March 2008 - Well, there it is, Ive done it. Ive booked a volunteering holiday in South America. Its something that has been stirring inside of me for the last twelve months and what Ive been working towards since the time in Lanzarote in January 2007 when I first thought it was what I wanted to do.

South America has always held an attraction for me since I went to Brazil and Argentina in 2002 with my friend Tim. However, it was my stay in Buenos Aires that most lingered with me, a place I felt spiritually 'at home', and I knew that I would return one day. Alas, its Argentina, Im heading for, the Northern tip, the city of Posadas nestling on the border with Paraguay, and not too far from the Iguazu falls which I didnt have time to visit in 2002.

When first thoughts of my adventure came to me I thought I would need to learn Spanish and since October 2008 I have been studying with the Open University to reach that goal. Im still in the early stages but can now speak un poco ( a little) Spanish. By January 21st 2010 I hope to be somewhat able to hold a conversation.

I initially thought about Peru and yes its a place I want to go to but I wanted to go in January to escape the British winter and parts of Peru are just too wet at that time of year. So I opted for Argentina, in their glorious Summer, spending 38 days, four weeks in a project for disadvantaged and orphaned children and a week most likely relaxing in Buenos Aires, with the rest flying days. I'll be teaching English, organising activities, dance, music, arts etc and generally helping out the locals with every aspect of pastoral care and education of children who really havent had the material or emotional support in life that most of us take for granted.

Argentina is a huge country, with extremes of wealth of poverty. Designer shops laden Buenos Aires most elegant shopping arcades but it is also home to impoverished slums not far away from the city centre. Argentina's recent history of civil war ( the Dirty War), military dictatorship, the Falklands War ( a war that when you speak to the locals it is clear they never wanted) and economic meltdowns have left its mark and inevitably its the children who have suffered the most.

However far Argentina has grown and developed, its appalling history of bloodshed ( like most countries) is never far away. Until recently, every Thursday afternoon, at 3.30pm, the Madres ( mothers) of the ' The Disappeared', marched around the Plaza Del Mayo in Buenos Aires main square seeking justice for their sons who disappeared in to thin air and to campaign for a full accounting of 'Dirty War' atrocities. Nevertheless, the fact that these women were able to campaign at all and were not swept off the streets, is a sign that Argentina is now a true democracy and has left its past behind.

So, its 10 months to go. Im not that sure yet where I will be staying or what I need to do, but I'll book my flights in the next few weeks and will need to get some jabs I think. I'll update my blog from time to time when I get more information and those who want to can follow my adventures when I start the actual experience as I'll try to update it every few days. Im just quite excited at the moment every time I think about it.