2006-My year in review
Good morning everyone
Well its a Thursday morning here at work and once again I am working the 'period' between Christmas and New Years, which is very quiet so I thought I would write about the trials and tribulations of 2006 and what I have in mind for 2007.
Before I start on my year in review, Christmas here in London has been low key and very different to other years.. last Thursday I performed at the TFL wide Christmas party in 2 dance pieces. Considering we learnt one of the dances on the Monday of the performance I thought we all went really well.. I have forgotten how much fun it is to perform and it has actually inspired me to get back into dancing in the New Year. Then I had the pleasure of having my brother and Louise in London as part of their honeymoon over Christmas. They were the first people that I have been the 'tourist' guide around London and I was a little rusty and at times got a little lost but at least I think I showed them all the main 'tourist' attractions of London.
I was going to do Christmas at home as Coachy was in town for the week as well. But we decided that seeing I had done no preparation and had no Christmas decorations it would be best to have Christmas lunch elsewhere. So, we all went to my friends in West Acton for a huge 'orphan' Christmas lunch. There were 18 of us from a variety of countries that gathered in Acton for a 4 course Christmas extravaganz .. we even had 'Secret Santa'.. thanks for the biscuits Coachy!
It was a great day with everyone and even though it still didn’t feel like 'Christmas' it was the next best thing when you are in a foreign country away from your loved ones.
So that was my Christmas in London... and now for New Years where Im headed to Edinburgh.. apparently I supposed to be wearing a kilt. I guess there is a first for everything.
Well 2006, it has been a huge year for me and I really cant believe that it has come to the end..
It all started with the Commonwealth Games, where we had the big built up to the biggest event ever to hit Melbourne (ok I am a little biased!) . As I told many people I have never worked in an organisation that had so much positive energy with such talented people with everyone working towards the same goal of putting this show together. So come March, all the preparations were finished and we were ready for the big show.
The 10 days the Games were on were probably my most satisfying 10 days of work in my life. To come to work every day and putting on this show and working with great volunteers (including my old man) was something that I will cherish forever and hopefully once again experience in the future.
After the euphoria of the Games and the post Games celebrations, the next challenge I had was my world tour that would entail Africa, Europe and America. In April the year before I decided that I wanted to go back to Africa and experience working in England, something that Ive been wanting to try since I was 16...
The months leading up to my departure were tough, not only did I have to organise all aspects of my trip but I knew that I was leaving a great life behind.. wonderful family, friends, great job prospects and Clare. I guess it didn’t really hit home that I was leaving until the Games were finished and I had a few days to get myself sorted before boarding the plane.
Then on April 13th, I boarded the plane to Africa.. probably the hardest moment of my life so far to say goodbye and board that plane. (I would rather do public speaking in front of thousands of people than go through that experience)
Landing in Africa, I caught up with my good friend Louise and here family and stayed with her in South Africa for a week then made the journey to Mossel Bay to see my old host family. After 7 years, it was so good to see my other ‘Mum and Dad’ and my two host brothers. Then I went back to my old school to see how it has changed since the days I taught there in 1999. It was so good to be back at T M Ndanda primary school and to see all the teachers again and to see that nothing really has changed. I then visited the local high school where many of my students were finishing off the final years of their education. We all met in the library and it was fabulous to see the kids grown up and asking me heaps of questions.. most of which were centred around me having children/being marriage...
It was probably been my highlight of my trip so far..
I then left South Africa to travel to Zimbabwe for the start of my 24 day tour to Nairobi, Kenya.
I finally met up with my main travel partner and good friend Coachy and we made our way from Victoria Falls to Nairobi. There were many highlights of this trip which I have made mention of already, we had a wonderful tour group and many wonderful experiences that made me realise how much I love Africa!
Then I spent a few weeks in Nairobi working in Kibera at a school teaching English, Maths and even Religous Studies. Working in South Africa was a piece of cake compared to working in the worlds second largest slum.. it was an experience that was second to none and I can not speak high enough of the principal, teachers and the students at the school. There are many schools like St Johns in Kibera and the rest of Africa that are supported by inspirational people that never get any accolades they just go about their business of trying to give children a chance for a decent education and a start in life. Something that us 'westerners' do take for granted.
I sadly left Kibera to start a 3 week holiday to Egypt, Turkey and then to London.
After 3 months of wonderful new experiences and basically in a land far from reality, I was hit with it when I reached Heathrow Airport on July10th. When I forgot to mention to Casey that I was coming in on the Monday and there was no-one at the airport, I realised that my 'holiday' was over and a new chapter in my life was about to begin.
London, well as I said it was a place that I have been wanting to come and work since I was 16.. I did come here with high expectations that I could walk straight into my dream job that would help get my career on a course towards where I wanted to head. A career working for an NGO specialising in developing communities.
Well, reality check Troy.... it didnt happen that way, the first month of trying to find employment, visa issues etc. was really tough not just financially!! Then I finally cracked myself a position with Transport for London. It wasn’t my ideal position but hopefully it could lead to something else and at least it was a job.. my poor credit card had taken a hammering!
