This time last year

This time last year I left my wonderful family and beautiful home to fly off to Borneo. I can still relive every moment as if it was in slow motion. We arrived at Paris airport and had to wait ages to pay the  excess baggage bill and then it was a real rush to get through in time as they were calling the flight. I nearly turned back and wanted to say goodbye again to Andrew, Tanya and Gen but I couldn't as I was through the security and the flight was boarding. We were all trying to be so brave but I think we couldn't imagine what the reality of it all was going to mean to us as a family. Once I got on the flight and it took off I knew that there was no turning back , no scene like Rachel in Friends, this was it, this was my adventure and I decided then that I would make the most of it and just see how it went.
  If you have been following me through this year you will know that it has been an amazing experience. My job is challenging, very varied but there are moments when it is so rewarding and humbling, I feel very fortunate to have been given the chance to do it. Sabah is just the most wonderful place and although I asked to be placed near the coast and found myself at the top of a mountain you will know that the presence of Mount Kinabalu is very important to me now. The people here are warm, generous and kind and I am so privileged to have met so many lovely people.
  There are of course times when I do feel very homesick and wish I could be back with everyone  ( like Ben and Agathe's wedding this Saturday) but I wouldn't have missed this year for anything. I would just like to say a BIG thank you to my family for being so understanding and supportive about their mother's wanderlust craving - sorry I might have passed it on to you! However none of this would have been possible without Andrew's support and encouragement. Thank you, dearest Andrew for understanding that it was something I had to do.