In February 2006 Joanna Warson travelled to China with Lattitude Global Volunteering. Her aim was to teach English at a Senior Middle School in Sihong, Jiangsu province. Little did she know that fellow volunteer, Lawrence Parr, would have quite such a big part to play in her life. Here Joanna, now a PhD student at the University of Portsmouth, talks about how her decision to take a gap year changed her life.
I first met Lawrence in Reading at a pre-departure meeting organised by Lattitude Global Volunteering. The meeting was a great opportunity to find out more about my placement and what to expect during our five months in China. It was also a chance to get to know my fellow volunteers, especially those placed in same province as me – Jiangsu – including Lawrence. Lawrence and I chatted quite a bit during the breaks and after the meeting, and I was happy to have met someone so nice before I even left for China. My mother, who also attended the meeting, claims she knew from that moment that Lawrence and I would get married. I was a little slower on the up take!
Lawrence and I got to know each other better during the first orientation week in Beijing and Nanjing. When we arrived at our schools, we kept in contact via email – it was great to have someone to talk to during the massive culture shock of arriving in China. China is completely different to anywhere else I have ever been. Each day I would wake up and know to expect the unexpected, with memorable events such as judging a local pre-school show and being made an honorary member of the local police force! My blossoming relationship with Lawrence was equally unanticipated. From the outset, we regularly visited each other at the weekends, meeting up with friends and exploring our province and further afield, lapping up both true Chinese culture and more Westernised imports. One particular highlight was a trip to Shanghai to see the Rolling Stones in their first concert in mainland China. It was spectacular.
Once we had completed our placements in China, we both travelled separately to South East Asia, but we missed each other, so arranged to meet up in Vietnam and then again in Thailand. Upon our return to the UK in late 2006 we remained in touch and eventually our shared experiences and friendship turned to love.
In the years that followed, we stayed together whilst I completed a BA in History and an MSc in the History of Empires at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Lawrence returned to work in IT and business management in the marine retail sector and has recently been made a Director at Force 4, the company where he has worked for the past three years.
On Saturday 26th May 2012, Lawrence and I were married at St. Peter’s Church, Titchfield, Hampshire. My bridesmaid was another Lattitude February 2006 alumnus, Hannah Riches, who was placed at a primary school in Taizhou. We had an absolutely wonderful wedding and are looking forward to a long and happy life together.
My gap year was definitely one of the best things I have ever done. I not only met my now husband and several other close friends, but I also learnt a lot about myself. It is a fantastic way to see the world, learn about different cultures and languages, and gain more confidence, independence and courage. A gap year is not just about just a few months overseas, away from your parents and outside of your comfort zone. It is a completely life changing experience that will be with you forever. Lawrence’s and my story is proof of that!
Tags: overseas volunteering, romance, Wedding
