Corbridge teenager's Namibia gap year report

She said: "After 10 months of detailed planning and constant fundraising I can't believe I am finally here at Otjikondo Primary school in Namibia.

"Every day has become a new adventure and every 6am start is a happy one - although as a person who has never been away from home for more than two weeks, the prospect of 12 months in Africa seems daunting, to say the least.

"After landing in Windhoek on August 29, Hazel (my Project Trust partner) and I were happy to hear that we would be travelling directly to Otjikondo, although it is a six-hour drive.

"We were desperate to unpack and get settled in due to the emotionally draining good-byes we had said 12 hours earlier.

"After meeting Inken, a German volunteer who will also be here with us for the full year, we were soon on the long road to our new home.

"On our way we picked up five of the schoolchildren who appeared to be shy, but not too shy to hit us and shout: "Don't sleep, play!".

So, despite our exhaustion, we stayed awake the whole journey and made the decision to let them use our digital cameras, which provided hours of entertainment for them - and fear for us.

"One hundred and forty pointless pictures later we arrived at Otjikondo and we were shown our flat which is on the school grounds. It is basic, but much nicer than expected and we all feel very comfortable living here and very much at home.

"I teach arts and PE from 7am until 1pm, we then have two hours to prepare for our afternoon activities - such as craft, playgroup and drama which finish at 6pm.

"Fridays and Saturdays are TV night, so after supper we choose a DVD or video and attempt to keep 240 children quiet which, after threatening early bedtimes, we seem to manage.

"Saturday mornings are spent cleaning the school with the children and then giving out pocket money to those who have been well-behaved (the money is supplied by each child's sponsor).

"The schedule is pretty hectic but even though we have Sundays off we choose to go to church in the morning as the children's singing is so amazing we would be crazy to miss it for something as ridiculous as a lie-in.

"The children here are fantastic; any day I feel homesick or exhausted I only have to spend some time with them and I soon remember how lucky I am to be here.

"The smaller children constantly play with my hair and push my skin to see the place where they pressed turn lighter.

"Between lessons I also help in 'Wings', a class of 15 special needs children which I am already finding very rewarding. And it also gives me a chance to work with fewer than 37 pupils at a time.

"Having completed our first month we had a weekend off, which we used to travel to Outjo for a couple of days to relax and use the internet.

"This first month has had its ups and downs as expected and in the very beginning we even questioned our ability, but having settled in and found my way I know I wouldn't change any of this for the world.

"I welcome every obstacle that this year has to offer."