My final thoughts...

Tomorrow morning we leave this holy city for the ten hour drive back to Delhi, this will be follwed by the flight to London, Heathrow the following morning.

I am so excited to see my family, 32 days has been a long time to be apart from them.  It is not until you have been away for any lengh of time that you realise just how much you miss your family and love them dearly.

But I will miss India and I will come back, maybe not next year or the year after, but I will definatly come back.  I want to take Doug to the Himalaya'a and Abbey to St Mary's School.  I want Ellen to experience life and shopping lol.  I want to return again with Janet and continue our work with the school and I would love to return with Anna. I want to see the smile on Siste rLily and Jancy's faces when I surprise them with a visit.

Evberyone I have met on my journey I would want to meet again, every hotel and room I have stayed in, I would stay in again.  India is breathtaking, in many ways.  The colour the people, the animals the dirt and filth all caputure you.

Everything is possible in India,  I fell in love with the Tibetan and Hindu culture.  And I feel privilaged to have met the Dalai Lama and many many more local people of great character and charm.  The Tipi master in Pushkar, who managed to understand what I wanted him to make for Anna and the elephant who so graceful carried me up to the Amber Fort.

India is not for the faithearted, but there is something here for everyone.  If you never make it to India in your lifetime you have never truly seen life at its hardest and most wonderful.

If our trip has inspired you,  then I would ask you to visit www.mindthegaptravel.com the children and sisters at St marys would love to see you and India would make you very welcome.

Karen x

Pushkar, Pushkar, Pushkar...

Pushkar is like a movie set. Pushkar is hypnotic, calm and heady.  Pushkar is quiet, peaceful and spiritual.  Pushkar is like a wild west set of a John Wayne movie.

Crumbling old buildings in dusty pink, cornflower blue and faded jade.  Lattice work and wooden framed ornated doors and windows.  It is a spiritual place and you can feel it.  All the people we have spoke to are born and raised in Pushkar or very close by and have no interest in going anywhere else.

It could do with a lick of paint and the ghats could do with weeding and cleaning.  Its a place that would benefit hugely from a major investor, it needs money to survive.  But having said this, its charm is the crumbling building s and laid back atmosphere.

Its actually a bit too laid back for me.  Three nights is enought.  I am the calmest I have ever been in my life here.  But I am not one for yoga or meditation so I struggle with what I am to do with myself.  Its a day trippers paradise.

We have been lucky to have been able to afford to stay in luxury at the Pushkar and Jagat Palaces. Its as if someone has opened their home for us.  We are alone here.  Its out of season so we are only 2/4 people staying here.  I have a swimming pool, garden, and hotel to myself.  What ever we want we get.  'Your wish is my comand' I feel as if I have a genie.

The service and the food is lush and the people are lovely.

Karen x

Pushkar - A Holy City

Atfer leaving the hussle and bussle of Jaipur we wandered what Pushkar would have in store for us.  I knew it was a small place, famous for its holy lake and 52 Ghats, 1000 temples, colourful shops and special lassis.  Nothing prepared me for what we found.

Pushkar is a tiny city, reached by a single track road off the main road from Jaipur, you pass through dozens and dozens of marble exporters on the way in.  When you enter the city perimiters you are stopped and a toll to enter is charged to the driver.  To the left of the toll is a large sign.  No drinking, only vegetarian food to be ate, no littering etc.

As we drove into the city we were surrounded by low hills and mountains the sky was white with cloud cover and a misty faze.. I sat purched on the edge of my seat waiting to see Pushkar in all her glory.  But nothing, we drove down a very messy dirty street, full of shops, some open but many closed. Lots of cows and pigs littered the street not plastic.

We turned the corner and the road narrowed, there to the right was the Pushkar Palace, our home for the next night.  From the outside it look understated, but once we entered and were taken to our room, the view we were greeted with was like something out of a movie.  You have to look at my FB pictures to reall yget an idea of what we saw.  The hotel was grand in a shabby chic way,  The old mixed with the new.  Its out of season here, so it has an eary stillness and quietness about the place.  ALmost like a horror movie but not quite.

