Conflict & Peace

When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace

 - Jimi Hendrix

I could wax lyrical about my absence but I'd rather tell you about my internship

(which happens to be the very reason I've been away from blogging).

Responding to Conflict is an NGO which works in war torn countries around the world, helping communities and training local partners to transform conflict and begin the peace building process.

So what have I learnt thus far as the communications intern?

1) Diplomacy doesn't necessarily mean you are being democratic.

2) 70% of the army during the Liberian civil war was child soldiers, some as young as eight.

3) If you give people freedom they will reward you with justice

4) Joan the South African peace consultant puts salt on her oranges. Weird.

 

I think I finally know what I want to be.

Drum roll please.

* A Peace Adviser/Surfer *

*i.e. go to war torn countries as a consultant to begin the peace building process. And Surf.

Now all I need is a Masters degree....

(and money).

WomenZone Surf Festival
The Gower, Wales

It rained like it was the second coming, our tent leaked and the waves were as flat as a witches tit.

IT WAS AWESOME!

Despite only catching one wave (which was more luck than anything else), spending several days with my former housemate Sarah and meeting the lovely 'Leamington Ladies'

 (A lesbian group based in the West Midlands who get together to do extreme sports), made an otherwise failure of a weekend pretty amazing.

Sarah is someone I kind of befriended by accident and has come to be an incredibly important person in my life who I couldn't live without. We schemed this weekend and settled on the idea of an adventure to Bali next year. She's about to embark on a new chapter in her life and I'm excited to be there with her as she makes some positive changes. That and hopefully surfing in Bali will actually mean, gosh some surfing!

There was a moment this weekend as I was sat on my board looking at the horizon where I felt complete and utter happiness. I was just an ease with all the things that make me, me and the components of my life. It conjured this saying which I think encompasses the emotions at that precise moment...

 

For whatever we lose (like a you or a me),
It's always our self we find in the sea.
~e.e. cummings

Until next time water babies

Love & Light

x