“Christmas time… Mistletoe & Wine”

Written on 02/112/2012

So I have reached the 3 month mark… ¼ of the way through my year away.  Life at Bethany is very much routine, some days it can be a little boring but I don’t think I could handle drama everyday!  However there has been drama obviously… The bunk bed broke, Lisa jumped on the top and SNAP… you can imagine what happened next! Oh and our flat flooded.  I don’t mean a little water got on the floor, I mean my feet were immersed in water.  We had to rip the carpet up, my mattress was waterlogged and the dampness started to set in.  The smell was horrendous.  A trip to town and R200 later, we were armed with scented candles, scented sticks and air fresheners.

So what’s new here? Well we’re all busy getting ready for Christmas! We are currently putting up the decoration around the home and starting to organise the Christmas party we are going to have on 22^nd.  The three of us won’t be here on actual Christmas day but we still wanted to celebrate with the kids, so Christmas day has been changed (they’ll never know!!).  We’re going to dress up like Santa on the night of the 21^st and put little presents on the end of each of their beds for them to wake up to.  It’s going to be odd doing this, as for the past 18 years of my life I’ve always had this done for me (yes that’s right, I still had a stocking at the age of 18, not ashamed of it!!)  Although I still may put my stocking out and hope that Santa comes, if he doesn’t… well then I know my whole childhood was a lie!!  Mum was really cute and sent the three of us advent calendars!  Possibly the best surprise ever J and Christmas parcels are on there way from family.  So even though I won’t be with my family at Christmas, I know they’re thinking of me. 

We had a new arrival at Bethany, she’s two months old and weights about the same as a bag of sugar and fits on my forearm.  When she first arrived I thought she was old days old.  She was abandoned at Nelson Mandela hospital after being very premature and very ill.  I know it sounds awful but she is so underweight that her eyes are too big for her face and look like they are about to pop out.  However she’s making really good progress since being her and is gradually putting on weight.  With admissions also comes discharges.  It’s never easy to say goodbye to a child but knowing that they are going to a better place is very comforting.  Last month we had a child adopted which was fantastic because adoption rates are decreasing in South Africa.  Also our eldest children are getting ready to leave over the next two months, with the first leaving tomorrow.  Amanda will be moving to a children’s village called ‘SOS’.  Here she will live in a house with 7 other children and have a housemother who lives with them permanently. This is such a good set up for her because it providers her with a more homely environment where she will be able to receive more one-to-one love and care.  A few of the others will also be following to SOS or other care home.  And for a lucky few, some are being reunited with their families.  Which is always an ideal situation.

As for Christmas travels, we leave Umtata on the 23^rd and head Cape Town bound.  We will stay there for 8 nights with around about 45 other Project Trust volunteers from South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Swaziland.  It’s fair to say that I’m a little excited!!! I’m staying in a backpackers called Two Oceans which costs R85 a night (£7 a night!!!).  More money for partying J It’s on Long Street which is the ‘clubbing strip’ if you like of Cape Town.  Christmas day will be spent either having lunch at a nice restaurant with all the vols or having a Braai, then hitting the beach.  Kind of gutted I won’t be getting my mums massive Christmas dinner though!!  New years eve will also be spent here, and from what I’ve heard, Long Street just turns into one massive street party for the night… BUZZING!! So after lots of alcohol consumption and partying we will be departing on new years day – nursing a big hangover I’m sure – and we head for Wilderness on the Garden Route.  Wilderness is as at sounds, we will be in the middle of a national park surrounded by trees, rivers and beaches.  Time for us to relax and recover from the madness of Cape Town.  Next stop Plettenburg Bay, where I will be doing the world highest bungee jump (shh don’t tell my mum, she will FREAK!!)  At 216m high I will be jumping with just a rope to save me from plummeting to the rocks that await me below.  But so far I haven’t heard of any deaths so that’s a positive.  Last stop, Jefferys Bay.  Along the way I will be brushing up on my surfing and spending lot of time lying on the beach. In Jefferys we’re planning on sandboarding, it’s like snowboarding, but on sand.  I took to snowboarding pretty easy so I’m hoping I will with sandboarding.  Other plans are quad biking around a game reserve looking for the ‘African Big 5’, elephant encounters, shopping and drinking.  We will be heading home on 7^th January after a pretty packed 2 weeks off.  So yeah… the next month or so I am very much looking forward to and can’t wait to explore.  I just want to see everything!!!

