Yesterday was my last full day at Sangam and it was pretty good - once I got my packing sorted (thanks Kylie, she is posting me some stuff).
In the afternoon we performed Pooja on everything at Sangam. The reason for this is so that everything goes well and nothing breaks down or creates any trouble. We also did it on the safe to bring in more money. It was fun and by the end we got rather good at it. To start with we (all us vols) watched and the ladies and men did the pooja and slowly Aruna got us to do it (for places like the programme room as they are our computers and photocopier). Then Aruna left us to do our rooms ourselves (just the at the door to bless everything inside), Sayali came up with us to help but by then we was pretty good.
Got a few final packing things to do and then it is chill out till we leave. Gwen is coming to Mumbai with me as her flight is half an hour after mine. I am gettting some more Mehendi done so will be semi covered in it by the time I leave. Not sure if it will still be there when get home but Mum will vouch that it was pretty.
Am looking forward to coming home, and to Singapore holiday but don't want to leave here either. Guess that is life
Monday, September 28, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Had a request for an update so here one is :)
Can't reme,ber the last time I wrote an update as such about what is going on here and stuff but here is one now which will count so yay!
Our last event finished a week or so ago, it was a Advocacy Seminar and was therefore not as fun as such as the other events but it was still fun in its own way. We had a little group (only 23 participants) from many different countries, and none from the UK. They were from Cananda, Denmark, Egypt, India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Pakistan, Ukraine and I think that is it.
Because of the type of event most of the participants were here on scholorships which was kool for them but also kind of sad as that means that they do not get to travel afterwards. Easy for us though as we did not have to take any of the groups to the train station, and this was useful as we were taking the afternoon off.
During the days off after this event we went to Aamby Valley for a few days. This is the weirdest place ever. I think we decided that it was the Scottish HIghlands, but also a movie set or something similar. The tents that we stayed in looked just like tents from the outside, walk inside and instantly you are in a hotel style room with a fridge, tv, ac and a very comfy looking bed (boy was that a let down. It had perfect pillows and duvet but the worst materess ever, oh well still nice tent), it was just like how we had imagined the Harry Potter tents.
During this time the new volunteers arrived and we are currently training them to be us, but better. Training involves taking them on the tours that we take participants as they will need to be doing these and they need to buy their own Sari's and Punjabi's. We are taking them through the pre-event prep that needs to be done and the sessions that they will be helping run or running (this mostly is just showing them around the computer network so that they can find the information that they will need). We also have to show them the good places to go out at night (I know our job is so hard), this is because sometimes they will take participants and also if there is a night off participants will ask them. Similar reasons for why we have to take them shopping in the other good areas that we do not take the tours, so that when participants ask where there is good shopping or where they can get a good something they can answer these questions.
On Saturday we finally went to the Snake Park, have been wanting and meaning to since we got here and yet never managed to get there. As it is a rather long drive and can be hard to get a rickshaw Sayali arranged one for us (her dads friend) and this was great as it was a set rate and he was going to wait and take us home after we was done. Turns out he didnt have any other plans that day and was happy to take us around the Park and Zoo (which was next door), very good as we wouldve walked down many dead ends.
Both were really kool and we learnt that I could jump as far as a Small Deer and Manisha a Rabbit. Also we learnt that a sloth bear is super cute and fluffy and that Indian Big Cats take seista. Photos are coming.
Currently it is Dassera, and for this Grishma is fasting and also not wearing shoes for the duration (9 days). This I think sounds fun but Katey has forbidden me from doing a shoe fast, evil person :)
As with most, if not all, festivals here this is very community orientated. Over the road is our local neighbourhood Phulenagar and each night of the festival there is dandiya (Indian stick dancing). Last night we all went over and joined in. Boy is it a work out. I think we danced for at least half an hour without stopping. Sayali and Grishma live there and we taking part which is why we went (it is not polite to go and join in this sort of thing if you do not know anyone). Also many of the local guides were there and we all kinda know each other as they come to Sangam every Sunday afternoon for there meetings. They are coming to campfire on Thursday night which will be great.
