The end of an epic adventure

By Adele

So, today is our last day together on the GSE trip and what a trip it has been. As a team we have travelled through 3 different countries, covered around 25,000km, visited at least 25 Rotary clubs, and delivered 14 presentations. Culturally, we have really been spoiled; we’ve seen one of the seven wonders of the world (the Victoria Falls), flown in a 30-seater airplane, swam in Lake Nyasa, learned traditional African dancing, been on several safaris, sampled the local nightlife and gone 270m underground in a copper mine. All of the team have been fairly adventurous when it comes to trying the local delicacies; our meals have included antelope, crocodile, caterpillars, cow’s hooves, gigantic mutant prawns, chicken’s feet and of course nshima!!

It has been incredible fun, but we have also learned a lot. Vocationally, we have all had the opportunity to see how our jobs work in another culture. I have been amazed by the resourcefulness and sheer passion on the African people. Despite limited resources and funding they have managed to set up some amazing projects and do some incredible work in the local community. It was been great to see the role of Rotary in supporting the community also; the work that they do is so varied, ranging from solar water pumps to cleaning rivers to supporting the disabled and many more wonderful projects. I have been inspired to do more to help my local community and to see what we can do with all the resources that we have to support the amazing work over here.

We are all packed up now and heading off to have breakfast on the beach before we embark on our various journeys back to the UK. Bob, Kate and Seb will fly back to the UK today; Alice is off to visit family in Johannesburg and is Adele is heading to Worcester near Cape Town to visit friends. Although we are heading separate ways I know this is not goodbye for this team, we have formed amazing friendships between us and they have become like family to me. I am so thankful for this once in a lifetime opportunity; I have made some great contacts and even better friends and I know I will never forget this experience. So, a huge thank you to everyone that has been a part of this big adventure…we will keep you posted!!!!