Comments on: Just one thing… http://www.livingfordisco.com/2008/03/31/just-one-thing/ Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:41:50 +0000 hourly 1 By: ourman http://www.livingfordisco.com/2008/03/31/just-one-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-29080 ourman Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:00:26 +0000 http://www.livingfordisco.com/2008/03/31/just-one-thing/#comment-29080 sounds like a plan. I'll set something up soon. Basically I'll add you as a contributer and you can do as much or as little as you like. Might need some help with links to other VSO blogs that you know of too. Might see if the person who set up their Facebook group wants to help too. sounds like a plan. I’ll set something up soon. Basically I’ll add you as a contributer and you can do as much or as little as you like.

Might need some help with links to other VSO blogs that you know of too.

Might see if the person who set up their Facebook group wants to help too.

]]> By: Rachie http://www.livingfordisco.com/2008/03/31/just-one-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-29039 Rachie Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:24:27 +0000 http://www.livingfordisco.com/2008/03/31/just-one-thing/#comment-29039 I think it's a great idea - I was contacted by a number of people wanting more information. I'd be happy to help out. I think it’s a great idea – I was contacted by a number of people wanting more information. I’d be happy to help out.

]]> By: ourman http://www.livingfordisco.com/2008/03/31/just-one-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-29033 ourman Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:20:20 +0000 http://www.livingfordisco.com/2008/03/31/just-one-thing/#comment-29033 Just thought - don't know if I'll ever get the time but I want to start a vso blog. Zero effort - just various search engines to uncover news reports and blog posts. Lots of links. Flickr photo sets. Facebook group link. Nothing written by me except - "found this today..." etc Hopefully lots of comments by pre/post and current volunteers. What do you reckon? Just with the aim of showing VSO that the web isn't something to be scared of and it actually can help. Just thought – don’t know if I’ll ever get the time but I want to start a vso blog.

Zero effort – just various search engines to uncover news reports and blog posts. Lots of links. Flickr photo sets. Facebook group link.

Nothing written by me except – “found this today…” etc

Hopefully lots of comments by pre/post and current volunteers. What do you reckon?

Just with the aim of showing VSO that the web isn’t something to be scared of and it actually can help.

]]> By: fearghal http://www.livingfordisco.com/2008/03/31/just-one-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-28863 fearghal Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:14:34 +0000 http://www.livingfordisco.com/2008/03/31/just-one-thing/#comment-28863 I didn't go in the end! Too much faff when living in Scotland. I didn’t go in the end! Too much faff when living in Scotland.

]]> By: ourman http://www.livingfordisco.com/2008/03/31/just-one-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-28853 ourman Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:04:17 +0000 http://www.livingfordisco.com/2008/03/31/just-one-thing/#comment-28853 Weight? Well basically after spending large parts of my first few months in Vietnam on the toilet my weight plummeted. I then kidded myself for the next two and a half years that weight issues were a thing of the past. Then I returned - found how much better British stodge tasted than I remembered it. Then four months later, when I started feeling breathless and dizzy walking up stairs I went to the docs - she weighed me and it all became apparent. Long version of this story here: http://snipurl.com/238ti I'm now on a diet - stone gone and counting. Weight? Well basically after spending large parts of my first few months in Vietnam on the toilet my weight plummeted. I then kidded myself for the next two and a half years that weight issues were a thing of the past.

Then I returned – found how much better British stodge tasted than I remembered it. Then four months later, when I started feeling breathless and dizzy walking up stairs I went to the docs – she weighed me and it all became apparent.

Long version of this story here:

http://snipurl.com/238ti

I’m now on a diet – stone gone and counting.

]]> By: Rachie http://www.livingfordisco.com/2008/03/31/just-one-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-28829 Rachie Wed, 02 Apr 2008 08:36:04 +0000 http://www.livingfordisco.com/2008/03/31/just-one-thing/#comment-28829 Fearghal - I know what you mean. Was the one you went to all happy-clappy back-slappy? Hi Ann - I remember you - I'm glad you're loving Thailand (although, how could you not?) Returning is different for everyone I guess! I thought it would be easy for me because I was ready to come back, and it's been relatively trauma free, so don't worry. If your'e not ready, you will probably find a way to stay! Ourman, Why oh why do you put on so much weight? It's wrong. As for my wanderlust, I'm lucky that Gordon can work anywhere, so I'm prodding him to try and find work in Singapore! Fearghal – I know what you mean. Was the one you went to all happy-clappy back-slappy?

Hi Ann – I remember you – I’m glad you’re loving Thailand (although, how could you not?) Returning is different for everyone I guess! I thought it would be easy for me because I was ready to come back, and it’s been relatively trauma free, so don’t worry. If your’e not ready, you will probably find a way to stay!

