England - Home.

So the end of a spectacular unforgettable journey.
The flight home to London was a time to reflect and to think about what the future holds.

The plane arrived at London Heathrow just after 8am. We cleared customs with the usual degree of ease and collecting our bags before taking the taxi home. As with any foreign travel, I was hit with a sense of relief, Im back in a place I understand, my country, my home. As I stepped into my house and the door closed behind me, the journey was officially over and it almost felt like it hadn't happened at all.

Ben and I now both faced the harsh realisation that the journey was over, and that real life now beckoned.
We knew that decisions had to be made about our futures and regularly discussed it along the way; however, neither of us had been struck down with any degree of clarity about what we wanted to do next.

Both Ben and I, had delayed making any sort of decision by taking time out to travel and reflect upon life. Well now we could delay no further, time to get serious.

For Ben, a promising Management Graduate Training scheme in Engineering at Rolls Royce. For me, a decision to continue chasing that elusive Pupillage or Training Contract with the eventual desire to achieve a career in Law. To this day I have been unsuccessful and I have started to reconsider my chosen career path.

So what have I learnt, aside from the obvious cultural and historical aspects? I suppose I have a new found respect for home, as Dorothy says there’s no place quite like it! I have regained focus, confidence and energy and a fresh outlook on life.

As with any experience it can have life changing potential, it can influence your future decisions and help shape you as a person, this trip is no different. The effects of this trip will undoubtedly play a role in my life at some point whether I know it or not.

So the curtain falls on a trip of a lifetime, so many memories, so many experiences, so many people and places. I have selected a single photo from each destination which best sums up that experience, so here you have it my moments of Zen!


Thank you for reading.



Stuart Smith
24/09/06

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