Beginnings

Hello all

I have been wanting to make this website for so long, I am incredibly happy to be finally doing it!

I thought I should tell you all a bit about myself so you aren't wondering who this strange girl is who keeps writing about vaginas and interviewing people about their lives.

My name is Amy Lou, I am from Swindon, England. I have had a lifelong interest in history and so I studied Egyptology and Classics at Swansea University (I believe this interest came from my great grandmother, who used to tell me I look like Nefertiti and that the Romans used to roll around in stinging nettles when they conquered England because it was so cold).

My studies took me to Egypt a couple of times (see my Places section!) And to Peru, which was the first of my volunteering experiences. I worked for 2 months for Projects Abroad in the middle of nowhere in the Andes, looking after a self-sustainable farm, doing some work for the community- like putting fluoride on the children's teeth and setting up chicks in the schools for the children to look after and sell their eggs. But mostly the work was about the multitudes of Inca ruins on the mountains behind the farm - cleaning them up ready for future generations to have the resources to study them.

My love of travel began there. I went home and got several part time museum jobs in Swindon, to save my money up to travel again (and I learned to salsa dance in the mean time!) So off I went to Europe for 5 months to visit my friends I had met in Peru, and make many new friends besides through couchsurfing.org. I went to Luxor, Egypt for a month to volunteer at a children's home called Sunshine (see my Causes section!).

When I finally got home after 6 months of travel I had no idea what to do next, so on a travel jobs website I came across the travel company Contiki. I applied for the job of Tour Manager, and after interviews, assignments and training (taking 6 months in total!) I finally was headed out on my first European tour. 50 people aged 18-35 on a coach for 3 weeks, and only me to look after them, tell them about the places we go and organise every aspect of the trip.

I was teacher, mother, best friend, nurse, DJ, shoulder to cry on, and everything in between as the situation dictated. And I still am- 4 years later and I am still a Contiki Tour Manager during the summer.

In winter I am traveller, explorer, friend to those I meet. And recently I have become a feminist. a believer in human rights, and friend to those I haven't yet met. How did that happen I hear you ask? Read my first article in the 'Reading' section of the website - 'Vagina by Naomi Wolf' and you will know how.

Thanks for reading!
Amy Lou