Hey everyone!

I hope you are all well? I can't believe it is only 2 days until Christmas.
As Christians only make up such a small percentage of Indians, Christmas is not a big event over here. It seems odd not to see flashing Christmas lights everywhere and people madly rushing about to get last minute shopping in. We have decorated our volunteer house which was a good team building exercise, although I was the only one brave/stupid enough to climb on top of a table and a chair to hang our snowflakes from the ceiling. The end product is worth it though. In a break from our traditional Indian food we are also cooking a traditional Xmas feast with all the trimmings, although the meat eaters have opted for goat instead of turkey - I'm sure that will make for interesting eating...
thankfully I'll stick to being vegetarian!

Our project work is still going really well. My little ones are really starting to warm to me and usually hang off my arms and legs until its time for us to leave. I should hopefully be able to upload my photos soon so you can share in their cuteness! My Hindi has now extended to include 'Chup'(Shhh) and Dhayan Do (Pay Attention) - essential for teaching small kids!

Our teaching program includes teaching the English alphabet, numbers in both Hindi and English, colours, animals, shapes, fruit and vegetables.
They are coming along great but as the other volunteers leave in a week I will be on my own so I'm going to get a structure lesson plan done as I'm sure there are a few Einsteins in my class!

Our community awareness surveys are going good, although as some of the questions involve enquiring about domestic violence and alcohol/drugs, the answers we receive are not completely honest. Indian values rules but in private, they are broken freely it would seem. The houses here in Palampur are so much bigger than the ones we saw in Delhi and Jaipur so initially it seems poverty is not as rife here. However, it doesn't take long to find out there are no toilets, running water or awareness of basic hygiene. HIV and AIDS is also highly concentrated according to one volunteer who helps out in the Health Centre. I hope in 3 years time when this project ends, ignorance is no longer a big killer. People out here are also completely isolated. The roads to houses are so steep and as Winter sets in, become slippery and very unpredictable. The car journey up to our school is terrifying at first as the cliffs are so steep and no barriers exist to stop you from plummeting all the way to the bottom.

Today I got to teach in a High School, ages 12 to 13. It was so different from the younger ones I teach and it took me a wee while to warm up. As it is a school in a poor area, educational attainment is lacking and it could be very easy to become frustrated. However, I cannot wait to go back as the rewards will outweigh any challenge that it poses. After all, youth and community work is what I want to do when I come back to Scotland so everything I do here is giving me the most fantastic experience and building up my skills inventory for the future.

I am so grateful for my volunteer placements back home as all you guys have equipped me to deal with the challenges I face out here - thank you! We have a good lesson plan worked out and we are going to start with grammar. It seems odd that our day care children are coming along well while the older kids struggle. I'm glad this project has been set up as these kids are going to struggle in the future if they do not have fluency with their country's other national language.

Again, this is simply a reflection on the poverty that exists over here as its extension into school life is all too clear. The kids are wearing clothes that are too small or full of holes and are working out of books that look at least twenty years old. It is a million miles away from our education system back home and it just makes me realise how lucky I have been and makes me appreciative of the opportunities I have had in life.

The weekend past I went to McCloud Ganj, 50KM away. I read a lot about this place before I left as it is where the Tibetans live in exile and I have an interest in Buddhism. This place did not disappoint! Although it is clear that it is a big tourist area, as we saw Westerners for the first time in ages, it does not take away from the hospitality or beautiful surroundings of the village. The shopping is awesome and you can easy haggle your way to a bargain on some awesome gifts, including prayer wheels, prayer flags, Tibetan clothes, ayurvedic Jews and lots of political and spiritual books.

Best of all, the Dalai Lama did an exceptionally rare talk when we were there and we got into the temple and saw him conducting his prayers.
Such a rare and unique experience and one that will never be forgot! The whole weekend cost around 1000 Rupees (15 pounds) and this included a hotel room, breakfast, lunch and dinner - definitley a place I will be going to again.

We have had frequent power cuts in the village too. At first they were quite annoying! However, we now simply all go outside and look at the stars. The sky is so clear and as it is pitch dark, the stars illuminate the sky.

Again, it is something I will have to let my photos do the talking for as it really is breathtaking! The wildlife over here also takes a wee while of getting used to. There are always stray dogs and goats on the road, massive eagles flying overhead and troops of monkeys ready to steal any visible item you are carrying. Clothes have been stolen by them so we need to quickly dry our clothes and bring them inside! It is so good to see other wildlife and plants that I am not used to, except for the gigantic spiders that come out from the most random places. Not so good, but a grand way of overcoming my silly fear... hopefully!

Next time I write my email I will include picture of my work and experiences, until then take care! If I do not write again before Christmas, I hope you have a wonderful day and enjoy spending time with those who mean the world to you.

Merry Christmas!
Christopher