Week 3: Gap Year

Week 3: Gap Year

The final details to my packing are finally complete for the final journey home from Nottingham University, minus the fact that I'll be back up for the Cocktail Society Ball. This night promises to be the most memorable for all of us leaving University. The night of the DJ is always my particular favorite  as supposed to cutting a swathe through crowds in Rock City and Ocean. Two more nights at Rock City and then up to Scotland to possibly the furthermost point away from civilization one could possibly be in the United Kingdom; the Isle of Lewis. First time in goodness knows how long the family trip has involved the entire family. Last time I went up to Scotland I remembered my revision, toiletries, but the rest of my packing was none existent, that particular realization dawned on me just as we reached the River Medway, too far away from Canterbury to turn back. That was a typical 'me' moment. But it will be nice to catch up with the grandparents and cousins. Finding out the results of your finals when you're on a plane to Inverness will be a nerve wracking experience. 

The last week has been a mixed bag, not a huge amount to talk about, a trip down to London and visiting London Zoo after a harrowing Friday at Ocean Night Club, a massive walk home included in the package for what can only be called a disastrous night. However sitting on the train on the way home and reflecting made me realize more clearly through the bleary eyes of the worst hangover in quite sometime, that journalism, travel, photography and international development/relations are firmly the place where I belong in the future. Relief is the one word I would use to describe that moment when you figure out more clearly what you want from yourself in life. It involved reflections, positive things people have said to you, and at the end of the day what you really want. Certainly sitting behind a desk doing data, business, clubbing and hitting bars for the rest of my life is the last thing I want to do right now. Sure everyone has to sit behind a desk at some point in their life, certainly a journalist or anyone working in these sort of fields. Nevertheless the first thing I need to do is see the world and travel, before I have to encounter the possibility of living in the United Kingdom. This be fair, after living in Germany for so long, and the country having such a big impact on how I have come to see things, is a  unfathomably tough prospect at this moment in time. English culture and me have never really established a good relationship since coming home in 2004.

Time Out: Isle of Lewis 

Will my attitude change during this gap year? Who knows? I may find Africa might not be what I want, that journalism isn't my cup of tea. It works both ways, if the CV is right and you have the right connections and people hint that you might have a talent for a certain thing, you might as well go for it. Experience is the key, building a network. What of University? Have these last two and half years really changed me as an individual, in certain ways yes, in other ways no. Lots of students I imagine leave university thinking that they haven't changed much as an individual. Certainly without doubt it is a life experience and I have no regrets of signing up for the University of Nottingham, but for me personally, even if I get decent results (fingers-crossed) which will ultimately shape future employment and that university sport has made me fitter and more healthier person, and that I have made some amazing, life-long friends in the process; this experience is not the defining moment in life for me. That was a myth I believed before I came to university. However it would be foolish to dismiss the opportunities provided to me by the university that will  ultimately construct the foundations for an interesting future. I certainly will miss the FIFA sessions with Tom Bowden! 

Scotland, German in Cambridge, back to Nackington for the last time until we rent it out, and then the promise land of the U.S.A with childhood friends (once we have booked the domestic flights). Busy times are ahead and free of education for the first time since Nursery School. What is not to like?

Matthew Williams

Week 2: Gap Year

Week 2: Gap Year

Three celebratory nights out of four, seven in total since exams have finished, several careers meetings  and several cycles later and the re-establishment of a much needed routine. The possibility of following through the ambitions of journalism were re-visited at a careers meeting, the first meeting suggested several pointers. Having decent weather in the UK for a change is a great relief and chilling and playing football in the park with friends is welcome relaxation to both the late nights and de-stressing after a horrendous couple of months!

- That I don't belong behind a desk all the time necessarily. 

- Constant activity.

- The question of journalism. 

- The gap year is the crucial time out for gaining experience in relatively different job spheres

- The weeks following exams are a time of reflection on the qualities you may have for a job, what makes you function on a day to day basis and essentially what you are good at the end of the day I found more about what I want to do.

