Callum Russell Gap Year Experience!

Callum Russell – Gap year experience!

Whilst studying French, Italian and Hispanic Studies at the University of Birmingham, I decided to go to South America. The big reason was that I wanted to do the Inca Trail.

Clearly, booking a trip like this is both difficult and time consuming. So I enlisted the services of Jo Osmond from a company called Travel Counsellors. The biggest challenge we faced was booking the Inca Trail. Companies were unwilling to take on a blind person, due to the potential health and safety risks. There were times when I began to lose hope. But Jo never gave up and eventually found a willing supplier, Journey Latin America. So my dream was finally turned into reality and from there, the rest of the trip was formed.

In the main, it was unbelievable. I started in Rio, where I visited Christ the Redeemer statue, the Tijuca forest, the botanical gardens and Sugarloaf mountain. However, this was a two day appetiser for a visit to a traditional Brazilian barbecue followed by a Samba show, which included dancing and the most amazing drumming.

Then I headed to the Iguazúalls, where I had the best guide I could wish for, because he wanted me to have the best time possible. When I arrived, instead of taking me straight to my hotel, he took me to the Brazilian side of the falls and a bird sanctuary. The following day at the Argentine falls, he took me on the boat ride, which goes into the falls themselves. It was like having a massive shower. This was then followed by an All You Can Eat Argentine barbecue and a night on the town. I was only meant to have done the walking tour of the Argentine falls.

Like all of these things, your luck doesn't last forever. When I arrived in Buenos Aires, I was met by a guide who was quite unpleasant. Her sighted guide technique was outstanding, despite having never had any training. However, despite trying everything, the ice simply wouldn't break down. On excursions, she would rush around, as though she wanted to get it over with as quickly as possible. This made going out with her very unenjoyable. Even taking her arm to walk from my hotel to the car, a journey of about thirty yards was painful.

The ice eventually broke at the international airport when she was putting me on the plane to Lima. It only broke, because the official stated over the radio that I needed assistance and that I was standing there with my mother. But this was followed by the most upsetting part, when she hugged me and told me how great it was to have me in the city. She may have meant this, but after the way I'd been treated, it felt totally disingenuous. I have never celebrated seeing the back of somebody so much.

Then it was the project in Lima. A charity called Quest Overseas wanted university language students to work as volunteers on a project in the shanty town of Villa Maria, about forty-five minutes from Lima city centre. I chose to work with the local children giving drumming lessons. I've been a drummer for fourteen years although I have never been a drum teacher. Having said that, it was very enjoyable and this was confirmed when four of the children performed in the last family show that we organised.

I did some work in the school and found some of the teachers unwilling to communicate with me. They wouldn't even say "hello." They'd never come across blindness before, and Quest Overseas hadn't prepared them for my arrival. But overall, the project was a success and I'm glad I played my part.

After the project had finished, I was headed for the jungle. It was stunning. There were so many sounds at the same time that I can't begin to explain what they were. I had a great time there, until I fell ill on the last night. It was a raging stomach bug, which culminated in me waking up unable to feel my hands, face, or feet.

After having my hands manipulated for a few minutes, feeling started to return and I was able to make the journey back to Puerto Maldonado, the local town. This journey consisted of two boats and a three kilometer trek. However, upon arrival at the airport, the problem resurfaced and it became apparent that I wasn't fit to fly and headed for a doctor. After an injection, I felt instantly better but I'd missed the last plane and so stayed the night in Puerto Maldonado.

Upon arrival in Cusco, with with the cooler temperatures, my condition improved rapidly. This meant that I could do the thing that I'd wanted to do all trip, the Inca Trail. We completed it in three days, a day ahead of schedule, which is done rarely. The people were the highlight during my time in the Andes. I will never forget them and it was certainly very hard to leave.

Now that's over, it's a busy academic year ahead, as I have to prepare for my year abroad, which starts in September. This includes travelling to potential host institutions to check that they're able to meet all my requirements. So I'm certain that the year will be eventful!