The view across the holy lake was awesome and yet somehow spine tingling.  We didnt unpack, there is not point for one night, so off we went to the see if we could partake in a puja ritual.  It was facinating and very moving to chant in Hindi and throw petals and spices and rice etc into the holy lake.  But there is a cost like anything.  Voluntary contribution in Pushkar is not the same as that in Hemel and during anf after the ritual you are hassassed as to how much you are going to give for the people of Pushkar etc.  They wanted 500r for each member of my family and had I been asked this one month ago I would have happily obliged but we are at the end of our trip and we are actually counting our pennies/rupees.  I raised my sunglasses looked into the eyes of my priest and said. 'voluntary means to give what you can'.  I will give 100r.  He was not happy but I was not being told what to give.  I walked away feeling rather let down by the expereince because of this.  But within a few minutes I'd forgotten.  Janet however didnt get off so lightly, she is such a push over and needs a course into how to say NO. lol.

We wandered off around the market and were greeted by many smiles and hello's.  We were the new comers to Pushkar and everyone wanted to show us their wares.  We met a guide called Goppi and he took us to see a temple and showed us the sights.

Tired now we headed back to the Palace for dinner and a rock hard bed.

Karen x

A date with an American in Jaipur...

On our last day in Jaipur we were invited out for dinner by a lovely American gentleman named Kent Fairfield.  We headed in his car to the Indiana Restruant and ate outside in the heady heat and scented atmosphere of the courtyard garden.  We danced and chatted.

Kent is a 67 year old Academic for New Jersey, specialising in Global Education and commerce.  What an intersesting guy.  Janet and I were smitten.  So much information to share about our Indian project, our meeting was ment to be.

Elephant Ride, Snake Charmers and Sightseeing in Jaipur

I jumped up at the crack of dawn this morning ready for my elephant ride.  I have waited 40 years to ride on a elephant so I was very excited.  Breakfast at 7am and then off to the Amber Fort 11Km outside of Jaipur.  My elephant was waiting her name was Rupper.  She was decorated in colourful paints around her face, and trunk and she wore a beautiful red blanket and cover.  I mounted her gracefully (well thats what I like to think).  Up the hill to the fort I went, Janet went in the car with our Guide Ajay and our driver.

They met me at the top, music was playing and the sound of the elephants bells around her neck were ringing. I was taken to the dismount area and hopped off. What a lovely experience.  I have rode on a camel in Turkey and Dubai, I loved the camel ride but this was graceful and slow. 

We wondered around the fort for a few hours and then we went to many other fabulous sights, like the city palace etc.. Lunch at a local India resturant followed.  Then we headed to a fabric and handicraft manufacture and we had a full guided tour.  We purchased a few little things too.

Janet needed a ladies shaver and tried to explain this to our guide and driver, she did not do a great job, especially when she started doing the actions for shaving her face.  The guide smiled and said yes madam.  I burst out laughing and said I would help her shave her beared when we returned to the hotel.

Ajay our guide was young and hip.  Nice guy.  Living with his wife, daughter, mother, father, three brothers their wifes and kids all in one house with one small kitchen.  He said he loved it and liked to be part of a big family.  So I am thinking to save on the mortgage, bills etc Doug and I should invite all the Rileys down from Newcastle to live with us and share our home.  Ha ha never........

Ajay also told us about his last holiday in Goa before he got married, now I have been told that many India men go to Goa just to look at the western ladies in their swim wear.  Ajay confirmed this and happily told me that his friends had to drag him back into the car when they were heading home because he did not want to leave the lovely ladies.  He said when he closes his eyes he see fabulous women.  I asked about his lovely wife, he said it was arranged marriage, you marry first then fall in love after.  I dont think he has fallen in love yet, and I doubt he ever will after seeing the sights in Goa.

Karen x

The Massage of all Massages....

Well Hello!!!


I feel like a new woman after my 90minute long, hot oil full body massage, Indian head massage and facial, hot oil hair treatment, hairwash and blow dry.


I actually feel slimmer, all that pounding and squashing of my fat and cellulite has made me slimmer, I am sure of it. Well thats what I am brainwashing myself to believe anyhow.


My massage started with me stripping down to my bare flesh and being handed a black thong like pair of throw away knickers.  So glad they did not have CCTV.  I would have been on "Who's been Framed".  The massage started with a brutal Indian head massage, I then had to lie on my front while hot and I mean HOT, oil was splashed across my bum, back, legs and arms.  I was pounded and prodded and squashed and sqeezed (it was lovely).  I then turned onto my front. No bra, that was interesting lol!  I was again splashed with hot oil, my boobs have never felt so soft... Then I had a wonderful facial. A karate kid style bandana was placed around my forehead and then hot oil was poured slowly into my hair for whay seemed like hours. Next my hair was washed and blow dryed, all of the time sitting naked on a bench with only a skimpy pair of knickers on.  Never in England, I would have ran a mile.


