WEEK 6: My day began with two cups of PG tips, five slices of jam on toast and a fresh mango - this had to be a good day! We then headed to work as normal collecting the kids on route, only to discover today they were clean and fresh, clean hankies, clothes, hair, the lot! Our hygiene talk must have worked which was such a relief.

As there was a wedding in the community, which we later attended; we only had Satchin and the naughty twinnies; who were surprisingly very well behaved! We then took the kids home and delivered Varsha her lunch, to see she was actually resting.

Then on to Akshit’s Uncle’s wedding; it was the second day of the wedding the house was beautifully decorated. Although the bride-to-be was not present as they celebrate, the day with the groom and family and then collect her in a chariot. The groom made a bizarre appearance outside as though he was in a trance, there was a bowl of holy water on the floor which he sprinkled around twice and then reappeared doing the same ritual. Until the third time when he ran into the house, this is to represent him running away from sins to a new life.

As there are so many guests that attend there are different sittings; whereby people sit in lines eating off a leaf. There was a guest there frantically dancing who appeared to be very drunk, there’s always one in the family! But I didn’t expect to see this in India; for a man to drink and smoke it is acceptable but certainly not for women!

After the wedding we headed to town to buy some paint to do the Day Care Centre, even at home buying paint would be hard in English, but as the only word we knew being ‘pela’ (yellow) the task proved harder than expected!

Benny and Shona organized ‘Stars in Their Eyes’ in the house to keep our minds of what we would be doing back at home. The night was a success which got the group all together and the common room was beautifully decorated.

Breakfast determines my day; just like home I love my food! So to wake up to chapatti looking bread and porridge didn’t amuse me!

We headed to the orphanage which was also attached to the old people’s home and disabled home, the buildings looked clean considering. The kids range from 12-22, I’m not sure how accurate that is as the man’s English was not so good, but he was sweet and informed us he used to be an orphan there but now worked there. Unfortunately the kids were all at school which was a disappointment.

Driving back I realized how I’ve become acclimatized to this bizarre culture, I’m desensitized to poverty, insects and generally the society. I think returning home may be just as much of a culture shock to us all.

We retuned to the house for sunbathing session and then went to the ‘tea bud’ for tea.

On Sunday we just relaxed and got some lesson planning done, we made a broacher for pregnant women; informing them of breathing techniques, monthly body changes and food that they should be consuming etc. Overall a chill-out weekend!

On Monday morning I woke up to an awful stomach ache; since being here meat doesn’t sit well in my stomach! Eating is becoming a chore, except at weekends when we go away as we have found some lovely restaurants. India adapts the food we know and loves to fit the culture; for example the beef burger minus the beef, or a pizza with no pepperoni - just extra chilies and spices.

So with my dodgy belly I spent the day sleeping, lesson planning and feeling generally sorry for my self! Until the girl’s returned home from work and we decorated the room and I received three letters from home which really cheered me up! It reminded me of how things at home haven’t changed and how I can’t wait to see everyone; my lovely grandma had wrote me a letter telling me all about the weather and how poor grandpa can’t play golf I can just imagine her saying it which made me smile, and my mum sent me a card from the cat! And my best friend informed me of all the gossip from back home which is always nice to hear! Then the evening could only get better; chip night in the house, we all thought the house would cook some Western food but toast and chips is about as Western as it gets which excites us all every fortnight.

The Day Care Centre was really coming along the kids were really listening and understanding us, I can’t bare to think about leaving them! Again we had been invited to a community dinner at Anita’s house (a girl from women’s empowerment), it was the celebration of God of creation, God Vishnu. The women sat around singing and playing drums whilst we ate in lines. Indian’s really are amazing hosts, the second your drink runs low or your plate is empty there is someone to refill it but there is only so many lentils, rice, potatoes and chapattis we could eat.

We then went to women’s empowerment where we made a script for Little Red Riding Hood; whilst our group will perform a Hindi play in the final week the women will perform Little Red Riding Hood.

In the evening I had a real catch up with my mum which was so good and a catch up on the topshop website!

Waking up on Wednesday morning the curtain was ajar with the sun beaming through; although it’s the sixth week the view still astonishes me. On the way to work Satchin was listening to my ipod, I can’t say he really appreciated Usher; he just glared at me with his puppy eyes and his new clean shirt!

Acu (one of the naughty twins) was really good to begin with and then he decided to rip Satchin’s work so Jade put him in the naughty corner which worked. But he looked so scared, its scares me when the kids look scared because I don’t want them to think that we are going to hit them like their parents and the head teacher do. The kids are just such a pleasure to be around they really are coming along.

Women’s empowerment went really well too, school got called off because of the rain so the girls came early and we allocated roles for the play and began rehearsing. Their confidence and pronunciation is so good in comparison to my attempt at Hindi!

The monsoon is so unpredictable; one second the suns beaming and we are cooking in the mountains and the next we are being washed down them by the monsoon.