70 DAYS TO GO! 

Hi! Thank you so much for visiting my blog. This is basically another way for my family and friends to keep up to date with everything I'm up to while I'm away and I will try and update as often as I can but I can't guarantee what  internet access will be like in India! I might also be up until 4am doing lesson plans or practicing my Bollywood dance moves (more likely), I'll put a note on my Facebook page when I've uploaded a new post so keep checking in: https://www.facebook.com/AnnasGapYearToIndia2013 

Ah okay, so today its 70 days until I leave for India, which feels as if it's dragging at the moment but everyone promises it will fly by. I hope so! I am so excited! It feels as if it's been no time at all since I was selected to be a Project Trust volunteer (see photos below); with trying to rise the £5,400 I needed and preparing for my Alevel exams I haven't had time to think about anything.

Hill Climb on 3rd day of selection

Last Evening ceilidh on Selection

To be honest; fundraising has not been my favorite thing in the world. £5,400 is a lot of money! Especially when you're earning £4.90 an hour! I've had to be very careful where I spent money. But I am so proud of myself, I've had to be very independent: organizing bake sales and a cook-and-taste evening (see below), running a 10k fun run, presenting to charitable trusts, hosting a book club, working as a waitress and as an office assistant and washing cars!

But things are starting to get going. For example I am typing this at a rate of about a word a minute because I've just had my hep B and first rabies vaccination. (Ow, ow, ow) I've got my basic disclosure, planned all my travel for Coll (the small Scottish island where Project Trust is based and where I have to travel for Selection, Training and Debriefing programmes https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=li&q=isle+of+coll&biw=1366&bih=667&sei=0OvBUYXSEafZ0QW3j4CgCg#facrc=_&imgrc=LBtzrDTZu17RMM%3A%3BCekyK6iu4shwpM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.bbc.co.uk%252Fnaturescalendar%252Fsummer%252Fislands%252Fimages%252Fcoll_map300.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.bbc.co.uk%252Fnaturescalendar%252Fsummer%252Fislands%252Fcoll%252Fcoll.access.shtml%3B300%3B225) and have arranged my going away party. I'm even starting to learn a few words in Hindi:

" मैं बहुत उत्साहित हूँ, भारत एक अद्भुत देश है " 

(I am very excited, India is a wonderful country) 

I hope to learn lots more when I'm abroad. Won't be recognizable when I get home! 70 days to go and I'm already so excited, my computer is full of tabs about saris, Indian travel and places to visit. I'm constantly reading Indian authors (currently: Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie) or my guide book and Indian documentaries. Now just one question...Is it too early to start packing?