The Bwindi Region: South-West Uganda :D

Trips in planning mode (possibly conceding some of the trips organization to Charlie), lots of medical injections for the trip to Uganda for rabies, hepatitis A + B, typhoid, yellow fever, meningococcal meningitis and of course malaria tablets. Malaria tablets I will have to triple check after that incident in which an employee of Tullow (The company Dad works for) died of malaria in Uganda last year. I don't want to take any chances on that obviously. Flights for both Uganda and the domestic have to be sorted quite soon to keep the price down. I still can't wait for the trip though despite some concerns, so much history in Uganda and such opportunity to learn things that I don't know. All we hear about is Idi Amin and Uganda's role in Africa's World War which emerged out of the back-drop of the Rwandan genocide. The volunteering projects are based in the Bwindi region of south-western Uganda, so a fair distance away from the conflict-ridden northern regions of the country. It is quite close to the borders of the notorious Democratic Republic of Congo though. Apparently Bwindi is a beautiful rural area around 300 miles from Kampala, the capital. That is the equivalent of getting off a plane in Stuttgart and doing one of our classic family drives all the way back to Canterbury. Long hours but so much to see on the way there and the equator to stand on. I can ask the people how they are doing in the southern hemisphere come 17th October and then the northern hemisphere on the way back.The nearest town on the tourist map is Rukungiri. It is a mountainous zone, 6,000 feet above sea level. The altitude keeps the temperature comfortable by African standards, an average of 18-28 degrees centigrade so not too bad in terms of heat. Exercise will be interesting at this altitude no doubt. Volunteer Uganda will be good fun, but the remoteness makes life a real challenge for the villagers in the region, far from facilities which we take for granted, including electricity and water, with a bonus for the kids having to run three or four miles to school. So a big challenge personally and with a great organization firmly established in this particular region, with a great hands on approach. Can't wait! 

But before that the U.S.A which draws ever closer and the special Golden Gate Bridge moment that me, Charlie, Rupert and Ollie have all been looking forward to. It will be epic. Festival of Colors was great shout this week as well, invited by Greer and we are seriously missing out on the Festivals happening in India. Colored powder everywhere, it is safe to say I have come out this with a more colorful personality and a slightly hulk-ish colored chest beneath the once white-shirt. Getting the powder in the eyes, mouth and nose isn't the most ideal thing and my Morocco expeditions bag looks a bit more pink and girly than it used to. Green, yellow, red, pink, violet, blue there were lots of different ones, that  my walk back perplexing passers-by as I strolled home and even stopped by humanities to the dissulsion of some professors. Alas poor Greer had to get the bus with her beloved friend Gordon. I seriously recommend more people go next year. It was a fantastic and colorful mess on the Downs among 150 +  people who attended. Thank you Hindu society! That is something on the bucket list: go to a festival of colors in India at some point!

Nottingham University's Festival of Colors

Matthew Williams

Week 1

People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it. George Bernard Shaw

As I presently sit here over a week after finals have finished, you sit, reflect and wonder about numerous things. In one week alone the emotions have varied from tiredness, excitement, sheer elation,  sense of calm to even one of potential disaster, anger and disappointment.. Since finishing I have come to find a number things:

• You may need a gap year after university more than before university.
• Take a break for a week or two, maybe three or four, possibly six.
• My parents are moving out of the old house.
• One should  find a job they enjoy, neither basing it upon salary or status.
• Experience = the solution to finding out what you really want.
• The elation of finals can quickly turn to panic and potential despair if you are not careful, but naturally that is just normal after exams if you are used to routine.
• Hangovers are annoying.
• London is expensive.
• I have always remained in love with my experience of living in Germany.
• I still hate the people on 'Made in Chelsea'.
• Life goes quickly, be there now.
• Revisiting the past is entertaining.
• The first week requires a great deal of reflection on achievements, values, strengths and even the acknowledgement of weaknesses.
• Planning and Organization is my partner in crime to succeed and make a life for myself and exploit perhaps the one of the most important years of my life. Finding out what I want  to do and to find my qualities.
• On the latter point. University has taught me far less than I expected upon arrival about myself. Certainly a few useful pointers that will set me in good stead
• I don't want to go into a job and sit behind an office desk for my entire life.
• Blogging is a distracting business.
• No one will read this.
• Routine is everything for some people.
• Shouting out 'F**k the  Educational System' was not as rewarding as I envisaged.
• According to the Job Prospects online I  belong in the Army?!?
• Always keep active, there is always one more thing that you can do, particularly after finishing university.

and finally... 

I have actually learnt the art of time wasting for the first time since I was five years old, now that I am free from the bonds of the educational system.  Looking and reflecting on the first week of the Gap Year, it is looking to be a tough, but rewarding year. Bring on the U.S.A, Uganda, Cycle Trip to Barcelona and more!

Matthew Williams