Simon signing in;
Well, Rein and I have finally completed what volunteer roles we had available to us. The big question now is: what next!?
After doing two-and-a-half week with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, work which was more difficult than I expected, though nothing which is too hard, we are currently staying with my cousin Aroha and her great family. It was amazing to see her after so long and great to meet her family finally! (Well, I had met her husband though too had not seen for many years).
The last two weeks were really really hard me. I mean REALLY hard. The past month Rein and I have been living out a tent (well two, our 'road side' tent and the palace) and it has taken its toll. And if you out there have done camping and 'enjoy it', you will probably laugh at us for what shite (and how much of it) we carry with us. We have almost everything bar the kitchen sink but these things, WE NEED. :-) The most important to us are our 'all wheel drive mattresses'. These behemoth things roll up losing the air within though still end up being as wide as 60cm. Imagine the faces of the serious campers at the AWC when we all went bush camping. The rest of the trip I will mention below, but for now, the past two weeks.
The first week meant being introduced to all within the camp and I guess this is where I started to crumble. I am not good with a big group of people and this quadruples when it comes to strangers. I instantly felt way over my head in being there as, on first impressions, these people ALL knew their bit about wildlife. After the first couple of days getting to know all, we had to prepare for the first week of camping. I mean BUSH CAMPING. NO facilities. Are you serious!? No shower? And worse yet, no toilet either???
The drive itself started early and before long we were all off in a caravan of five cars. The drive was taking its time and after a long while one of the cars got bogged (stuck in the mud), so one after the other cars tried to de-bog. Well, this turned out to be a three hour disaster which turned out to have an additional 8 'boggings'. The true horror was given to me when one of the guys in charge told us that 4 cars were still bogged, the sun was about to go down and to start to make camp. 'What, here, in the middle of this 'road', in the mud?'. My heart sunk. He was joking, no, this was reality. We had to search the vehicles to get tents, cooking gear and food, make a fire and start cooking. There was only four people present as the rest were fighting the mud. I have never had to cook on an open fire! After a struggle of emotions and loss of four kilos in 30 mins I had started to get the dinner going. I felt compelled to take charge of the cooking.
Eventually all returned to the 'camp' and sat around the fire to enjoy the meal I had provided. Here was my first test. They were all just happy to have food provided to them albeit a slap dash tomato pasta thingy. Everyone talked of the days events and before long we were all off to bed. The next morning started early...again.
The second day we finally made it to our camp site though by this stage we both felt like we were one million miles from anyone and anything we know. The next five days were a little bit of a blur but they included digging trenches, hammering posts and checking the trenches twice per day for any trapped wildlife for the survey. My biggest thoughts of the day were the isolation, the dirt, and a little boredom, though the 'boredom' was turned into lazy sleeps under a tree and reading.
Saturday finally came and we were all off back to base camp. The drive was thought to again be slow as we had to again cross the dreaded bog road though when we approached it, it seemed slightly better and well, we all got across.
The first shower after we got back was the BEST I ever had, though as in camping life, I felt dirty 30 mins later. Rein and I both felt that we could not face the reality that we would again be bush camping in two days. Our day was made the following day when we found out that we were to remain at camp to be involved in a second team staying at base, whilst the others were again going to go out bush camping. The news that we would be staying near showers and kitchens was so incredible, I thought I would cry.
In the end, the two-and-a-half weeks at Mornington went quite fast. Rein and I had originally signed on for three-and-a-half weeks so whilst I write this we should have been again bush camping. It was actually me who asked for us to be excused for the last week. I was really finding it hard emotionally and requested to leave. I do not know whether it was the isolation or what, but I knew I had to leave ASAP. The work at the AWC had turned out to be not good for me. I needed to be in touch with civilisation, with friends, family, just out of there.
From the above I have decided that I am not cut out for living that kind of life. The life I guess I feel most comfortable is one with bathrooms, beds, fine food and wine and having comfortable things close by.
I have learnt from the past two weeks. I have come face to face with the reality that I CAN camp and I can deal with facets of camping though with limits.
Now we wait with my cousin, ready to drive off tomorrow morning back to Perth and wait for news of what we have in store next. It is a scary thought not knowing what we have up next, where we will be after having to make some serious decisions on our next destination. Bangalore? Delhi? Brussels? Durban? Names which have been mentioned names which may be revealed soon.
I sign off a little nervous of the next few weeks yet excited for the little drive ahead.
Signing off.
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