Got visa, got waterproofs, on larium!

Exactly 48 hours before I depart for 12 months in Bangladesh. I’m currently surrounded by what looks like the entire contents of Millets outdoor store. Normally, I’m more relaxed about heading off to new places – for Ghana all I remember was making sure I had some DEET mosquito repellent and some camera film, 6 months round the world and all I cared about was having a world service radio. This time I seem to be attempting to turn myself into an amphibian with waterproof jacket, bags, shoes, quickdrying trousers and multiple vacuum packs to seal my beloved laptop, camera and MP3 into. Whether any of this comes in use I’m not sure and I hope I can quickly get some tatty local shirts and flip flops to blend in as much as poosible so i don’t look like some Ray Mears wannbe.

Apart from all the purchases in outdoor gear my last few weeks have been spent in a confused daze of good byes and attempting to get my head round what is before me. A special mention needs to be made of the weekend I spent in London with my friends down there (plus my notts friends), more fun I could not have imagined and it was quite a wave of emotions. Not seeing them all for a year seems some what of an odd life choice, yet hopefully with all modern technology we’ll keep in touch, even the blasted facebook my proove a force for good rather than of time wasting and increasing unfullfilling wanders. Already have planned the return party, but perhaps I should not get ahead of myself.

I’m completely unsure what an earth this blog is for. Or, apart from my mum who will read it, I am under no illusions that somehow I’ll develop a cult following. Guess, the main reason is the whole communication thing, staying in touch, staying sane, staying hopeful, keeping my feet on the ground. It’s been quite a journey to get to departure date VSO – selection day, 4 training courses (Harbourne House began to rival my home for nights spent in, not good), waiting for the placement details, a lecture at my old school – Trent College, and the best bit (apart from the rainy training days in sheffield and Leicester) was the Leeds-London bike ride with Mark, Brian and Russell to raise the £900 sponsorship money. It almost felt like the departure day may be a grand illusion.

I’ve said the word Bangladesh to myself about 400 times, waiting to get some kind of response beyond a confused shrug. To be honest, I had never even contemplainted about going there, why, I do not know. I’ve read a couple of books, VSO documents and other VSO blogs on the place and it has given me a picture of the place, but no real ‘zing’ if you will - the things you hear about a place and you think ‘gotta go there!’. Whether it is because I see this trip as work rather than an experience I’m not sure but that is definately the underlying vibe. I’m going their to learn and contribute. I want to have a good time, but it’s not like when you go travelling to exotic places with a big list of places and events to enjoy. But last Wednesday it did start to sink in that what I’m about to do is going to be something beyond my imagination, beyond the daily concrete grey grind which capitalist industrial societies have segemented our lives into, and for that, the energy or anticipation is growing slowly, if a little unsurely.

So, tonight a meal with my notts crew at Da Nada tapas bar, tomorrow my last few tastes of cheese and attempts to scan all my photos onto my laptop before a family meal, and then the drive to Heathrow, meeting Jo, Becky and Miriam (fellow VSOs) and off to Bangladesh (still doesn’t feel real!)