Not this effects any of you much but Sayali has started college now, so she doesnt work here as much no more. She is one of the guides, and has been working with the Admin Team for most of monsoon while she was on break. She now works evenings and Sundays.
Not long left here now which is sad but exciting to. Just gotta get round to packing eventually....
Our last event finished a week or so ago, it was a Advocacy Seminar and was therefore not as fun as such as the other events but it was still fun in its own way. We had a little group (only 23 participants) from many different countries, and none from the UK. They were from Cananda, Denmark, Egypt, India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Pakistan, Ukraine and I think that is it.
Because of the type of event most of the participants were here on scholorships which was kool for them but also kind of sad as that means that they do not get to travel afterwards. Easy for us though as we did not have to take any of the groups to the train station, and this was useful as we were taking the afternoon off.
During the days off after this event we went to Aamby Valley for a few days. This is the weirdest place ever. I think we decided that it was the Scottish HIghlands, but also a movie set or something similar. The tents that we stayed in looked just like tents from the outside, walk inside and instantly you are in a hotel style room with a fridge, tv, ac and a very comfy looking bed (boy was that a let down. It had perfect pillows and duvet but the worst materess ever, oh well still nice tent), it was just like how we had imagined the Harry Potter tents.
During this time the new volunteers arrived and we are currently training them to be us, but better. Training involves taking them on the tours that we take participants as they will need to be doing these and they need to buy their own Sari's and Punjabi's. We are taking them through the pre-event prep that needs to be done and the sessions that they will be helping run or running (this mostly is just showing them around the computer network so that they can find the information that they will need). We also have to show them the good places to go out at night (I know our job is so hard), this is because sometimes they will take participants and also if there is a night off participants will ask them. Similar reasons for why we have to take them shopping in the other good areas that we do not take the tours, so that when participants ask where there is good shopping or where they can get a good something they can answer these questions.
On Saturday we finally went to the Snake Park, have been wanting and meaning to since we got here and yet never managed to get there. As it is a rather long drive and can be hard to get a rickshaw Sayali arranged one for us (her dads friend) and this was great as it was a set rate and he was going to wait and take us home after we was done. Turns out he didnt have any other plans that day and was happy to take us around the Park and Zoo (which was next door), very good as we wouldve walked down many dead ends.
Both were really kool and we learnt that I could jump as far as a Small Deer and Manisha a Rabbit. Also we learnt that a sloth bear is super cute and fluffy and that Indian Big Cats take seista. Photos are coming.
Currently it is Dassera, and for this Grishma is fasting and also not wearing shoes for the duration (9 days). This I think sounds fun but Katey has forbidden me from doing a shoe fast, evil person :)
As with most, if not all, festivals here this is very community orientated. Over the road is our local neighbourhood Phulenagar and each night of the festival there is dandiya (Indian stick dancing). Last night we all went over and joined in. Boy is it a work out. I think we danced for at least half an hour without stopping. Sayali and Grishma live there and we taking part which is why we went (it is not polite to go and join in this sort of thing if you do not know anyone). Also many of the local guides were there and we all kinda know each other as they come to Sangam every Sunday afternoon for there meetings. They are coming to campfire on Thursday night which will be great.
Not this effects any of you much but Sayali has started college now, so she doesnt work here as much no more. She is one of the guides, and has been working with the Admin Team for most of monsoon while she was on break. She now works evenings and Sundays.
Not long left here now which is sad but exciting to. Just gotta get round to packing eventually....
Saturday, September 19, 2009
The most evilest Evil of them all!
Pollution!
And if you disbelieve me on this fact then you are just plain wrong this time!!!!
Here is why: Imagine you already have difficulty getting a good nights sleep but now it is even harder (almost impossible) due to the fact you are having difficulty breathing. You feel as though your lungs are not working properly and definalety not taking in enough oxygen. Along with this lovely new development is a cough. A cough that has nothing to do with a cold (as you do not have one) yet wont go away and also keeps you up at night. Due to these two things it is harder to work during the day and much harder to take people on tours in the city. Thankfully we are only training the new volunteers as this means that I am not needed for all the tours we have to teach/show them.