Week 7

Written on 23/10/2012

An update on the last two half weeks.  Sorry I have been so rubbish at writing and posting blogs, I didn’t even realise how long it had been since my last post, but time is flying by here! Quicker than I even could have imagined.  Before I know it I’ll be back on the plane to the UK wishing I could do it all over again. 

Anywho the last 3 weeks have been pretty busy, with both the mamas and the kids keeping us on our toes.  Coffee Bay was lovely.  We spent most of it on the beach, swimming in the Indian Ocean and surfing.  I’m pretty much a pro surfer it has to be said ;) Last Saturday a church came to Bethany and organised a party for the children, they brought two massive bouncy castles, loads of food and cakes and one of those things you hit with a stick and all the sweets fall out (I know what it’s called but I have no idea how to spell it, so I’m saving myself the embarrassment! haha).  But the kids had the time of their lives, I’ve never seen so many beaming faces all at one time.  Some had never seen a bouncy castle before so it was amusing and adorable to watch them figure out why there was suddenly a big rest castle in their back garden!  After much messing around and jumping we stopped for lunch and songs.  There’s something about African gospel singing that I love, epically a room full of 50 children singing.  All in all it was such a fun day and the sun was shining (stupidly forgot to put sun cream on again, so my shoulders looked like two lobsters!).

Over the last 3 weeks I feel like I’ve bonded with the children lot more.  I love the way they all run up to me and ask for hugs and high-fives.  I love that some of them call me Mama.   I love getting them ready for bed and giving them a kiss goodnight.  I love that even though they’ve been through so much they are still able to show love and compassion.  I love that I am able to act like a child again and mess around all day with them.  I even love it when we’re on the school run and the children scream ‘LAKE’ at the top of their voices when we pass by it, even though we do everyday (it never gets old for them!)

Oh, some very exciting news, Aphililie took her first few steps today!!  I’ve been practicing with her for the past month or so and today she did it.  Although she ended up falling over many times trying, it was amazing to watch.  But the best thing to see was the expression on her face when she did it.  A moment I won’t be forgetting any time soon J 

The girls and I also went for out first proper Braai.  I have never seen so much meat in my life, it was awesome.  Don’t get wrong, I love a BBQ but there’s something about a Braai that is so much better!!

Other than that things have been pretty much routine around here.  Missing everyone at home a lot!!Xxx

Home

Written on 05/10/2012

I have now been in South Africa for over a month now.  Time has flown by.  It feels like yesterday I was standing in the airport with tears rolling down my face saying goodbye to my family and friends.  However I am totally settled in at Bethany Home now and it’s home.  Although the days can be long and very tiring, the children make it all worth it.  I have also been receiving letters from home, which has been so lovely.  It always makes my day to get a letter and my wall is filling up were I’m sticking them up.  If you want, please write to me, I would love to hear from anyone, as Internet is expensive so contact with home is minimal.  My address is:

Bethany Home, PO Box 25, Vulindlela Heights, Mthatha 5143, Eastern Cape, SOUTH AFRICA.

I mainly work in the nursery with the babies (0-18 months). I know you’re not meant to have favourites but I do have a ‘Bethany Baby’ who is coming home with me (SURPRISE Mum!!!). However I have grown attached to them all and it’s amazing to watch them grow and develop so quickly.  Yumkela started walking last week after much practicing with him, I am now struggling to keep up with him and he finds it hilarious to run away and hide in the nurse’s room.  Aphililie is also very close to walking, I found some walking frames to help her get used to using her legs.  Plus the kids in the day room love them, they play ‘bumper cars’ in them.

Tuesday was another hospital visit with the two year old who had been suffering from seizures.  We went to collect the results from his CT scan.  It was the first time I had done a hospital visit alone.  However there was a strike taking place so it was mayhem.  When we were sitting in the waiting in the room we heard singing from down the corridor getting louder and louder.  Before we knew it, the room was filled with over 500 hospital workers chanting, singing and dancing in cause of their strike.  I think all strikes should be like this because it was amazing, if I didn’t have a sleeping baby in my arms I would have probably joined!!  Haha, the thought of me trying to African dance…

Apart from the odd job the last two weeks have been pretty quite and routine.  However last night we went out for pizza with some other local volunteers from Germany.  One boy went to the toilet, when he came back to the table his jaw was dislocated.  For a moment everyone just stared at him and was stunned.  I broke the silence by saying “ermm I think he needs to go to the hospital!”  After many phone calls he was taken to a private hospital where they quickly put it back in place.  Apparently the crunching noise was something else.  On the bright side the pizza was to die for and as it was ‘all you can eat’, I think I over did it a bit.

