Revelations of the red faced
I have realised a few things about myself over the last few weeks and I thought I'd share them quickly.
!) Just quite how homesick I am. Ahh, being a Mum for 28 boys most of the week weakens your own capacity to be without family till suddenly it hit me about a week ago just how much I miss 85 Cox's End and all of it's occupants, including the two cats I have not yet met... There is nothing like home, no matter how busy I am, how beautiful a place is or how great the people are. I am a Cambridge girl for sure, and will be unbearable to sit next to on that plane home on 15th August.
2) I have learnt that I am a lucky, but minuscule, speck on the face of HUGE planet Earth. There are SO many people. Utterly incomprehensible. I appreciate strange things now like complete roofs, chicken feet and faith; taking a few moments a day to think about that keeps me humbler than I was before coming to Peru.
3) How much I have needed Tanya this year; my luck struck when PT put us together! As I have told her many times, cockney scares me, so I admit I was dubious before leaving as I am sure she was too. A year is such a long time to spend with someone, what if they were a bit strange or we had nothing to talk about? Now she is going to Brazil for 10 days I realise how strange it will be to wake up and not be able to punch her for sleeping through her alarm. No seriously, I couldn't have a better partner for all the scary, strange, horrible, culturally shocking, amazing, chilled out experiences we've had. We've become a true team, especially for travelling safe and unloading work problems at the end of the day, or just a Spice Girl dance off (hands down she wins). I hope she has an amazing time in Brazil because she deserves it. I will miss her!
4) I have learnt the most about my own capabilities, capacities and limits. Back in August I was coming straight from being the child and being looked after to suddenly having to take care of myself and then 12 more boys on top of that. Quite an adjustment. I don't need to say that Cusco pushed me beyond my body and mind's capability, it clearly did, but our recovery from 5 months of parasite infections and weight loss, all whilst still being in Peru, has shown me that, contrary to what I thought till Christmas this year, I am strong. I personally used the half marathon as a marker: I had to really work myself to do the race, and though my time may make it look like it wasn't hard, it really was. Working with children, and being so immersed in an alien culture, has improved my patience, tolerance, ability to understand people (and religion! something I couldn't and didn't want to understand before Peru) and my mind is o p e n. Whilst at home I could be stroppy and moody unnecessarily with my sisters or parents, I have had the time and space to self-reflect. I guess that also my Spanish has given me a new confidence, that I can now communicate with 23 million more people than before is an achievement in itself!
5) ... that I love England. The Union Jack is a cool flag. I do, however, also love travelling and there is lots of the world left to see.
This is revelations of the red-faced as I feel embarrassed posting all this, but in years to come I hope to be able look back and read it from an even wiser perspective. Thank you for all the support. I still have 3 months left for my mind, and pony-tail, to grow so we shall see what happens between now and then.
- Rach xx
!) Just quite how homesick I am. Ahh, being a Mum for 28 boys most of the week weakens your own capacity to be without family till suddenly it hit me about a week ago just how much I miss 85 Cox's End and all of it's occupants, including the two cats I have not yet met... There is nothing like home, no matter how busy I am, how beautiful a place is or how great the people are. I am a Cambridge girl for sure, and will be unbearable to sit next to on that plane home on 15th August.
2) I have learnt that I am a lucky, but minuscule, speck on the face of HUGE planet Earth. There are SO many people. Utterly incomprehensible. I appreciate strange things now like complete roofs, chicken feet and faith; taking a few moments a day to think about that keeps me humbler than I was before coming to Peru.
3) How much I have needed Tanya this year; my luck struck when PT put us together! As I have told her many times, cockney scares me, so I admit I was dubious before leaving as I am sure she was too. A year is such a long time to spend with someone, what if they were a bit strange or we had nothing to talk about? Now she is going to Brazil for 10 days I realise how strange it will be to wake up and not be able to punch her for sleeping through her alarm. No seriously, I couldn't have a better partner for all the scary, strange, horrible, culturally shocking, amazing, chilled out experiences we've had. We've become a true team, especially for travelling safe and unloading work problems at the end of the day, or just a Spice Girl dance off (hands down she wins). I hope she has an amazing time in Brazil because she deserves it. I will miss her!
4) I have learnt the most about my own capabilities, capacities and limits. Back in August I was coming straight from being the child and being looked after to suddenly having to take care of myself and then 12 more boys on top of that. Quite an adjustment. I don't need to say that Cusco pushed me beyond my body and mind's capability, it clearly did, but our recovery from 5 months of parasite infections and weight loss, all whilst still being in Peru, has shown me that, contrary to what I thought till Christmas this year, I am strong. I personally used the half marathon as a marker: I had to really work myself to do the race, and though my time may make it look like it wasn't hard, it really was. Working with children, and being so immersed in an alien culture, has improved my patience, tolerance, ability to understand people (and religion! something I couldn't and didn't want to understand before Peru) and my mind is o p e n. Whilst at home I could be stroppy and moody unnecessarily with my sisters or parents, I have had the time and space to self-reflect. I guess that also my Spanish has given me a new confidence, that I can now communicate with 23 million more people than before is an achievement in itself!
5) ... that I love England. The Union Jack is a cool flag. I do, however, also love travelling and there is lots of the world left to see.
This is revelations of the red-faced as I feel embarrassed posting all this, but in years to come I hope to be able look back and read it from an even wiser perspective. Thank you for all the support. I still have 3 months left for my mind, and pony-tail, to grow so we shall see what happens between now and then.
- Rach xx
posted by Rachel at
20:13
1 Comments:
DArling what a pleasant read. I am so glad that you all were able to find that connection of just being yourselves... it is so much easier when you are younger. Plus I can just imagine how read your face must have been when you posted this photo,lol.
Tania B.
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