I had a lot of great experiences since I came to the Maldives. I went on fishing trips, on picknics, island visits and I met dozens of people who were really kind. I played football with the boys and bashy with the girls in the islands I work. I went swimming, snorkelling, climbed trees and spent a lot of time in Maldivian homes. And it was and is all great !

But sometimes, when it comes to work, I ask myself….”What am I doing here ? Will it make a difference ? Does it make any sense ?”

During my visit in one of the islands a little boy gave me the answer to those kind of questions.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my skills & knowledge with others and others with me !! Thank you for your support before, during and probably also after my placement. Thank you for being a strong, flexible, reliable and well organized group of enthusiastic people.

And YES, you were right :

- It sometimes was as difficult as you told me it would be…

- It mostly was as beautiful as you told me I would be…

- And yes, just sometimes,  it was indeed as lonely as you told me it would be…

18 oktober 2008

You were very good to me these past two years. I enjoyed riding on my bike, going no where in particularly, but looking at the different activities, like painting the boats on the beach, climbing the trees for coconuts, rooming around on your motorbikes, playing football and of course swimming. It’s so peaceful comparing to the place I grew up.

I love this island and its people. And although I am the only European on the island and one out of three or four white people, I always felt safe, secure and part of this great community.

At this moment it looks like I will be staying here for some more years. Enjoying the Maldivian way of life and hopefully able to contribute to the ongoing development in this island. Not as a VSO Volunteer, but as part of this supportive and friendly community….