Only a few weeks till fresh clean air. The scary thing is that Pune is one of the clean cities in India.
And if you disbelieve me on this fact then you are just plain wrong this time!!!!
Here is why: Imagine you already have difficulty getting a good nights sleep but now it is even harder (almost impossible) due to the fact you are having difficulty breathing. You feel as though your lungs are not working properly and definalety not taking in enough oxygen. Along with this lovely new development is a cough. A cough that has nothing to do with a cold (as you do not have one) yet wont go away and also keeps you up at night. Due to these two things it is harder to work during the day and much harder to take people on tours in the city. Thankfully we are only training the new volunteers as this means that I am not needed for all the tours we have to teach/show them.
Only a few weeks till fresh clean air. The scary thing is that Pune is one of the clean cities in India.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Cat and Mouse...
Strange happenings, should be used to them by now but when animals are involved it becomes a bit too weird.
On Wednesday Manisha, Katey and I had some things to discuss for work and a messy programme room that needed more space so we decided to combine the jobs and clean and discuss together. Manisha and I decided to start with the swaps box and the boxes and bags filled with specific country stuff for international nights and country banners.
I pulled out the box of American stuff to see what worth keeping and what should just be thrown out. When I opened the box Katey informed us that it stunk (like we didnt already know, we were closer than she was) and that it smelt like something died in there. Braving the smell I started going through it all, most of it was keepable but some we decided was worthless and should be chucked.
Just as I was about to reach for a bandanna to chuck I noticed that there was a weird furry brown thing on it - good thing I didn't grab the bandanna straight off as after closer inspection the furry thing turned out to be a mouse carcuss, mostly decompsed. Ick complete. No wonder the corner where the box was stunk so bad, and the box when it was opened. We grabbed the box and the bin and all the stuff that was in the bin and took it outside, then tracked down a man to throw it all out. Totally disgusted yet giggling at the fact that Katey was right and there was a dead animal.
We had to burn incense and candles to get rid of the smell in the programme room, and after some dicussion decided that we should continue going through the boxes and bags that were left as the chances that there would be another mouse - dead or alive - was very slim (though would have thought that with the first).
The real mystery is how it got in there in the first place and how long it had been there. At least six months as we didnt go into it and Sara, Gemma and Maddy left then at that would have been the soonest that anyone had opened the box.
Well that is the mouse explained, ready for the cat?
Last night, after finally falling asleep, I woke up to a strange sound. It sounded like it was coming from in our room. Turns out I wasn't imagining things as Manisha woke up to and asked if I could hear it. We was discussing whether it was a bird or what when one of us suddenly came up with idea of a cat. This may seem surprising that it took so long for is to think this but if you haven't heard a cat for over three months you might take a while to.
Then Manisha had the bright idea that it was coming from the wall, it was 1 in the morning. We then figured maybe it was coming from under my bed. As I was still in bed Manisha got up and looked under my bed for me. There was a black and white furry something there.
After a discussion on whether we could go and ask Mangesh (the night watchman) to get the cat out we decided that we could. Hoping he was awake and in the breezeway we went down to see him. He skeptically followed us upstairs and when he crouched down to look under the bed, he seemed surprised that yes there was indeed a cat there.
What followed was rather amusing. Mangesh trying to get the cat out, insisting that it would run left out of our room and straight outside. Believe it or not it turned right and ran down the hallway to stop and hide under the couch in the library. Mangesh then tried to get it to return back down the hallway to go outside (couldn't send it downstairs as the dogs were down there). It got halfway down then changed its mind and got past Mangesh who was guarding the hall again. Bubli (one of the dogs) smelled cat and come up the stairs (dogs not allowed up the stairs), and finally Mangesh got the cat out of a hole in a window in the library.
Also a mystery when and how it got into our room, but at least this one was alive, scrawny and mangy but alive.
Lets hope that is the end of our animal dramas
On Wednesday Manisha, Katey and I had some things to discuss for work and a messy programme room that needed more space so we decided to combine the jobs and clean and discuss together. Manisha and I decided to start with the swaps box and the boxes and bags filled with specific country stuff for international nights and country banners.
