Interviews with the women of Eden

15 July 2016

 

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 Ali (Junior Doctor, 24)

What are you most excited about?

The people who are going. I hope there is massive variety from all walks of life and with all sorts of skills. I’m looking forward to meeting them and stealing everyone’s skills, learning how to survive in the wild. I’m looking forward to where we’re going as well, just because I’ve thought about it so much. Seeing what that world is going to have to offer us.

Any major concerns?

Just general ones you have about living outside for a year. Getting a bit cold – I don’t think it’s a tropical paradise, so it’s going to be wet and windy. It’ll be tough learning not just how to survive but how to get a community together and enjoy yourself while you’re out there with those sorts of conditions.

How do your family and friends feel about it?

They’ve been really supportive right from the start. I told my mum before I told my dad and her reaction at first was, “ooh, what is the point of this? What is the show about?” She was worried it might be like Big Brother or something. Since I explained it to them they’ve been really supportive, which is surprising. I thought they might not want me to go away for a year without talking to them, but they seemed fine with that!

What will you miss?

The food, my phone… I do like processed food a little bit! I put Nando’s Peri-Peri sauce on everything but I know that’s not going to be available. And Caesar salad dressing – I get through a bottle of that every two days! I’m not into my cosmetics or anything, it’s mainly the food – I think about my stomach far too much. I’m trying to gain weight at the moment, eating four meals a day to fatten myself up.

Are you pretty outdoorsy?

Yeah, I live by the coast, so I go for coastal walks, I go cycling, I’m into watersports so I’ve just learnt to kitesurf. I love spending time outdoors but I haven’t been in a situation of living outdoors for an extended period of time. I don’t think many people have, to be honest.