We are off to Coffee Bay today for the weekend for a well-deserved break.  It will be nice to just lye on the beach and have a cocktail.  I think I might try some surfing and cliff jumping (I’ve got to have some sort of adrenaline rush!).  We’re staying in Coffee Shack backpackers, which is located right on the beach and backed by mountains and cliffs.

I think that’s about it for now, sorry it’s not the most exciting blog!! Xxx 

Yet Another Hospital Trip

Written on 25/09/2012

So today was yet another hospital trip, however this time we were not taking the children.  It was Danni and I who needed medical attention.  Yesterday during the day I started to feel really run down and tired, so I asked if I could rest for the afternoon so I would be better for work the next day.  After sleeping for 6 hours from 10 in the morning till 4 in the afternoon, I woke up feeling like I was on deaths doorstep (ok a little exaggerated but I felt so rough!).  Danni has also started to complain of pain in her neck, where a lump had appeared.  Hoping we would both feel better, we watched a film under our duvets and had an early night.  Us two invalids decided to top and tail in my room to save Lisa catching anything.

When I woke up I could barely move, it felt like someone had got a razor blade and started hacking at my throat and chest.  Bethany Home’s nurse came to see me; her husband was a doctor at the local private clinic, so when we arrived we got to skip the whole queue.  If looks could kill from the other patients waiting… they must have thought I was getting special treatment for being white.  I genuinely started to feel really guilty but I had no energy to even smile at them.  When I walked into the doctors room the first thing he said to me was “oh usisi (sister) you terrible.”  Thanks mate, not like I needed reminding how awful I looked, I did pretty much go in my PJs.  After an examination I was told I have a chest infection, but if I left it untreated any longer it could turn to pneumonia… awesome.  Danni was also examined and turns out she has mumps, what a pair we are ay!  I was ordered to go to see the nurse for an injection – this point I panicked, why an earth did I need an injection?! – but apparently it was the start of my antibiotic treatment.  I waited behind a little curtains for the nurse to arrive, when she walked in, she was holding what may have been the biggest needle I have ever seen.  My face must have been a picture because she started laughing at me.  I was already pale, but pretty sure I went even paler.  But I sucked it up like a man and took my arm out my sleeve.  At this point the nurse looked confused and pointed at her bum.  Momentarily I looked as confused as her, then realised she meant most people have the injection in their bum… There was no way I was getting an injection in my bum!!  I proceeded to have it in my arm (which was the worst pain I have ever experienced from an injection, I’m usually ok when I comes to these kind of things but I was nearly in tears).  She then handed me a cocktail of pills that I have to take.  All in all I have to take 17 tablets a day, and Danni 16 a day.  (We could be mistaken for drug dealers I swear!) So between us that’s 33 tablets in one day!! I feel sorry for Lisa, we’re going to be climbing the walls by the end of the treatment.  However it’s not all bad, Lisa has been great to us.  Like our Mummy who is going to nurse us back to health.  I get made endless amounts of tea and I now have an excuse not to get up for my 5:30am shift tomorrow… I’M GUTTED…

So the next 5 days till be spent lying in bed sleeping, popping pills every few hours and pretty much doing nothing.  As lovely as it might sound, I would much rather be working and not coughing up mucus every 10 minutes.  Safe to say I didn’t expect to be this ill within the first month.  Lets hope this will be it for a while.

Xxx 

First full week of work

After my first week of being on a scheduled working timetable, it is safe to say I am shattered.  It has been non-stop.  However it does feel like calm after the storm, when we first arrived it was all go, and everything happening at once, but this week has been a lot calmer and given all of us the chance to just settle in and get into a routine. 

On Saturday, Danni and I had a morning off so we went into town.  After doing some grocery shopping we were on our way back to the taxi rank when a group of men surrounded us, we tried to carry on walking but they wouldn’t let us past.  They weren’t trying to hurt us but they just wanted to know our names and talk to us.  Suddenly one man grabbed Danielle from behind and was hugging her, not letting her go.  At this point I nearly went mad, I was telling his friend to let her go and leave us alone.  After about a minute (which felt like 10) he let her go, I grabbed Danni and quickly walked away.  At this point I noticed that everyone in the street were just watching what has happened.  I was quite surprised that no one stepped in to help, but just stared.  I don’t know if it’s there culture but I don’t understand why a lot of men here think it’s ok to grab us just because we are white.  Although it was scary, I guess it was bound to happen sooner or later.

