When your bank account is empty but your passport is full….. Part 1 – My beloved Africa 🇺🇬🇰🇪🇬🇭🇷🇼🇹🇿

Growing up in a small seaside town in the UK I eventually came to realise there are three kinds of people. 

Those that live there for their whole lives, happy and content to live in such a beautiful part of the country. 

the second kind of people, those who get the hell out of Cornwall the first chance they get and head for the cities, the bigger towns, the different opportunities.

And then there’s people lik me. People who are proud to call Cornwall their home but the thought of never leaving there gives me the itchiest feet imaginable. 

When I don’t have travel plans I feel like I’m slowly suffocating. I wish I could be content to build my life there, I’m envious of those that do.

 Sometimes I wonder how different my life would’ve been if I had never boarded that plane to Ghana all those years ago…. 

Orphans Cry Orphanage Apowa, takaradi, Ghana 2008

I’d certainly have more money in the bank, maybe I’d have settled down and been one of those contented people I secretly envy sometimes. 

But I did get on that plane nine years ago and I caught the travel bug. Africa got under my skin  

My travel/obsession has seen my passport fill with 42 international stamps, countless visas, 9 countries, and experiences I could never adequately describe to a non-traveller. 

I’ve seen the sunrise over Kenya and Tanzania whilst sat on the top of Kilimanjaro. 

Sat on top of Africa 6/4/12

I’ve experienced poverty in Africa that I still can’t believe exists in this “modern” age…. Where an education or clean drinking water is considered a luxury…. 

the horrors of the Rwandan genocide

Nyamata Church, just outside of Kigali, Rwanda

or the slave castles of Ghana

Plaque at Elmina Slave Castle, Cape Coast, Ghana (2008)

But I have seen and experienced such incredibly mind blowing generousity from the African community. They treat you like a member of their family. Always giving you food even when they don’t have enough for themselves. 

Joshua and Bright – the two big loves of my life 🇺🇬

Brights family who all share a two room mud hut

Joshua and his lovely mum, Jolly who is always smiling and happy 😊

 I’ve met amazing people and children who have become lifelong friends. Who inspire me every day. Whether it’s because  of their huge hearts, their senses of humour or because I think of them as my African family… 

My Jordany

Princess Sophie, Super Seany and Rexy on Koh Samet beach New Year’s Day 2017

Ruhanga Development School after my sponsored head shave

Me, Jordan & Tom my Mzungu brothers

Mathias and his twin ignitious who stole my heart (2014)

Super Seany’s Ugandan graduation

  

most of all I achieved my lifelong dream of living in Africa working for a charity for a year. 

There’s so many more things I’ve seen and experienced. The little things that I’ll never forget. The hug from a child who remembers you when you return. 

Africa (but particularly Uganda) will always have an unexplainable hold on my heart. 

I’m ok with never having much money because it’s all being spent on paying back travel debts, saving up for future travels, or actual travelling. 

I’m ok with never having much in the way of relationships because I’m lucky enough to have an incredible group of friends who are always there when I return and always wish me well when I leave. 

I have had to make sacrifices, I’ve missed out on dear friends getting married, or having kids, or the people who sadly passed away whilst I was away. 

I’ve missed my friends and family every time I’ve gone away. I’ve had malaria, broken bones, ruptured abscesses, been hospitalised, and all manner of health problems when I would have done anything to have my friends and family by my side. 

But I’ve learnt so much about myself, and become so independent that I genuinely believe I could wake up in any country in any situation and survive it. As long as I’ve had my morning coffee and fag 😂 

I love my life, I love the excitement of travelling and I love how excited I get at returning home and even more I love that I have no idea where my future  b will  take me but that’s ok because wherever I end up I will survive it and grow stronger 💪🏻

Why am I so sure of this? Because I have the best support network waiting for me back home. 

Because the truest saying of all is, Not all who wander are lost….. were just too damn inquisitive, we want to see what the world has to offer with our own eyes 🤗 🌍
Safe in the knowledge that my friends will always be back home waiting for me. 

This blog is dedicated to my friends who I could never cope without knowing whatever happens I have you guys to come home to 💕🇬🇧