muddled mind...

For the last few months I feel like my brain has been going into meltdown mode. I find myself struggling to make the most simple decisions and often find finishing sentences a challenge. Writing this blog to say this is therefore proving quite difficult! It seems to be getting worse by the day. Instead of getting on with things I really need to do like sorting out my jabs (I know, I know I really must do that soon!) I'm spending hours picking things up and trying to decide ' chuck, charity or store' and find 'maybe' piles getting bigger and bigger. Maybe what? I'm not even sure! Why do I have all this stuff?! It is made even worse by the fact I have no idea where all my stuff is at the moment as I am living out of my car and have some things still in Southend, some in my parent's attic and some in my parent's spare room... hopefully I'll make head or tail of it soon. I am really looking forward to my new life in Ethiopia and feel quite relaxed about all the changes but I guess it must all be affecting me more than I think. I just hope my brain kicks back into gear when I get there or I'll be no use to anybody! I guess all this change is quite unsettling. Saying lots of goodbyes is also quite emotionally draining. I know I'll miss people but I am really looking forward to feeling settled again and making a new home for myself. Roll on September 12th...

Training to teach me the skills I need to train teacher trainers...

... now there is a tongue twister for you! I'm currently about half way through my SKWID (skills for working in development) course and enjoying it a lot! It is hard work with about 11 hours of intensive training each day... but loads of practical advice and opportunity to consider how we would best handle many different senarios we may face. This has involved lots of games, group work and roleplays and some very entertaining presentations. The course has been accompanied by lots of food and drink and, what with 3 cooked meals a day and cake breaks inbetween, I think I am developing quite a good spare tyre to see me through my time in Ethiopia! We have also had some free time in the evening to visit the bar or the nearby 'Bell' and last night we even came third in the local pub quiz.


It has been great to meet so many people in the same boat and share stories, concerns and tips. There are even 7 people on the course who will be heading out on the same flight to Ethiopia as me in September. Our flight details came through the day before the course started so it is all feeling very real now. I think we are all feeling very excited and nervous but the more this course goes on the more we just want to be out there!
Below: our SKWID group...