It started with counting months. After a long time it turned into counting weeks. Later it became days, even hours. Now I am close to minutes. The day I thought would never come, is now here. It was always a fantasy, a dream far away from reality and definitely not within reach. I thought about what to bring, how to organize my stay and just what I would do; but never did I think about that future one day becomes the present. I searched my inside about why I am doing this in the first place. I think it is a desire to see something different from what I'm used to, open my eyes and see more of the world. I want to help, to see if I can help and to learn more about my own capacity. It is definitely a challenge, and I don't expect it to be easy, but I think this is necessery for me. That of course doesn't mean that I'm not nervous, because like hell I am.
So, what do I do my last evening at home? Just the usual, hanging in front of the computer, watching TV and eating a normal dinner. My life is about to take a rapid turn, but I like to have this evening very normal. In a way that is comforting.
Nevertheless, I finished my packing today (almost...) and here you see some pictures of it. I think it is pretty funny that I am allowed to take as much weight on the plane as I weigh myself, but I'm not going to. I have a lot less then I'm allowed to, but I think I have enough anyway.
Open trunk
Everything!
I have no idea when my next update is going to be, just be patient and you will notice.
Bye bye Sweden, hello Africa!
Two days before departure I start the actual packing. Pretty classic, right? Maybe because I still don't really believe that I am actually going I start so late. Anyway, I am far from finished and my room lookes like a bomb exploaded there, but tomorrow everything will be inside the trunk for sure. I am still thinking "do I really need that?" or " do I have too much/less of that?" about a lot of things. My first attempts in shoving everything in the bags weren't so successful, but I am getting better...
Here you see a selection of the medicin aso that I am bringing with me.
And here are some of the gifts for the kids. I hope they'll like them!
One week to go in Sweden, in my old life, before I head towards the unknown. I catch myself constantly enjoying things I expect to be in lack of later; like electricity in all its forms, the refrigerator, my belongings or hot, running water. My head is spinning with thoughts, especially those who involve packing. I mean, how do you pack for six months? How much to bring of everything, and what to buy locally? It is hard to know the first time you go away for that long, I just have to guess and stick with it.
Excitement and anxiety go hand in hand for me right now. My god, I can't believe that I am actually going. This has been a dream, a thought, but never seemed withing grasp. Experiencing is always different from imagening. It is difficult to prepare myself when I don't really know what's ahead, I guess maybe an open mind will solve most of the problems that lie ahead. Some way everething will turn out fine, I suppose.
I will put a lot of time and recourses into this trip, so I hope it will be worth it. If any of you would want to support the school I am going to, in any way, you will be very welcome. Like any other organizations who support people in need they try to make the best of the situation, but are themself in constant need of various things, both smaller and bigger. Your contribution would go directly to beneefit the kids, that is different from any big organizations when many people want to share the profit. Here, you know instantly that your money makes a difference, and that is the best way of charity I can think of. Just contact me in you have any question about this, my e-mail is
[email protected].
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