Wait for it....

NEWS!!!!

 

So I guess I'll need to be changing the name of my blog...

From Rwanda to Africa, Plural!?

 

Nearly exactly 2 years later it has become official

That in July 2013 I will be starting a new adventure,

or as I like to see it, continuing an unfinished one

 Back to Africa but more precisely

 Kenya!

 

I have taken up an opportunity to visit Africa again

 With a fantastic organisation called First Aid Africa.

They offer the teaching and education around First Aid that

Provides communities with essential knowledge in order to 

Avoid millions of deaths and infections that happen every year.

 

http://www.firstaidafrica.com/faa/

 

I don't know many details yet;

- Exact location

- How rurally we will be living

- Who I will be going with

- What I need to take with me

 

But things I do know are;

- I am so excited to go back

- I need to raise £1,489

- I need ALL your help!
 

www.bmycharity.com/nyiramwiza

 

My heart melted when I found out I was accepted

& when I found out I was getting to go somewhere I have always dreamt of visiting,

 

Africa is more than an expedition to me its a massive part of who I am

As Lauren or Nyiramwiza, it continues...

 

Another Dream

 

Another Adventure

 

Another Postcode!

 

Lx

 

 

"One way to get the most out of life it to look upon it as an adventure"

One year later...

Fit like?

So exactly one year ago today I wrote a blog about happiness in my life.

My career, ambitions, family, friends and of course..Rwanda.

A year whether counted in days, weeks or months is a long period of time.

A lot can and has happened in the last 12 months,

but one thing that has never changed is my passion for Africa,

That I'm positive will stay with me forever.

You guys have heard a lot about Rwanda from me and

Im sure your kinda swtiching off now so lets move on...

In more exciting news, my dad and his girlfriend
announced they were engaged to be married.

Like most things through-out life my dad likes to do things a
little different to everyone else,

So 11 days today we will all be together on
 Camusdarch beach praying for sunshine!

Something else ive mention a hundred times before is that
 family means everything to me.

 I can't imagine a better way to spend a wedding than with
my incredible boyfriend& surrounded by family and friends
(and sunshine, wasn't sure if i'd mentioned that!)

Since started my last placement it became clear that I am definately a
bedside hospital nurse and that community is not for me,
 I much prefer the hands on approach as apposed

to visiting people in their homes and finding out
 what they think about todays weather!!!

As a result of this I became quite home sick but due to a few

very special people I have been able to battle it out;

Iain: I know I tell you all the time how much you mean to me but you have kept me going,

you encourage and support me through everything I do and without your
 help these last few months I'm not sure I would still be here!

 You have been through a difficult time yourself but yet you always put me first -

There are not many in the world like you, so lucky to have you.

Yes it is very difficult leaving you and being apart but it
makes the time we spend together even better!

'Every day apart is another day closer together'. I love you x

Lisa & Kay: We have only just started speaking and I am so glad we have (sometimes!).

 As much as we slate each other constantly, I do love having you guys around.

We are all going through placements we don't really enjoy and it helps having people

who totally understand. Coming back to Aberdeen from being at home is very difficult

 but it helps knowing I have you guys here! Never a dull moment eh? 4 Legged Reem Team!

Please Sponsor!

http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/4leggedrace

Family: Your always there to help out with advice or support or just to listen and sometimes thats exactly what I need. Being so close as a family makes it difficult to be away from you guys but I know you are always there if I need you, you have no choice!

Very lucky to have such a great family, although were not exactly in short supply....

My next placements are really good and in the next few months

 I look forward to moving in with various family members.

In conclusion with my blog from a year ago today:

 Yes i am very happy, I have a life filled with amazing people

who support me in whatever i do or wherever I end up.

Not many people can say that :)

Rwanda, Borders, Aberdeen or Inverness - Same Person just a different Postcode!

Lx

Sometime down the line... [5 months if we're being precise]

Want to start this by saying

"I'm Sorry..."

Firstly for taking SO long to update this &

Secondly for not learning to update sooner since the last time i said sorry! 

Since October 2011 a lot has happened...

Some good, some bad and some that just don't need to be mentioned,

Either that or I'm just blatently going to pretend they didn't happen, ok with you?

I won't go into detail because, to be honest, if I did we would still be here another 5 months later.

In short (very short) here it is,

The last 5 months in the life of 'Moi'

November&December:

 Worked hard at uni

Got to know flatmates

Made new friends

Thought I'd lost someone

Found out placement

Sat Exams

Thought about Rwanda

Enjoyed Christmas

Reunited with Uggs

January&February:

Got 2 A's in Exams

Started my Hospital placement

Met inspirational nurses

Grew as a student nurse

Saw life changing things

Found out I hadn't lost that person

Thought about Rwanda

Turned 20!

March

Got an A for my placement

Found out I'm heading to Inverurie next

Searched for flats

Watched lots of rugby

Thought about Rwanda

Spent a lot of time with IJM<3

Continued taking each day as it comes..

Looks like a lot when u put it like that,

"If I could would I do it differently?"

 "If I did would I still be who I am now?"

I guess what happens in your life shapes who u become,

So from my own advice - MY past, MY life, MY lessons

They're what make me, well er ... Me

So no I wouldnt change it,

Not for the world.

 Basically, after all that information,

all you really need to know is my life is perfect, as far as perfect goes...

