University at 54

So I have competed the Hudson from Albany to Beacon without even a canoe lesson – without Ninth Wave Global it would’ve been impossible. With constant encouragement and support. Talking to family they say I seem different with an inner peace and calm. To b taken away from the norm and only worry about survival , food and sleep and getting to your destination- it puts a different perspective on life. In my family I have a very troubled nephew who is really struggling so.”, after talking with Jon we are thinking about him doing the Amazon, with lots of support but we all feel it would be the making of him. My sister who is also struggling wants the above photo on her wall to inspire her through every day. This is exactly what I feel the organisation do – individual change that lead to a community progression- a ripple effect of inspiration and positivity.

We then head back to Mexico City and are treated to a comfortable bed and good food and as a surprise I am taken to Mexico City and shown the beautiful architecture and buildings that are never shown to us in Europe but really are Mexico’s hidden gem. Architecture is in abundance- such beautiful spaces, eateries and friendly people- not the Mexico we hear about in Europe. I am in awe of such a beautiful city and yet tourists miss this wonder and stay in cities such as Cancun and yet I encourage you to look around and see what this wonderful nation has to offer.

Just to let everyone know that I am having the experience of a lifetime never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d do something like this. We’ve crossed the desert in New Mexico- the lava stones and seen some wonderful sights and covered part of Route 66. The sense of community in this part of America and the environmental work that goes on is nothing short of amazing. The environmental work is all happening at grass-roots level and it is a change at this level that we can then evoke societal change. I have learned so much and gained immensely. Prior to this trip I had a fear of heights and flying – after flying in about 10 planes and spending a night camping at the top of a mountain without a tent – I feel almost fearless. All credit to the organisation Ninth Wave Global and the work that they do for the community and for individuals like myself- which then is having a knock- on effect on people around me – I can educate family and I think it is important to realise that to do something like this is not to be feared but to be embraced. I am now canoeing down the Hudson in New York from Albany to Beacon – I have never canoed in my life but fortunately I am a strong swimmer. We canoe during the night and sleep on floors and grass by the canoes. It is amazing what one can endure and achieve and I can’t thank Yvette and Jon enough from Ninth Wave Global for the experience. if I can do this at 55 please rethink what you can achieve and do for the environment and remember change needs to start at an individual and then community level. I have gained a wonderful appreciation of the Natural World and we as individuals need to look after it and each other and I feel societies could learn a lot from the work going on in Campeche and parts of New Mexico. I encourage you to trust and have compassion for the people and environment around you. Will bog again soon. Alison.

So here’s the thing – I do a 4 flight journey to Campeche, Mexico, one of them being long-long-haul for 10 hours. I arrive exhausted and very late at night. The girl organiser, Yvette, pulls up at the airport with her friend Charlotte, they have just been out. The car is old. We then drive far away from the airport into what seems like a remote area – it’s very late at night and I am jet-lagged and I start to get worried. Warnings that people have told me start to play on my mind. We then go down a winding dirt-track to the left are several Mexican men, we pull up at a house with huge iron fences around it, I am taken to the house and the gates are locked behind me – I didn’t realise that this is to keep the animals in. I am shown the house – there are lots of dogs – that actually are in the process of being rehomed. I start to panic. There are also goats and pigs. It was also very dark that made everything worse.

My bedroom is makes-shift out of crates and I felt uncomfortable. I ask the organisers to take me to a hotel – I also ask them if they are who they say they are – they then drive me through the run-down part of town to the Holiday Inn. They have no room so I have to go with a hotel that the organisers have recommended, so reluctantly I stay at the Casa Balche, which is actually lovely, fall on the bed and get some much needed sleep.

The next day I still worry. They have asked me to bring some items in – a riding helmet and presents for Jon’s children. Jon is the founder of Ninth Wave Global. But, as my brother pointed out if there was anything to worry about – they would be asking for me to take it out of Mexico – not bring it in! I start to relax. My brother emails the organisers, they talk and they come and see me – I realise that it is legitimate. And in fact my mind starts to open up at the amazing work that they do out here. Also, my suitcase got left at Paris because of a baggage handling strike.

Over the next few days I settle in, get over a bad stomach and talk with the company. They then propose to me – a trip down the Hudson via the Americas, which is actually starting tomorrow for 12 days, it will be canoeing and horseback. Meanwhile, meeting people from Universities, who are working environmentally on the Hudson – I shall be visiting indigenous families in remote areas. Now I will get a real feel for what Ninth Wave Global do. I know that they are very strong on Sustainable Development Goals and I look forward to my eyes being opened to the incredible work that they do. I shall keep a journal. My worries – that I will lose my HRT!

So, I have an offer. Masters at Derby University in Applied Theatre and Education, I’ve heard the course is amazing. Finally, an offer. My undergraduate degree finishes in 10 days and I can honestly say, the last three years – although at times – testing – they have been the most wonderful of my life and I wouldn’t swap it for the world.

So, I have a nice long summer and finally I get to go to Mexico. I shall travel solo and last week I did an “Experience flight” from Gatwick to get me used to travelling on a plane again. And now I can’t wait to get in the air. I intend to meet new people, make lots of new friends as well as appreciating a different culture. For 2 and a half months of conservation work, get a suntan and no assignments! Yay! Blue seas and white sands or watching “The Chase” with mom, easy choice I think. I’ll miss my kids, but zoom is good.

As Mark Twain said and I quoted in my last assignment and before I embark on my next adventure, I leave you with this: “Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than the things that you did do. So throw away the bow lines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

Enough said. Enjoy life, whenever possible. Alison.

