Over the past week I have been fortunate to have some wonderful experiences and activity filled days. Other days however have involved more sitting around, planning and waiting for people to get back in touch. As I may have mentioned before the pace in India is generally slower and more relaxed. The day is split into the morning and the evening, apart from that times can be quite vague. For as Pavi says they like to enjoy each moment!
Monday 30th March 2015
Today I was finally able to visit Share and take part in one of their community meetings. They were speaking about sexual harassment and the protection of women and children in the villages. We couldn't contribute unfortunately but spoke about community health. Due to the lack of time we decided upon a general discussion with questions. Sasi was in his element and simply kept talking and talking. Not sure about what but the ladies and the man in charge seemed to be engaged. The man in charge of Share is so lovely and knowledgeable. You can tell that he believes in all work they do there, when he spoke his eyes would light up.
As we were leaving I recognised this red weaved tinsel which mum had bought from Tradecraft a few years ago and we use to decorate the Christmas tree. I asked the ladies if they were only sold locally or if they were sold worldwide with the national Tradecraft organisation. Apparently they are which is an incredible thought. Maybe one of these women made ours.
Tuesday 31st March 2015
Early start to the YRC for a CV workshop. The health team went to Don Boscos Youth Centre to teach the ladies about preventions. We hadn't really planned our session overly well as the poisonous caterpillars had taken lot of our time up and sadly Becky is poorly. I really hope the nationals remembered to hand the leaflets out but i'm not sure. When we arrived at the YRC nobody was around and we were told by the nationals that nobody is going to come as they are at school and work. They simply didn't seem overly interested in trying to gather people either even after I explained that we were trying to target the unemployed in the villages so they must be around? Seriously where are they!
One boy came in, I think it was to play on the computer games but together we completed a IYDP and surprisingly he too wants to be an engineer. This would have been Sassi's change to talk about his personal struggles as an engineer graduate to secure work.I was on my own and I don't speak Tamil. It was a struggle, how can we engage the locals if we can't engage our national volunteers to understand the importance of awareness raising. The afternoon was spent planning back at the office.
Wednesday 1st April 2015
Such an exciting day visiting the hospital. Oh how I 'missed' CMC. My appointment was at 7:30am however I wasn't seem until at least 9am and I didn't leave until 5pm. Off we trotted ready for the Indian hustle and bustle which awaited us in the streets. We had to wear name badges and que in a odd version of a que. My height and weight was measured, names called using various different sounds and finally it was time to see the scary doctor.
I feel it was such a waste of a day, I fear a lot of days are recently. But I must remember we can't do everything in one day. The weather is hot and everything gets slower in the heat. The others spent the day planning and filling in our ICS Journals.I feel unhelpful today, but at least I cooked dinner.
Thursday 2nd April 2015
Adventures and rally come hand in hand in many ways but also created two very separate parts to my day. Michelle and I left the office early and wondered off to visit schools before we joined the others at the YRC to organise the rally. Auxilum girls school which is the female Don Bosco but they were on leave. On the way we past a sign for St Marks secondary school, so we headed there as well. It definitely wasn't as near the sign had suggested. Hot and sweaty, 'water' dripping down my face in the 35c morning heat we spoke to the the headmistress. Air Con has never made me so happy. I explained all about Restless Development and how we would like to run a careers fair. We booked a career's fair....
The Autism awareness rally was a huge success, we had over 25 children help us prepare banners and hold them high banging drums through Vanjur. Even if no one understood what we were saying, we still got children to engage and have fun. 'Stand Out to Autism'.
Friday 3rd April 2015
I am missing mum and dad rather. I keep having sudden thoughts about them, I am not sure how I would cope without them around. Words will never describe the pain which my heart will feel. I am so blessed to have my family... Charlotte and I went to teach English at Don Boscos, there is always a late start so I don't know why I am always surprised. We recapped phonics and said some tongue twisters, then asked each lady to read a sentence out loud from the Ugly Duckling. We explained how confident and proud of themselves they would be afterwards. The women really weren't keen but after a few moments they had all read in English in front of everyone. Some read perfectly and wished to read again, others had the Tamil written beside to help them and some repeated after me, but still it was all English. It was an absolute joy to see their beautiful happy faces, they were so proud of themselves and so was I. After this they introduced us to endless Tamil games. There is something so honest and special about these ladies relaxing and being able to be free to feel silly and have fun together.
Monday 6th April 2015
Today consisted of planning and more planning. Becky and I had a chat with Rekha about colleges and businesses. It really is such a shame she hasn't been around to provide this information before. If we had known imagine how much more we could have achieved! Que sera,sera, whatever will be will be. Planning was difficult, progress is slow in a team, especially when the weather is hot and people wish to rest. We managed to talk about our dance competition and draft some leaflets.
These are simply snippets of our week and some selective moments and thoughts from my diary. I may be finding some days harder than others but this experience though frustrating is incredible and I wake each day so excited to discover what the new day will bring. I hope and pray that where ever you are around the world that you feel peaceful and happy. May tomorrow always be brighter than yesterday and the sun always shine in your heart.
