Pauline Clark

Leaving: January 2008
Destination: Swaziland, Africa.
Programme: 12 weeks Orphan Care, Swaziland
Occupation: Nurse

Pauline jets off to Africa in January. We spoke to her a few days before she was due to leave to see how she was feeling about the journey ahead of her.

What was your motivation to take a break and go travelling?
It's very common now for young people to take gap years when they finish university. That wasn't so when I was younger. During my years when my children were young I would have liked the opportunity to go out to India to help a missionary and unfortunately, because I was married and had young children, it was never possible for me to do. I've always thought of that lost opportunity. When you see the Christmas ads on the TV such as ‘give a child a chance' or ‘send Christmas boxes out to remote areas' I've always wondered, how do you get involved in that? How could I do something in that kind of work? So I've always had a thought of actually going out and doing something in a poor area or a third world country. I've thought about working in a third world country as a nurse because I am a nurse and I have worked for thirty years as a nurse. Having said that, I'm not going on a nursing or medical project, I'm doing something different.

I'm not scared of travel; I have travelled on my own. I went to Australia last year. I'm not worried about going to any part of the world on my own. I have no responsibilities here now - my two sons have grown up, I live on my own and financially I am able to do what I am doing. A lot of my friends envy me and have said they wish they could afford to do it with me. Unfortunately they have mortgages and they can't afford to take three months off work. I feel very privileged in the sense that I can actually afford to do this. I feel as if it's something I have always wanted to do.

Was there anything in particular that prompted you to take the first step?
My friend took a year off work last year and she was thinking about going to Australia. I thought that would be fabulous and thought I'd see if I could get 12 months off work and we would go out and work rather than volunteer because it would be for 12 months. Then we started talking about volunteer work and work in other countries and it stemmed from that really. She then decided that she couldn't go away and I suppose the thoughts were then with me. I thought, before I get too old, (I might be 52 but I feel 25 I have more energy than the colleagues I work with less than half my age) I must take this opportunity now before it is too late. My father died at the age of 52 and I think that good heavens that is young, and I'm now at that age and if I don't do this now I'm never going to do it. I've got this opportunity and I've got the finances to be able to do it, I've just got to get out there and do it.

How did you feel once you had booked?
‘Wow, I've done it, there's no turning back - find out everything about Swaziland that I can'! I keep looking at the temperatures on the Internet. I was surprised to find it was their rainy season so I've gone from thoughts of flip-flops to walking boots although I know it will still be pretty warm. It doesn't matter what time of year and whether it is raining - I'm not going there to get a suntan. I do like my beach holidays but that's just total relaxation. I'm not going there to get a tan or to chill out as it were. I feel that I am going out there to do a job and hopefully to do it very well.

Why did you choose to travel with Gap Year For Grown Ups?
I looked at three companies and I can't even remeber the other two. I'm not very good on the computer and I just seemed to get as much information as I wanted from Gap Year For Grown Ups.

What have you had to organise for your trip?
I have cancelled my car insurance and it will be locked up in one of my sister's garages. I don't know whether this is a good thing but my twenty-year-old son is going to come and stay here for three months and I'm also going to have a housekeeper to come in and look after the house. Other than that I'm pretty organised. I haven't had to do much other organisation other than decide what to take and how much to take.

What do your family and friends think of your plans?
They're just in awe of me really. My close friends think it is so fantastic. My 73-year-old neighbour knocked yesterday and said “I believe you are going to Africa…oh Pauline if I was twenty years younger I would come with you. I think you are marvellous”. I'm not marvellous, I'm no different from anybody else, I just feel that I have this opportunity and I have to take it. Word spreads around in work, I met someone in the city centre yesterday and he stopped me to wish me luck. That was someone who I just happen to see occasionally - I work in a very big place, a prison, and he is one of the officers, someone who I just say hello to every now and then. Everybody is just amazed.

My family think I'm going to bring half a dozen children back with me! It's going to be quite a wrench - I'm quite an emotional person and I'm sure it is going to be very hard when I come home. My friends have reminded me that I'm not Madonna and that I can't bring back a few children with me! Well, never say never!

How did you organise getting the time off work to go on your trip?
Initially they said, “Well, we've never had anyone who's wanted to do this, we'll have to speak to the management and find out”. Then it was very straightforward, my job and my position have been kept open so it's not a problem other than they're not going to pay me but I didn't expect that they would!

How do you think you will feel when it comes to saying your farewells to friends and family?
It will probably be a bit tearful as I'm an emotional thing. My sister, niece, nephew and son will be there. They are taking me to the airport in Manchester, which is only down the road from us. It's just the waving through the barrier and waving goodbye and it's not as if it's a holiday or as if I'm going to be going for a month. It's three months, although having said that I'm sure it will go too quickly - I made my first enquiry in November and here we are in January all ready. I'm sure when I get there it will fly and I will want to stay for another six months.

Have you had any second thoughts or last minute nerves?
I think that because we have just had Christmas and all the preparations for Christmas, which I love, that has stemmed my excitement so I'm just taking it in my stride. Now that the house is back to normal, the tree is down, the decorations have gone and I've packed my bag and it's just two days until I go! I do have a headache, which may be a side effect of my malaria tablets, but I'm wondering if it is nerves! I am nervous about going, I'm sure I won't make a botch job of it and I'm sure I will be fine, I just don't want to let anybody down. I'm also wondering what I'll be doing this time next week!

Is there anything in particular that you are looking forward to the most?
I would like to have a lot of involvement with younger children - quality playtime. I don't know whether I will be involved with younger children. Even making friends with older children, making friends generally and fitting in - fitting in with the culture and their lifestyle.

What do you hope to achieve during your trip?
Something positive. I suppose everyone says they want to make a difference. Just make a difference to somebody.

Gap Year For Grown Ups will be in touch with Pauline during her time in Swaziland. To track her trip and to read more about her experience, keep an eye on the website!