Well everyone, this is it. The final Chapter. It has been a pleasure a blogging for you, i hope i have inspired some of you to do something a little crazy or different. I certainly did some much that i cannot put in this due to parents reading, however the entire year will be in my memories for the rest of my life. I also hope maybe some of you might even consider a gap year with Project Trust, an incredible charity. Also you shall be pleased to know i have been very careful not to make the 'gay year' spelling mistake repeat from my fundraising. I hope you haven't found the awful grammar too horrible and feel free to contact me about anything, even the film Frozen.
The last 6 weeks blew by in a blur. Adapting to live without Dermody was rather interesting, however i had my three wonderful kittens Orea, Mozz and Auzz to keep me company. First i managed to do on my return was stab my fridge, yes well done there Cal. No cold water for me until i get home then. The main excitement of the last stint was of curse the world cup. Now most people would watch the world cup in the evening, maybe some pizza and a cold beer. Bliss. Me, alarm goes at 3:30 to catch the opening game. Fun Fun Fun. The group stages were incredible and the entire country was buzzing with talk, I'm sure they learned more English from the football than from me the whole year. However discussing the likes of how bad England where, James Rodriguez, Suarez the dinosaur and as the boys called them the "Beautiful Brazilian Babes" kept us all very entertained.
Due to the big house now having only me in it, we decided to move our PT meet up to Kota Putra, home of Tom and Danny. Now they happen to happen to have a beach, complete with large amounts of driftwood. Que giant manly fires. All 18 year old boys are pyromaniacs in case you didn't know. This couldn't just be any fire, we had to put stuff on it. It began with just plastic, some shoes however ended with some classics. Deodorant cans. Incredible, enjoying the lack of Malay health and safety one last time before returning home. We finished the nights with what we called 'The Triskelion'. This beast was three deodorant cans strapped together with a fuse. Lets just say it put the fire out with a bang. Lads Lads Lads.
I decided that some female influence was potentially required so the girls of Kuala Krai, Alex and Helena were invited for the last free weekend before Ramadan. We had a girly day. Sat, watched films and ate junk food. I felt very guilty due to the brilliant gym progress i am making, but one day cant hurt. I have now lost 8 KG in 4 months, 4 inches of my waist and can bench 55KG. The six pack is coming ladies, watch out. Now all that was left was to prepare for Ramadan.
Ramadan is the annual Muslim fasting festival. From sunrise to sunset, nothing may pass your lips. Nothing. I decided however, challenge accepted, i would take part. I fainted the first week, lack of water. After that i slightly bent the rules, but still did my best. how the kids manage it, from as young as six i cant understand. Suppose it is testament to what utter belief in something can drive you too achieve. Through all this however, they still find the energy to play football. For me however Ramadan introduced unique festival foods and markets. You will never taste, smell, hear, touch and see food like this in your life. It was staggering, the amount, the excitement. I got completely absorbed into the celebrations, was invited to break fast with all the teachers and really knew then what a part of the community i had become. The only downside is, the gym opens at 9 at night. Nightmare. Ended up getting to sleep at 12 for an 8am start everyday. Almost as bad as school at home.
There was time for one last small holiday before the end of my teaching contract. Another trip to the gorgeous Perhentian islands, this time with the lads from Besut. We arrived and did exactly what immature bys do at the beach, bought a tennis ball and an inflatable ring. We spent the day trying to drown each other, throwing sand and smacking each other in the back of the head with the ball. Standard Proceed huh. the funny moment came when Danny, looking confident, hurdled the ball at me. I dodged. It landed in a fisherman's boat. He went insane, threw the ball back at Danny. The colour of red that boy went, he could have been middle class strawberry at Wimbledon. However not as red as i was later that night when we got out the water. In a disastrous move, no sun cream was applied that day. To say i was a lobster was an understatement, in was so painful. Kids, listen to your parents, sun bad, suncream good. However, it wouldn't phase me from an evening of good mates,, sunsets and alcoholic beverages. the next morning involved snorkeling, sunbathed and generally enjoying the beautiful of relaxing on a tropical beach on my GAP YAH. Had to reference the great video at some point in my final post, hopefully i haven't copied Orlando too much. For people who don't know https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKFjWR7X5dU is this bible for traveling in this world. It certainly was the way my biology teacher say my year going, and i have to say it made me laugh a few times after id 'been on the lash'. Best nights o my life. The Perhentians were rounded off by watching Germany beat France at football, always fun when the bar is full of German's and French. I shouted out GO SCOTLAND at one point, not the right crowd. The islands had given me many incredible memories over the year and will be sorely missed, having such a beautiful place on my doorstep, i have never know what that feels like. Oh wait, i live in the highlands of Scotland, so its simply beautiful in a different way. Comparing the two is impossible, they are both as unique and breathtaking as each other.