I must also mention Janets massage experience.. Wait for it........  Well, she decided that she would out do me, I am sure.  So she opted for a two person hands on hot oil full body massage, while I was relaxing next door, I could hear her laughing and OOing and Arrrring. Firstly Janet could not fit into the throw away knickers, so she had to get on the slab totally naked.  The poor bloddy girls, I bet they had never seen anything like it before, I bet when we both left they all fell on the floor laughing.


Janets massage began like mine, but fifteen minutes into it, they removed the leatherette padded matteress and asked her to get onto the wooden slab.  They started pouring hot oil onto her.  I could here it fizzing and gurgling.  She kept laughing, I could not keep a straight face.  It turned out that her whole massage consisted of pouring oil, but when they asked her to turn over or move up the slab/bed etc she kept slipping around like a pork saugage in a frying pan.  The tiny little ladies had to try and keep Janet still on balanced on the slab, much to her horror and shock.  Then it was time for Janet to get off the oily slab (please remember she is naked). She was sliding around the slab and floor like a bobsleigh ride on sheer ice. She then had to sit back on the (still oily)slab, while they poured buckets and buckets of warm water over her, Janet continued to slide down the slab, like Bambi on ice.  They scrubbed and washed her down with soap and shampoo using sponges. They even told her how to wash her own lady bits and watched while she did it.


We returned to our hotel, a little shell shocked and still feeling like a greased xmas turkey.  We went straight for dinner and didnt even look in the mirror.  When I returned to our room, My hair looked like I had left in a tube of VO5 oil for a month.  I could not be bothered to wash it out as I was knackered so jumped into bed.  It took me three hair washes the following morning to remove the grease.


Karen x

The Long Way Round...

This morning (Thurs) we woke up to thick cloud, mist, fog and rain. The mountains were obviously not ready to say goodbye to us.  We dressed and admired the stormy weather on our balcony. That was until.... A monkey jumped two feet from my head onto the pillar outside our door, to protect its self from the rain.  I nearly shit myself and flew back into the room at speed. . Then another boss eyed monkey appeared and I admired them from the window.  They were now sheltering in our door way. No escape for us!

We had our final breakfast at the Green Hotel and loaded our super heavy cases into Sonny our drivers car.  Then we were off, on what turned out to be a 30 hour trip to Rajasthan.

Six hours to Amritsar, follwed by two hours of swealtering heat while wondering around the Golden Temple.  It was actually like standing in your oven at gas mark 8.  A heat I would not like to experience again (Please Rajasthan do not be that hot!). The Golden Temple was amazing, The beauty of it was like that of the Taj Mahal.  The Sikh's are so very proud of their magnificent religious building, we were happy to be allowed to walk with them and share their experience. We were yet again the only westerners, so we received lots of stares and attention.  On the way in two young men wearing cricket uniform and carrying a very large cricket bag were in front of us, they kept turning around and looking at use.  It looked strange, especially since they were carrying such a massive bag into the temple.  I thought it was very odd and said to Janet in hushed tones "OMG I hope thats not a bomb in there" Oops... Obviously not that hushed... As they heard me and then proceeded to open thier bag and get out all of their cricket kit.  I ended up holding bats and balls the lot. I will remeber to keep my mouth shut in such places in future.  The lads thought it was funny and insisted on taking pictures.  They turned out to be semi professional cricketers from Amritsar, their cricket ground being at the back of the Golden Temple.

Photgraphes with any child or family that asks is something wonderful.  It did take a bit of getting used too in the begining but know I happily oblige.  In fact I love it and I will miss it when I go to ASDA and knowone asks to take my picture.

Then it was the three hour drive to Pathankot where we were to get our overnight train to Delhi.  On the way we stopped at a hotel for a drink and a quick snack.  The hotel was ok but not really for fabulous ladies like myself and Janet.  But we were hot and bothered so we asked if we could have a room for an hour so that we could have a shower. 200r later (under 3 quid) we were heading up the stairs.  OM Bloody G.....................  The room was vile and dirty and YUK.  I couldnt stand on the floor in my bare feet in case I caught something.  I felt sick at the thought of removing my clothes for a shower, but water is water so I did.  I have never been in and out of a shower so quickly in my entire life. I was dressed and downstairs in about ten minutes.  Never again. 

