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Barbara Headley, age 47
Barbara Headley booked her round the world trip with us in July this year. She set off in October, her first stop being the Horseback Safari and Conservation course in South Africa. The rest of her journey will take her to our Cape Town Healing with Horses project; the Orangutan project in Malaysia; a month on the Thai Adventure programme; 4 weeks volunteering at an Australian Wildlife Park; the Aussie Jillaroo course; 21 days in New Zealand on the Grand Island Explorer tour; a month learning Spanish in Ecuador; a month at an Animal Rescue centre in the Andes; and finally 4 weeks working with Giant Tortoises in the Galapagos!
We are keeping in regular contact with Barbara and below you can read about her experience so far…
26th November 2007 (8 weeks into Barbara's trip)
What was your motivation to take a gap break?
It's kind of personal but both my parents have recently moved into a care home and my mum has dementia. It really made me think that I needed to get out and see as much of the world as I could. I have travelled to the usual places in Europe and USA but only for the odd week or two. I've always ridden horses on and off and originally I wanted to go to the USA and be a Cowgirl for a while. I mentioned this to one of my many nieces and she found the Gap Year For Grown Ups website and sent off for the brochure for me and, well needless to say, here I am. I left my job, sold my house and I've not looked back.
How long are you away from home, and how do you feel about not seeing friends and family for all that time?
I will be away from home for a total of a year and although I miss my family terribly, they are all behind me 100 per cent. I have kept in touch over the Internet and phone calls - it was my 47th birthday last month and although I was away I had lots of text messages from home. I've also brought a photo album of all my family with me.
What did you think of the horse safari and conservation course in South Africa?
The horseback safari and conservation course is amazing. Hoedspruit is small but it seems to have everything that I would need. Millie (Project Manager) and her team have really been wonderful. They have bent over backwards for everyone here and although there have been a few personality clashes within the group (which I would expect and is therefore not an issue) it has not detracted from all the fun I have been having. I have learnt so much in the two months that I have been here. I came here with an open mind and therefore my expectations have been met and some!
What has been the most memorable moment of your trip so far?
Most memorable moment - there have been so many that I don't think I can name one. The night game drive was amazing. Micro light flight was incredible. Kruger National Park - we managed to see the Big 5. We even managed to find ourselves in the middle of a herd of elephants, which was a bit scary.
What are you most looking forward to about your round the world trip?
What am I looking forward to the most? Probably the Jillaroo course in Australia - no the Galapagos Islands, no, the Amazon jungle, no, the orangutan experience - oh there's so much to choose from!
Must dash going to a Music Festival this afternoon. Some traditional African music is on offer.
Bye for now
Barbara
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