After this eventful experience, when we got offered to accompany the kids to church we thought why not, highly unlikely people will notice us there.  Oh how wrong we were.  We arrived at an old disused warehouse and you could hear the gospel choir from miles away, it sounded beautiful.  I had always wanted to go to a gospel church for the experience.  We walked and immediately I felt the staring eyes again, which put me on edge slightly.  However I carried on walking in with the children, but people wanted to shake my hand, touch my hair and talk to me.  I saw where we were all sitting and headed for my seat, only to be stopped by the preacher who ushered Danni and I to two seats at the front on the stage.  At this point I thought my heart was going to explode out of my chest.  After they finished singing the preacher turned to us, welcomed us and said something in Xhosa to which everyone cheered and screamed ‘HALLELUJAH’.  I genuinely thought we were about to be sacrificed.  The group of children from Bethany came up to the front and sung a song for the whole congregation, I was nearly in tears, I was so proud of them.  The fact that they were aged 4 – 6 and got up in front of 700 odd people and sang, I couldn’t do that and I’m 18!! After a 3-hour service of much cheering, people falling over and singing lots it was time for us to be escorted out.  Although I was a little uneasy at times, the whole experience was amazing and I couldn’t get over how amazing the combination of 700 gospel voices sounded together.

The girls and I have organised our first weekend off to which we will be travelling to Coffee Bay to lye on the beach, do some surfing and drink cocktails.  I can’t wait.  Will be good to relax and celebrate surviving our first month abroad.  We have also planned our Christmas holiday too, we’ve got from 23^rd December – 2^nd January off, so the plan is the backpack down to Cape Town for Christmas day, spend it on the beach with all the other Project Trust volunteers, have a Bri (BBQ) and do some surfing.  Then we are all going to hang around Cape Town till New Year and celebrate it there too.  Although the turkey and presents will be missed at Christmas, I can’t wait send Christmas on the beach with all the other volunteers.

Well that’s about it really.  Blogging may become less frequent because Internet is so expensive, but when I have the chance I will be sure to fill you in on everything J

xxx

Our first day off

So today was our first day off which was lovely.  We met up with the girls from Thembalihle and decided to explore Umtata a little more.  I have to say I have settled into Umtata life a lot quicker than I expected, although I bet in a few weeks I will be crying about something or other!

I woke up feeling quick sick today, hoping it would pass I still went out.  We discovered a little café off the beaten track called, Café Lang, it is amazing.  The views are spectacular and the surrounds are so quite, a far cry from the centre of Umtata.  It gave the 5 of us a chance to unwind and recover from ‘cabin fever’, which we are all experiencing from living in the children’s home.  It was the first time since I arrived on my ‘Gap Yah’ that I have had the chance to put my feet up and take everything in… I felt so relaxed, THEN I JUST CHUNDERED EVERYWARRRRRRRRRRRR!!! No really, I did.  I ran to the toilet and ‘spewed’ (as Danni would say).  I never get sick! When I emerged from the toilet, the cleaner was standing opposite me and giving me a look of disgust.  I could do nothing but say sorry and run away!  After these series of unfortunate events, being the genius I am, I thought it would be a good idea to go and eat the chocolate cake I had ordered.  Although it just ended with the same result.  We moved along from the café because I’m sure the cleaner was about to kick me out anyway.

The rest of the day we did some food shopping then came back to Bethany to relax.  Although I am still feeling awful and have a temperature, today has been a good day.  It has shown me that it is possible to relax in Umtata, something that I was quite worried about before.
p.s. my sleeping bag has been found and I know have everything returned to me :D 

My new home...

So this is my new room and what I will call home for a year.  I have decorated it with pictures and UK flags to feel home at home :) xx

Busy busy busy...

Day 2 & 3

The last two days seem to have moulded into one.  Day two I was very home sick and ended up crying for 2 hours straight in the evening, but the girls were great and comforted me so well.  Pretty sure I would still be crying if it were not for them!

