****Stop press****

So I’ve come to a decision…

I’ve just written a letter to Charlotte (programme manager). I’ve decided to leave and be home for Christmas. Despite how quick I‘ve made the decision, I’ve not taken it lightly, I have had and am still having the most fantastic experience but I’m just not sure I can do much more in terms of work and there’s only so much fun you can have before you start to wonder if that might stop…I absolutely love the autonomy of going into schools and working with the teachers and pupils here but there’s a limit to what one person can do with 100 schools and it frustrates me that the district are still not arsed about how these schools are coping. If I am honest, it’s all too easy and although I’m not into high octane stress, I think I’m looking for a new challenge…

My quality of life here is amazing and I’m so grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to see for myself what another country, so far away, is like. Of course my opinion of it will always be subjective but I have one based on a real experience. I won’t go on now with clichés of ‘ the people are lovely’ blah blah because really I just think people are people acting in different ways, with different people depending on their environment. However, I guess coming here with all the expectation and excitement that I had (and still do) I’ve been lucky enough to meet so many of the good ones! I still wake up every morning and know how lucky I am to be here but I can feel myself getting into a routine which as different as it is compared to home, is still a routine. I’m all about going out on a high too. Why wait for things to change when you can change it…Even writing that I’m excited!

Anyway, haven’t told anyone here (not even Mia, my new housemate, who’s great btw) and actually not sure I want to make big announcement yet. As it is, lots of good friends have left or are leaving shortly and I guess that’s helped me decide too. Quite a few have taken jobs teaching in schools in Kigali and others have just finished placements early. I’m not getting too scared about things yet, I’ve got a couple of months for that but I’m looking forward to a fantastic rest of placement. Me and Amy are planning some workshops for November so am looking forward to a busy time. After that who knows…Wonder what Brazil’s like this time of year?…:0)