This year has been the most exciting and hectic of my life. I’ve spent barely any time at home and have experienced many new things. In early January, I performed at Chipstead in The Secret Garden. I played Dickon and really enjoyed the show, particularly the musical numbers, which were excellent. On the 17th January, I flew out to the Dominican Republic via Madrid, just a couple of days after the final performances, on the beginnings of my ‘Gap Year’.
In Santo Domingo I worked at Avelino Abreu, c. por a, thanks to the connections of my uncle, Andrew Coombe. I was working in the ‘picking’ section of the warehouse. Mechanics would be repairing cars and I would have to find the necessary car parts from the vast stockroom. I worked six days a week, but still managed to find the time to enjoy the glorious Caribbean weather. Shortly after my arrival, I managed to go and see David Guetta live in concert on the backdrop of sandy, Caribbean braches; amazing would be an understatement.
In February, my family came to visit me for a week and I was given time off work to go with them to stay in a hotel on the coast. Elspi, Abi and Ben could not understand how I was still paler than all of them so I tried to tan for the week, but only really managed to burn myself. We saw some spectacular scenery and beaches, as well as enjoying the pool and food at the hotel.
March was largely spent working. My spoken Spanish skills had improved drastically and I was really enjoying myself. Midway through March, a group of us went on a business trip to Santiago, the country’s second city. I developed good friendships with colleagues and some locals and it was hard to have to leave. I had been welcomed into their society by such friendly, giving people.
On the 26th March I flew to Santiago, the capital of Chile and embarked on my South American adventure. I crossed the border into Argentina at the beginning of April and visited the wine region of Mendoza and two fabulous cities, Cordoba and Buenos Aires, during which time I met Xavier, a fellow traveler and wonderfully enthusiastic Frenchman.
My experiences in Argentina were unbelievable. I can’t emphasise enough how fantastic this country is. The atmosphere is vibrant and excitable, the culture and people are inviting and ready to party, and words can’t begin to describe just how succulent and delightful the meat is. On top of this, I witnessed Stoke City’s 5-0 FA Cup Semi final thrashing of Bolton in a bar in Buenos Aires.
After a brief escapade up the coast of Uruguay, travelling by dune buggy and sleeping in bus shelters, I flew up to Sao Paolo in Brazil in early May. After the brilliance of Buenos Aires, this city was perhaps a little disappointing, not to mention overwhelming large. But soon I had journeyed along the coast to Rio de Janeiro. This city had much more character and style, with the beautiful beaches and rolling hills; Copacabana beach is somewhere I would happily return in an instant. After a brief journey north to Ouro Preto, a beautiful little town in the mining region, I headed back to Sao Paolo and caught a flight to London.
I came back to see the FA Cup Final between Stoke City and Manchester City. Seven family members attended, but unfortunately we lost. It was cruel, especially seeing as I had come so far. But after four days I was back in Brazil. Straightaway, I caught a bus to the Iguazu Falls, on the border of Argentina and Brazil. It was the most amazing sight of my life; as if the world had just fallen away. The sheer volume of water and the number of waterfalls in the park was remarkable.
Two weeks later I learnt of the birth of Charlie Tucker, my newest nephew and a day later, that Grandpa had passed away. I felt very sad that I couldn’t be at his funeral, but was thankful that I had visited Granny and Grandpa in the few days that I was home. Christmas this year won’t be quite the same without him.
June was my most hectic month. I rejoined Xavier in the south of Bolivia and we embarked upon a tour of the Salt Flats of Uyuni. The scenery there was so impressive that by the end of the tour I was taking volcanoes, lagoons and geysers for granted. After a rapid tour of Bolivia, including a mining expedition at Potosi, the highest city in the world, we journeyed further north to La Paz.
I spent my 19th birthday at 6088m, after three days climbing a mountain, Huayana Potosi, just outside La Paz. It was the toughest thing I’ve ever had to do, both physically and mentally. After an eventful evening in the bustling city, we headed to the Peruvian border and spent 3 days of total relaxation at Lake Titicaca, the highest lake in the world. We crossed the border into Peru, rejoicing at the cleaner streets, free of rubbish and litter.
After two days in Cusco, we embarked on our Inca Trail to Machu Picchu with 16 other tourists. The trek included mountain biking, hiking, relaxing breaks in hot springs, spectacular views and the ancient Inca ruins of Machu Picchu. The 4 days were great, everyone in high spirits, despite early starts and plenty of walking. The tour culminated with Xavier and I managing to get ourselves ejected from the site due to ‘inappropriate and disrespectful behaviour’. Basically, we made an 11 second video, in which Xavier’s attire was amusingly insubstantial. Fortunately, we had seen everything by this point…
From Lima, I flew to New York where I briefly met mum for a day, before heading upstate to Camp Hillcroft. The change was dramatic. I wasn’t living in luxury at Camp, but relative to my most recent month in South America, it was paradise. The months of July and August passed unbelievably fast. I was working as a ‘General Counselor’ mainly with children aged 12-13. I took part in various activities with them, acting as an older brother type figure, as well as a mentor. I developed great relationships with the campers and really wasn’t expecting such thanks and gratitude when the Summer came to a close.
A perk of my job was the various trips to water parks and theme parks, as well as a 3 day trip to Baltimore, where we were lucky enough to enjoy a boat trip around the harbour and a baseball match between the Baltimore Orioles and the Boston Red Sox. On weekends, the staff had free time, so I went on several trips into New York City, including a fantastic weekend which culminated in an enormous 4th July firework display over the Hudson. Other weekend excursions included a visit to Boston and an Ultimate Frisbee tournament.
On the 23rd August, I flew home from Philadelphia Airport, narrowly avoiding the earthquake that struck the East Coast of America. I was welcomed home and spent a month visiting friends and family. September was spent in a flat in Putney, as building work continued on our new house in Wimbledon. I saw all the family for the first time since Christmas at Caroline and Paul’s Barn Dance party, before the christening of Charlie Tucker and a service for Grandpa the following day. After that, I embarked on the ‘Great Granny Road Trip’ with John and Beccy, on our way up to the Lake District, stopping in three of the houses that Great Granny had lived in. John and I climbed Helvellyn, my first Wainwright, before I journeyed back home.
At the beginning of October I started the next chapter of my life at Bristol University, where I am studying Russian and Portuguese. The term has been fantastic; I’ve met some great people and have been playing a lot of hockey for the University. Ben came to visit me at the end of October and we went to see The Cat Empire perform at the O2 Academy, Bristol. The gig was amazing and I was lucky enough to shake the lead singer, Felix Riebl’s, hand whilst he sang. I won’t lie that I was tempted not to wash that hand again…
November passed in a blur and the weeks rolled by very quickly. In December, I went home to see Elspi performing as Hansel in Hansel and Gretel: The Opera, where she was exceptional. Also, Dad and I managed to see Ocean Colour Scene performing at the O2 Academy, Brixton, which was similarly entertaining. A week later, I returned home for the holidays, Most of the time has been spent preparing the house as best we can for Christmas. Over the New Year, I am hosting a reunion for some of the people I met at Camp Hillcroft in New York, so our house is going to be packed over the Festive period.
I don’t imagine I shall have a year quite as bizarre as this one for some time. My travelling has taken me many places, but now I feel that I need some time to settle for a year or two and really get stuck into university. Here’s to another great year! Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
