Around the World in 50 Days (and 50 More to Go!)

Today marks halfway in the 100 Day Challenge. It doesn’t seem like very long, and I thought I would have written a lot more posts by now. During this challenge I have realised that it is really difficult to sit down and write for half an hour every day, on top of Uni and other commitments. During these 50 days I been overloading at Uni, studying a language and have started volunteering with the National Trust, an organisation I really want to work with in the future.

So yes, I’ve been busy. My scholarship to Vanuatu is confirmed, so during from day 86 to the end of the challenge I will be overseas. I guess I will have to purchase a laptop. They tell me I will have a reliable internet connection in Port Villa, but even if I can’t always jump online, I can still put pen to paper and write a draft while watching the sun go down over white sandy beaches. Fingers crossed.

I am still unsure as to if I will be posting about Vanuatu while I am there, as the original purpose of the blog was to write about experiences from Europe and the UK. I’m sure I will post about it at some point, especially as I will be writing a daily journal for assessment.

As for my blog, I am really happy with it. It looks visually appealing and all but two pictures on it are my own. I have completed 5 posts, with a further 3 ongoing. I like what I am writing about and I feel like it has improved my time management, writing and communication skills, and hopefully it can show potential employers that I am creative, and I am open to new cultures.

So far, the blog consists of post about a variety of places. The one I am most proud of is titled Swim between the Continents: The Clear Waters of Silfra, which is about snorkelling in Iceland. The pictures are really cool, some of them have been taken underwater, and I even made a gif out of one of my videos. I’ve never made a gif before, so it felt like an accomplishment in itself.

One of the posts I am working on now is about the Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff. Although the Experience has since closed, recounting my experience through descriptive writing has allowed me to practice a new writing style, and I hope it will bring more variety to my blog.

One of the most challenging posts so far has been about the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. I really enjoyed going to the Secret Annex, and I would encourage anyone to read her diary and go visit. Writing the post, I am struggling to find the most appropriate angle to come from. Her story is well known, and it can raise a lot of sensitive issues. I don’t want my post to be a recount of her life, nor do I want it to be simply a description of the tourist’s experience. I want to incorporate both elements, while remaining interesting, informative and respectful. I have rewritten it a couple of times because I felt it was too dull, or not honest enough. Hopefully I can get it published in the next week or so.

One of the posts I am looking forward to writing is about my day in Alnwick, home to the castle that starred in the first two Harry Potter films. It was probably the best day I had in my whole trip. It was a dream come true to visit Hogwarts, but what I wasn’t expecting was that the castle is the proper residence of the Duke and Duchess of Northumbria and their children. I didn’t know about the beautiful gardens, the nice cafes and restaurants with live music, the nursery for plants and especially not the giant tree house, which housed not one, but two eateries. I went on the last day it was open for the year, and later that night, I was witness to something magical. I was so lucky. I wish I could tell you more, but you’ll just have to wait for the post 😊

My blog will be online and live soon. I was planning to publish it a lot sooner, but things always get in the way. I have three posts which will be on there when it does, with at least two ready to be published. Hopefully I can get one more ready for publishing by the time it goes live. Everything is ready to go, I just need a free afternoon to do it.

Stay tuned and safe travels,

Louise