Both days I spend in hospital and clinics. I should explain that because I have a drivers licence I will be Bethany’s main driver for the year.  This means taking the 8 school goers to school in the morning, then taking any children on hospital visits, collecting the groceries and any other errands that need to be done.  I am now driving a Toyota Avenva, which is a big difference to my nippy little Seat Ibiza that I am used to at home.  I now look like a soccer mum in my new car filled with children (but I have to say I am loving it)!

Today 4 children need to go to hospital to see the doctor: two 2 week old twins whose mother has passed away and they have been exposed to HIV at birth; one is very ill and rapidly loosing weight, another 4 month old child who was abandoned and came to Bethany who need to get the results from her HIV test and lastly a 2 year old who has been suffering from seizures and needed a CT scan.  When we arrived at the hospital I was carrying one of the twins while the other two girls had the other babies.  As we entered the waiting room I couldn’t help but notice everyone was staring at us.  At first this was very uncomfortable and quite isolating but I guess it’s not a normal sight for three white girls to be holding three black babies.  Many asked if we were their mothers (to be honest, with how super cute each of them are, I wouldn’t mind being their mother!!)  When it was our turn to see the Doctor, the three of us had been left alone so it was down to us to explain to the Doctor why each child was here and their backgrounds.  Thankfully most peoples English is very good, so communication wasn’t so bad.  But it was a weird feeling to be given so much responsibility, especially children who are so young and also it was only our 3^rd day.  I guess it goes to show how much Bethany needs us.  After 7 hours of waiting, and many nappy changes in the waiting room, the 2-week-old boy had to be admitted into hospital because an infection in his lungs and blood was discovered.  This was hard because it was out of my control and there was not much I could do for him.  However the good news is that the 4-month-old babies HIV test came back negative so we were all very pleased.

So after a hectic day, the three of us are very tired.  As I sit here writing this, I can hear all the children crying because they don’t want to go to bed and Danielle running around with the kettle and pans of boiling water to fill the bath (our hot water has decided to pack in again!)  We also had a power cut last night, so every night so far has brought us a surprise… Oh the adventures of living in rural Africa, I wonder what tomorrow brings…

Miss you all but I’m having an amazing time!

Lots of love,

Sally xxx

Umtata

Day 1

When stepping off the plane I was expecting the African sun to hit my like a ton of bricks and to be sweating buckets, however it was quite the opposite! I immediately put my jumper and hat on.

It has to be said, Umtata is a very small town.  A population of only 500,000 people.  So this meant the airport of very very small and basic, there wasn’t even passport control… I guess there is no threat of terrorism around here and people are trying to get out not in haha.  We were met by Pumza, our host for the year and director of Bethany Home.  She is lovely and was very excited to meet us all.  Whilst all of the other four girls collected their rucksacks, I was left standing until the last bag came out, and yet still no 90L Black and Red rucksack was to be seen.  My heart sank. I had got this far, travelled 5000 miles and they loose my bag NOW?!  After a few enquires I discovered by bag was in Zimbabwe… fat use it was to me there!! Oh well, I guess it added a bit more spice to the journey.  (I am happy to say I now have my bag back safely, however we are minus a sleeping bag.)

So what’s Umtata like? Well drive 10 minutes each side of town and you will be in the middle of nowhere and surrounded by rolling mountains.  However the centre of town could not be more different.  CRAZY drivers, if they are even allowed to be called drivers, pretty sure most don’t have a licence.  On the way back from the airport a lorry had to perform an emergency stop to prevent it ploughing into the side of us.  My life flashed before my eyes.

As we approached Bethany Home we were welcomed by the mamas who had just finished their shifts.  Although they were screaming things at us in Xhosa I knew how happy they were to see us, I couldn’t help but smile the whole conversation.  As we walked in we were shown our flat, which we will be living in for the year.  It is basic to say the least.  Two bedrooms, a bathroom and small kitchen, when I say small I mean you can touch both walls at one time.  Although we are without hot water and an oven I guess this is home now and we are slowly getting used to it J after putting our stuff down, Pumza wanted to show us around the home quickly.  The children were just being put to bed when we entered the dorms and we were greeted by 20 children all sitting on potties in a row.  They immediately shouted ‘JAYNEY’, the name of the previous volunteer who left a few weeks ago.  As we carried on the children who were already in bed jumped out as quickly as possible and run up to us.  They all wanted to be lifted up, hugged and shown attention.  It was overwhelming but so amazing.  A moment that I will never forget.  Danielle, Lisa and I were so shattered by this point we decided to retire to our flat and watch a film in bed.  We have a big collection of DVDs thanks to Jayney and Sarah (the previous Project Trust volunteers) leaving us a big box of goodies!  (If you are reading this girls, thanks very much, it is helping us settle in!!)  With ear plugs at the ready, as the children wake up at 5:30, I was ready to sleep… and sleep I did, like a baby!!!!

