So, no joy on the visa front.  The possibilities that I had haven’t worked out and, while I could scrape around for something to do somewhere or go travelling again or something I don’t really feel like it now, so I’m going to come back to England and then re-assess.  I’ll be getting back on 28th March and working things out from there.  I’m not aiming to rush back into work, especially as I really don’t know what I want to do, so I’ll probably just bum around staying on friends floors and at my parents and stuff for a month or so (consider this notice).

So, has this all been a waste of time?  Has it been a mistake?  Hmm, I’d say no.  I had a really good time travelling, met loads of nice people, had lots of interesting experiences, and since I got here I’ve met nice people and seen a side of Africa few people get to see, so I’d say its been a good experience.  There have, obviously, been negatives, though.  I’ve not been able to do the work I was promised, and that’s really got me down.  I think I’ve learned a lot.  I am more suspicious of development work now, I wonder if it can ever be sustainable and I have learned that there needs to me a lot of organisation behind work such as this.  I have a big bunch of questions in my head that I will ask if I do this again.  And will I do it again?  Maybe.  I am not decided.  I think if I did I would do it with a bigger organisation and with a better idea of what sort of support I might get and a more concrete job description - but I’m certainly not put off totally by things.

What’s the future hold, then?  As I say I’ll be thinking about this from now on and I’ll try not to rush into anything in England.  Maybe I’ll try and get a job I really enjoy in England (what, I cannot say).  And if not one that pays a lot in London, then use that money to do something nicer that pays less at some later date.  Maybe I’ll do neither of these, I really don’t know.  Suggestions welcome.