Placement - Week 8

Apart from a few visits to schools to award more trophies and certificates, plus a little trip to the bank to gather information for our group in the mountains, most of this week has been spent preparing for our livelihoods event on Saturday, and here is your invitation to that very event.......

Yes, that's right.... special motivation address by.... Mr Tanya Colvin! I really am famous..... and male apparently! They really did go to so much effort I hadn't the heart to say anything. Vadi, our programme manager here in Vellore has been working his bottom off preparing for this event (going to countless meetings all week), it really was a massive deal. Vadi presented each of us with our very own invitation the day before for us to keep and it really did mean the world. So, Saturday. It was an early rise but we didn't have to travel too far, and not knowing what to expect, on our arrival we were chaperoned into an office where we met the members of Bhartha Amma Social Services, (this was the organisation we teamed up with for the event and was also family run). The proceedings began at 10am and we were first confronted with..... the national anthem?!? Oh yes we went through both the Indian and English national anthems, it was a very bizarre situation and start to the day. Next came several votes of thanks; it was also at this point that all of the guest speakers addressed our young people. We were ourselves awarded a trophie and a blanket was placed around our shoulders. Our pictures were taken so many times it was starting to get a little bit ridiculous but they absolute cherish photographs here and this was definitely an event to capture. Jack then kicked off the day with his workshop on 'soft and hard skills' for which he conducted a game entitled 'treasure hunt' that really broke the ice with the young people. For lunch, we were treated like royalty, and ate upstairs with the 'special guests'- it was delicious! The family's daughter then gave me some henna, before Will kicked off the afternoon with his 'CV Skills', which was wonderfully interactive and of great use to the young people we were addressing. Then it was my turn....... 'Interview Skills'. I really did have so much fun, a particular highlight was a role play in which I acted out a scenario of how not to behave in an interview - they loved it. I also went through the different stages of the interview, how to sell yourself (using an exercise of selling a pen), and a listening exercise we used in Africa. Best of all was reading the feedback of the day from the participants themselves and they all found it useful, learnt plenty and had a great time - a definite success. A brilliant day, but it went so fast! Even more exciting.....we made it into the national newspaper, 'The Hindu'... in which they particularly mention that 'the seminar also incorporated non formal educational techniques such as games, acting and thorough audience participation'..... you can read the whole article here http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article3249799.ece




Sunday saw myself and Jack visit another one of the volunteers home. On route they were keen to show us the temple city...... and a city of temples it most definite was. The area was vast and the floor was scorching under the sun (as you can't wear shoes), I definitely burnt my poor feet. We were blessed countless times, queuing up for the more popular Gods and collecting quite an array of blessings on our foreheads. Best of all, and an absolute highlight so far, I was blessed..... by an ELEPHANT! It was absolutely enormous, and painted in looked even more magnificent. Standing directly in front on this gigantic animal was an experience in itself. It was in no way restrained an it complete dwarfed me (I wasn't scared but maybe I should have been given that it could have trampled me). I put out my hand and the elephant took my rupee with its trunk, after which I bowed my head and tip of its trunk (slightly curled) rested on the top of my head before gently rolling forward and then off - Wow! There was something very special about feeling the breath of this colossal animal on both my hand and my head. It is definitely something I will always remember. I immediately turned to Jack after and was so excited, we had both just been blessed by an elephant, 'amazing eh?' To which he replied........ 'So, basically, that elephant just robbed me, and then smacked me round the head'...... admittedly, Jack did not receive the same gentle blessing that I had experienced, and the trunk did come crashing down on his head with some speed, but I guess it can't get it right every time.

Placement - week 7

Myself, Vadi (kneeling) and Jack at the Temple

Livelihoods has begun..................

Monday - the Vellore team set forth to meet with our first group..... up a mountain! So wedged into a rickshaw we twisted and turned round and round until we reached our village. It really was very remote and very beautiful. After a small discussion we tried to gather what it was the young people wanted from our sessions but they encouraged to come back at the weekend as that was when more of the young people would be around.... so that was our plan! On the way down the mountain we stopped at a lead factory - the smell was quiet something and we even got a sneaky peak in to see the furnaces. It was interesting to see some of the jobs on offer for the young people in this area.