We headed for the train station and our drivers negotiated a porter to carry our luggage.  This is the best thing about India, everyone wants to help you.  You obviously have to pay, but for a pound it is well worth someone else carrying your bags in an unfamiliar train station in the dark at night.  We boarded the train to find that myself and Janet were in different cabins, I was okay becasue it was with a lovely family, but Janet did not know who would join here.  My family said it was not a problem and Janet could have her sons bed underneath mine, because he wanted to sleep with his father.  This was a relief for Janet. What a kind and happy India family this was.  The husband and wife were so lovely and the little boy of six was amused by us.  The little girl only looked about one and she was tiny, tired and not feeling 100%.  We chatted with this happy family for an hour, then got into bed.  It was like being in a tent, very intimate and close.  The train rocks you to sleep and before you know if it is morning.  Well 5.30am actually.  I woke up, and went to the loo.  Now! do not be fooled into thinking India is a dirty place, many places are and can be, but not everywhere and not everyone.  The train toilet was cleaner then any trian toilet I have every been on in the UK.  The whole goes out the bottom of the train and any wee or poo goes straight onto the tracks for animals to eat. Lovely!!!

We were delayed a while on the train, but we just slept, relaxed, chatted etc.  No rush, no bother.  We arrived in Delhi at 8.45am Friday and we were greeted by Bhram.  Happy and smiley, off to Rajasthan we went.

Six hours to get to Jaipur.  We were very tired and stiff, so we booked a massage for that evening before dinner.

Karen x

Final Days in Mcleodganj and St Mary's

Time is flying by now.  We have said our farewells to over 600 kids, teachers, Sisters and most of Mcleod.   Our final day at St Mary's was wonderful, we taught our final English lessons to class 10 and 9 and our assembly was a huge sucess.  We had a lovely long lunch with all the staff and they said many fabulous things about us.


We have made our final gift purchases (Janet can't get the lid closed on her suitcase) and my case prob weigh's 40kg I cant even lift it.

We have had our last meal and this will be the last blog until I can locate an internet cafe in Rajasthan.  We head to Amritsar in the morning and then to Pathankot station for our overnight train to Delhi.  Then the long drive to Jaipur. 

We are looking forward to relaxing before we head home next Thursday, as the last weeks have been manic.

Karen x 

The Weirdest Day Yet...........

Well I never!

In all my born days I have never had a day like today.  It began with a  long deserved lie in. A late breakfast and a mad car journey to visit the Sisters of Charity of Mary and Jesus at their Convent.  I was especially freaked out by this as I am not exactly what you would call religious.  And we would be meeting all the Sisters not just our lovely Sister Lily and Sister Jancy.

We reached the Convent just after 12noon for our hours visit.  We were greeted by Sister Jancy (principle of St Marys) who is such a graceful, elegant and peaceful lady and Sister Lily a elderly, loving and fun lady.  This followed by the rest of the sisterhood one by one they entered the room and hugged both of us.  They thanked us for coming and we were treat like royalty.  After an hours chat and a cuppa we were ready to leave (Harry our taxi driver was waiting outside the convent).  This was not to be.  We were ushered into the dining room for a full India afternoon tea. More chat, more questions and more laughter.  The Sisters wanted to know everything about our Indian adventure and our families.  Lots and lots of laughter recounting stories and tales.  The Sisters nearly wet their Knickers with laughter when I told the story of photographing Janet's underwear on our home-made washing line on the hotel balcony, from the other side of town.  Janet's large Bridget Jones knickers could be seen across the valley.  Sister Helen said "be careful the Monkeys don't run off with your underwear".  I said, "Well a monkey running around Mcleod with Janet's knickers on its head would be worth seeing".  The word Knickers brought great laughter.


Afternoon tea was followed by a tour of the Sacred Heart School, which was followed by a tour of the new Auditorium (no hard hat, safety talk, nothing), just straight onto the biggest building site.  This was followed by a gentle walk around their gardens and orchard, where we were both bitten by various creepy crawlies.  Half way through of this sight seeing we Sister Jancy instructed Harry our driver to come into the Convent for tea too.  An hours visit turned into Three.  Poor Harry Pundit, so patient and calm just smiled and obliged.  We gave him a bar of Fruit and Nut and 200r (under 3) for his trouble.  He was delighted.


