Plans

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After weeks of consideration, random internet browsing, discussion, guide book reading and changing plans, I have finally got my act together and sorted out my big adventure before the world of work. Last year I went to India for a month with Tom and Lucy but I'm not quite sure it counts as an adventure. Tom and Lucy held hands a lot and I grew a beard and made frequent reports on my bowel movements (which to this day are still not quite right) but apart from that we largely got chauffered around, by private guides and drivers, went longer distances in air conditioned trains and ate the odd meal in air condition restaurants costing as much as £3 each. Whilst there were encounters with cockroaches, bomb scares and police bribery, we didn't quite rough it as much as student travelers are probably obliged to.

I'm in danger of waffling on here so I will just skip straight to an itinerary.

8th July: Flying into Toronto, meeting up with the boys cycling across the country for charity (check them out at www.teamamerica2007.com)

10th July: Getting a coach to Niagra Falls where Team America 2007 start cycling (unless there is space in their car for me - they are considering upgrading)

10-24th July: driving through North East USA one days cycling at the time. I will of course be sitting in the car with Rob, practicing Spanish and visiting places, not sweating my arse off in the beating sunshine. See www.teamamerica2007 for a full itinerary

24th July: Fly from Washington DC to Cancun in Mexico.

Travel through Mexico to Guatemala at my own pace, probably fairly quickly, where I will be volunteering. I have applied to two projects, my preference being Volunteer Peten and the second El Nahual Language Center, who have offered me a place which I am yet to confirm.

At the same time I'd be learning Spanish as either of these projects has a system where you work half the day and have one-on-one tuition the other half. This raises part of their funds, although the Spanish lessons are still very cheap at less than £2 an hour.

After a month or so I'd go travelling around. Hopefully I'd have found another volunteer to travel with, otherwise I'll go recruiting in Antigua where all the travellers seem to end up and many are taught Spanish.

After exploring Guetamala, Honduras, Belize, El Salvador and Mexico (if I have the time and inclination) I'll come home, probably from Cancun, in time to start my new job.



If you'd like to follow what I'm up to, check back here or subscribe and receive notifications when I update it. I don't know how often I will post or blog or whatever the correct term is, but I'll try and fill it with snappy annecdotes and minor information alongside the general jist of what I am up to. This will be the stuff that I want to remember and hopefully the stuff that you find most interesting too.

If you want more information on what I'm up to in the first fortnight, please check Rob's blog at Team America 2007 and support these guys in general. They are spending several thousand pounds of their own money to put themselves through pain, heat and exhaustion almost everyday for six weeks. They wont be cycling all the time, but they might be enough of it not to appreciate the rest of the day. I have noticed a lot of mutual friends have yet to sponsor them and I encourage you to do so, I'm sure it will help them push along.

Next up (maybe) fears and expectations.

Thanks for reading

Ed

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Comments

[mum]

Take Care
Have a great time. I look forward to seeing all the photos and reading all about your adventures but please dont make them too exciting!!