In about twelve hours I am swapping sleepy Shropshire for the bleak, sanitised commercialism of Terminal 2 at Manchester Airport. [Rant, rant, radical anti-capitalist rant]. But it's actually OK, because then I'm getting a plane to the Maldives! [Hooray for aviation capitalism]. To live. And work. For a year.
I'm being employed on a volunteer scheme that was advertised in September. (I'm putting a link up so you can read the job description if interested). I sent off a rather speculative application, assuming that half the qualified teachers of Britain would be up for swapping economic meltdown in Europe for a tropical island in the Indian Ocean. Yet two months ago I was offered a place, and since then it's been a mad rush to arrange my life, see friends, buy important things like fins and travel insurance, and load my Kindle with enough books and PDFs for a year. Christmas presents certainly assumed a common theme - mosquito net, sun lotion, snorkel - a Boxing Day departure to foreign lands has made me very easy to buy for this year!
I've been assigned to teach English and P.E. at a madrasa in Ihavandhoo, a tiny, tiny island in Haa Alif Atoll in the far north of the country. This is all very exciting and scary. To quote from my 2013 CV: "it's an adventure, an opportunity to immerse myself in a whole new lifestyle and country, take a big challenge that forces me out of my comfort zone, and learn some wonderful new recipes with tasty fresh fish, lime and coconut." It will be my gap year, but I think it will be a great experience and give me some unforgettable memories (and pictures).
I've been assigned to teach English and P.E. at a madrasa in Ihavandhoo, a tiny, tiny island in Haa Alif Atoll in the far north of the country. This is all very exciting and scary. To quote from my 2013 CV: "it's an adventure, an opportunity to immerse myself in a whole new lifestyle and country, take a big challenge that forces me out of my comfort zone, and learn some wonderful new recipes with tasty fresh fish, lime and coconut." It will be my gap year, but I think it will be a great experience and give me some unforgettable memories (and pictures).
But for now the case is full (after a feverish Christmas Day packing session), my body is vaccinated against typhoid and rabies, and I've finally set up a blog. All the important stuff done! So after a long overnight flight tomorrow I'll be halfway to my new home. My next post - some would say the first proper post given this about my year abroad - will come to you from the Maldivian capital.
All the best Liam hope you have fun and we look forward to reading about some of your adventures.
ReplyDeleteRemember "slip, slop, slap." (Your Aussie mate should know what I mean)