London as a city is big, exciting with something happening all the time.. you are on the door step of Europe and an amazing array of cultures and customs from all around the world. It is the gateway to the world and a place like no other. But on the negative, you can get very lonely in a city of 8 million people, and Willesden is no Kew/Hawthorn and you do miss the nice weather, car etc.. it is a place that can either make you or bring you down so you have to keep reminding yourself why you are here and keep setting yourself goals.. Like I do back home I tried to be very active in throwing myself into volunteer work with homeless shelters/working with disadvantaged people. It is also a great way to meet new people and find out what the real 'London' is all about and trying to live every moment to the fullest.
People wise, I have made heaps of great friends here in London and we are all in the same boat so we tend to share the same experiences and have a similar bond..
Travel wise, I have visited some beautiful places around Europe... Belgium, France, Norway, Ireland, Scotland etc. I have also had the opportunity to catch up with some friends I haven’t seen in years and even caught up with someone that I have been in contact for 10 years but never actually met.
Then I took 3 weeks off to go to America and in particular New York City!! I had such an amazing time in America, better than what I would have ever imagine.. the places was amazing and the people were super friendly (thanks Katie and Anna!).
I then left America to go home for my little brothers wedding in Gold Coast. Due to a very long flight I did have a bad case of jetlag when I first arrived in Australia and this did carry over to me deciding to sun bake with little sleep with sunglasses on.. you get the picture!
The wedding was great, it went totally to script and it was a fun few days up north catching a few rays!
I then made the trip down south to Melbourne for a few days to catch up with friends and family. It was great to be back home and to see my mates and Clare again after 8 months away. I then left home for the second time in a year to go back to Europe... doesn’t get any easier!
So that has been 2006... after writing that I realise why Im so tired and over long haul flights!!
What does 2007 have in store for me..
I would like to do some more travelling, want to see at least another 10-12 countries in Europe..
I want to get my career back on some sort of direction where I want to be in the future..
I want to try more new things ie. Running the London marathon, skiing, skydiving etc. to tick those boxes..
Then I guess I will come home when I have finished what Im trying to achieve over here. I won’t stay in London for the sake of staying here, I will leave when I feel like I have ticked all the boxes I set out for when I left in April.
I will also throw myself into new challenges and do ‘things’ that I wouldn’t normally do back home… its very easy to get stuck into an Aussie life over here..
Thanks for reading my blog over 2006 and stay in touch for 2007!
Happy New year and all the best for 2007!!!
Troy
Well its a Thursday morning here at work and once again I am working the 'period' between Christmas and New Years, which is very quiet so I thought I would write about the trials and tribulations of 2006 and what I have in mind for 2007.
Before I start on my year in review, Christmas here in London has been low key and very different to other years.. last Thursday I performed at the TFL wide Christmas party in 2 dance pieces. Considering we learnt one of the dances on the Monday of the performance I thought we all went really well.. I have forgotten how much fun it is to perform and it has actually inspired me to get back into dancing in the New Year. Then I had the pleasure of having my brother and Louise in London as part of their honeymoon over Christmas. They were the first people that I have been the 'tourist' guide around London and I was a little rusty and at times got a little lost but at least I think I showed them all the main 'tourist' attractions of London.
I was going to do Christmas at home as Coachy was in town for the week as well. But we decided that seeing I had done no preparation and had no Christmas decorations it would be best to have Christmas lunch elsewhere. So, we all went to my friends in West Acton for a huge 'orphan' Christmas lunch. There were 18 of us from a variety of countries that gathered in Acton for a 4 course Christmas extravaganz .. we even had 'Secret Santa'.. thanks for the biscuits Coachy!
It was a great day with everyone and even though it still didn’t feel like 'Christmas' it was the next best thing when you are in a foreign country away from your loved ones.
So that was my Christmas in London... and now for New Years where Im headed to Edinburgh.. apparently I supposed to be wearing a kilt. I guess there is a first for everything.
Well 2006, it has been a huge year for me and I really cant believe that it has come to the end..
It all started with the Commonwealth Games, where we had the big built up to the biggest event ever to hit Melbourne (ok I am a little biased!) . As I told many people I have never worked in an organisation that had so much positive energy with such talented people with everyone working towards the same goal of putting this show together. So come March, all the preparations were finished and we were ready for the big show.
The 10 days the Games were on were probably my most satisfying 10 days of work in my life. To come to work every day and putting on this show and working with great volunteers (including my old man) was something that I will cherish forever and hopefully once again experience in the future.
After the euphoria of the Games and the post Games celebrations, the next challenge I had was my world tour that would entail Africa, Europe and America. In April the year before I decided that I wanted to go back to Africa and experience working in England, something that Ive been wanting to try since I was 16...
The months leading up to my departure were tough, not only did I have to organise all aspects of my trip but I knew that I was leaving a great life behind.. wonderful family, friends, great job prospects and Clare. I guess it didn’t really hit home that I was leaving until the Games were finished and I had a few days to get myself sorted before boarding the plane.
