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Posted 19/06/2009
Jenny / India
12.06.09
Finally getting settled both into work and the community made us realise why we were here. The kids at the day care centre were really warming to us and we were getting to know them as individuals allowing us to develop a teaching style. Although the women in the day care centre were more of an issue than the kids as they would talk over our teaching in Hindi and generally disturb the kids.
One of the women also hit a school child directly in front of our toddlers; which in itself was hard to see let alone for the kids! Especially when trying to encourage the kids not to hit each other!
The first few weeks were hard at work as communication and cultural differences made it difficult to teach and interact.
The aim of women’s empowerment as we understood was to educate women in regards to young pregnancy, periods and developing confidence. But we just seemed to be doing English with them which was not how we imagined; but will hopefully equally build their confidence and independence. Getting to know them better may enable us to educate them in regard to women’s issues. Considering English is not their mother tongue their exams are equally as hard; so teaching A-level English is proving harder than expected!
At long last the weekend arrived and it felt like a holiday; we are based up in the beautiful Himalayan Mountains which has refreshing rivers so we spent the afternoon swimming- fully clothed of course - all the men got away with swimming trunks!
Alike a typical Saturday night at home we did 'India's got talent' in the house, whereby volunteers displayed their talent ranging from singing and rapping to a peg-man; followed by a sober dancing session.
Waking up on a Sunday morning was strange with no hang over and no Hollyoaks instead a beautiful view of the Himalayan mountains!
Posted 19/06/2009
Jenny / India
19.6.09
After a weekend of preparing lessons and having group meetings we were fully prepared and eager to teach, which proved successful. Communication is made easier now we know 'chup veho' (quiet) for the little ones.
Midweek we were invited to lunch with the locals of a leaf! Daal of a leaf- what an experience! The whole community came to pay respects for the anniversary of a man who had died in the village the previous year. The country may be heavily stricken by poverty; but the cultural atmosphere in the community presents unity within family’s. Whilst being here we may be interpreted as givers rather than takers but we always want more; and are never fulfilled.
In India people accept the caste there family names fall into and live with their health and happiness; at times its hard to deal with the injustice because it can become so frustrating.
Since being in India I've found you are either accepted or your not; but either way curious eyes always stare. Acceptance is alike being famous at home, random people will give you their child and take pictures or you and you will be addressed as madam; by now I’m sure all 46 of us are on mantelpieces all over India.
At first this was one of the most intimidating things to encounter but now its become normal.
A perfect Saturday back home- shopping and going to the spa turned out to be a painful and stressful day! Entering the spa we were told to 'get in their and take your clothes off' only to be distracted by the masseuse entering casually and confused with the idea that I did not want to remove my bra! To my surprise what was meant to be a relaxing massage for the equivalent of £1 turned out to be the opposite. This was a complete cultural shock to us considering women do not display ankles in public!
Media ads are also surprising as they are surprisingly sexual and erotic, reinforcing romance and passion. India is in love with the idea of men wooing women with flowers and soppy songs.
For me 3 weeks of Indian food is all getting a bit much, I’m reassured by many people that Indian food has a vast range but I seem to be seeing only rice, potatoes and chapattis; a basic hot bread that is perfectly rolled into a circle, easier said than done. We attempted to do them at mummy Singh's home but she compromised with shape! Unlike back home where you can pop to the supermarket for just about any type of food at any time of day or night!
The monsoon has began; on Tuesday we woke up to a dark thick cloud looming above the house; considering monsoon season happens every year the country does not seem to adjust or prepare for this.
I hope everyone at home is well, I’m hearing of good weather! Keep in touch it’s always so good to hear from home and you can always write to me at the house HINT HINT!
Miss Jennifer McNicholas
IDEX HOUSE,
WATER TANK ROAD,
BANDLA,
PALAMPUR
HIMCHALCN PRADESH
176061
INDIA
Posted 18/06/2009
Solomon / India
It never really hit me that I was going to be spending ten weeks in a foreign country with 45 people I didn’t know, and even as we come to the end of our first long day it still hasn’t.
On the coach up to Heathrow as I was taking in the last bit of English countryside that I would see for a long time I was trying to work out what I was actually feeling about the situation. Part of me was relieved that I would be leaving behind the hassles and tedium of everyday life in Bristol, part of me was wondering how well I would cope outside of my comfort zone away from all the people who know me and accept me but I think the biggest part of me was resigned to the fact that whatever happened I would just have to deal with it and make the best of it and hopefully the experiences whether good or bad would make me stronger.
It’s a point in my life now where I feel I have to start making decisions that will affect the rest of my life and applying for P2 was the first one of many that I hope to make. The last 5 years have been a blur of partying and whilst I had loads of fun and created memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life, the lifestyle I used to love has turned into something potentially quite dangerous and the time has come now to decide whether I want to leave that period of my life in the past and move forward onto more fulfilling things or carry on as I am and not really go anywhere. In the optimistic naivety of my teenage years I used to think everything would fall in to place as I got older but now I realise you have to make the changes yourself and whilst opportunities may fall into your lap if you’re lucky, if you actively seek such opportunities, you’re more likely to find them and consequently benefit from them.
I woke up on the coach just before we arrived at Heathrow to some strange weather. The sky on the left was grey and stormy whist the sky on the right was clear blue and sunny. Dissecting both sides in a vivid technicolour arc was the biggest rainbow I had ever seen and we seemed to be driving straight towards the centre of it. I couldn’t have imagined a better meteorological representation for how I was feeling.
When I arrived at Heathrow most of the group was there already and it was strange looking around at the faces thinking how familiar these people were going to become in the following weeks. I could read a lot of different emotion registering on people’s faces but no-one seemed to be too nervous or over- excited. Talking to people later on many said that, like me, they felt strangely emotionless and I think most of this was due to the insane amount of hours everyone had spent in transit.
Posted 18/06/2009
Solomon / India
ARRIVING IN DELHI
The flight was uneventful - 8 hours of broken sleep, one film and two surprisingly tasty meals. As soon as I stepped out of the relatively frosty air-conditioned cabin the heat hit me like when you open the oven door. I was glad I was not wearing my glasses or they would have steamed up.
The flight tunnel could have been anywhere in the world but there is just something about the atmosphere, the smells, the air, the sounds that confirms you have arrived in Asia.
We were met a the airport by Guarav, Rakesh and Manoj who took us to the coach we would be spending 6 hours on. Little did we know the coach was actually a burning inferno borrowed from the depths of hell not helped by the midday sun.
I managed to give all my English pound coins tipping the guy who put our bags on the roof of the bus. In retrospect £3.50 was far too much-it works out at about 260 rupees when the going rate is 10 or 20! Lesson learned- although I have probably contributed to the stereotype that all westerners have more money than sense.