I have definately choosen the right career for me and loving every minute

I have the worlds best family, in fact I'm lucky enough to have two

My boyfriend and I are back together and better&stronger than ever

My best friend will ALWAYS be my best friends, deep down

My flatmates are great people who im very glad i met

I'd say that was pretty damn perfect,

Wouldn't you?

Lx

Whole New Chapter

Been far too long since my last blog.

When I came on here I thought it was time for a change;

A new photo, a new layout, a new chapter of my life...

But am I really ready to move on?

Someone very wise once told me

 'It it's in your heart, you'll never leave it behind'

This may be true but it doesn't make it any easier to move on...

I mean, what can possibly compare to my last life chapter?

Ok so here it is, my official confession 

that I'm finding this chapter the hardest;

- New flat, friends and lifestyle

- Leaving behind family and friends

- Being double the distance away from Iain

- Being landed with so much responsibility all at once

And that's before I even mention the workload.

But really I should just be grateful 

I have the support I need to even have this opportunity,

It will all be worth it in the end.

In the scale of things, what's three years of your life.. 

Nothing, right?

Lx

Life As We Know It...

Instead of writing a general blog

 About feelings, issues or opinions.

 I thought I would take this opportunity to explain

 Just exactly what's going on in my life at the moment and how i got here.

In 2010 I became a leaver from EHS with the intention of studying teaching at University.

Oh how things have changed....

After months of trailing through University Prospectus and Applying for Jobs

 I found inspiration from someone a bit closer to home (Selkirk!)

 I realised that I wasn't ready for Uni and 

I wasn't ready to commit the rest of my life at the click of a UCAS offer. 

So as you all know I left for Rwanda and it was the best decision I have EVER made. 

While in Rwanda I had A LOT of time:

 To learn to appreciate the smaller things in life

To grow as an individual & take care of myself

And to think things over.... and over and over.

With this time I realised that Teaching was not for me,

 I didn't like the idea of barely bonding with a child and the strict professional relationship.

 Anyone who knows me well enough will appreciate the heart I have for helping others,

 It is a great passion of mine and one I want to be able to tie in with a career.

After months of searching and changing my mind I found the perfect course for me; Child Nursing.

This allows me to combine working with children and helping others into one amazing job. 

A few interviews later I was 1 Conditional and 1 Unconditional closer to achieving that goal,

But Napier or Aberdeen...

After weeks of thinking, many pros and cons lists and many opinions later 

I decided to combine MY heart and MY head and accept RGU Aberdeen. 

So now all the hard decisions are made and I am back to reality:

Continuing my job at the Coop in Melrose

Enjoying the time left in the Borders with great family and friends

Loving every minute I spend together with my fantastic boyfriend 

And reflecting on all the right decisions I have made 

Rather then dwelling on the wrong ones.

Now, for the first time ever, I have a plan,

And not just any plan, one I am happy with...

Now that's pretty amazing right?

Lx

Happy Happy Happy

What if...?

'What if'

I mean how many times in your life do u think, say or ask: 

What if?

Isn't it crazy that one tiny insignificant 'what if' could completely change your life...

I mean what if i didn't go to Rwanda...

 I would of worked in the coop for 3 months, 

Yeah I would have been a couple thousand pound richer

 But no amount of money could replace that experience.

What if my parents were still together,

Would of avoided a lot of challenging situations

But I wouldn't have the extended family I do now.

What if I went to University last year to do Primary Teaching
Yeah I would be a year into a degree
But I would be a  year into the wrong degree.

What if Russell, Cameron or Lexie weren't here?
What if Lisa didn't move here in primary 5?
What if Iain didn't start emailing me?

So many questions and possibilities,
So many things that could have changed....
But I wouldn't want it any other way.

Life is full of so many 'what ifs' 
And sometimes its better just to take everyday as it comes 
Because, at the end of the day, life's just too short. 
Don't you think?

Lx

Until next time Rwanda....

So as we speak I am sitting in Kigali Airport, Rwanda.

Either; 3 months, 12 weeks, 90 days, 2160 hours or a whole lot of unforgettable memories.

Some doubted my decisions, some didn’t understand and some just didn’t listen

But now I can truly say with all of my heart – it was all 100% worth it.

Firstly I want to thank everyone who made this dream possible,

If it wasn’t for all your support I wouldn’t have made it.
Rwanda and its inspiring people are now a part of my life that I will always remember,

And for that I am eternally grateful.

Secondly I want to thank everyone at the YWAM base...

Life with you there as friends, as family, as servants – it was unforgettable.

Every one of you have been a blessing to meet whether staff, student or volunteers

You all made a difference to my trip and I will never forget you.

Thirdly I want to thank Umugwaneza.

Without all your support, information, guidance,

Life and laughter this would NEVER have been possible.

You put up with me learning Kinyarwanda

You showed me African living

You took me to Akagera and Bukora

Basically, you made my trip.

I will never forget you and our time together in Rwanda

See you in two months? Can’t wait.

Finally, I want to thank Rwanda.

I want to thank the people for their warm welcome

It is amazing how this country has been rebuilt after the terrible Genocide,

It is such a beautiful place and everyone looks after it so well.

The difference between the city and the country was extreme...

But from both places I experienced amazing things.

I think from this you can all tell I pretty much has the time of my life,

Hope to meet again someday Rwanda, Love Nyiramwiza!

Lx