We raced back up the mountain to Mcleod, for a Tibetan Song and Dance evening in a local rooftop cafe.  We were half an hour late but it had only just begun when we arrived at 6.53pm.


Since arriving in Mcleodganj we have seen this rather strange looking wild Tibetan lad.  Frizzy outrageous hair, cargo shorts and a FREE TIBET T Shirt.  He also wear bright yellow heart shaped sunglasses.  He approaches everyone in the cafes and street.  But never us.  Until Sunday morning at breakfast.  He spoke in such a calm and articulate way.  He asked if we would be interested in coming to his one man show that evening.  I asked what it entailed.  She said, 'His story of how he travelled from Tibet as a teenager with his family, Tibetan traditional song and dance and his own freestyle expression of love and freedom".  We agreed on the spot to attend, he had won us over.


Well....  We sat through his talk about Tibet, this was very moving, his song and dance was nice but not very professional or well thought out.  But we clapped and smiled, with the other spectators.  Then he turned!  Oh my God, when he explained his next performance once one performed to a trance dance song and included strange move we all just laughed.  (see photos on FB)  He started jumping around, licking a plant, doll, eating napkins, rubbing himself up people in the audience (audience consisted of only 20 people) he climbed on the tables, spun round and round for over seven minuted without stopping. grabbed people up to dance (most people did) Then he started licking and gropping the audience.  There was no escape we were trapped in the corner next to the window.  He came to me and licked my face, played with my hair, tried to suck my head and neck.  I was screaming.  Janet went white but still continued taking photos.  Next was Janet's turn, he climbed across the table onto her back, he was grabbing at he, licking her neck and face and squeezing her boobs with his sweaty wet body.  Everyone was howling with laughter and gobsmacked with shock.  



It turned out to be a very intimate night, a bit sexual, bit strange and certainly weird.  We returned back to our hotel, had a piece of banana cake, showered and fell into bed laughing about our weird day.
 

The End of our Projects

Today (Saturday 18th June) was our last day of for our creative projects.  We have worked so hard to pull each of the twelve projects off on time.  But we did it, with time to spare for more English lessons and teacher training.  Each project was unique to the class and age of the children from 4-16 years old.  In three weeks we have taught over 560 children both Tibetan and Hindi.  


We have loved and enjoyed every minute with the children, teachers and Sisters.  What a wonderful experience and gift to have delivered to these delightful, warm hearted people. We have left them with a knowledge and understanding of the English education system and the fun a creative curriculum can bring.  We have left the once empty art and craft cupboard fully stocked.  The PE teacher has new games equipment and a list of new activities and games he can engaged the children in.


I have tried my hardest to encourage the teachers to allow the children to use their imagination and to allow more time for reading and creativity within subjects.


We have only a few days left now at St Mary's, this time will be spent completing the British Council lesson for my dear friend Anna (Gaddesden Row School). We also have a poetry lesson for class 10 to complete and a whole school assembly to organise, get right and pull off on by Wednesday morning.

Karen x 









 

Final Days in Mcleodganj

What started off to be a cold morning, turned into a hot afternoon.  However now I have a blanket wrapped around me in the internet cafe because I am cold again.


At 6pm this evening I sat on our balcony and watched the world go by.  The things I see make me laugh and cry and some things leave me gobsmacked (especially the lack of health and safety).


A small white dog lives on the roof top of the building below.  His shelter is a sheet of metal about 2ft x 10ft. It rests along a low wall and only leaves a small triangular area inside for the poor dog to rest and shelter from the sun and rain.  He is chained up and can only move about a metre outside his shelter.  He has two bowls, one is turned upside down (probably his water bowl) and the other has some creamy coloured yukky goo in it.  I rarely see anyone pay him a visit, cuddle or play with him.  It is a very sad sight.


On the same roof, but at the other end, an extention is being built ontop the the exsisting shoddy built high rise.  Bamboo canes are supporting the newly laid concrete roof.


Across the valley three young girls are playing frisbee on the roof of a house, a shaky handrail is their only protection from the 30ft drop.


Two cows are eating, what looks like someone's washing from a line.


A man is washing in a bucket below my room , he has no idea I am watching him.


Two teenage Tibetan monks are laughing and joking about outside a sweet shop while chatting on their mobile phones.


