Hello Folks!
Firstly, appologies for the delay in getting a Blog post up... you'll soon realise (just like I have) that things in India happen pretty slowly, crazily, lately but always interestingly! My journal is pretty packed at the moment- there's so much going on all the time so I'll present you with an abridged version of the past week's events in order to bring you up to speed!!
'Breakfast Over Afghanistan'
Last Tuesday's flight was mental in every sense of the word. Firstly, I met Jodie (fellow P2er) in London at 5p to head over to Heathrow together (we had to be there around 1830) wich gave us 90 minutes to make a 45 minute tube journey. However, TFL had other ideas and at 7.50pm we were still stuck 12 stops from Heathrow with no guarentee of getting there any time before 9.00 which meant I was very close tyo not making it here in the first place! However, 50 pound later and some sharp negotiating with a shifty Taxi driver we made it just in time at 8.25. The upside of being slightly late to check in for a full flight was that we got upgraded to extra legroom seats with cool TVs :-)
The flight was otherwise cold, dry and slightly uncomfortable and I can now say that I've eaten Scrambled Eggs and a funny looking sausage over Afghanistan.
'Bus of Death'
Upon arrival in Delhi we were met by some Idex reps. We then went outside and saw a lovely, large, air conditioned coach right in front of us only to be informed that our coach / bus / mobile shed was was parked round the corner and that all 43 of us would be sardined in to it and the luggage would be securely tied to the roof… with a bit of string. The bus ride was most definitely the worst part of the whole experience so far; the heat, the squashing and the length (The journey estimation was 6 hours in India time- or 9 hours in real time!) Upon arrival in Jaipur we were split into our host family groups and Frank and I were allotted the lovely Rita and Rakesh who lived with their children (and servant!!!) in quite a nice district. The Tuc-Tuc there was way better than anything at Alton Towers
'Jaipur'
The next few days were spent watching Bollywood Movies, shopping, having sweaty meetings at the IDEX (in-country NGO) office, and elephant riding at the Amber Fort. We were very lucky to be in India for Diwali and so the whole of the City was covered with fairy lights and children (or mini-terrorists as one person described them) setting off very powerful fireworks all over the city. After 3 days we embarked upon the mammoth 16 hour train journey to Himachel which was surprisingly fun! My preconception was a cockroach infested plastic bed with dim lights and lots and lots of people- but the reality was quite the converse and it was really good to meet some of the other 42 volunteers.
'The Adventure Begins…'
So, here we are in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh and the local area is simply awe inspiring. We're surrounded by the Himalayas and monkeys. The house is huge and everybody's getting on really well. I got the class that I would be teaching yesterday (Class 2- 7 year olds) and we had our first lesson this morning. It's very weird because they're not so used to Westerners up here so we get lots of stairs and random people coming to practice their English and we carry an almost celebrity status among the children, who are very cute, very chatty, very playful but very very very poor. This afternoon we began our first construction project- building a drainage system on the playground so that the children can play in somewhere that's not a mud pit. It's hard work and the tools are primitive but it's highly rewarding. The food here is FANTASTIC and I can't get enough of it (I anticipate that I'll put a stone on- all of which will be muscle from the digging :p )
I hope I'll be able to update the blog more regularly and in bit more detail ( I didn't fancy swarming you with the millions of stories and adventures that have occurred- it'd be a really long post!) and that somebody out there is reading it! I've taken loads of great pictures and hopefully you'll get to see them too! Best go for a cup of Chai and to watch the sunset and the stars… jealous?
Callum ><(((:>
P.S. Here's a photo of the house..
Firstly, appologies for the delay in getting a Blog post up... you'll soon realise (just like I have) that things in India happen pretty slowly, crazily, lately but always interestingly! My journal is pretty packed at the moment- there's so much going on all the time so I'll present you with an abridged version of the past week's events in order to bring you up to speed!!
'Breakfast Over Afghanistan'
Last Tuesday's flight was mental in every sense of the word. Firstly, I met Jodie (fellow P2er) in London at 5p to head over to Heathrow together (we had to be there around 1830) wich gave us 90 minutes to make a 45 minute tube journey. However, TFL had other ideas and at 7.50pm we were still stuck 12 stops from Heathrow with no guarentee of getting there any time before 9.00 which meant I was very close tyo not making it here in the first place! However, 50 pound later and some sharp negotiating with a shifty Taxi driver we made it just in time at 8.25. The upside of being slightly late to check in for a full flight was that we got upgraded to extra legroom seats with cool TVs :-)
The flight was otherwise cold, dry and slightly uncomfortable and I can now say that I've eaten Scrambled Eggs and a funny looking sausage over Afghanistan.
'Bus of Death'
Upon arrival in Delhi we were met by some Idex reps. We then went outside and saw a lovely, large, air conditioned coach right in front of us only to be informed that our coach / bus / mobile shed was was parked round the corner and that all 43 of us would be sardined in to it and the luggage would be securely tied to the roof… with a bit of string. The bus ride was most definitely the worst part of the whole experience so far; the heat, the squashing and the length (The journey estimation was 6 hours in India time- or 9 hours in real time!) Upon arrival in Jaipur we were split into our host family groups and Frank and I were allotted the lovely Rita and Rakesh who lived with their children (and servant!!!) in quite a nice district. The Tuc-Tuc there was way better than anything at Alton Towers
'Jaipur'
The next few days were spent watching Bollywood Movies, shopping, having sweaty meetings at the IDEX (in-country NGO) office, and elephant riding at the Amber Fort. We were very lucky to be in India for Diwali and so the whole of the City was covered with fairy lights and children (or mini-terrorists as one person described them) setting off very powerful fireworks all over the city. After 3 days we embarked upon the mammoth 16 hour train journey to Himachel which was surprisingly fun! My preconception was a cockroach infested plastic bed with dim lights and lots and lots of people- but the reality was quite the converse and it was really good to meet some of the other 42 volunteers.
'The Adventure Begins…'
So, here we are in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh and the local area is simply awe inspiring. We're surrounded by the Himalayas and monkeys. The house is huge and everybody's getting on really well. I got the class that I would be teaching yesterday (Class 2- 7 year olds) and we had our first lesson this morning. It's very weird because they're not so used to Westerners up here so we get lots of stairs and random people coming to practice their English and we carry an almost celebrity status among the children, who are very cute, very chatty, very playful but very very very poor. This afternoon we began our first construction project- building a drainage system on the playground so that the children can play in somewhere that's not a mud pit. It's hard work and the tools are primitive but it's highly rewarding. The food here is FANTASTIC and I can't get enough of it (I anticipate that I'll put a stone on- all of which will be muscle from the digging :p )
I hope I'll be able to update the blog more regularly and in bit more detail ( I didn't fancy swarming you with the millions of stories and adventures that have occurred- it'd be a really long post!) and that somebody out there is reading it! I've taken loads of great pictures and hopefully you'll get to see them too! Best go for a cup of Chai and to watch the sunset and the stars… jealous?
Callum ><(((:>
P.S. Here's a photo of the house..
Wow love the house!! Not as cool as mine though :P Sounds like an awful journey, one which I could not have coped with! Very jealous that you got to be there for Diwali though!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you are having a great time being mr celebrity :) but I do hope you keep us updated - yes we are reading the blog! And awaiting lots of stories :)
take care x