To whoever comes across this blog, you may
or may not know what I’ll be doing over the next few months. At the start of
this year, I applied for a once-in-a-lifetime experience to volunteer for three
months in Africa or Asia with VSO ICS (Volunteering Services Overseas International Citizen Service) where there are so many projects that desperately need
people to help continue the fantastic work that they do. I was then told that I
would be joining the YCare International team and will be working in Liberia on various
projects alongside local volunteers to help young people get themselves out of
poverty. I could be informing them on neglected health issues, helping them
obtain skills to gain employment or encouraging them to campaign for better
living standards.
I have to admit, when I was told that I’d
be going to Liberia, I was slightly terrified that I was going to a country
that’s civil war only really ended in 2003 and the news of the spread of Ebola
in Guinea, Liberia's neighbor, did worry me. Dad’s comprehensive fact file on the
Ebola virus and its current spread didn’t particularly help either. (Love you really Dad!) But since then, I’ve
researched further, watched documentaries, read other traveler's blogs in
Liberia and I feel excited to visit this amazing country that I feel I will be
warmly welcomed into.
At the time of writing this first post,
according to my countdown app, my departure to Liberia (and from home comforts) was 23
days, 7 hours and 4 minutes. AAAAAH! Nerves are kicking in and preparations are
really starting to begin. I have myself a nice long checklist in my head for
everything I need to get/do and I feel like a million miles from reaching the
end of it when the airport is merely about 200 miles and 23 days away.
The last few weeks have been a scramble of visits to London, fundraising,
sharing of my JustGiving page (which as it happens is www.justgiving.com/Olivia-Lamb1)
and phone calls to the GP surgery. I’ve had to get so many vaccinations, I now
feel like a pincushion. I really should’ve gotten sponsored to get all these
injections, Hepatitis B vaccine especially. #Ow.
And from my shopping list for Liberia, I
can now honestly say that I know the pros and cons of all types of fabric –
viscose, cotton, linen, etc. I’ve never gone shopping and been so practical in
my whole entire life. Too short. Too thick. Wrong fabric. Too posh. Inappropriate.
Too expensive. Literally NEVER been this sensible. And who knew there were so
many different choices and features of a rucksack. Too many choices!
But the training weekend in London has calmed a lot
of my nerves (or as much as it can). I now know where I might find myself in a
month’s time, who I might be with in a month’s time, what I might be doing in a
month’s time. Knowing I’m not in it alone makes it a lot easier and now I’m
just excited to get started with the projects and discover and explore my new
home for the next 10 weeks.
But for now I still have my checklist to
finish and multiple injections to be stabbed by, so my new home will have to
wait a couple more weeks.
P.S. Here's a nice cheeky photo of me in my new YCare International T-Shirt!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was 26 years old, I learned my HBsAg was reactive when I was required to undergo medical exam for an employment (so depressed I wasn't hired and the doctor had to write in big words, 'not fit to work' on my medical result clearance). It was my first time to be tested with that kind of blood work, so I have no idea when I contacted hepatitis B virus. My husband and I are the only ones who knew about my situation. I am so embarrassed and ashamed because hepatitis B is considered as an STD, like the infamous AIDS/HIV. My husband has no hepatitis B (thankfully) but I fear that even with his hepatitis B vaccine, he will get my disease, though doctors assures us he is safe from me.I always sleep longer than usual on weekends, always tired, often experiences tummy ache, sometimes unexpected skin itchiness/rashes, arthritis, irregular bowel movement and am temperamental But today am totally cure with the help of this clinic i came across on this web FORUM, the clinic name (HEALTH MED LAB) here is their email CONTACT THEM IF YOU ARE diagnosed OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS or any other sickness healthmedlab@gmail.com