#Alexgoestosomaililand

Somaliland; So here I am, landed in what feels like the other end of the world, far away from all the beloved people, friends, and family in Germany. This little blog is meant to give you and me glimpses into my life here in Caynabo, but today I want to first tell you how it all came about and the questions that were repeatedly asked of me. 

I still remember the day at the end of July quite well, when I received an email from Cap Anamur in which they wrote to me that they were still looking for a nurse for a project in Somalia or Somaliland for early September and whether I could imagine participating. Of course, I had never really heard much about Somaliland before and what exactly does the relief organization do there. So I googled first, 

Somaliland;  an autonomous region legally belonging to Somalia, but in practice a virtually independent state in East Africa that is not recognized by any international country. 

Seems not so bad, but what does the German Foreign Office say about the whole situation?! 

Anyone staying in Somalia must be aware of the risk of terrorist attacks, combat activities, piracy, and criminally motivated acts of violence. sein.
Concerning emergencies (health, crime, or war-related), there is a lack of functioning government agencies that could provide help.
Currently, there is no German foreign representation in Somalia. Therefore, the provision of consular protection on site is not possible.

Oh my God, so you mean to go to a country where there isn't even a German embassy?! Who will rescue me in an emergency?! 

Is the country really so unstable that Germany doesn't consider it safe enough to maintain an embassy there?! 

Most of you probably would have thought, at the latest after these sentences, that nothing and nobody would willingly take them there. 

Even I had my doubts at the beginning, but at the same time I felt that it was time for a change and that such an opportunity might only come once in a lifetime. 

Without thinking too much, I replied to the email, asked for more detailed information about the project, and requested a few days to think it over, as I didn't know if my current employer would simply let me out of my contract. 

The next Monday, I went to work as usual and once again doubts arose in me. 

Do you really want to give up everything like that, the great colleagues, the ward, your friends? Will I have the opportunity to work here again? What could change in half a year? What if I don't come back anymore? 

So I postponed the conversation with my boss, as I often do with uncomfortable decisions, and simply enjoyed the time on the ward. 

In the end, I was able to gather the courage to have the conversation with my boss at some point. 

The decision had been made. I want to get out of my comfort zone, gather all my courage, experience new adventures, and gain new experiences. If not now, then when?! 

The conversation with my boss went much better than expected and there is even the possibility for me to come back to my old position in half a year, back to my old, familiar life, back to the team that has become a part of me in the last few years. 

From that moment on, many things became easier for me, as I knew that it was probably just a temporary farewell and that I would always have the opportunity to come back. 

Now it was time to enjoy the last few days in Germany, rent out the apartment, and participate in a dragon boat race :)

I've almost finished the first week in the project and today I'm enjoying my first day off, so here I am, on the Horn of Africa; AlexinSomaliland