After I went on a 4 week trip to Namibia in 2008, I came back and told myself- I am going to go to an African country for longer! My conditions: I am not going to pay a massive amount to an agent, for a quick deal.... ; I am going to find it myself; and, I an going to be a real asset to the project.

I spent hours on end on Google, days...nights...

I got to the point where I almost gave up because I just couldn't find the right thing,. I could only find the quick, expensive deal- the all inclusive "We take care of everything- but we are going to rob your bank account".

It just didn't feel right. Then I found a statement from a guy who had an animal rehab centre in South Africa, on a website I never saw again.? I googled the project and I was so desperate, that I just wrote to them and asked if I could just come for the duration of a holiday. The answer back was, don't you want to consider staying longer- like a year. (I'm a vet assistant and they needed someone for the clinic). I stayed for a year, It completely changed me. I came back to Germany but the aching of my gypsy heart was still very much there.

So, this project became my hub for a little while. I stayed...I went on a journey... I came back.to see different African countries, different projects- real projects, good projects, responsible projects, but what did they all have in common? They were off the beaten track. they were off the mainstream and the ´all inclusive' deal - yes, you can also have this with volunteer projects.

What I got out of this journey? The person I am now! I can accomplish things and trust myself to take the right step,. even though it was scary leaving my comfort zone and I would tiptoe forward.

Looking back, it was the best thing I could have ever done and In the best way, I could have ever done it.