Summer Dreams and Panics.

As I mentioned in my last post, my new favourite study distraction is dreaming of summer and all the adventures ahead. (Note to self: don't forget about exams as they'll be coming up first.) The most exciting thing about my summer is that I'll end it in Africa where I will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in aid of Practical Action, before heading over to Kenya where I'll be volunteering in an orphanage.

Everytime I think of this trip I am filled with excitement- and terror. I don't really know what to expect of the trek itself or have any great idea how my body will handle it. All I know is that I'm stubborn as a mule and will be pushing for the summit... in the snow... in the middle of the night. Luckily, all fears can be calmed by the sounds of Toto... he knows about Africa, he'll lift me to the summit.

This trip will be a real challenge and I'm completely awestruck at the prospect of visiting Africa for the first time, overcoming a huge physical challenge and looking out at the world from the summit of Kibo peak, at 5,895m above sea level. However, this challenge isn't an abstract thing that I'll swan off to do in 5 months. As an Adventure Leader it has become part of my daily routine over the past 6 months as I've been recruiting participants, organising fundraising and supporting my team (who have already raised over £20,000!). That's logistics. Practically I've been working to improve fitness (completely non-existent before October) and have just started to look at how much I'll need to save in order to cover my climbing kit as well as injections and medications.

Travelling to Africa does carry risks and whilst planning your trip you should always go and speak to a Health Advisor. I did this on Friday...

Since signing up for this in September I've been aware of the this side of things and knew that I'd having to pay for malaria tablets and get immunised against Yellow Fever... and probably a couple of other things. I was not ready for this consultation. It was half an hour of

**Rabies.Hepatitis.Meningitis.Malaria.Really.Expensive.**

Pause for minor panic. Listen to Toto.

I've calmed down a bit now and spoken to some friends who've travelled in East Africa before- and luckily even some people that have climbed Kili and so could share all their tips and the wisdom of their experience. I think I've got a plan. It'll be good... and I've got Toto.

I'm trying to focus on how great I'll feel about myself once I've summitted... but all the things I need to do in order to get there can be pretty scary. After each moment of panic I've been making decisions pretty quickly though- I've got my group to think of.

I'm off now to write a fundraising report and finish my essays. Watch this space for updates on Kili preparations- I'm holding off writing about training so far because any confessions will be super embarassing.

**Please visit MyRaising profile. It's a totally safe and secure platform where you can support me by donating directly to Practical Action, whose work saves lives all over the world (including East Africa) my finding innovative ways to use technology to combat poverty.**

What Would Toto Do?

The world on your doorstep

Welcome to the continued tales of my life, now returned to it's original location of London. Since we spoke last I've been an incredibly busy bee. Hosting can be a most time consuming affair though, and perhaps you've heard, London's been flooded this past month with a little shindig called the Olympic Games.

I don't remember exactly what I've told you before, but I'd always planned to spend the whole summer in Italy during my Year Abroad. I dreamed of three whole months in the sun... presumably with some sort of clearly defined plan. However, exceptional circumstances call for a little flexibility and openness to the remarkable opportunities which present themselves. I did my best, I changed my plans and I got a job with the catering on the Olympic Park. All signed up for 17 days of excited atmosphere, being part of history in the making and yes, apologising to the world for not being one of those excellent volunteers, but a mere  soulless wage-slave.

Let me start at the very beginning, because Julie Andrews once sang something about that being 'a very good place to start'. Please do not expect an over detailed account of the whole affair, because I will get bored at some point and just want to show you pictures, of which I have sadly few.

Right, I'm waffling. I'll head back to that beginning I mentioned a million years ago now.

I admit that I was deeply disheartened by the general lack of enthusiasm and faith in the Great British ability to host and perform. I'm so glad the cynics were silenced as Danny Boyle put on a spectacular show to stop the world in its tracks. I didn't mean to sit through the whole thing, as I had work in the morning, but before I knew it the athletes had been parading for an hour and forty-five minutes and I was still sat, mesmerised, side by side with one of oldest friends. Of course I watched the entire thing, loved every minute of it and went to bed all hyped up for the next couple of weeks.

Following the outstanding show that was our Opening Ceremony I was super excited to return to return to work the next morning and my mood was further lifted by the signs and the prospect of spectators starting to arrive to really get things swinging.

Work was great, not only because of where I was and what I was taking part in. I had missed working and really enjoyed my return to the real world. I had some really interesting and fun colleagues too. Here's a picture of some of them, conveniently located within Olympic rings... in case you wondered where we worked.

I spent most of the games in the Aquatics Centre. This was a very lucky placement for me, as the swimming is one of the few sports I've ever been able to pay attention to and get into during previous games. Excitement! Perfect placement, Sodexo. Job very well done.

The job was great, I spent the first week primarily in the Olympic Family Lounge, serving posh nosh to the likes of IOC members and foreign dignitaries. Exciting stuff! I then started supervising in various retail units, moving to basically wherever I was needed and that was fun too. I was actually amazed at how many people had travelled from all over the world to support the games, not to mention the home crowd all decked out in red, white and blue. I was so happy to see how pleased everyone looked with the welcome London was offering, even though we were obviously ripping them off. Stadium concessions are, of course, overpriced! Eventually I ended up running the mobile carts, you know Coca-Cola, Cadbury's treats, etc. Lots of running around helped keep you in the Olympic spirit. I got to hold an Olympic torch and the view from the west side showed off the park in all its glory.

I was absolutely knackered after seventeen straight days of work, but still running high on the Olympic buzz. On the last day the team even went down by the poolside. Check out Rachael and I on the swimmers' starting block... things.

I told you I would get less detailed and interesting as this post went along. At least you know I'm honest! It was a fantastic two weeks and even with the foot ache and wind ups (how else would a team get through the Olympics without being institutionalised?) and I'm really looking forward to getting back on site for the Paralympics. I love that people here are getting so excited for the Paralympics, celebrating their tickets and gearing up to welcome the world all over again.

Anyway, that'll do for now. Tales of adventures to come soon!

xxx