It was actually during my first summer off at university when my aunt in Kent had a stroke. I was the only one able in the family and as I was close to her I went to help. It was tragic as she had suffered a stroke, but because she had always suffered mental illness when they found her, she was treated for that and not a stroke, which I feel has given her longer term damage.

She was an artist and when clearing her house I found her work, she painted all of her life but never wanted to exhibit until now. The exhibition was a great success with some important people from the “art world” attending. It was magical – she was allowed out from the care home to attend, with difficulty but we managed it.

This project has been two years in the making, also coming to fruition is my degree another amazing experience both personally and academically and I would highly recommend the experience. I didn’t get into Toronto or Vancouver University to do my Masters but it is not meant to be and I am currently waiting to hear from universities in the U.K.

One of Victoria’s collection:

I was just talking to one of my flatmates, who is also a third year and we both don’t know where we will be next year. I feel like an undergraduate again, applying everywhere, but not knowing where we will be next year.

As a re-think I have also applied for post-graduate study into the concept of studying at a much later stage in your life. Study post-50 years is such a minority especially in my subject area and especially “Living-In,” it would be so interesting to study this, so I have applied and guess where, yes, Canada.

Also, one thing, that I would like to raise, is the use of the word “Old,” it is so demeaning. We live in a society where we are very conscious of how we word things, but age is over-looked. My sister was going to have a t-shirt done saying “Old, but not too old to party!” I said, why? Yes, mature but not old, c’mon let’s consider the post 50 group. We’ve all been on this planet a long time and some of us are definitely wiser!

Well, I had some news off Toronto – they have given me sign in details and instructions on how to apply for residence – they said it’s not an offer but it is going in the right direction. I spoke to my tutor I had on my exchange with Canada and she told me to also apply for some other universities in Canada for my MA, so I did and University of British Colombia in Vancouver have asked for examples of my work to accompany my application – I am pleased with what I have submitted so who knows what might happen?

I have also looked at finally doing my Mexico trip this Summer – after Covid and 3 years on my degree – what better way to end than 3 months in a hot and beautiful country and having the experience of a lifetime with their voluntary work. So, this Grandmother may be leaving the nest of what has been my home for the last 3 years in Halls of Residence and embarking on some really special experiences, adding to what has been an incredible journey already.

I would like to wish everyone who has read my blog a very Happy New Year for 2022, a lucky number I feel: keep the faith and remember – If you face the sunshine the shadows will always fall behind you.

Met with Chi Chi this week and she asked me to support her as she was talking at a Conference at the University. She did really well and it was great to see her – we always reminisce when we get together. We were laughing about the times that she used to put the heating up so high in the flat – she used to say everyday was Summer in the flat but as she explained she had just got here from Nigeria and she was freezing, meanwhile i’d be sweating buckets.

I’ve had some acting work – which is great to supplement my income – during Halloween I played a witch at a children’s attraction and then I was a ghost at a Museum and up until Christmas I am selling Dior perfume in a High Street chemist – it’s all been tiring but great fun and it’s good to do some work – it’s good for oneself.

Then tomorrow we are at University and we are pitching plays to perform for our final year. My chosen play is by the amazing African playwright Wole Soyinka, who I discovered on my remote exchange to Canada, who I would love to meet one day. He wrote an amazing play – The Kings Horseman – it’s based on a true story and about the Yoruba people in Africa – a great read – thought provoking.

Halls are comfortable, the rooms are sound-proofed – so I sleep well at night – as I have done since I came to University and I am quite proud of the fact that I have spent all of my 3 years living in Halls and I have gained the full “University Experience.”

Still awaiting news off Toronto University, I know they have had my references – I shall keep you posted – I check my Inbox everyday – waiting for that all important offer that could change my life.

Just to leave you with my favourite phrase……….

Follow Your Dreams …. They Know the Way.

Exciting times…………. Last night I put my application in for Toronto University, Canada, for my Masters. It’s ranked 17^th best university in the world and the course looks amazing. How great would it be to get there, but, I have to get good grades from Derby. I know one of our new term modules at Derby is Directing and I am excited about this because I can chose any scenes to direct from any play and I plan to use a scene from a play that I adapted in Canada, then I will pray that I get good grades.  

When I think of how far that I have come in life…. I suffered from anxiety and depression and was practically housebound up until about 5 years ago. So, what I am saying folks is you can do this, goals can be achieved. There is an amazing life out there for all of us, despite what is currently happening globally, never forget that it is still a beautiful world. I’ll never forget, years ago I saw an ex-agoraphobic on the T.V., he was crossing the Sahara Dessert and I thought that one day too I want to achieve the impossible and now I am. We can all achieve; we can all do the impossible.

I am also now awaiting this start to a new term and to get back into studies is great. I just can’t wait to learn more. It’s quiet in Halls now but I think it’s the calm before the storm, soon it will be chaos. I am looking forward to my final year at Derby to do my last year of my degree. I feel that I have come so far from my Enrolment in 2019, when I just wanted to go home. I’ve had such a journey even throughout Covid, emotionally and intellectually.  

Many people that I know do not watch the news anymore. Can we not report of positive, proactive issues? Have a “Happy Channel.” I did watch the news the other night and yes, it was upsetting – but without knowing what is going on in the world – how can people become informed and make change. This is especially about Environmental Issues, which is very close to my heart. As my friend from the Birmingham Conservatoire, Thomas said, “We are all doing the washing-up, whilst the house is burning down!” 

I hope that you enjoy my blog as much as I have enjoyed writing it.