A year of saying yes!

As the longest chapter of my gap year comes to an end, it's time to reflect on the lessons I've learnt over the last 3 months, with 16 new siblings.   

At Machu Picchu 

I've learnt to say yes, whether it be to singing on the bus at the top of our lungs or dancing on an aeroplane, where noone else can hear the music we're listening to. A quote comes to mind: "Those who were seen dancing were thought to be crazy by those who couldn't hear the music." I definitely think I've got a little crazy in me now!

I'm convinced that I've faced my fear of heights after rappelling down a 150ft waterfall and ziplining across valleys in Costa Rica. Glass elevators seem like child's play after that! 

I've learnt not to take life so seriously and to go for the more adventurous options - like crossing a stream on one wobbly plank instead of finding a safer route, or trying strange foods like guinea pig and alpaca.

An adventure? Alpaca my bags!

I've learnt to go with the flow - this is a hard one for me as I like to be in control, but when you don't know where you'll be in 5 days time or how you're getting there, it's hard to be. 

                                       

I've learnt to sleep with the noise of 12 adopted sisters in bunk beds (a very useful skill to have), and learnt to do so whenever I have the opportunity, because you never know when you may need to get up at 3am to hike Machu Picchu or catch a boat to the Amazon. This lesson was challenging for me too. I remember struggling so much with sleep in the first 2 weeks, because of the jetlag. Back then, I couldn't even fall asleep with the lights on!

Sunrise on the Amazon

I feel like I've come a long way since my first few days in the Dominican Republic, and even though I'm sad to leave Peru, I'm excited to go home and start 2016 with a bang, and saying yes to more things.

Sunset over the dunes in Huacachina, Peru