A Week to remember

So the past 7 days have been 7 of the most memorable days I can remember. There is so much I could say, but if I said it all, you would be sitting reading this for the next hour....so I will endeavor to keep it succinct but informative too!!!

Friday 9th October - Went to see a band called Josh Weathers and the True endeavours. You all need to find their myspace....these guys rock!

Saturday: The Zoo and two stepping in the Electric Cowboy!

Sunday: Cowboy Church.

Monday: Started Basic Safety training, which in itself was great, but we also went to see U2 and Muse!!!!

Tuesday/Wednesday: First Aid & sea survival and firefighting theory.

Thursday: Practical Firefighting!!

Friday: Pool Practical for safety and survival at sea.

Saturday Evening: Fly to the Dominican Republic for 2 1/2 weeks to work alongside some community projects in a deprived community.

So as you can see, if I were to go into detail about all of these things, this would go on - but I feel safe to say that it has been an amazing week - and one that I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have lived.

As an overview, the Basic Safety Training (BST), is an official maritime qualification that states that a person has the basic skills, ability and knowledge to work aboard a sea baring vessel. So I can now say that I am an official mariner, which is very cool.

As part of the qualification, we needed to perform some basic firefighting skills to show that we were capable. This included putting a number of different fires out, rescuing a dummy from a smoke filled container and being able to put on all of our equipment, including oxygen masks, in 2 minutes! This was such a fun day - a highlight for everyone really!!

Going to see U2 and muse was obviously amazing, the 105, 000 seater stadium was incredible, and the entire production and stage show was mind-blowing!!

However, with all of this, it is still quite sad that our time here together in Texas has come to an end. It has been a fun, intense and busy month or so - but one that has been so so worth while in terms of preparation for going out to Africa. I have been reminded again of how much I take things for granted, and how easily I can slip into living in a safe place of ignorance - blocking out those things that go on in the world that are 'messy' or 'difficult'. I feel as though this month has been a wake up call to the reality of life for most of the world.

I feel so grateful for the opportunities that I have had an am continuing to have - but am looking forward to moving out of that place of safety and into a place where what I see isn't filtered by the BBC or Sky News - but is instead real life.

Thank you again for all your support.