Packing (or lack of...)

Well, the count down is well and truly on. D day is two weeks on Sunday so you would think that I would be quite organised by now. Sadly not.
The paper work is done. At least I think its done - my passport was sent away several weeks ago with my visa application and hasn't reappeared yet. I also don't have any flight tickets (I think they get emailed a week before departure), but apart from a few vaccination things to sort out I don't think there is much that I can do to speed these things up.
However we have an entire flat to pack up, and I need to sell my car which are two massive jobs that haven't even been started yet. Instead we are looking at wedding venues, and caterers, and photographers.... maybe I'm in denial.
I have been given a kindle (clearly essential kit) and bought a lot of toiletries, which I tell myself is getting organised but I still have this nagging feeling that buying more stuff is not really what I should be doing at the moment. I should be learning amharic and stocking up the local charity shops with the mountains of clothes that I won't take. Still, none of this will stop me from getting on the plane if its not done. I might feel guilty about leaving it all to Calum to sort out while I swan off on the adventure of a lifetime, but then again.....;-) !

Fundraising

VSO ask all their volunteer to help raise funds and awareness of their work. Calum and I therefore held a ceilidh in Edinburgh on the 22nd July at Lauriston Hall. It was majorly stressful in the run up as we really weren't sure if we would make enough money to break even let alone make a profit. Thankfully, we had loads of help from Ken Gourlay who helped organise the hire of the hall, the brilliant band and used his contacts to advertise our event widely pulling in a brilliant crowd, together with our friends, family and colleagues.  I would like to say a huge thank you to ken, and to evryone who came along. I also have to mention some local businesses, especially Cheynes Hairdressing at York Place, Morningside School of Music and Royal Troon Golf Course who were really supportive and provided amazing prizes for our silent auction. Overall we managed to raise £1350 and it was really good fun.

For those who couldn't make it to the ceilidh but would like to donate I also have a just giving page at www.justgiving.com/jo-laycock thanks to everyone who ahs already donated, and if you haven't - well what are you waiting for!!!!!!

Jo x

Welcome

Hi folks,
So here it is..... the great adventure blog. T-37 days and counting. The journey really started quite a long time ago though, probably at some point around 1992 when my 12th birthday present was to "travel" by myself (ie with my friend Cat, but no grown ups) on the bus to visit my grandparents in Blackpool for the weekend. I can't really explain where the urge to travel  and experience different cultures comes from but it has definately been there for a long time. Since that bus trip to Blackpool I've managed various trips through Europe, Africa, Asia and Australasia all of which have been brilliant, but the itchy feet are never still for long, and I now have just about enough skills as a paediatrician to really make a difference somewhere the time has come for another little adventure.

Calum (my lovely fiance), and I started talking about VSO over a year ago and it's a long application process. After completing the initial applications we attended an interview in London and were deemed suitable to be volunteers. We initially applied as a couple but VSO warned us from the start that our skill mix (Calum is an engineer specialising in renewables) would make us difficult to place together. We were offered placements 5 hours apart in Sierra Leone but after much ummming and ahhing decided it wasn't for us. We decided that I would go as lead volunteer and Calum would come for as much time as his work would allow which it turns out will be about 4 months from December to April, not bad! Along with all the placement discussions comes the VSO training - a combination of online and residential courses - not to mention all the paper work to get degree certificates notarised, legalised etc, work permits, visas.......

The placement I finally accepted is in Harar in eastern Ethiopia. It will (supposedly) involve teaching medical undergraduates and local staff, and clinical experience in the local paediatric ward, helping them develop their services. I say supposedly as one of the things that VSO teaches you to expect is the unexpected, so who knows what I will actually end up doing. Harar is is the area of east Africa affected by drought, but my role is meant to be about sustainable development rather than disaster relief, so I'm going with an open mind and not too many expectations. I hope...

Jo x