Nepal

But it stuck with me, this wish to do something wild and spontaneous. And then, as if someone had been listening to my despairing thoughts and decided to give me a nudge in the right direction, my sister told me that Sara and Don, who had booked a month-long trip to Nepal in the summer, were no longer going on their trip as Don couldn’t take time away from his studies. Sara didn’t think she was going to go either, not wanting to go alone. I didn’t say anything to my sister, but it occurred to me that there was absolutely no reason that I couldn’t take Don’s place. She needed a companion, I needed an adventure. So a few weeks later, when Sara emailed to say she couldn’t come to a BBQ I was having, I floated the option of me going instead, and after she told me the details and asked me to consider it, it took all of five minutes for me to know that I was definitely going to go. I had to work out the practicalities – as spontaneous as I was feeling, I wouldn’t want to get into debt or throw myself completely in the deep end without having a way of getting out of the water afterwards. But I realised I had enough money to cover the trip and rent for the next two months, as well as spending money for Berlin when I returned in September, I had time to get my necessary vaccinations, the flights could be transferred in my name (which we later found couldn’t actually be done, though Don bought a new ticket and got a refund for the original one) and I’d be back with plenty of time to spare before my OU course started in October. I asked work whether they’d let me take a break, but even before this, I knew I was going whatever the outcome. They said no, and whilst the thought of coming back to unemployment was quite a shock and a rush of panic shot through me as I heard the words, a few seconds later, this incredible feeling of freedom ran over my body and I felt a thrill that this part of my life was over. It felt like a sign – all these different factors had come together to this moment where I had the opportunity to completely change my life.

And so here I am, two weeks later, vaccinated to the brim, preparing to officially give my 1 week’s notice, and looking out into a world of uncertainty.

I can’t wait for it all to start.