Apologies for the long delay in blogging, in an attempt not to bore everyone this is in two parts; Queensland and NSW/ACT/Victoria. I've been in Australia for 5 weeks now and have only a week remaining. I can't say that I had a warm welcome into Australia as immigration didn't take too kindly to the fact I had been in Africa for the previous three and a half months. A man came and took my passport away from me and disappeared into another room leaving me waiting...

This evening I leave Africa behind and fly out to Australia. After nearly four months in Africa, I find myself looking forward to leaving, largely due to my desire to get out of Johannesburg quickly! Since leaving Village Africa behind just over three weeks ago I've been through 5 countries, had 9 long coach journey's, 5 African style combi journey's, 2 lifts on the back of a pick up and 1 hitching journey. As we've travelled south the changes have been clear in...

I've now made the journey from Milingano to Tanga for the last time. The last few days in Milingano have been amazing, and I'm not sure I can do justice to it all on this blog. Yesterday we had a farewell party at the school. Earlier in the week we had been told that the party had been cancelled as the head teacher was away at a family funeral. We were then informed in the morning that the head teacher had returned in order for the party to go ahead. Unfortunate...

Milingano Life With only two weeks remaining of my placement, I find myself wandering where the last ten weeks have gone. When I first applied to volunteer with Village Africa three months seemed such a long time, now I feel it's almost too short and wish I could stay longer. However the next stage of my trip awaits and my bus back down to Dar es Salaam for November 28th has been booked. Life has moved into quite a routine in Milingano, well as much of a rout...

I'm currently sitting on a veranda looking out onto the Indian Ocean. We are at a resort called Peponi about 30km south of Tanga having an extended weekend break. Went on my first ever snorkelling trip yesterday which was brilliant, then chilled on a sand island off the mainland. I also got sun burnt for the first time since being here, I feel this fact will shock many people that it has taken me this long!! I thought I'd use this blog as an opportunity to share...