The decision to leave
on Indian Bells (India), 19/Sep/2010 15:04, 34 days ago
This week I made an important decision, one that has been consuming my mind for a few weeks now. I decided that I will leave my placement earlier than originally planned. My period of service was for 1 year, but VSO consider a placement complete after 9 months, giving volunteers the option to leave slightly earlier and not be marked a failure. I discussed the early departure with my family in Laporiya, with my boss, and with VSO. Since I told them a huge weight has been lifted off my mind, I feel in control and positive about the future. It's not that I think I can't stay until February, it's that my reasons for going home far outweigh my reasons for staying.I feel that I've done what I came here to do. I've had some major achievements at work, I've had my adventure and proved to myself I can cope with what this new situation has thrown at me. There comes a time when you think, actually, what else will I gain by staying out here, and what more can I do for the organisation. I'm ready to come home. I'm ready to have a bit more freedom, to not work 7 days a week, to be able to leave the house. I'm ready to spend Christmas with my family, and to see my love.It's likely I'll be flying back to London on December 17th, so I've got under 3 months to finish off a few pieces of work and make sure what I have done is as sustainable as possible. As for what I'll be doing when I return to England, I'll be living with my parents and trying to find some temporary work until March when I plan to spend 3 months travelling in Japan, China and Nepal, but this time I'll have company.Photo taken at Amber fort, Jaipur which I visited this week with Tim, another VSO volunteer who came for a few days sightseeing from Kolkata.The views expressed in this weblog are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of VSO.