For a day that has taken forever to arrive, it suddenly feels like it has come too soon. Today marks exactly one week before I depart to Edinburgh as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar to read for the MSc in Global Health and Public Policy at the University of Edinburgh. My mind and body feel wrangled with both excitement and nerves for what lies ahead.

It feels like forever ago that I received the phone call that set this all in motion and gave me the opportunity to formally pursue my passion for Health and Public Policy questions for South Africa. I truly appreciate Rotary District 9350 and The Rotary Foundation recognising this in me and providing me with the platform to turn this dream into a reality.

For those who know me, you know that I have taken a rather unconventional path to reach this point, but then you also know that I have highly varied interests and sheer determination in the face of adversity. I believe this exposure to the Social and Information Sciences, Finance and ICT have built competencies in me that will inevitably prove  invaluable in reaching my medium to long-term goals and aspirations and empower me to contribute as much as I can to my community with the skills and knowledge I continue to build upon.

Tomorrow is my last day in full-time employment. This bodes a complete lifestyle shift for me, especially considering that Rands do not convert to Sterling very well. The return to a student lifestyle is definitely going to take some adjustment, especially for Muriel* (my credit card), who is going to suffer neglect over the next year.

Most of the big admin issues are out of the way. I’ve packed my room into boxes, jumped hoops (and proven I speak English) to get my visa, bought my ticket, and even found a shoebox to live in, in Edinburgh. My next challenge, though, is to figure out how to pack my bag for the next year in under 23kg. I fear.

My next post will likely be from my shoebox in Edinburgh, which thankfully has an Internet connection; so until then, lang may yer lum reek! (Wi ither fowks coal!)

* Muriel was named for Muriel Heslop of Muriel’s Wedding, so that when the limit is inevitably reached I can say, “You’re terrible, Muriel!”