As I look around I see pray flags everywhere.  How did they get there?  I have no idea how anyone could get up the side of a steep mountain, climb a tree (60ft) and then drape a 50ft chain of flags down the valley and tie it off on another tree.


The ladies are working hard at the Green Hotel, cleaning and watering plants on our breakfast veranda.


I have just spotted our Canadian nun friend Kass.  She is walking back to her home low down in the valley.  Its a steep decline and she uses a stick.  When she arrives home, she is met by open sewers and damp in her home.  She prays and meditates a lot and is working hard to translate Tibetan manuscripts.


The little white dog has just popped his head out of his metal home.  He must be hungry.


A baby boy is sitting in a baby walkers and several small kids are pushing him about.  He is only a metre away from a 20ft drop off the side of the mountain.  Not an adult in sight.


A toddler is  screaming as his mother tries to bathe him in a cold bucket of water.


I hear motorbikes and car horns, the noise echo's off the mountain range.  I can hear the clatter and chatter of people around me.


Yum I smell someone cooking, I'm hungry.  Off to Nick's for dinner.


Karen x 

I have re-gained Control

Thank you God...  I am not religious, but since starting at St Mary's School and being surrounded by Hindi Nuns, Jesus on the Cross and a metre high statue of the Virgin Mary in my make shift office.  I have often thanked God for keeping me safe and for making every day in India and at St Mary's run like clock work and without any hiccups.


Obviously this has nothing to do with God, its more to do with my planning and the organisation skills of Mind the Gap Travel.  I will take all the credit for the smooth running of projects and lessons and a big thank you to my fabulous teaching assistant Mrs Janet (without her in the classroom I would be in a lot of trouble).


Today I changed tactics with the younger class projects.  My project for today was Festival Lanterns and with 58 seven year olds it was going to be a tough one.  So I asked Sister Jancy to split the class girls/boys and give each group an hour slot.  I also requested translators.  What genius both lesson went really well. Yippeeeeeeeee.




Karen x

There are some things I don't want to witness......

Shitting, farting, burping and snoring .......................................


Janet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Karen x 

Accident on the mountain...

Today on the way home from school, the monsoon rains were really heavy.  Our little 967cc car was screeching up the mountain.  As we hit the outskirts of Mcleod the rain ceased but the roads were very very wet.  Just as we were rounding the final bend before the main road into Mcleod a young Hindi lad and his friend came off their motorbike/scooter.  We stopped the car.  I had jumped out and was running to the edge of the cliff edge to help.  In many places it is a sheer drop of hundreds and hundreds of meters.  These boys were lucky a tree had stopped their fall but the ground was wet with mud and they were slipping.  Before I knew what was happening many hands including my own were pulling the boys back on the road.  Neither of them had a helmet on and both were wearing only jeans and short sleeved T shirts.  I grabbed for the passenger and his foot was caught under the bike, I pulled and pulled to set him free.  Both boys were okay, one was limping the other had a graze on his arm.  They were so lucky, if they had slipped off the road two metres further on-long they would not have been alive.  Both boys were in shock. 


The community spirit was amazing to witness, people of all ages, cultures, both male and females were running to help.  seven men managed to pull the bike free from the mountain side.  The engine turned over but the bike was smashed up in many areas. 


I am hoping these two boys made it home save.


Karen x 

Activity Day at St Mary's

Today was a Hindi and Buddhist holiday, so no school.  However many of the class 9/10 kids wanted to come to school and continue with the mural and play with the game/PE equipment.  So we obliged and at 9am we were greeted by most of class 10/9.  Janet played games with them while I concentrated on the mural with a few kids at a time.  It was a hectic day, thankfully it was only four hours.


Janet was run ragged and was sweating from head to toe. I on the other hand was hot, but I was in the shade painting so the heat wasn't too much of a problem.  We finished just before the heavens opened.  But we had to wade through the puddles and river roads to get to our taxi.


Another good day.


Karen x 

Help - I've lost Control

Before I came to India, I wondered how I would cope with not speaking Hindi.  I need not have worried.  Everyone wants to speak English, so you don't have to bother.  However I try to at least say hello and thank you and I try to ask what the Hindi name is for things that I buy. Janet on the other hand doesn't mutter a word, she says Hi and Happy Monday.  People look at her as if she is strange (they are not wrong) lol.




