More importantly than packing the right things, which had seemed like a daunting task in itself, the last few months were also about making the most of every little moment. Enjoying the freedom of going to concerts and exhibitions on a whim, walking outdoors for hours, indulging in good restaurants and gorging on fresh fruit, but mostly spending precious time with friends and family. It felt crucial to imprint as many happy memories as I could in my mind, to try to build up a stock of good times to draw upon for the coming year. To soak up as much sun as possible and to fill my eyes with green foliage, flowers, vivid colours. To extract the essence of every occasion, however mundane, to pay attention to every little detail. Even the everyday routine of boarding an early and almost empty train to go to work, the possibility of watching London go by and crossing the Thames felt like a tranquil luxury I would soon miss. I realized how many people there were that I would miss, and it seemed like I did not have enough hours to see them all. Yet throughout this frenetic race to “live to the fullest”, what surprised me the most was how many people were passionate about my project and wanted to learn more! It was truly humbling to appreciate how much this voyage would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
75 Degrees South 