosie, which I was very happy about! We were put with a lovely woman, who moved to the island ten years ago from Belgium.She lives alone (but insists she never feels alone!) in a huge beautiful house (The Windy Gap) Seriously...it's state of the art beautiful! The moment we stepped inside it was breathtaking and unpredictable. In the furthest away corner of the bottom floor sits a gorgeous grand piano, my heart fell at the sight of it! Even better, she likes me playing it! I'm not very good, I just really enjoy it but Mary-Louise encourages me to play it, so I spent the week trying to make one song sound like 10 different ones...You can't look out a single window in this house and not be thrown back, it's stunning! Although the house must have about 5 bedrooms, me and Rosie were furthest away on the top floor and in the same room!

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The Windy Gap

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The Grand Piano

12.06.12

Today has mainly been about teaching, and I've loved it! First we had "How to teach" and then "Lesson Preparation" and then we had 10 minutes to teach our groups a lesson! I went for a fun option and taught my group how to draw a face the proper way. It was really fun, I was so nervous and worried about it until I was actually up there teaching and thought it was brilliant! I must admit though, George still managed to draw a face that looked like Voldemort!

Next on the list for today was Dance Practice! Ohh it was SO fun! So there are about 22 people on this selection course and only 5 of us are Scottish, I think everyone expected us to be the pro's haha! It was that fun, no one even cared that it was also very embarrassing.

NEXT on the list was climbing the highest peak on Coll (don't worry, it's not very high) It was good to get up there, but my wellies hurt my feet...nonetheless I pushed myself onward. 

NEXT AGAIN was another group task, lazy bed digging! As boring as it sounds, it was actually really fun. Everyone seemed to make it a race as to who got it done faster. Quality, not quantity! During this task, we were individually called into the Land Rover for interviews.

Later tonight, me and Rosie went for a swim! It was absolutely amazing, we were sat there in the water, only about 4 metres from the sand and a seal popped up! It was so beautiful.
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On the highest "Peak"

13.06.12

Today was great. It was all about fundraising and I think I speak for everyone when I say it got you even more excited! We also went over some over-seas scenarios and their solutions...It was a bit scary, funny, unfortunate...Later on today we had an essay, yaaaay. But I don't think it was as bad as people expected, we had an option of questions to answer. Tonight, Mary-Louise took us to Braechacha caslte, it was good to see another part of the island, a historical part.
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Breachacha Castle

14.06.12

Woooow. Today has been amazing, every day just seems to get better. It has also been very sad though, knowing it's our last day on this wonderful island. I'm going to miss everyone so much, there's not one person who's name I don't know, everyone is amazing.

This morning we were shipped around the island for "individual tasks" We were grouped with people we had not yet spent time with. I was with Ella, Daisy, Rory and Chris as our Team Leader, we dug up a local's garden path! It was pretty intense work, from 9.00 - 12.45. It was Rory's birthday today (dedication) so back at the PT centre, we all sang happy birthday and had some chocolate cake. Well, Peyton had more than one bit! After this, we were back into our usual groups for presentation time (something we were to work on at hosts houses) I decided to do mine on historical events that disturbed the population - Potato Famine, Blood Bath, Highland Clearances. It had to last 10 minutes, like the lesson. I worked myself up about it but again, when I was actually doing it I enjoyed it.
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Our work in the Garden

Next on the list was a final Q+A session and then a fantastic session of going around different desk officers to hear about specific countries. I managed to fit in South Africa, Namibia and Malawi, my favourites. I learned so much about specific projects within these countries, it was so much more informative than anything else in the week! So my final 3 countries were decided in the order of South Africa, Namibia, Malawi.

Returning to host houses, we had two hours to get ready for the...the...THE CEILIDH. And it was amazing! It was just a complete laugh, we did about eight dances with much appreciated breaks in between. Everyone loved it and everyone was knackered by the end of it. We got a nice group photo. On the way back to host houses afterwards, I got some last pictures of our Land Rover crew, Annaleise, Rowan, Beth, Rosie and Fauve! Goodness, I'll miss that Land Rover.
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The Ceilidh!

Tomorrow we go to the PT centre one last time, and then it's the ferry home :(. I'm really not looking forward to telling people goodbye, I've made such amazing friends this week!

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Me and the girls in the Land Rover

15.06.12

I have just left Oban and I'm trying hard not to cry my eyes out. It was so horrible to say goodbye to the wonderful people who became such close friends in one week! I will definitely keep in touch, they are far too amazing to loose.

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Ella and Peyton saying goodbye :(