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Published: August 5th 2007
howdi doodle dudes...
So here I am enjoying life here in India. It's very relaxing despite the incessant horns honking, general noise, people, dogs and cows everywhere lol!
I've settled in nicely to the camp, my roommates are all very nice. It feels like I've been there for ages!! Normal routine is up at 8am, work for a few hours then lunch at 1pm a quick afternoon snooze, some more work then dinner and in bed by 10pm. Love it! I'm getting lots of sleep (just the way I like it 😉 ) and reading lots of books! I've just finished one called the alchemist - its really good!!! We even have a tv so sometimes catch the bbc news in the morning if I can be bothered getting up in time!! But I did enjoy watching the simpsons the other night too!!
I've kinda gotten used to the Indian squat toilets, learning to use them without making a mess is certainly an art form hopefully by the end of the trip I'll have mastered it! The indian showers however are something else... basically you fill a big bucket up with (usually freezing cold) water then use a
smaller jug to rinse yourself! Again... a bit of getting used to!! But it's fun... :S
I've started the voluntary work too... in the mornings I'm teaching computer class to a group of about 9 girls aged between 12 and 24years. It's good fun - today we took them on a trip into town yo use the internet to research info on countries for a project we have set them! They really enjoyed it which was fun! Although we totally felt like we were on a school trip all walking in pairs along the road lol
In the afternoons i'm doing bridge work with kids who are off on their school holidays at the moment, I'm supposed to be teaching english but it is extremely difficult as they speak very little english and I'm learning (very slowly and difficultly) hindi so communication is a problem at times lol but I battled on through. Yesterday I taught them some songs and helped them write some sentences and read aloud for awhile! One of the little girls was just so cute and sweet. In fact they all are... they are all very poilte and studious and I'm always addressed as
ma'am!! Think I might encourage that one on for when I come on...warning you all now :P It was a strange day yesterday as the school we normally use for the bridge course was closed so we ended up teaching on one of the students porches! She took us on a tour of her house then made her brother make us cups of chai lol! The people are all like that - very hospitable and friendly! The kids all want to practice their english and love learning all the silly songs and rhymes I can remember!!
This weekend we are taking a trip to a place further north called Manali... it's pretty touristy amongst Indians and is a base for starting lots of treks and doing outdoor adventure sports. Some people are planning on going paragliding but everywhere I've read and everyone I've spoken to has strongly discouraged it as it isn't exactly safe... in fact they banned it there a few years ago because there were so many accidents! Think some folk are going rafting but don't really know if I'm up for that... think I'd rather spend my time trailing the markets!! (Yes I know I hate
shopping but it's waaaaaaaaaaay more fun out here haggling with the traders!!)
So all is good... just heading to the tailors to pick up my indian attire then back to camp in time for lunch then I have a Hindi lesson this afternoon, I need to get practising so I can actually speak to the kids lol!!
hope you are all well... keep me up to date with the banter :D
Acha Ji
Ali xxxxxxx
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Dad
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hiya
It's like feast or famine - don't hear from you for a week then it's texts and 2 blogs ! lol Glad you're settling in OK and enjoying it - surprised you prefer shopping to doing something dangerous (rememeber I'm a lot older). Enjoy ! Dxx