I pulled out the box of American stuff to see what worth keeping and what should just be thrown out. When I opened the box Katey informed us that it stunk (like we didnt already know, we were closer than she was) and that it smelt like something died in there. Braving the smell I started going through it all, most of it was keepable but some we decided was worthless and should be chucked.
Just as I was about to reach for a bandanna to chuck I noticed that there was a weird furry brown thing on it - good thing I didn't grab the bandanna straight off as after closer inspection the furry thing turned out to be a mouse carcuss, mostly decompsed. Ick complete. No wonder the corner where the box was stunk so bad, and the box when it was opened. We grabbed the box and the bin and all the stuff that was in the bin and took it outside, then tracked down a man to throw it all out. Totally disgusted yet giggling at the fact that Katey was right and there was a dead animal.
We had to burn incense and candles to get rid of the smell in the programme room, and after some dicussion decided that we should continue going through the boxes and bags that were left as the chances that there would be another mouse - dead or alive - was very slim (though would have thought that with the first).
The real mystery is how it got in there in the first place and how long it had been there. At least six months as we didnt go into it and Sara, Gemma and Maddy left then at that would have been the soonest that anyone had opened the box.
Well that is the mouse explained, ready for the cat?
Last night, after finally falling asleep, I woke up to a strange sound. It sounded like it was coming from in our room. Turns out I wasn't imagining things as Manisha woke up to and asked if I could hear it. We was discussing whether it was a bird or what when one of us suddenly came up with idea of a cat. This may seem surprising that it took so long for is to think this but if you haven't heard a cat for over three months you might take a while to.
Then Manisha had the bright idea that it was coming from the wall, it was 1 in the morning. We then figured maybe it was coming from under my bed. As I was still in bed Manisha got up and looked under my bed for me. There was a black and white furry something there.
After a discussion on whether we could go and ask Mangesh (the night watchman) to get the cat out we decided that we could. Hoping he was awake and in the breezeway we went down to see him. He skeptically followed us upstairs and when he crouched down to look under the bed, he seemed surprised that yes there was indeed a cat there.
What followed was rather amusing. Mangesh trying to get the cat out, insisting that it would run left out of our room and straight outside. Believe it or not it turned right and ran down the hallway to stop and hide under the couch in the library. Mangesh then tried to get it to return back down the hallway to go outside (couldn't send it downstairs as the dogs were down there). It got halfway down then changed its mind and got past Mangesh who was guarding the hall again. Bubli (one of the dogs) smelled cat and come up the stairs (dogs not allowed up the stairs), and finally Mangesh got the cat out of a hole in a window in the library.
Also a mystery when and how it got into our room, but at least this one was alive, scrawny and mangy but alive.
Lets hope that is the end of our animal dramas
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
It's been a while but I ain't forgotten you :)
It's been a busy few weeks here at Sangam. We have just finished our two biggest events (have forgotten what I have already mentioned so some of this may be double upped), both over 60 people and both affected by Swine Flu although the first was affected worse than second - well more sudden anyhow. We had enough warning that it was going to affect some of the sessions so we planned ahead - good thing we did. We were meant to take the participants to the big festival happening in Pune for Ganesh (one of the Gods in Hinduism) but it was cancelled due to the flu thing going around. The festival was/is still being held just not the big city party that we wanted to go to. Tomorrow we are planing to go to the river as it is one of the last nights and some of the locals will be there emerging their Ganesh in the river. Some have already done this as it is a ten day festival. They do know how to party here :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBZjJoSNvhw
Check out what I got to do last event because of Swine Flu. Yes me and some of the participants got to build a path. Yay :)
Cant member what else I was going to say... Does that mean it is not important - no I don't think so, just means I'm getting too old. Don't worry Dofus not long to go...
Hopefully my next post wont be so long coming...
Wish me luck
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBZjJoSNvhw
Check out what I got to do last event because of Swine Flu. Yes me and some of the participants got to build a path. Yay :)
Cant member what else I was going to say... Does that mean it is not important - no I don't think so, just means I'm getting too old. Don't worry Dofus not long to go...
Hopefully my next post wont be so long coming...
Wish me luck
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