Sri Lanka

 Meeting people on the road in Sri Lanka has been fun, straight away I found myself in the company of a fellow traveller on my plane when arriving in Colombo. My first few days were spent in Negombo unfortunately so far i only have the photo above as my digital memory card got corrupted and lost all the photos from my first day exploring, could have been worse as it could have happened at the end of my holiday and therefore no snaps. This happened to a friend of mine on there hols in OZ now i know how gutted they must of felt. Fredrick and Patrizia a couple i met who live in Brussels have kindly said they will email a copy of their photos to me as we had a great day exploring the fish market with a local fisherman. Also took in a few local beers and a great crab supper.

Next we were off to Kandy, got ourselves on a busy local bus for the 3 1/2 hours journey inland, thankfully we all got seats. I found Kandy very peaceful and enjoyed strolling round the lake checking out the odd kingfisher, monitor lizard and monkeys up to mischief. The views were spectacular as you can see in the photos. My negotiations for cheap room rates were also going quiet smoothly.

 

I also managed to take in a Sinhalese Cultural show of dancing and drumming, not to mention the fire eating and walking on hot coals.

Next unawares of the enduring day I had planned i took a local bus to Sigiria 3 hours later i find myself climbing this rock in midday sun using metal steps overhanging the rock face. Had a couple of bouts of Nausea but made my way up and it was worth the views on top as well as the rock carvings on the way up.

Back onto a bus on the same day travelling now with a English girl from London, Sarah we decide to go to Dambulla to see some Buddah's. Another tremendous climb up some never ending stairs was not in my mind when we decided this. However you cant have Buddah's without them. So off we went our second trek for the day.

After this i was definitely up for the rest of my holiday to go at a more sedate pace, so I headed back down the coast to a place called Galle via Colombo which to me looked a bit chaotic and like any Asian city so didn't stick around. I found myself a quaint Dutch villa to stay in very cheap and took myself on a tour around the old town and fort.

The last four days of my holiday i spent by the beach not far from Galle I got myself a Tuk Tuk and headed to Unawatuna crescent shaped bay for a well earned break. This place was beautiful, many of the guesthouse's and restaurants are right on the beach. The swimming is safe no currents and turtles join you in the water. I spent a lot of time reading, swimming, relaxing, eating and drinking.

 My cabin was surrounded by palm trees and gardens where fire flies came out at night. I spent my evenings down on the beach supping beer and reading my book.

It was really weird flying home as I wasn't flying back to the UK, I was off to my own home in India now. I had to endure 3 plane transfers to get back home. Indian airports are crazy, it made me laugh watching Indian women take there valuables out their bags or keep their purses when going through security, many of course were sent back to put all these things through the x-ray, so it took awhile at each place. When I actually arrived back in Ranchi the plane and airport were so small that I almost went to the back of the plane to collect my bag myself. It was a great trip and im at home now thinking what's the next one, so keep an eye out.

A bit of Normality

Had a really good week and weekend the lead up to my holiday so a great start. I've begun my lessons with the Special Education Diploma Trainees, aimed it a bit high, OT jargon went a bit over their heads but have revised my plan for this coming week to make things a bit clearer and easier to follow in translation. Also shortened it as things taking a bit longer than expected to explain and clarify understanding as well as the enthusiasm for group work, taking double the time planned. But I'm glad i can review and make things better. Check out the normality of class segregation here. They actually chose to sit like this, women on one side men on the other. What's funny is they all rise when I enter and say 'Namaste Mam' then i tell them to sit down. It makes things a bit formal for me but i know its all about showing respect.

 Well to get onto my amazing weekend, another volunteer Joel from Uganda has come to live in Ranchi, so i got Fred who lives about 50km away to join us as well to show Joel around the town. Spent Saturday shopping bought some new goggles for swimming and new trainers (which have already given me blisters). I have been craving a simple pizza for 5 months so we had dinner at Domino's pizza, chicken fiesta still makes my mouth water thinking about it. All three of us headed off to see my first English movie at the cinema The Dark Night Rising which we thoroughly enjoyed, almost felt like a day at home in England with some normality. I braved driving home at night with Fred on the back of motorbike, avoiding the drink drivers, cows asleep in middle of road, bumps, pot holes all remember with no street lighting. Pat on the back for Rose.

 Next day everyone met up at mine for a delicious breakfast of boiled eggs and toast, thanks Fred for cooking. Then we were off for a look around and stroll through Ranchi's biggest tourist attraction The Rock Garden. Actually exceeded my expectations for Jharkhand so was pleasantly surprised even in the rain.

 Seemed to be the place where couples met to hold hands and families enjoyed a stroll. It had some weird exhibits or art structures including a UFO, pyramid and a strange monster protruding out a pool. But it was also the only place in Ranchi that was quiet and peaceful. I feel there will be many more visits here in the future.

                             

 People boating and swimming.

Handwriting Workshop

The days crept up all the planning was done and I found myself quite nervous at the prospect of teaching a class of teachers and parents how to implement occupational therapy techniques when developing handwriting skills with children. Lets say didn't sleep well the night before. However on the day it all paid off. Actually found myself enjoying the teaching and both myself and the learners seemed to get a lot out of it. I had scheduled a whole day of activities and the learners seemed to relish any chance to get creative and make things. I had to point out a few times we needed to move on to keep the time schedule. I will take that as a sign of how they enjoyed the activity.





