Some
reflections on the last so far
When I first compiled the list back in 2012
I had specific pictures in mind. Sunny climates, large-scale monuments,
exciting wildlife and new challenges, all enjoyed in the company of friends old
and new.
It was an exhaustive list and one which I
realised, even then, I would never complete in the time available. (At least
not without a sudden influx of cash!) To have achieved some of the goals has of
course been wonderful. But just as important, for me, has been the journey
itself. Many of these entries have been about progressing towards the event;
running half a marathon, skiing two of three new areas, starting to write or
learn or explore.
Perhaps it’s the fault of my imagination,
but few of the experiences have matched the pictures I had in my head. However,
that has very much been a good thing. ‘Getting published’, for example, was not
about a shiny book cover on the shelf of Waterstones or a Booker Prize. (There
is still time for these!) It has involved the discovery of a whole new world of
writing: blogs, columns, short stories and even social networking. Recently I
was even called upon to deliver a writing workshop. In sharing my learning, I
again remembered what has been so fabulous about this list: the people I have
shared it with, the surprises I have had, the feeling not only of
accomplishment, but of there still being so much, still, to achieve.
What a journey to be sharing with some of
my very favourite people.
Number
36: Work/volunteer abroad
Being offered the opportunity to work in
America for ten days was definitely one of the big surprises in the list so
far. Working for a small charity with a very restricted budget, there was no
way I would have considered being able to travel as part of my job. When the
Trustees suggested I accompany my boss to Washington and Alexandria, I felt
slightly surreal. America? For work? Really??
The trip came in the middle of an
extraordinary month, which started with a half marathon (my second), progressed
through a gala dinner with Alexander McCall Smith and finished with delivering
two workshops at the Scottish fundraising conference. With so much on I had
little time for the reality of the trip to sink in. The day before it suddenly
hit me. I was going to a destination I hadn’t chosen, on a flight someone else
had booked, to stay with someone I’d met once, to do ... well, what needed
doing. As someone who normally organises their holidays with a spreadsheet at
least three months in advance, I was right out of my comfort zone. 80% excited.
10% terrified. But it was quite a big 10%.
As usual my comfort lay in writing. I
bought a sexy moleskine journal to record my thoughts and experiences while
travelling, as well as my work notes. There is something very reassuring about
a moleskine. This reassurance turned out to be much needed as I arrived at
Edinburgh airport to be told I was currently ‘on the waiting list’ for my
connection to London. These are exactly the words a stressed lady needs to
hear. I was given a voucher for free coffee and muffin. Normally I love a free
cake. As a substitute for a flight, it ain’t much cop. I turned to the
moleskine and poured my concerns into it. It didn’t respond much, but somehow
the process of writing the experience down made it a bit less worrying.
As with my previous
lost-luggage-flight-connection-bomb-scare experience in Paris, all ended well,
but it wasn’t the start I would have chosen.
When I added ‘work or volunteer abroad’ to
this list, I perhaps had in mind my previous experience at an animal rescue
centre in the Australian rainforest. America was very different, but equally
rewarding, tiring and enjoyable.
I am eternally grateful to the family who
put me up (and put up with me) for ten days. Having a base that was a living
home, complete with young children, was at sometimes a challenge, but it was a much
more real experience than staying in a characterless hotel.
The house was based in one of the most
attractive areas of North Virginia, on the original estate of Mount Vernon,
George Washington’s home. Eagles circled in a blue sky above enormous trees. In
the times between working and socialising with the family, I was able to rewind
by walking along the nearby cycle path and admire the autumnal leaves: custard
yellow, fiery red and burnt orange.
On my day off I took the Metro to spend the
day in Washington. Uncertain as to whether I’d ever get back there, I did a
self-guided walking tour of various memorials. Each had its own unique
character, the piercing needle of Washington, the fountains of World War Two,
the peaceful Reflecting Pool, the enormous Lincoln Memorial. More sobering were
the Vietnam, Korean and Martin Luther King memorials. All provoked very
differing emotions, although I began to feel very aware of my lack of knowledge
of American History.
I could spend another 500 words at least
talking about Old Town Alexandria, Mount Vernon, Arlington Cemetary or that
possum I spied in the park. I almost filled my Moleskine diary with various
reflections. There were times when I definitely felt out of my comfort zone, but
I’m sure that did me some good.
Balancing work across the UK and US was
tiring. Waking child-assistedly early I was able to coordinate communications
and activities back home via email, despite being 5 hours behind. I was hugely
aware of how much the trip meant and how much depended on it, so spent much
time planning, contacting, researching and planning again. Every meeting,
communication or gathering we had or made in the States had to count. We only
had one chance to get it right.
However, my one overriding memory is of how
welcome I was. Every single person I met went out of their way to make me feel at
home. (Except the security man at the Air and Space Museum who just shouted
‘bag’ at me, making me wonder whether he was mugging me or deriding my
appearance.) From those I met at work events to the family I stayed with, the
churches I attended and the people who shared my morning unloading pumpkins
from a big lorry (one of my favourite experiences) every single person was
lovely.
From a work point of view, the trip
definitely paid off. In addition, for me, travelling to another country and
experiencing a very different culture was a reminder that my way of seeing the
world is not the only way. I took many lessons home.
I have to admit, sitting on the veranda
drinking beer in the sunshine having just had a number of cheques handed to me did
make me wonder... might there be a fundraising job in America???
For now, back to Edinburgh with memories to
cherish.
