Weather: 26-32 degrees but with an actual cool breeze. Goodbye humidity!

Food: Delicious macadamia nuts from the shell and biscuits made by 5 year old, Gordon.

Checklist: Bought four mino fish, hit by a car and said goodbye to Terrance.



24th September

19th February 2011- 24th September 2011 ~ RIP TERRANCE

Over the past month I've been losing the personality of Terrance. Each day passed and he was losing his strength, not being able to put his neck and head back into his shell and trying his hardest to pull himself along. He'd just lay there, waiting for his time to come. Yet when I picked him up and sat with him, he would try to move his head and walk up my arm. Maybe he was lonely turtle? Or the fact he just wouldn't eat! That didn't help him out!
Wanting to release him before he died, returning back from school, I was too late!
Even if he hadn't died that evening, I'm sure he would of the way to the pond. With Terrance in a box, I walked out off the lift and fell flat on the floor, box and I hitting the floor! Woops...

Terrance and I went through all the seasons China has to offer, lived with 2 housemates, greeted mum from England celebrated my 20th birthday.. He saw the highs and lows, the happiness and tears.
Who would have thought I would have grown so attached to my Chinese pet? Not me!


27th September

Cars were parked by the side of the road as we rode past, all stationary. Riding past one black car, he literally pulled out into me. Just drove right into the side me! Hitting the side of my leg, I was lucky he hadn't pulled out with more force or I would be writing this with crutches by my side!

It seems too much of a hassle for a driver to move their hand and use their indicator or turn their head and use their mirror!

Shakily getting off my bicycle, the guy in the passenger's seat just sat there looking at me with a dumb expression on his face. No smile, no sorry. I looked at the side of the car, saw my pedal had scratched along the side of his car, got back on my bicycle satisfied with this karma and I rode off slowly worried that something was going to break or fall off my bicycle on the journey back. Luckily it's still riding smoothly!


28th September

My website for the organisation I want to go with in Palestine, hasn't updated their website since March. Asking you to send a blank email and they're be in touch about when to send in CV's, interviews etc. Having not heard back from them, I've had to start looking up other options (and failing miserably) Not quite finding the answer I've wanted online I decided to put a little 'help me post' on different boardrooms online, hoping that someone will give me advice and help I've been looking for me.
This is how it reads:

I agree with aid to third world countries, donations etc but I feel that this is only short time help. Such organisations that set up centres to help disadvantaged people, to teach them skills that will benefit them in the long run. To help them achieve something in their life, instead of depending on donations. Street children, homeless - To help them deal with their emotions, develop new abilities and move forward.
I know it's such a vague description, but this is the kind of work I'd like to do, to be involved in.

This is the next dilemma, my age. I'm 20 years old. I want to get going with my dreams.
I haven't attended University (yet?!) I didn't want to go to University for the sake of it, get a degree in something that perhaps wasn't for me.
So, I want to know if anyone has any ideas for me of how I can take a step forward towards my goals of charity work. Whether this is a specific University course that could suit me, a voluntary position overseas, job shadowing etc.

I spent a year teaching in a rural village in Uganda and I'm currently finishing off a year of teaching in China. So my background skill at the moment is teaching.
I've applied for a teaching job in a refugee camp in Palestine and hope that if all works out well, this could possibly be a foot in the door. If it doesn't, I'm stuck.
I know what I want, or at least the brief outline of what I do, but how do I get there?!

I'd really appreciate any suggestions that you have to offer!
With thanks!

I really hope I get some advice, but for now I feel that slowly my path is narrowing, which makes me feel a lot more at ease.

x x x