Nikki McClements took her 9-year-old daughter Beth on a trip around the world, making it her mission to show her daughter how the world's poor live. Now they're back, how did thr trip affect them?
What have you learnt from your trip away?
Beth - On the trip I have learnt about lots of different religions and how other people in the world live. Also I have learnt to respect what you have got and not take things for granted. For example, since we got back we have taken our sofa's away and we only watch a little TV and I now spend a lot more time with my mum.
Nikki - I think the biggest thing I learnt whilst being away was what the important things in life are. I learnt that sometimes my priorities in life before the trip were wrong, that when i was striving to be successful, that success was based on the western world's agnda of materialism and power, like how much you earn, what car you drive, whether you are part of the 2.4 family and how many holidays you take a year. But fundamentally happiness is success and this only comes from within. The trip was the opportunity for me to rediscover who I was as a person and be comfortable and confident with that person. I learnt that you dont have to conform to societal norms, that you should take risks to walk your own path.
Any hard times on the trip? Any arguments?
Beth - On the trip there were two main things I can think of: One was in Thailand when I was sick for 4 or 5 days, my head was constantly pounding and we were in the Lawa hilltribe, where there was no medical help and the nearest hospital was 2-3hrs away. The other was when we where in Australia, we were staying at a campsite outside Byron Bay. We went to the Roots and Blues Festival but at the end of the evening the campsite minibus left without us. Me and mummy were scared, tired and cold and we had to start walking. In the end, a lady drove past and offered us a lift. It was gone 2am by the time we got to our tent.
Nikki - Sometimes I often find that the hard times are the most difficult to remember because it is these times that were the most rewarding and memorable. I think without challenge, physically or emotionally, we rarely come face to face with ourselves and push our own personal boundaries. The hilltribe in BanLaup was by far the most amazing experience of the whole year and probably my whole life. But it was also the most difficult at times, espcially with the extra pressure of the being filmed With basic amenties and a very basic diet. Our bodies became drained, but emotionally I was torn - I wondered whether our presence was helping the decline of the Lawa tribe existence as it was or supporting them making positive changes for the future existence in the modern world.
Have you found it a bonding experience?
Nikki - Despite working unsociable hours, I think Beth and I have always had a very strong relationship. The trip has only strengthened this because it has been totally a shared experience from beginning to end, with an equal share in the decision-making process. This trip has made me value how much of a strong and empathetic character Beth is, how she would pick me up on my down days, how she cared so much for the children at the orphanage with such compassion and how she has an inate ability to understand other people's feelings.
How did you go about organising the trip?
Beth - Whenever my mum was off work we would sit down with all the travel books and research the places we would visit on our trip and we spent alot of time on the internet.
Nikki - We read a lot of Lonely Planet guides and spent a lot of time on the internet. Most evenings when i wasn't working consisted of us looking at maps and researching different areas of interest, most of the time both of us making compromises between musuems for me and fun activities for Beth. As a Youth and Community Worker I really wanted us to get involved in as many projects as possible in the countries we visited. I think this really gave us a perspective of real life. It also meant that it wasn't always just an adult perspective and Beth discovered what it was like to be a child in those countries too. We also stayed with local families, built up relationships with them prior to leaving the uk and Beth was corresponding through email with the children. This provided us with an excellent opportunity to stay with local people in the local community.
Did you miss friends and school/work?
Beth - While I was away I didn't really think about school, I was too busy concentrating on what was happening around me. At the end of the trip when things changed and I was tired of travelling all the time, I was really missing school and friends and just wanted to come home, so we did.
Best Moments?
Beth - My favourite moment on the trip was when we stayed in the Hilltribe in Thailand. It was the best because I liked meeting new people and learning about new ways of life. We taught English in the local school and stayed with a local family for four weeks.
Nikki - The whole trip was amazing, just sharing those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities together. Like spotting the BIG 5 in Kruger National Park, completing our PADI open water dive course in Thailand, and meeting so many amazing people.
Worst Moments?
Beth - When we had to say goodbye to the family we had stayed with in the Hilltribe for a long time. They had become our family and we had to say goodbye knowing we would probably never see them again, which was very sad.
Nikki - Getting sick which, thankfully, only happened twice. That, and really long uncomfortable bus journeys in Indonesia.
Do you have any advice for someone thinking of embarking on a trip like yours?
Nikki - Follow your dreams and make aspirations a reality. Hurdles are only placed in the way to see how much you actually want to overcome them. Take risks because this is where we learn about each other and ourselves. Include the children in all the decision-making because that will make the learning outcomes even greater for everyone.
Were there any gadgets you used on the trip that you couldn't have done without?
Beth - The only gadget we really had was my mum's mobile phone. It was essential for emergencies, and it meant we could speak to home every so often.