Arriving in Johannesburg

So I have arrived in South Africa after a long and tiring flight.  But being surrounded by 31 other volunteers really made the whole experience very exciting!  We were all so excited to start our new adventure together, although there were many tears at the airport and along the way. Erugh why does leaving home have to be so hard?!

After a long stop in Nairobi we started our last leg of the journey on a slightly smaller plane.  As a late arrival to the South African crew I was sat away from everyone and at the back.  Before I knew it I was surrounded by strangers, not going to lie, at this point I really wanted to get off the plane and go back to England!! But I stuck it out and even got proposed to by a Botswanan (if that’s how you say it) man who was offering me 5 cows for my hand in marriage.  I don’t think my mum would appreciate 5 cows turning up on her doorstep, however maybe she would, think of all those burgers!

When we arrived in Johannesburg we were met by Ian and Yvonne our country reps.  It has to be said I was slightly disappointed that I wasn’t met by a heard of Elephants and Giraffes, isn’t this meant to be Africa?!? We were shown to our place we were staying called: ‘The Ritz’ (unfortunately it was very far from the posh one in London).  In fact it was a basic backpackers with 10 of us in a bunk bed dorm and showers with glass doors (showering was a very brief experience).  I guess I’m going to have to get used to this travellers lifestyle…

After an early night, the next day we travelled to Soweto to visit a township and slum.  When we arrived I was surprised by what I saw.  You see tin houses on charity campaigns on the TV, but never right in front of you.  I guess I was shocked because it is so far from my reality at home.  I found it hard to comprehend how people live in those conditions.  However one thing that I noticed about the slums that is lacking back in the UK… the friendliness of the people!!! Everywhere we went they were waving and smiling at us.  Not sure if this was because we were white or they were just NICE people (mix of both I think).  But the fact that these people are next to nothing yet they can still manage to put a smile on their face… and I used to complain that our house didn’t have an HD TV!!!

Something totally off the topic of South Africa, I have discovered a Leeds University friend who is also studying Nursing with me!!! Lucy is part of the SA crew and doing Outward Bound, something I very nearly did.  When we found out, we were literally jumping up and down for out 10 minutes, so knowing I have a friend for the next 4 years has put me at ease!!

After an amazing 3 days in Johannesburg, it was time for us all to split off into our projects.  The 5 Umtata girls got the smallest plane known to man (seating 30) and flew to Umtata.  With these size planes the weight of the aircraft has to be evenly distributed to prevent capsizing… meaning the ‘fat passengers’ are moved around the plane… guess which fatty got moved!! That’s right… me!! I hope this African diet of rice and beans helps me shift a few pounds.  The walk of shame through the aircraft was enough for anyone to think twice about there weight!! Haha.

Anyway that’s it for my time in Johannesburg! So much more I could tell you but I don’t want to bore you.  I applaud you for reading this far, so thank you :) 

Lots of African love!!

Sally xxxx

Packed and ready to go!!!

I'm all packed and ready to go! Told you it would all come together in the end :) 
Just packing my hand luggage then I will be done!! 

Tily my cat wasn't so impressed when I told her I was leaving her for a year... She was even more unimpressed when I told her that my sister will be looking after her. She might even have to start hunting her own food!! 

'The Last Supper'

So this is it... my last evening at home with my family before I jet off 5,600 miles south to South Africa.  Downstairs my 'Last Supper' is being prepared and I will soon be dining with my 5 disciples (well Mum, Keith, Karin, Poppy & Skye, I don't think any of them qualify as disciples, but close enough).  My favourite has been made, roast beef and all the timings... oh how I am going to miss my family dinners! 
After a frantic day of getting last bits together and lying all my clothes across the bedroom floor, I am proud of say that I still haven't packed! That's right... my plane leaves in 22 hours and not a single thing is in my rucksack.  My organisation skills worry me sometimes! However I do have everything ready to go into my bag in the morning so it's not all bad news! 
I can't quite believe that tomorrow is THE DAY! The last 10 months has gone so quick with regards to Project Trust, an amazing selection course last October, waiting for letter telling me whether i got a place, parents meeting in London, mid-May placement letter then a change of country from Malaysia to South Africa, training where I meet the amazing people I will be spending the next year with... and now I am here, one sleep until I depart for South Africa!!
Last Sunday I had my leavers party, which was so lovely to see all my friends before I leave but made me realise how many amazing people I am leaving behind for a year.  I wish everyone of them the best in whatever they are doing over the next year... I will certainly miss you!  However on this next adventure in my life, I will meet some incredible people and learn a whole new way of life. 
Leaving my family too will be difficult, I have never been away from home longer than 4 weeks and always relied on them.. but I guess this is a part of growing up and starting my own adventure.

