Rhapsody (Part 2 of Medley).

40: NO REGRETS.

Central and South America have marked a before and after in my life.

This is what I want to do forever.

The experiences lived there will stay with me for the rest of my life, and they have motivated me to do more. I want to go places and meet the people we're helping and take a little bit of them with me every time. Because I went there to give them things, but I was the one who walked out of that exchange the richest.

They taught me to be more appreciative of my life, of my privileged situation, of the roof over my head, of never having to worry about the food on my table or the clothes on my back, of having the opportunity to see the world and try to make it better.

But most importantly, I think, is they've shown me that none of that matters more than having a family, or as they'd put it, 'a tribe'. You see, a tribe is much more than a family, because it is composed of all the people you've chosen to have as part of your life, but only those who are essential to your happiness, the ones you can't live without.

For some of the people we visited, family is all they have, so they treasure it more than any material possessions anyone could ever give them.

I'm not saying that those with a higher economic status don't value family. It's just that we lead a different life: we grow up, we move away from home, we see our families on special days like birthdays and holidays, and we love each other hard but at a distance, and the moments shared are measurable in days and hours, even minutes at a time.

In other places, time moves slower. Life moves slower. Deadlines and due dates don't have the same urgency, and the future is seen as the day after today, not ten years from now.

Kids grow up but they stay close, or they live at home until marriage. Family is always nearby, so their bond is stronger, and it remains constant throughout their entire lives. Distance is only experienced by those who live out in the countryside and a parent, a sibling or a child has to leave to study or work in the city. Otherwise, they are always together. And to me, that's a beautiful thing.

The sense of union is much better cemented in their culture than it will ever be in ours. I envy that.

Wouldn't you wish you could start a family knowing your children will always be close to you? I know it is circumstance what defines that. But you have to see it or live it to understand. Their concept of family, or tribe, is undoubtedly more meaningful.

But enough with my ramblings! What I meant to say is that I loved every second of my time in Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia, Venezuela, and Bolivia and I want to do it again, there and everywhere in the world where EUTS can possibly take me.

During my time away, communication with Harry and my family was difficult. When we were in major cities and towns I had decent Wi-Fi and good internet access to FaceTime and catch up. But at some remote places we only had landlines that not always had great connection when making international calls. So, I missed Harry more than I had anticipated. Especially because a container of goods we were delivering in Venezuela came in two days late and everything had to be pushed back, including my return to England.

I had the time of my life, but still, something was always missing and that something was always him.

Immediately after I land in London, I text Harry to let him know I've arrived. In my absence, the band finished the Asian leg of the tour and went to Australia and New Zealand. Next stop: The United States of America.

They've played the first show in Sacramento and San Francisco is tonight. They have San Jose in two days and Bakersfield in three, then Los Angeles for a couple of dates and they finish California with a show in San Diego.