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OK, so I’ve repeatedly gone over in my head all of the catastrophes that could happen while I travel, yet I didn’t add border security strike nor my middle child having her first asthma attack. I knew there’d be some I’d miss out. Luckily, I always arrive at airports super early so fingers crossed the strikes won’t be too much of a problem. And after a day in hospital, my beautiful girl is home and a whole lot better today so I do not feel as worried about leaving her for over a week. At least we now know how to treat her so we can hopefully keep her newly-diagnosed asthma under control. She is one tough cookie.

Now, I madly rush around packing and getting all my last minute jobs done. Then, I will check I have my passport about 20 gazillion times, before heading to the airport for my first of four flights. Yes, it will take me four flights to get to Phnom Penh. Catastrophising is in full force, but on the flip side I have a lot to be grateful for – I have a lot to look forward to. And I do.

It’s been a full on six months professionally and personally and I am hoping for an incident free trip. Tonight I meet one of my work colleagues Daisy and Kate from Drop Dead Gorgeous Daily at the Melbourne airport to travel together. I’m really looking forward to a stiff drink and a movie. Travelling without my children on a long haul flight will be a refreshing experience.

I’m super excited about visiting Cambodia. I’m really curious to see first hand the work Oxfam Australia is doing in Phnom Penh. It’s going to be an amazing experience and I feel very grateful to work for an organisation that is making positive change in the world. And in some small way, I am contributing. To help facilitate giving a voice to those who struggle to have their voices heard and want the world to hear their stories comes with great responsibility. What an honour.

I’m also thrilled to see something that I’ve worked so hard on come to fruition. The Oxfam Australia Blogging Program is my baby. I wrote the strategy, I’m implementing it and I keep it ticking along. The bloggers who have so kindly partnered with us are generous, engaged and simply awesome. To have Kate on this journey with us, our first Blogging Ambassador, is really exciting. I know her fresh eyes and perspective will be bring depth to her blog posts and her deep understanding of the important role she’s playing in sharing her experiences with her readers will make this extra special. I’m proud of her taking this on and not so secretly proud of myself for making it happen.

I’m also really nervous and keen to travel overseas without my family. After the official part of the trip is over, I’ll spend a few days by myself in Siem Reap exploring the Angkor Wat. In my pre-husband, pre-children days I travelled quite a bit by myself. I didn’t think I’d get the chance to experience the exhilaration that comes with solo travel in a foreign land again. You have this amazing sense of accomplishment  and are open to experiences you may not have if you were in a group. You have to be a little braver. I need this.

Obviously, I’m well aware I will most probably spend times missing my family terribly, but they are in awesome hands and in the blink of an eye I will be home again with my arms wrapped tightly around them – my loves.

Until then, let’s do this. Let’s have an adventure.

Bigwords x