Then on April 13th, I boarded the plane to Africa.. probably the hardest moment of my life so far to say goodbye and board that plane. (I would rather do public speaking in front of thousands of people than go through that experience)
Landing in Africa, I caught up with my good friend Louise and here family and stayed with her in South Africa for a week then made the journey to Mossel Bay to see my old host family. After 7 years, it was so good to see my other ‘Mum and Dad’ and my two host brothers. Then I went back to my old school to see how it has changed since the days I taught there in 1999. It was so good to be back at T M Ndanda primary school and to see all the teachers again and to see that nothing really has changed. I then visited the local high school where many of my students were finishing off the final years of their education. We all met in the library and it was fabulous to see the kids grown up and asking me heaps of questions.. most of which were centred around me having children/being marriage...
It was probably been my highlight of my trip so far..
I then left South Africa to travel to Zimbabwe for the start of my 24 day tour to Nairobi, Kenya.
I finally met up with my main travel partner and good friend Coachy and we made our way from Victoria Falls to Nairobi. There were many highlights of this trip which I have made mention of already, we had a wonderful tour group and many wonderful experiences that made me realise how much I love Africa!
Then I spent a few weeks in Nairobi working in Kibera at a school teaching English, Maths and even Religous Studies. Working in South Africa was a piece of cake compared to working in the worlds second largest slum.. it was an experience that was second to none and I can not speak high enough of the principal, teachers and the students at the school. There are many schools like St Johns in Kibera and the rest of Africa that are supported by inspirational people that never get any accolades they just go about their business of trying to give children a chance for a decent education and a start in life. Something that us 'westerners' do take for granted.
I sadly left Kibera to start a 3 week holiday to Egypt, Turkey and then to London.
After 3 months of wonderful new experiences and basically in a land far from reality, I was hit with it when I reached Heathrow Airport on July10th. When I forgot to mention to Casey that I was coming in on the Monday and there was no-one at the airport, I realised that my 'holiday' was over and a new chapter in my life was about to begin.
London, well as I said it was a place that I have been wanting to come and work since I was 16.. I did come here with high expectations that I could walk straight into my dream job that would help get my career on a course towards where I wanted to head. A career working for an NGO specialising in developing communities.
Well, reality check Troy.... it didnt happen that way, the first month of trying to find employment, visa issues etc. was really tough not just financially!! Then I finally cracked myself a position with Transport for London. It wasn’t my ideal position but hopefully it could lead to something else and at least it was a job.. my poor credit card had taken a hammering!
London as a city is big, exciting with something happening all the time.. you are on the door step of Europe and an amazing array of cultures and customs from all around the world. It is the gateway to the world and a place like no other. But on the negative, you can get very lonely in a city of 8 million people, and Willesden is no Kew/Hawthorn and you do miss the nice weather, car etc.. it is a place that can either make you or bring you down so you have to keep reminding yourself why you are here and keep setting yourself goals.. Like I do back home I tried to be very active in throwing myself into volunteer work with homeless shelters/working with disadvantaged people. It is also a great way to meet new people and find out what the real 'London' is all about and trying to live every moment to the fullest.
People wise, I have made heaps of great friends here in London and we are all in the same boat so we tend to share the same experiences and have a similar bond..
Travel wise, I have visited some beautiful places around Europe... Belgium, France, Norway, Ireland, Scotland etc. I have also had the opportunity to catch up with some friends I haven’t seen in years and even caught up with someone that I have been in contact for 10 years but never actually met.
Then I took 3 weeks off to go to America and in particular New York City!! I had such an amazing time in America, better than what I would have ever imagine.. the places was amazing and the people were super friendly (thanks Katie and Anna!).
I then left America to go home for my little brothers wedding in Gold Coast. Due to a very long flight I did have a bad case of jetlag when I first arrived in Australia and this did carry over to me deciding to sun bake with little sleep with sunglasses on.. you get the picture!
The wedding was great, it went totally to script and it was a fun few days up north catching a few rays!
I then made the trip down south to Melbourne for a few days to catch up with friends and family. It was great to be back home and to see my mates and Clare again after 8 months away. I then left home for the second time in a year to go back to Europe... doesn’t get any easier!
So that has been 2006... after writing that I realise why Im so tired and over long haul flights!!
What does 2007 have in store for me..
I would like to do some more travelling, want to see at least another 10-12 countries in Europe..
I want to get my career back on some sort of direction where I want to be in the future..
I want to try more new things ie. Running the London marathon, skiing, skydiving etc. to tick those boxes..
Then I guess I will come home when I have finished what Im trying to achieve over here. I won’t stay in London for the sake of staying here, I will leave when I feel like I have ticked all the boxes I set out for when I left in April.
I will also throw myself into new challenges and do ‘things’ that I wouldn’t normally do back home… its very easy to get stuck into an Aussie life over here..
Thanks for reading my blog over 2006 and stay in touch for 2007!
Happy New year and all the best for 2007!!!
Troy
posted by Troy Aitken | 1:35 AM
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