Stay Beautiful,
Zsofia xxxx
Monday 30th March 2015
Today I was finally able to visit Share and take part in one of their community meetings. They were speaking about sexual harassment and the protection of women and children in the villages. We couldn't contribute unfortunately but spoke about community health. Due to the lack of time we decided upon a general discussion with questions. Sasi was in his element and simply kept talking and talking. Not sure about what but the ladies and the man in charge seemed to be engaged. The man in charge of Share is so lovely and knowledgeable. You can tell that he believes in all work they do there, when he spoke his eyes would light up.
As we were leaving I recognised this red weaved tinsel which mum had bought from Tradecraft a few years ago and we use to decorate the Christmas tree. I asked the ladies if they were only sold locally or if they were sold worldwide with the national Tradecraft organisation. Apparently they are which is an incredible thought. Maybe one of these women made ours.
Tuesday 31st March 2015
Early start to the YRC for a CV workshop. The health team went to Don Boscos Youth Centre to teach the ladies about preventions. We hadn't really planned our session overly well as the poisonous caterpillars had taken lot of our time up and sadly Becky is poorly. I really hope the nationals remembered to hand the leaflets out but i'm not sure. When we arrived at the YRC nobody was around and we were told by the nationals that nobody is going to come as they are at school and work. They simply didn't seem overly interested in trying to gather people either even after I explained that we were trying to target the unemployed in the villages so they must be around? Seriously where are they!
One boy came in, I think it was to play on the computer games but together we completed a IYDP and surprisingly he too wants to be an engineer. This would have been Sassi's change to talk about his personal struggles as an engineer graduate to secure work.I was on my own and I don't speak Tamil. It was a struggle, how can we engage the locals if we can't engage our national volunteers to understand the importance of awareness raising. The afternoon was spent planning back at the office.Wednesday 1st April 2015
Such an exciting day visiting the hospital. Oh how I 'missed' CMC. My appointment was at 7:30am however I wasn't seem until at least 9am and I didn't leave until 5pm. Off we trotted ready for the Indian hustle and bustle which awaited us in the streets. We had to wear name badges and que in a odd version of a que. My height and weight was measured, names called using various different sounds and finally it was time to see the scary doctor.
I feel it was such a waste of a day, I fear a lot of days are recently. But I must remember we can't do everything in one day. The weather is hot and everything gets slower in the heat. The others spent the day planning and filling in our ICS Journals.I feel unhelpful today, but at least I cooked dinner.Thursday 2nd April 2015
Adventures and rally come hand in hand in many ways but also created two very separate parts to my day. Michelle and I left the office early and wondered off to visit schools before we joined the others at the YRC to organise the rally. Auxilum girls school which is the female Don Bosco but they were on leave. On the way we past a sign for St Marks secondary school, so we headed there as well. It definitely wasn't as near the sign had suggested. Hot and sweaty, 'water' dripping down my face in the 35c morning heat we spoke to the the headmistress. Air Con has never made me so happy. I explained all about Restless Development and how we would like to run a careers fair. We booked a career's fair....
The Autism awareness rally was a huge success, we had over 25 children help us prepare banners and hold them high banging drums through Vanjur. Even if no one understood what we were saying, we still got children to engage and have fun. 'Stand Out to Autism'.Friday 3rd April 2015
I am missing mum and dad rather. I keep having sudden thoughts about them, I am not sure how I would cope without them around. Words will never describe the pain which my heart will feel. I am so blessed to have my family... Charlotte and I went to teach English at Don Boscos, there is always a late start so I don't know why I am always surprised. We recapped phonics and said some tongue twisters, then asked each lady to read a sentence out loud from the Ugly Duckling. We explained how confident and proud of themselves they would be afterwards. The women really weren't keen but after a few moments they had all read in English in front of everyone. Some read perfectly and wished to read again, others had the Tamil written beside to help them and some repeated after me, but still it was all English. It was an absolute joy to see their beautiful happy faces, they were so proud of themselves and so was I. After this they introduced us to endless Tamil games. There is something so honest and special about these ladies relaxing and being able to be free to feel silly and have fun together.
Easter Weekend
Monday 6th April 2015
Today consisted of planning and more planning. Becky and I had a chat with Rekha about colleges and businesses. It really is such a shame she hasn't been around to provide this information before. If we had known imagine how much more we could have achieved! Que sera,sera, whatever will be will be. Planning was difficult, progress is slow in a team, especially when the weather is hot and people wish to rest. We managed to talk about our dance competition and draft some leaflets.These are simply snippets of our week and some selective moments and thoughts from my diary. I may be finding some days harder than others but this experience though frustrating is incredible and I wake each day so excited to discover what the new day will bring. I hope and pray that where ever you are around the world that you feel peaceful and happy. May tomorrow always be brighter than yesterday and the sun always shine in your heart.
Stay Beautiful,
Zsofia xxxx