With the end of my wee holiday, all that was left was to watch the world cup semi final's. Shouldn't be too interesting. 5-0 at half time, what am i seeing. The Brazilians being beaten 7-1 was possibly the most shocking things i actually saw in my entire year, which is saying something. The school went insane, the kids couldn't contain the shock that the great Neymar was out of the greatest competition on earth. Some of them even managed to blame me for it, not quite sure how that happened. Moving onto to the final, the atmosphere was tense, who would win, would Messi perform. To be honest, i got the time wrong and missed the start of the final, epic fail. The lads would never forgive that that one.In true German style, clinical. What more did we expect to be honest, i won a beat with the teachers for predicting the winner from the beginning. Another welcome surprise from the Final result, i won my phone. Well an invite to be my exclusive dream phone,, the Oneplus One. I had been wanting this phone for months, and now it would be waiting for me at home. Mum did seem slightly unhappy when i let slip that this was the thing i was looking forward to most about my return to Scotland. Such a teenager was the comment used. Clearly Asia hadn't changed me too much.
With the football over, there was time for one final Malaysia lads meet up. What did we do, build a massive fire again. This time in the back garden. The evening finished with a beer on the roof watching the sunset. This was perfect, it was exactly what my year had been about. Good company, fantastic place and good drink. Now came the packing. Oh the packing. After dumping my life for a year onto my bed i realised that when mum said it may not all fit, she might have had a point. After packing my suitcase to 29.7KG with a 30KG weight limit, get in, i thanked myself i had been hitting the gym for so. The last few days at school where very emotional, the kids gave me so many posters i was gutted i couldn't get them back. Some of the teachers were still calling me James,but that's to be expected. In all the hype for Hari Raya the fact they made space to give me a send off was very touching. I had a school assembly where i even got to sit in the posh VIP chairs, love it.On my final evening, i gaev a shout out speech to the kids, who had been the main reason my year had been such an incredible experience. I was then grouped hugger by half the school, they also promised to look after next years Project Trust volunteers as they have me. I will admit i was rather touched as i pulled away from the house for the last time. It had been my home for a year, so many memories had been made and it will always have a special place in my heart.
Kelantan was left behind, so after a short stay in KL which involved the cinema and rooftop drinking, it was time to board the plane. I cant really describe how i felt, the 3 girls where crying their eyes out but i will say i felt more as though a great chapter of my life was over, time for the next adventure. The flights home where thankfully uneventful, i was used as a human pillow and my jumper was stolen within 10 seconds however that's what you get for traveling with girls. Alex i have to say is the cutest sleeper i have ever seen, she looks like a kitten snuggled up under a blanket. Adorable. The stop in Abu Dhabi was brief, onto to London. Again, snuggles with Alex and nearly loosing my passport kept the flight interesting. The passport incident was solved and the air hostess simply said 'sure, would you like a whiskey'. She will always have a special place in my heart. The arrival on British soil was eventful, a burr of family tears and reunion, lea and i watched from the sidelines, didn't stop Alex's mum from pulling us both for huggage with luggage. So that was it, on the train. A surprise of too old women was waiting for me at Kings Cross. In the true and never changing fashion of my Granny and Gac, i was promptly scolded for not being more punctual in my arrival. Brilliant. It was fantastic to see them after a year, i cant wait to see everyone in the wide Vickerstaff family. As i boarded the train, i finally felt that the best country in the world was within touching distance. I was going home. Scotland. In true fashion of, as Helena described us, 'The people north of the wall, you wildlings' i met some quality girls on the train and we preceded to take full advantage of the free alcohol in first class. My mum would have been proud. On my arrival in Inverness, my first thought was 'God this country is cold'. However on seeing my now fatter brother, dad and a quick chippy on the way home, it started to sink in, i had done it.
Reflecting on my year is something that is very difficult to put into words. I view it as many things, i had survived. I have changed so much, more than i could have ever imagined. I had seen some truly incredible things, done some truly incredible things. Some things i would love to repeat, some I'm glad have remained in Asia. There is so much i cannot put in this blog and so much i still wish in my short blip of existence i hope to achieve. Thank you to everyone that supported me both before, during and hopefully after my life changing experience. In Malaysia, one of my favorite girls Mitts has provided the cute factor to brighten my day, Posh Twanks has hated me religiously, but i know she loves me really, the north Malaysia lads have provided manly moments, including chasing a chicken from the kitchen with a mop, Li Li and Dope on Sabah provided exotic company when i saw them and all my others friends i have made during the year, have a drink on me. Now it is time to be reunited with some of my old nutcases at one of the best weekends the highlands can offer, Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival. I'm sure i will teach them how to live Asia style, Lads on the Lash.
I really hope you have all enjoyed keeping up with my doings, hopefully this has been a slightly unique taste of just a small piece of what i have experience. A big shout out the Chris my desk officer and Project Trust for being the best support any crazy teenager could ask for and i would encourage anyone with even the slightest curiosity to just drop everything and get out there. You are only young once, get out there and see the world. Say 'just do it' and go make some incredible memories. I certainly have. So for that, priceless experience, i am incredibly lucky.
Next steps are university in Edinburgh to study Biological Sciences which my mum has already started nagging me for. You can travel the world but some things never change huh. Thank Mum and Dad for looking out for me, we drive each other nuts but i wouldn't have it any other way. Love you both. Oh and Siobhan, cheers for irritating Boi for we while Ive been away. Love you both too. In fact to everyone, i love you and Thank You. For everything.
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