"What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from." - T. S. Eliot

The people I will be going to Senegal with plus our desk officer. My partner is on the far right.

I was often told that training would be intense - 'You'll learn everything you need to know in a small amount of time'. I must admit, this was an understatement. By the end of the week I was physically and mentally drained. The mix between being given information, preparing us for all obstacles and lack of sleep really took a toll on me; however, all aspects of training was clearly needed. 

I didn't make it to the beach, but the others are clearly enjoying
the new jumpers!

Before the Ferry back to mainland

The final evening

I'm sure this is the same for most volunteers, but a week of training really helps you realise that this is really happening. You are really going away for a year. No mummy to call when you forget your key, no best friend to help you make an instant decision, just you and your new found independence. Training has helped me find a healthy balance between being ready for anything, being scared and being excited. I feel like this year will be a life changing experience where I will really learn who I am and who exactly I want to be. I've still got another week of  IT training with my partner soon then it's all up to us. This is our year!

What?

donate + more info : uk.virginmoneygiving.com/preciousadesina
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Blog: www.itsjustprecious.blogspot.com
Project Trust's Website: www.projecttrust.org.uk

"My life is my message." Mahatma Gandhi

What does it mean to live? What does it mean to live a successful life? Who judges when a life is successful? To me, true success is achieving that goal that felt so out of reach that you almost gave up.

Movie: How To Steal A Million (1966)

Words cannot describe how much of an amazing classic this is. Audrey Hepburn, France, amazing art, what else do you want?

The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost

So I've come back from Scotland! I went there for a bit of fun,
 a bit of a uni visit, a bit of sightseeing and a bit of training
for my gap year. Such a great week and  half. More on it soon! 

The poem below represents my new found freedom. I'm leaving
soon and I'm starting to feel like I'm in control of my life! It seems as
 if everything is happening so fast and I love it.

I hope you're enjoying life too :)

The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

What's new in your life that is making you smile?

Missing you and hoping that you're missing me too.

These pictures are from a picnic I held in the park last
week to raise money for Project Trust (check my vlog). 

Hello beautiful people,
Do you ever get those nights when you lay in bed thinking about someone you haven't spoken to in a long time. You start to miss them a lot and wonder if they miss you too. For a split second you pick up the phone, put their name in to a text before erasing it, thinking you'll do it another day.  It always shocks me how today someone can be your bestfriend and tomorrow you'll be trying to remember their names as you tell the new people in your life a funny anecdote. The worst thing about it is that you don't usually realise; It starts as meeting up less, calling less, texting less until it turns into two years with not even as little as a hi. You're probably wondering where this rant came from. At my picnic, I saw a few of my old bestfriends. I never thought I'd ever stop speaking to them and somehow, I don't even know when, but I did

Precious x

A Vlog About What I'll Be During During My Gap Year

As you all know I'll be volunteering in Africa for 12 months. Here is a vlog on questions I get asked a lot.

donate: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/preciousadesina
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Blog: www.itsjustprecious.blogspot.com
Project Trust's Website: www.projecttrust.org.uk.

'I'm leaving because the weather is too good. I hate London when it's not raining.' Groucho Marx

What a perfect quote. I'm one of those people who love layers and layers of clothes under a heavy duffle jacket so summer is not the best time for me. Do not mistake what I'm saying, the sun is nice, but I find it hard to enjoy over long periods of time. I need the breeze, the dark afternoons and the thick jumpers to make me happy. I'll need to get used to it for my gap year though. Remember this post because I'm sure that will all change once I come back from Africa next year. I'll be complaining about winter. I do wish I'd embraced a little more of the London winter now that it's nearly time for me to leave. I'm not going to see it for a while and that hurts. I was in London last week when I realised that I'm actually going to miss London either way, winter or summer. Although I moved to Essex quite a while ago, I could still wake up in the morning, get on a train and be in London without having to think twice. A year without walking down embankment (where the London Eye is) or ice cream in Leicester square or pool in Soho. How will I survive?