help – Jess' Journal of Joy

I woke in the middle of the night and as I was trying to get back to sleep, Joey went downstairs. Both of us aren’t sleeping well with constant worries on our minds so I assumed he was watching the news or researching and just not wanting to disturb me. After a while I started to worry and felt like something was wrong. I went downstairs and when I asked if he was ok his no told me that the worst had happened.

Just two days ago we decided we couldn’t wait any longer and booked flights. Things were closing down, flights weren’t departing from Brisbane after the end of March, we knew we were running out of time. Earlier in the evening we had been worrying about borders closing and how we would get from New South Wales to Brisbane, Queensland for our flight. In the early hours of the morning Joey had been browsing his phone and just happened to spot a comment on facebook about Emirates flights. Sky News confirmed our worst fears, Emirates are suspending flights after the 25th March. Our flight was booked for the 26th.

I don’t think I can begin to explain the constant state of anxiety of being out here with the uncertainty of when or if we will make it home. The fear that if we are stuck here something could happen to our family, the isolation of being in a different country away from friends and on a different time zone. Many people out here have an air of confidence as if they are untouchable in Australia or if somehow it will affect everyone less out here. Covid-19 is spreading rapidly and what will happen here will be the same as in every other country, especially if people continue to ignore social distancing and isolating. It upsets me to see comments online of people shrugging it off, saying things like wouldn’t you rather be stuck in this beautiful country than elsewhere in the world? And suggesting that it would be easy to just get some farm work and wait it out. Not everyone has or wants that option. We just want to go home.

So on Mother’s Day, the two best mums in the world have helped us out enormously. Joey’s mum has offered us a place of our own to stay when we return and my mum has helped us rebook flights at an astronomical cost to fly home on Tuesday 24th March instead.

We’ve had no word from Emirates themselves, not even an email to announce the shut down of flights and so far they are still showing online as available to book. We couldn’t get through to anyone on the phone to help and so we were left in the dark with this decision, simply booking what we could no matter the cost. I at least have some knowledge on how flight changes work and it was fairly easy to do online but still this lack of clear information will throw many people into panic. At the same time I feel for the airline workers and travel agents who are fielding calls and desperately trying to help people, please remember to be kind to them as they will be doing all they can, also probably on limited information and still trying to follow both airline and government rules.

I still won’t feel secure until we are on the second leg of our flight. At this moment we still haven’t sold our car. Right now we are feeling pretty broken by this trip.

I know that there are many more people out there desperate to come home who might not be able to. My heart breaks to think of all the suffering and loss and fear going on in the world right now. But I also hear stories of acts of kindness, of people coming together in extraordinary and unique ways while social distancing, of people doing anything and everything they can to keep each other smiling. Please, at this time remember to be kind to those around you, to reach out to those who need help, to follow rules about social distancing, wash your hands and take this seriously.

I hope my next update will be coming from the UK.

One of the parts of my South East Asia trip I’m most excited about is my week in Chang Mai working with elephants. Elephants are and always have been my favourite animal. I mean, these are animals who can communicate with each other over staggering distances, they mourn the deaths of loved ones and they remember and greet old friends with affection. Their intelligence and empathy has always astounded me so I look forward to being up close to these amazing animals. I’ll also be working with Orangutans in Borneo, another exciting aspect of my trip and a chance to learn more about this endangered species. These aren’t the only reasons I chose to do these volunteering experiences or why I think it’s important to volunteer abroad in the first place, in fact, here’s my top 5 reasons why I want to volunteer abroad, not just on this trip but hopefully on future trips too…

To Make a Difference
Of course I wouldn’t volunteer if I didn’t believe in the cause I was supporting. Helping people, animals or the environment is the best part of volunteering; it’s knowing that one small part of the world is different because you helped in some way. A couple of years ago I got the opportunity to visit Teenage Cancer Trust’s new specialised unit at the Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre and the best part was speaking to people who have been affected by cancer, who knew just how big an impact this would have on the patients wellbeing. Every little donation added up to this amazing unit that will help countless people and that kind of impact, big or small, is worth volunteering for, especially in countries in need of that impact.

To Gain New Experiences
Because when else am I going to get to splash about in a river with an elephant? Volunteering abroad offers you experiences you might otherwise never get. It’s also a chance to meet like-minded people and when you’re working together so closely, you’re bound to make new friends.

To Work Hard
This might seem a strange thing to want from volunteering abroad but to be honest I like to keep busy. Doing a bit of hard grafting will make me appreciate the times when I get to chill out and do absolutely nothing even more. Plus it’s always a great thing to add on your CV!

To Learn About Different Cultures
Taking part in a volunteer project abroad can be a great way to break down boundaries and throw you into the thick of a new culture. Often projects abroad mean meeting the locals and eating traditional foods so what could be a better way to get to know a place?

To Learn More About Myself
Volunteering should challenge you as a person. Helping others, meeting new people, gaining new experiences, working hard and learning about other cultures will change you in a positive way. Volunteering in the UK has made me a more confident, motivated and, hopefully, kinder person so I can only imagine what volunteering abroad, throwing myself out of my comfort zone and into new situations, will teach me about myself. The question is, what will volunteering abroad do for you?

Tag: help

5 Reasons Why I Want to Volunteer Abroad