Ourman, Why oh why do you put on so much weight? It’s wrong. As for my wanderlust, I’m lucky that Gordon can work anywhere, so I’m prodding him to try and find work in Singapore!

]]> By: ourman http://www.livingfordisco.com/2008/03/31/just-one-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-28534 ourman Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:59:01 +0000 http://www.livingfordisco.com/2008/03/31/just-one-thing/#comment-28534 Well I was a 34 year old volunteer while I was in Vietnam and I met my woman - an Aussie volunteer. Hope that help.s Adjustment? It just takes times - and life is a lot more mundane. And you put on a lot of weight. I think the trick is to tell yourself: you're not back forever. If you loved what you did overseas then you can always do it again. I secured an 18 month contract in my current job on my return - after that I will almost certainly be off overseas somewhere. Well I was a 34 year old volunteer while I was in Vietnam and I met my woman – an Aussie volunteer. Hope that help.s

Adjustment? It just takes times – and life is a lot more mundane. And you put on a lot of weight.

I think the trick is to tell yourself: you’re not back forever. If you loved what you did overseas then you can always do it again. I secured an 18 month contract in my current job on my return – after that I will almost certainly be off overseas somewhere.

]]> By: ann adams http://www.livingfordisco.com/2008/03/31/just-one-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-28515 ann adams Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:58:08 +0000 http://www.livingfordisco.com/2008/03/31/just-one-thing/#comment-28515 Hello! My name is ann and I wrote you many months ago (8 I think) before starting my placement in Chiang Mai, Thailand - AKA VSO Club Med. I am infinitely interested in your adjustment back to the UK as I am mildly obsessed with what will happen when I am in your shoes in about 16 months. Returning freaks me out! (But I am kind of in love with Thailand at this stage...) If you met your man during VSO - you are giving me all the hope a 34-year old single volunteer needs! Keep us updated! Hello!
My name is ann and I wrote you many months ago (8 I think) before starting my placement in Chiang Mai, Thailand – AKA VSO Club Med. I am infinitely interested in your adjustment back to the UK as I am mildly obsessed with what will happen when I am in your shoes in about 16 months. Returning freaks me out! (But I am kind of in love with Thailand at this stage…)
If you met your man during VSO – you are giving me all the hope a 34-year old single volunteer needs!
Keep us updated!

]]> By: fearghal http://www.livingfordisco.com/2008/03/31/just-one-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-28368 fearghal Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:08:13 +0000 http://www.livingfordisco.com/2008/03/31/just-one-thing/#comment-28368 Hmm. Good luck this weekend. I'm sure that many people find these things enjoyable/useful - but it's really not for me. Mainly I think for the reasons you're both discussing. I've done it, I've shared my skills and changed lives and now I want to celebrate it. It might not even be like that but that's how it is in my mind. Hmm. Good luck this weekend.

I’m sure that many people find these things enjoyable/useful – but it’s really not for me. Mainly I think for the reasons you’re both discussing. I’ve done it, I’ve shared my skills and changed lives and now I want to celebrate it. It might not even be like that but that’s how it is in my mind.

]]> By: Rachie http://www.livingfordisco.com/2008/03/31/just-one-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-28340 Rachie Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:41:36 +0000 http://www.livingfordisco.com/2008/03/31/just-one-thing/#comment-28340 Oh, thank god! I'm glad I'm not the only one. It's the backslapping that I find so unappealing. It makes me feel a bit grubby. Apart from that I can't help but wish VSO made more of what actually goes on on the ground - the difficulties organisations face, the day to day niggliness that people have to overcome, the very major problems that affect everything you or your colleagues do, like impending starvation, or AIDS. A friend of mine had an email from my old boss today, telling her how the mahangu crop in the north of Namibia is buggered, because of too much rain, and that it's tough for everyone because movement is restricted due to floods and lack of supplies. And here I will be, sitting in a room full of people waving a photogaph, or singing a song, and none of it feels real. Oh get me - holier than thou! I think coming back is turning out to be more of a challenge than I had imagined. Oh, thank god! I’m glad I’m not the only one. It’s the backslapping that I find so unappealing. It makes me feel a bit grubby. Apart from that I can’t help but wish VSO made more of what actually goes on on the ground – the difficulties organisations face, the day to day niggliness that people have to overcome, the very major problems that affect everything you or your colleagues do, like impending starvation, or AIDS.

A friend of mine had an email from my old boss today, telling her how the mahangu crop in the north of Namibia is buggered, because of too much rain, and that it’s tough for everyone because movement is restricted due to floods and lack of supplies. And here I will be, sitting in a room full of people waving a photogaph, or singing a song, and none of it feels real.

Oh get me – holier than thou! I think coming back is turning out to be more of a challenge than I had imagined.

]]>