Well I think that's it from me at the moment, I may possibly blog tomorrow morning, if not I will update you all when I arrive in Johannesburg!! 

Love to you all. Peace Out.

Sally xx

Only one week to go now!

Wow! It has all come around so quickly! 10 months ago I was on selection and now it's only 7 days till I leave the country for a year.

So this time next week I will have been on the plane for about 2 hours, with about another 11 hours till I arrive in Johannesburg.  Upon arrival in Johannesburg we will get straight into orientation/ training.  Not sure what this will involve, but the aim is to settle into our new country and get used to the culture that will become our home for a year.

As many may know, I am working in a children's home called Bethany. Bethany Home is a place of safety for abandoned, abused and neglected children from new-born to 6 years of age.  The home is situated in Umtata (Mthatha) in the Eastern Cape.  This cape is the poorest within South Africa.
From doing my own research, the home looks fantastics but will of course be challenging in many different ways.  Although nervous, I am very excited to get started in the home and getting to know the children.
Leading up to my departure, I have been saying my goodbyes to everyone, which is getting emotional but knowing I have an amazing adventure ahead of me is getting me though.


Thank you to everyone who have helped get me to this point!!

Sally xxx

THANK YOU!

I would just like to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who has been kind enough to sponsor me.  I really really appreciated it!!


If you would like to sponsor me then please visit my Virgin Money Giving Page at www.virginmoneygiving.com/sallystone


or see below on other ways to sponsor. 


No matter how big or small, all will be greatly received.


Thank you :) xx

Off to the library!

So yesterday I ventured to the local library (which doesn't happen often) to find address so I can get my letter out to charitable trusts to hopefully receive some more sponsorship. 
I was very lucky in that my step mum, Anthea, came along to help me, which I was very grateful for!  All in all we were there for about three hours!  Another trip will have to be made soon because we only got to 'M' in the charitable trusts directory.


So things seem to be coming together now as I have the letters written and nearly ready to post... Lets hope I get some positive feed back :) 


xx

How to donate

Hey everyone, 
If you want to donate any money towards my year aboard then you can do it in a few ways.
You can sponsor me through my Virgin Money Giving Page, which is quick and really easy! It is also very safe!  The web address is:
virginmoneygiving.com/sallystone


Or you can send me a cheque personally to my address which is:
Sally Stone
16 Norman Road, 
Sutton,
Surrey, 
SM1 2TA
If you do it this way, please make the cheque out to 'Project Trust'


Or if you wish to send your cheque straight to Project Trust themselves then the address is:

The Hebridean Centre,

Isle of Coll,

Argyll,

PA78 6TE

UK

HOWEVER if you do it this way, PLEASE make sure you put my name (Sally Stone) on the back of the cheque so they can identify who the money is for! 

However big or small your donation is, it will be greatly appreciated by myself and more importantly the people who the money will be helping in Malaysia.

Thank you very much,

Sally x

Happy New Year!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!
Hi guys, hope you all had a great christmas and a happy new year.
I've got loads planned for fundraising this new year and I'm hoping all of you will help and get involved.
Family and friends have been really generous already and I've managed to get £1,500 which is 30% of my total target of £5000.

I have given out money tins to family and friends to collect any loose change they have lying around which I'm hoping will be a great help towards my fund.
I am also planning to do a skydive in April!! I must be mad but will be great.  It will also give me a chance to raise awareness of my trip and the reason I am going away to help developing communities.

Other plans I have are doing cake sales at my school, bag packing at a supermarket, sending letters to charitable trusts, and other little events!
I'll also be setting up a Virgin Money Giving Page so you can donate money if you wish!

Thanks for taking time to read this and hope you all have a great new year!!