Nevis was the best way to ease back into real life and it gave me a chance to reflect on my time away.

• I have reached the conclusion that I hate hiking. I love me a dry, flat walk where I can amble with a matcha latte in hand whilst chatting to friends. If it’s not that, I don’t want it.

• Even in generally hot places, pack base layers. They will be ideal for buses in general but especially night buses or early morning starts. I beg, do not even think about packing anything white to go travelling. It won’t stay white and travel stains never go away.

• With some people you meet, there will be instant good vibes. You’ll click and you’ll be inseparable. Some people you won’t and that is totally okay. You won’t, can’t and shouldn’t try to be besties with everyone you come across. If you are, it’s likely you’re hiding or bending your personality to fit in – don’t do that.

• Non-applicator tampons are actually very easy to put in and so much cheaper to buy.

• ‘Local’ doesn’t always, (and shouldn’t), be a synonym for ‘cheap’.

• Stop looking for answers – just live, experience and enjoy. It’s just really not that deep.

• That hanging toiletry bag that every influencer says is ‘must have’? It’s not. Deadass, 80% of the time, there’s nowhere to hang it.

• For whatever reason, you were supposed to do this alone. Would it have been nice to share these experiences with someone close? Of course. But maybe that’s part of the lesson: you now know that you are capable of doing anything and everything you set your mind to. You can plan, strategise, go with the flow, damage control, make friends, maintain relationships, let loose, fall down & pick yourself up, all by yourself.

• Every time something seemingly goes wrong, it actually ends up going right. Remember that.

I will never take for granted the level of privilege and blessing it took to, not only go on this trip, but to come home safe and sound with good, positive memories. I have dreamt of doing this trip for what feels like my entire life and I will be eternally grateful that I was able to do it. I actually can’t believe that I did it.

I did it!