Tuesday was spent with all of the local volunteers as we spent most of the day going through the top-up training we had in Chennai last week. The local volunteers were unable to come to this because quiet simply they don't speak much English. We therefore relayed the information that was given to us and it was kindly translated by our nation volunteers.

For much of the rest of the week, myself and Will set about the task of compiling the information into a workable form. Basically we have been constructing a programme guide much like the one that was prepared for us in the civic participation module. Its been a fairly interesting process. Friday we were also joined in the office by Katy who also works for Restless, she was about helping Vadi sort the finances for Vellore. She also joined us for dinner that evening. It was so refreshing to talk to someone new, as much as I love both Will and Jack, they have been the majority of my company for the past 9 weeks. It also made me realise how secluded your world is when your living in a community where you don't speak the language. I am so unaware of what's going on around me which in turn makes for quiet a lonely time, you are often the observer yet you can't always comprehend what it is your observing. Its a strange experience but for example back home, (not that I often listening in on people's conversations) when your on a train or at a restaurant or in a shop you can understand what people are saying to each other all the time..... here I quiet often don't have a clue.

The weekend brought with a delightful trip to one of the local volunteers houses for lunch. It was quiet an expedition to say the least as it involved a long walk in the mid-day sun through much farming land, it was so beautiful though to go as rural as we did, we also visited a temple that was even further out in the wilderness but again most definitely worth it. A highlight of the day was drinking fresh coconuts that were obtained by a young lad from the village climbing to the top of a coconut tree - it was amazing to watch.

on route to the Nesamani's house

Sunday - Mothers day! We spent the morning at another volunteers house for lunch (they love to feed is here) and after full tummy's we headed back to the village we visited earlier in the week. We attempted to run our first session but we encountered quiet a few initial problems. Basically the whole village turned out for the meeting so there was very small children right up to the elders. The problem arose when we were trying to deliver some of the module to the young people in the village the elders were constantly interject with (at times) irrelevant points..... it got extremely frustrating. Our task now is going to have to be to work with the young people separately from the entire village as whole. A frustrating session but one that we've definitely learnt a lot from. It also became apparent they they don't seem to be interested in many of the sessions that we have prepared such as CV writing/ interviews skills ect....... so the contents of the module is also going to have to be tweaked too. A long and tiring end to week...... but I've only three weeks left in India, time really is flying!

Smoke Free Me

Oh yes.......... I think the time has come to tell you all that............. I have not had a cigarette in over 5 weeks. Yes count them...... FIVE WEEKS!!! How crazy it that?!?

I have wanted to quit for a while now and India has provided me with the opportunity in which to do it. Primarily because it is illegal to smoke in the streets here and no.... absolutely NO Indian women smoke.I did smoke a little in the first few weeks of training but it wasn't long after we were comfortably in our placements that I thought.... its now or never. I also might have a little book to thank that my beautiful friend Dave lent me..... Allen Carr's Easy way to Quit smoking, I urge anyone who smokes to read it. I definitely think it helped me. But yeah I figure its been 5 weeks now so hopefully I can keep it up when I get home, its been a lot easier just living with the lads as both Will and Jack don't smoke. I also realised the other day that since landing in India over two months ago I have literally spent only two hours on my own.... I am always with someone. I'd of thought that the idea of this would drive me mad.... but I think it may of actually helped.

I have possibly put on a little weight with the combination of not smoking and the constant rice but it'll obviously be worth it for...... a smoke free me!

Placement - Week 6

This week has flown by........ we only have about one month left in India - madness!

On Monday it was decided that our top-up training would be on Wednesday, the location of our training....... Chennai. Oh yes, it was time to travel back to where it all began. So on Tuesday, Will, Jack, myself and Katy (who had been stranded with us all last week due to being struck down by the wedding food) made the horrifying journey back to the city. I say it was bad only because there are a fair few long bus journeys involved, and Indian buses are bad at the best of times but of late the temperature is soaring...... the heat is literally blistering and the buses are jam packed and sweaty..... not fun. But journey we did, and arrive we did. We were staying with the rest of the Chennai girls in their placement house, which was quite a trek down a dusty road that is constantly being dug up - very bizarre.