At St Mary's the children speak beautiful English and we are encouraged to speak to them all the time to improve their their pronouncation etc. This can be tricky and I think the children at times get confused with my accent.  I begin a lesson with a Geordie accent followed by broken queens English and then a real odd thing happens.  I start speaking with a South African accent that merges into an Australia accent it is so funny and I am aware it is happening.  Janet just laughs..  I read one that some people who slip into a coma for a long time can wake up with a French accent etc.. That's happening to me but I haven't been in a coma.


Today however was the very first time at school that I struggled with not speaking Hindi.  I was working with class 4 and teaching them about Vincent Van Gogh, their task was to draw a vase of sunflowers, listen to a story and make a tissue paper collage sunflower. OMG what a nightmare (even with teachers in the room).  I asked Sister Jancy for teachers so they could held with translation but they just want to do the art projects and not bothered that the kids are climbing the walls.  


I has 59 kids, that's way too many.  I asked a teacher to calm them down, she came back with a long stick and banged the table several times.  Janet and I burst out laughing.  I told her I would be sacked for that and she just laughed.  As soon as she left the classroom the noise in the room reached an all time high.  I shorted QUIET, and low and behold they stopped looked at me and then in their beautiful voices said QUIET back.  I said NO! Quiet please and put my finger to my lip.  And you never guess........ They repeated my ever word. This went on for five minutes I was sweating and laughing at the same time.  It was actually hysterical to watch.  Janet was bent in two laughing.  At the end the lovely sandscript male teacher entered the classroom and silence fell.  I have never been so grateful for a mans helping hand.


So I have decided that the rest of my lesson plans I am going to pass over to the class teachers.  I will teach them and they can teach the kids in Hindi.  We will however be helping but I refuse to lead the remaining classes.  I was exhausted.

Life is hard for some, but you can change that!

You may be mistaken in thinking Janet and I are on a very long holiday.  Sightseeing yes, holiday no.  Over many delicious dinners and late into the evenings we discuss the sucess (so far) behind what we are doing here in India.  Six months in the planning to ensure all twelve lessons were planned and organised and funds were raised to carried out each lesson to its fullest.

Every day we tell people, Tibetans, Hindus, Westerners etc what we are doing here and everyone is in surprised.  They thank us and give us a pat on the back.  I feel as if what I am doing her comes naturally.  It may be India but I would do the same in Hemel.  To enrich childrens lives through imagination, creativity and teaching is so rewarding and something I feel privilaged to be doing.

We are having fun, we laugh every day, ten times a day even.  And I mean real belly laughs. Sometimes at the stupidity of what India has going on. Like ladies riding side saddle on the back of a motorbike dressed in a sequined sari to cows shitting up your leg while you shop for a blanket.

India is an amazing diverse place.  I want to return again with my family.  Because I know they will love it as much as me.  The people are all beautiful creatures, so eager to learn from you and so happy to help.  The children both Indian and Tibetan are lush, every single one of them.  They are unaffected by the media and this makes them more innocent than westerner children.  If I could I would bring some back to England with me and give Angelina and Brad a run for their money.. I totally understand why the like of Ang and Brad adopt from overseas, you have no idea just how much you can change a childs life here by just giving it attention and love.

You would be mistaken if you think however every day has been a barrel of laughs, only just this morning I gave an elderly man my lunch.  Every day this week he has been begging just a few yards away from our hotel.  He has no fingers his hands are deformed.  Total I went without my bread so he could have a meal.  The gypsy (i dont know how to describe them) Hindu ladies and children with matted hair and begging on the street, make me sad.  I can not give them money because this gets taken from them.  If they look hungry I buy them bread or water.  The dogs and donkeys (not cows as these are sacred) look scruffy and tired, dogs sleep on the road and cars miss hitting them by only inches, sometimes a dog is not so lucky as I have seen many with deformed and twisted front legs.

Many Tibetan people have been torn from their homes in Tibet and travel here to Mcleodganj.  Every Tibetan who has left there home country can not return if they do they will be arrested and put in jail.  We speak to young Tibetan men in their early twenties who have fled and left their families behind, they might never see them again.  The  Chinesse government are cruel and unfair to these peaceful people and this is not right.  This should not be happening in our world. 

The dirt, dust and smell of wee at times is unbearable, the locals don't seem to see it, but I do.  It is not right that people such live in such filth.  The western tourists do not help either with plastic bottles being the biggest eco problem here in Mcleod and in the rest of India.  They don't have a bin man every week and certainly do not have several recyle bins and plants locally.  But things are changing and they are moving into the 21st century as far as protecting their environment and planet.

