Three years ago I went to Central America to volunteer as a teacher in a charity school called the Phoenix project. I had the time of my life and have decided to go back a second time.
I made the decision a while ago to leave my job at WRVS and take a 90% pay cut to move back to Guatemala and head up the English language programme in San Andreas Itzapa and Santa Maria for a year. After that? I have no idea.
To get there I needed to raise £5,000 (for the full two and a half years) to help cover my costs. I did this by bag packing, begging lots of big companies for money, selling everything I own and saving. With only a backpack and a few boxes left to show for 27 years, £1,400 still to find and two weeks before my flight I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to hit that target.
But, I hadn’t expected such generous family and friends to come to my leaving parties. In the last two weeks I have managed to raise over £1,400, surpassing my target and ending up with around £5,500. Thanks to your generosity, your kindness, your charitable nature, I will be able to live in Central America, buy lots of things for the schools and the kids and enjoy the time I have for two and a half years. Anyone would think you were trying to get rid of me – thank you.
People have asked me what I will miss, what luxuries I am taking with me. I know I will miss my friends and family like hell and Oxford – I loved living there and hope to again. But I have photos and memories to remind me of them. I’m not sure what materialistic things I will miss, perhaps a fluffy towel but I hope to buy one when I get there. However, if I can go on what I have been asked to bring with me it must be chocolate (Cadbury’s of course), tea and Irn Bru. So when you all visit please remember those three items and you will be sure to make friends.
So what am I doing now? I am watching Slumdog Millionaire with my parents counting down the final ten hours or so until I fly. I hope you find this blog interesting – if you do leave a comment. I will certainly find it a fascinating, exciting and eye opening year. Will it change me? It already has.
Great start. Keep the list flowing for things you need in January.
Look forward to your next blog post. XX
I already have a million things for you to bring and thing to do with you! If only I had a pen to write them down then I would make a great teacher!
Hi Sarah,
Hope you arrived safely. Good luck for your project. We will be watching your progress with interests. XXX
And now you’re there! I’m sure watching Slumdog Millionaire seems a long time ago already. Good luck, Mei Mei.