So, Wednesday brought the livelihoods training, and along with this my first Indian train ride........ what an experience. As we waited on the platform I instantly knew I was in for a treat. Much like the buses the Indian folk don't seem to understand the concept of there not being any space, and as doors do not exist in India, they take any opportunity and risk there lives on a daily basis. The sight of folk hanging off the outside of buses is one thing, but when its trains..... health and safety anyone? Anyway, board we did (in the female carriage lucky enough) because we were wedged in like sardines, and I was a little too close to the door (sorry where the door should have been) when we started moving until I pushed my way further into the carriage......not a comfortable journey in the slightest.

This is how packed the trains can get......luckily ours wasn't this bad!

However, the other trains we caught were far less packed and its actually very refreshing to be able to sit with a breeze from the doorway. We spent the entire day at Asha Niva's (where our training began back in Jan) and I've definitely picked up a few ideas for how the livelihoods programme is going to work. Basically we'll be working with small groups of out of school youth helping them improve their lives, were be running English lessons, and helping them develop their personal skills as well as providing them with the knowledge about employment opportunities and government schemes that are available to them - very excited to get started! The end of the day saw a short trip to a shopping mall - where I found......... a MARS BAR!!! - it was under lock and key but I was so determined for a chocolate fix - it was the best mars bar I've ever tasted!!!

Will, myself and Becca on the less packed train

Thursday brought with it a very relaxing day..... it was a public holiday I believe. We took advantage of the fact we were in the city for a few days and decided to head to the cinema.... our movie of choice.... Iron Lady. I never realised how much I missed films but having not watched anything for two months it was great to get lost in the world of a film. Earlier in the week we had decided to spend out weekend in a place called Pondicherry (a place some of the girls visited the previous weekend), but given how much of an epic bus journey it would be back to Vellore and hearing the girls description on the place we decided against this epic adventure. Instead Jack headed back to Vellore and (given that I'd spent most of last week in bed and didn't really feel in any rush to get back), myself and Will headed to ......... Mahaps. The place we visited about a month ago, a beaut little town where many a back - packer travel through. I definitely needed a bit of chill out and this place was perfect. The first place we headed on our arrival...... a restaurant to get some tasty food (as close to western as it gets for India). Then Will went for a cheeky dip in the sea, where he was unfortunately stung by a jelly fish, I was then charged at by a cow.... it was very bizarre set of events, but brilliant none the less. We spent most the time shopping for a few gifts to take back with us and chilling out. We only stayed the one night before heading back on Saturday (another disastrous bus ride), before boarding however we found a few awesome lil sight seeing treats (including a beautiful elephant carved into a rock). I will be uploading all my pic's as soon as I get back to the UK.

Generally a great week. Plus, I am so eager to start the livelihoods programme now...... let the adventure continue.......

Placement - Week 5

In contrast to last week this week could not be more different.

I've been thinking a lot about the wedding we went to this week. Firstly because we were having a chat with the local volunteers on whether they would prefer an arranged marriage or what they call a 'love marriage'. Most of them said arranged marriage and I guess I just found this a little shocking; it reminded me of the bride and groom of the wedding we went to. Throughout the duration of the weekend I couldn't help but notice they never actually spoke to each other and furthermore they didn't often smile. We later found out that theirs was in fact an arranged marriage and they hadn't actually met until that weekend. A truly bizarre concept for myself to understand but here it just seems to be so ingrained in the culture. There has been another reason I have been thinking about the wedding this week and that is because the wedding food has massively upset our belly's. We spent Monday morning handing out certificates and shields to schools who participated in the previous dance for life module and since Monday afternoon........ KaBam!?! We were struck down we fever and belly cramps. So, myself and Katy have done very little all week. The boys who decided not to go the wedding have been absolutely fine, but after contacting the Chennai girls and hearing their similar predicament we concluded................ Bloody wedding food!!!

I did however manage to drag myself out of bed on Friday as we had another NGO, (Raleigh) come to the office to investigate how we work. They're planning on running a similar programme to the one we run here in the West of India, so we brought them along to a school to show them how we worked (well, Will and Jack taught - I still wasn't feeling too peachy). So, yeah that was pretty interesting.

Unfortunately not much to say this week other than.........being ill in India is no fun.