Today I have been thinking about:

Today I have been thinking about: Dan.

I was going to start my first "Today I have been thinking about" blog with something most people could relate to. Good idea? Perhaps. But then I started thinking. It's Dan's birthday tomorrow and he isn't here to celebrate it with us as he is in Hong Kong.

It's already the 7th in Hong Kong so firstly ,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAN!

Dan, sweating at the thought of another year alive

Now, none of my friends have done this but Dan, one of my best and closest friends, did. Dan has gone over to Hong Kong to teach English to the children there. He is currently placed at Kindergarten School of St. Matthias Church in Yuen Long and I just think its fascinating. Dan has literally done what most people say they want to do in a Gap year, he has gone out and had a major experience. Now whatever the motives behind him, wanting to see the world, have a change, leave home, break from education, or just on a whim, he has now got an experience that is going to live on with him. This is something that I could never do. I rely too much on being at home, being in a surrounding I find usual and in a way... Mundane.. Something that breaks too far from this routine would screw my head big time.

A little piece of planet I call home.

I am sure going away and living away from home is about as hard an experience as you can get, especially the sort of background we come from, close-knit groups of friends and family. I can imagine that if you were thrown into an environment where you had none of this you would find it very difficult very quickly. I suppose this is why I admire him so much. He has had the strength to pull away from the Norm and do something that is going to benefit him a million times over. Not only is he sure to build new friendships, which I think is continually beneficial, but he is going to have something, a foundation maybe, to come back into England and think 'I have done something'. Now it's my belief that everyone should have at least, but certainly not limiting it to, one experience that they can say 'I have done something' about. It's a powerful part of a personality. Myself? I would pick University as my most major experience, but its such a typical one. My friend, Woody, from University has tripped all around the world, which is really something. Dan has been to Hong Kong and taught. It's so admirable. I think out of all my friends I am most proud of him.

And on top of that I really miss him too.