The people here work like dogs and get paid very little.  Every day, seven days a week the shops are open from dawn to dusk and many of the workers are elderly. Sitting in the sweltering heat, just to make a few rupees.

On the bright side however most are learning about western ways (English) and this is helping them.  They want what we have, money, good health, nice cars, phones, and material belongings.  If we help educate children and get them in school we are giving them the best start in life.

If you are touched by our experiences here in India you can help in many ways for very little money.  Or if you feel you would like to have hands on experience teaching then visit www.mindthegaptravel.com. I am sure when we return we will organise another dinner dance or fundraising evening, so that you can all give again.
  

Karen x

Naddi Village, Shopping and Surfing the Net

A lie in this morning, it was the first since we arrived in India.  We wandered to the square to find our driver Harry Pundit.  So lovely and kind and old. We got stuck in the Mcleod holiday traffic for ten minutes, but this doesn't bother us and it has great photo opportunities. Rickshaws, cows, dogs, taxi, motorbikes and family SUV's all beeping horns and nudging their way forward.




Off we went up the mountain to Naddi Village this is the highest we have been up into the Himalayan range at just over 3000m.  It was very quiet and calm, however we did get stopped and asked for photos we oblige now and I hold lots of babies, the Punjab holiday makers love you too touch and kiss their babies and the young men love to put their arm round you. ha so funny. 


The 100m from the square back to our hotel can take ages, as there is so much to see.  We are regulars in Mcleod now so all the shop keepers etc say Namaste.  Which is nice and makes us feel part of the community.


Back in our hotel now, surfing the net, or FB and blogging.  If it wasnt for FB and email I would be quite homesick, but everyone seems closer when I am online.


Karen x  

Teacher Training, Norbulinka & Sing for Tibet Concert

What a laugh today.  No kids, just teacher training.  Their faces were such a picture. I do not think they have ever had any training, well not like we did it. Communication, Imagination, Enquiry and Creativity.  IT was brilliant.  We even gave them a parachute to play with (see pics).


After our morning at School, we walked to Norbulinka (Tibetan Institute) OMG it was so peaceful. We could have spent hours there.  I purchased a few braclet's for Ellen and Abbey that have been blessed by the Dalai Lama, they should bring them, peace, joy, happiness, good luck and long life.  Dogs wander everywhere and this freaks Janet out.  She flaps here arms round and rushes off, the dogs love it and chase her. It is so funny, but she is frightened.  She needs to watch the dog whisperer.  A puppet was following us and he was acted just like Oscar, I wanted to stroke him but I am paranoid that I will get bit and I didn't have the rabies jab LOL.


On the way back to our Hotel we saw a sign for Song for Tibet concert up the road at the Tibetan Institute for Performing Arts. 150 rupees a bargin, so off we went.  I would not say we were the only westerners but we were definately the minority.  It was like a cross between Britain's got Talent and the Euro vision Song contest, Miss Tibet was even there.  We didn't understand a think that was being said or sung but it was wonderful.  The tunes the melodies were fantastic, we are going to but the CD today.  We trotted down the mountain in the pitch black ( I had my torch) with dozens of monks and teenagers, families and oldies.  Lovely evening.  


At 4am I was woken by horrendous rain and lightening storm, it was amazing to watch as I lay in bed listening to Janet's snoring (I think theres an avalanche heading for me every night).


Karen x 

Monsoon Madness

Thursday night while sitting on the balcony having dinner in Nick's Italia Cafe, it started to rain.  Well rain isn't quite the word, it started off like an April shower, so we moved seats.  A few minutes later it became more like a windy, wet Autumn night, five minutes after that I thought we were going to get blown off the side of the mountain.  We had to move so far, we were huddled up together with a group of about 15 other diners.  OMG I have never ever, not even the time I drove to Edinburgh, seen rain like it.  The tarpoling over the cafe was so full of water and getting bigger every second it look as if we were going to be wiped out by a tidal wave of water.  Every time the wind changed direction it blew the rain towards us, before we knew it the puddles on the ground got deeper and deeper.  We could not stop laughing, as the waiters continued to serve food in the monsoon weather.  Add to the rain, thunder echoing off the mountains and lightening that lit up the skies like a lazer beam it was truly magnificent.  We waited until the rain had subsided a bit and then made a run for it. This was by far the most entertaining dining experience I have had.


Karen x