What You Should Know

No words will ever fully describe an experience like volunteering in a third world country. I read blogs before I went, just to see what I should possibly expect; I found that every ones experiences were completely unique and the only way to find out what a third world community is like is to go yourself. I decided to go with a company called African Impact, working in the community of Victoria Falls. In summary, I played at Victoria Falls orphanage, taught at a Monde primary school, listened at Vic Falls retirement home and labored in a rural garden. Each taught me different values.

I think by now everyone knows that any experience involving helping an African community in a third world country is unforgettable/life changing, so that is not what I am going to tell you. I am going to tell you about volunteering from my perspective, the experiences I underwent and the opinions I have on their culture and ways of life.

Travelling to Victoria Falls, Africa

I will always remember the travel day, Sunday 30th June - GOING TO AFRICA. It was so nerve racking. I was actually so happy that I would be with my brother, Mark, and maybe, perhaps have some one to blame if we missed a flight and ended up having to stay in Cairo during the riots - which, by the way, would have just been completely disastrous.

I'll start at London Heathrow. As you know, security is getting more and more ridiculous by the day, so, there was no shock when after handing our luggage in and going to security that both my brother's bag and mine contained something that was considered completely life threatening and dangerous. Although, you yourself are aware that you do not have a bomb, a knife or any form of drug inside your bag you still have that slight thought that you are going to be dragged away and be a accused of being a drug mule. I always imagine Renee Zellweger in Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, being caught in a drug bust and then sent to a Thai prison and think OH GOD - that will be me, just you wait.

My brother went first. THE HORROR: He left his iPad in his bag. The burly security guard also came across a pair of turtle ninja pyjama bottoms whilst riffling through his bag, although not lethal it was something that Mark was slightly embarrassed at, to try to seem less of a nerd he told the security guard 'my girlfriend likes them', I don't think it helped - all I was thinking is just you wait until you come across my underwear in the zip pocket of my bag - its' your lucky day!

Turns out my bag had an aersol can in it, which, nowadays is considered a dangerous weapon, so unfortunately, I went on the plane knowing that by the end of the journey which lasted almost a full day I'd not be smelling my best.

After the task of making sure that we were in fact, not terrorists and actually pretty genuine people on the way to spend a month of our lives trying to give back to an African community we were finally sitting and waiting for our plane to Cairo.

I will hold with me forever a memory for the rest of my life with the title 'Pervert on the Plane'. On the plane I found out some men from Cairo like a girl with blonde hair. In probably the most obvious way possible, a man in the seat across the isle from us started taking 'selfies' trying to get me in the background. One thing you should know is my brother is protective (like any!), so when he realised what was happening he made me move to the window seat and put my hood up. Still feeling uncomfortable, we came up with a plan to tell the steward we felt uncomfortable and wanted to move to business class for free (elaborate plan I know), just as we was about to call over someone the man moved seats! Although relieved, because in reality the chances of moving to business class was minimal, I was slightly upset that I couldn't experience the situation - just to see what the flight attendant would have even done.

After the long flight consisting of three on flight films, an extremely average dinner and pins and needles in pretty much every part of my body, we arrived safely in Cairo. Although, as we were landing there was green LED lights being flashed up at the plane from the riots below (which, hilariously Mark thought was a street party). Safe to say, I was pretty happy when the wheels of the plane touched the ground.

Cairo was fine; we had our second dinner of the day and then got on the plane to Johannesburg. Sitting down and coming to the realisation that there was no televisions to watch on the long flight made me want to cry slightly but I thought, well, no worries, I'll sleep (what a joker I am). To our left was a man who definitely needed to have some form of nasal operation to sort out the noises that he was projecting. And, if that wasn't enough, to our right was a baby, no older than 12 months old, and it was not one of those babies where you congratulate the parent for keeping them so quiet and well behaved, oh no, it was quite the opposite.

WARNING: Do not let the porters in Jo-burg carry your bags for you. My brother and I made that fatal mistake. We left baggage claim in Johannesburg and knew exactly how to get to the transfer desk, but out of no where two men in 'porter' jackets grabbed our bags and said they were there to help so, we thought we'd let them carry our bags for us. Turns out walking a pitiful 100m, up a flight of stairs and walking another 200m deserves FIFTY DOLLARS.

The AUDACITY of asking a pair of naïve young tourists who blatantly have not brought a lot of money with them on a trip to Africa for 50 big ones! I was actually outraged. Being the kind person that I am I let my brother handle the situation. We ended up giving two porters five dollars each. I understand that the money they make is providing for their family, but no way can I justify giving two men forty pounds EACH for walking a few hundred meters. I think it took me an hour to calm down, I honestly felt slightly violated, and they will do that to so many people who are travelling alone and those poor people would have had to pay the money. I remember watching a vulnerable woman following a porter with her bag and I just thought to myself what a complete scam. I was exasperated.

After this violation we boarded the plane and for some reason were put in the premiere section. Obviously, neither of us complained, we got free champagne and a very well garnished lunch and I felt after all that had happened on our journey so far we deserved it.

Finally, we had touched ground at Victoria Falls airport, I was absolutely exhausted after our journey and I was quite nervous to meet the other volunteers that we would be living with for the next month of our lives. (Just to let you know each and every one of them was amazing and I've made friends from around the world I will never forget)