Even had an icebreaker to start the session although made the mistake of giving every one pencils to use at the beginning, when one of the tasks was to chose their own pen colour, it was too late when I realised but was saved by Alka a colleague who suggested using the colour we wrote on our name badges. It was nice having a group who wanted to participate and join in as much as me. I had all the ingredients for a good workshop, presentation, flip chart and post lets.

Teachers getting creative

Word spacers decorated by learners

Getting more creative with own ideas

Train word spacer - very creative

It was interesting having someone translate for you as only half the group spoke good English, had to be really clear in what I was trying to get across. I did find it frustrating when my translator answered questions for me before it was translated back, but I suppose that's part an parcel.

Teacher Rosie

Sharing Ideas

Now hopefully these 20 people will go off assess some of the children, devise a plan and implement some of my ideas to improve a child's handwriting. That's my theory anyway! With this success I am now waiting on VSO to print the workbook I made so Deepshikha can train others in India with the same skills.

24 Years of Deepshikha Celebration

This week we have been celebrating 24 Years since my NGO Deepshikha has been in operation, we had a massive cake at work which was a lovely surprise and very nice, then the children danced, many of their families also turned up and joined in.

 On Sunday I was invited to the official function to celebrate the same event at the last minute! not being able to communicate in Hindi, you seem to hear about things at very short notice. Everyone was busy making ready for the children to perform on stage and I didn't really have a role to play, felt a bit of a lemon. Unfortunately I also missed the best part as for some reason at functions like this they spend a couple of hours giving speeches, thanking the dignitaries they have invited giving out gifts and getting photos.  This kind of thing is not my scene I just wanted to see the kids enjoy themselves and perform, all I got was the AGM part, I was  late as it took me awhile to find the place on my bike on my own and was about an hour away.I also had agreed to another party that day without knowing of the clash so had to leave. Anyway I hope the kids had fun and shall see the performance photos this week I am sure.

I cheered myself up by going shopping, like all girls need, i bought two Kurta's.

The good news is I have booked my holiday and am off to Sri Lanka on 10th August for nine days cannot wait as there is so much to see. But plan to plan it on the road, will see where it takes me. Before my holiday I will finally be starting some regular teaching at work with diploma student's scarey but I will feel much more that I am contributing here when it has begun. Im also holding a big workshop for teachers next weekend which I hope is a success.

Monsoon

Monsoon has arrived which has cooled the temperature down quite a bit and is much more manageable. Was surprised though as it has not rained that much really, but when it does the streets become very dirty and negotiating the traffic on the bike even more precarious. Its all a challenge! The first week there was even no swimming but thankful I've begun again and managing 50 lengths so my fitness is improving am also doing the gym now as not everyday is good for swimming. So hopefully I will be a lot healthier when I finally do return. In the last month I have been stuck into work, designing a sensory room for the children in the outpatient clinic, I've got so far as the electrics sorted, awaiting exercise mats and ball pit to be made, then I can get stuck in with the lighting and sensory toys. Will have to add a photo when done. Also have designed a handwriting workbook, which I will be running a training course at the end of the month and VSO have agreed to publish it which is great news. So for me work is going well and am getting used to the day to day tasks.

I have also visited another NGO set up by a local in Jharkhand in her village employing over 100 women to make traditional terracotta craft that is then distributed and sold around shops in Jharkhand. Its a lovely venture and positive for the community. I have included some pictures of the workshop and the new mobile I bought.

I am concentrating on booking some holidays at present to get to visit what I have come all this way to see. I have finally booked my Christmas tour on the south coast, Mumbai - Goa - Kerela and my sister and partner will be joining me so really looking forward to that. My first trip though will be in August but i haven't booked it yet, so you will have to wait and see will be certain to update you all.

VSO EVENT

Meet VSO Event

York

14th July 11-12.30

Short and not sweet

Its been a quiet couple of weeks here so not much to update on, will keep things short. Thinking of short had the worst haircut experience of my life and got the bowl cut fringe, she just kept going shorter and shorter cause she couldn't get it straight. You will probably see in some of the photos i now look like a school girl and my mum cut my hair. I did have a facial before this mind which was lovely and relaxing and really helped my skin in this heat, think i will book this on a regular basis. The hair cut can wait!

Ive added some photo's from a rain dance i attended at the club, I'm not a big dancer so enjoyed a few bevies and got up mainly for the rain. It was a nice evening out and the closest thing to a foam party which i haven't experienced since i was about 18.

See what i mean about the hair!

Well I'm not very well at the moment had 3 days in bed and on the loo, seen the doctor today who thinks its down to the heat. Plus side is from all the time in bed my ankles that have been swollen up like balloons have gone down. Now have a concoction of medication to hopefully set me right. As three days on my own can be quite isolating. I also met two girls in the doctors, they live behind the surgery, of course nice wanted to chat while i was slowly dying in the heat, was polite though and kept it short. Got back home and there i have two requests to be my friend on facebook. I'm not being funny but i don't even know you. This is not uncommon their facebook mad over here. Still i need to at least know you as a friend, work with you or your family. I'm harsh but how does it benefit me, its just another way for people to nose at the famous white girl. You can tell I'm ill i get grumpy!

I will end on a positive note, my replacement ebook arrived today, couldn't arrived on a better day and its cheered me up so i have something else to do other than be on the Internet and can lay in bed reading over the weekend. My plans were to go to Kolkata but had to cancel as too unwell, so this is my silver lining. To top it i also got three letters from my pen pal Jacquie sent in April and May but all arriving at the same time - Indian post hey but its great to receive my first mail from back home.