Only two days to go now before my trip and itâÂÂs been one busy week. Aside from focusing on what I need for my journey and beyond, IâÂÂve also had my hat on as a member of the Shared Interest environment team, which meant helping mark Thursday 5th June with staff at our Newcastle headquarters as well as Costa Rica and Kenya offices.
Other than that, my head is jam-packed full of checklists and the countdown is a bit like a military operation.
There are still last minute negotiations to cover with our venues over in Rwanda and it doesnâÂÂt help that I keep getting cut off half way through the conversations due to signal failures but its all part of the process!
IâÂÂm also in a whirl of medication. If IâÂÂm not remembering when to pick up medical supplies to take with me, IâÂÂm being careful to take the right number of malaria tablets at the right time. There is also a mixture of drugs and jabs to cover things like yellow fever, rabies and hepatitis A and C.
Then thereâÂÂs the issue of what to pack, I know from past visits to Rwanda that it is a bit like Britain at this time of year: gorgeous sunshine one day and then chucking it down the next so IâÂÂm making sure my suitcase has a range of clothes to cover all weather conditions!
Finally IâÂÂm calling on the expertise (and patience!) of our IT team as I get the laptop ready for the project co-ordinator we are looking to recruit once over there.
Phew â maybe IâÂÂll actually find time to sleep once IâÂÂm on that plane!
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