I am 43 . These are some of the things I have experienced for the first time (both good and bad .. in no particular order) over the last 5 and a bit months as a direct result of becoming involved .. if you are thinking of getting  involved or volunteering .. I urge you to do so, you won’t regret it.

I have; traveled alone, written and spoken arabic and farsi (well in a fashion), drank chai (lots of it), learnt the universal signs for; drowning/ throat slitting /tent/ bombs/ closed borders, been stopped and checked by the police, sorted through tonnes of wet cold clothes, been welcomed so warmly and offered food drink  love and conversation by people who have next to nothing, left my family for 20 days in a 5 month period,met an inspirational greek orthodox priest, flown out with 40kg of luggage and come back with 7kg, sorted clothes in a warehouse, made lifelong friends in a matter of days, ridden on the back of a motorbike, cried with grown men over the inequalities and injustice of this world, visited my local MP (I now do this on a monthly basis), hugged a child I don’t know for 20 min – 10 min sobbing uncontrollably 10 min in a trance, stayed up all night when it’s not a party, helped  used fake life jackets as tent insulation, been on television (on Question Time), written a press article , been interviewed by the radio, come to the attention of Internet trolls, felt pretty much every emotion possible x 100, written a blog, walked through a border crossing alone with no idea what to do next, been bought breakfast my a taxi driver, drunk irish coffee from a vending machine, felt so ineffective and hopeless, felt so useful and hopeful, felt incredibly deep connections and solidarity with people I barely know, bought over 500 bras and knickers in a week, felt increasing unstoppable shame of our leaders and right wing press , witnessed traumatic scenes akin to those shown from the second world war, held a woman’s hand in a festival style tent half destroyed by gales whilst she miscarried her baby, been handed a baby to cuddle from someone i don’t know (and she fell asleep so sweet), seen such resilience and strength from people who have been through so much…. did I say … met so many incredible people I must repeat that I met so many incredible people… These are just a few things .. its very hard to put into words .. . if you are still unsure about whether to volunteer or get involved  .. don’t be … its important to make a stand in whatever way you can  ..I promise that you won’t regret it..