I'm sitting in my apartment trying to keep cool and avoid being eaten alive by mozzies - and it's only mid April! Guess I will get acclimatised eventually. So what has the last week been like?
I went to the capital of Orissa, Bhubaneswar, last Friday in the middle of a torrential cyclone. I thought the rickshaw driver that took me to the station really earned his RS40/- and I arrived relatively dry. I eventually found where to buy the ticket for my 1.5 hour journey to the state capital. I had checked the price online and had my RS195/-, imagine my delight and disbelief when all I was charged was RS25/-! I didn't argue and went to find somewhere to wait. It was very good advice from VSO to find other females or a family to stay next to on these journeys, but that didn't stop several people coming up to me asking for money. I can't blame them as they see europeans as rich tourists and probably fair game, and when my allowance for 1 week is equal to what some earn in a month I am not surprised (about £30pw).
It was lovely to catch up with Amanda and Julie who met me at the station and we went for dinner. They are also VSOies and came out on the same flight as me. The advantage they have is that in the capital there is a small and active and young expat community who all like ot get together and do things which is great! Knowing they are only a short cheap train journey away is reassuring that if I get too lonely in Puri I can soon put that right!
The weekend was spent shopping eating socialising and drinking (not tooo much) and relaxing, (exhausting !!!!!) The lovely thing was that Orla, another VSOer has a car! so we were able to scoot around to shops and things and then she popped me back to Puri on the Sunday! Fantastic! Had lunch at alovely beach restaurant - grilled mackeral - mmmm.
During last week I decided it was time oto get to know the 7 CBR workers I will be training and what their expectations and needs would be: (Mick at SKWID would be proud ;) ) So I prepared a participatory workshop along the lines of 1, - problem tree, 2, - bridge building, 3, - expectations board,
This week I have been doing field visits with them, seeing 2-3 children a day in a variety of family, social and physical circumstances. Some have been quite heart breaking but some inspiring! They are really managing with very little resources and its amazing what they can do!
On the way back to the office this afternoon I saw an amazing swarm of huge bats around a tree - the locals just ignored it! So big I thought they were crows! Wish I'd ask Madhab to stop so I could take a photo - next time definitely!
I went to the capital of Orissa, Bhubaneswar, last Friday in the middle of a torrential cyclone. I thought the rickshaw driver that took me to the station really earned his RS40/- and I arrived relatively dry. I eventually found where to buy the ticket for my 1.5 hour journey to the state capital. I had checked the price online and had my RS195/-, imagine my delight and disbelief when all I was charged was RS25/-! I didn't argue and went to find somewhere to wait. It was very good advice from VSO to find other females or a family to stay next to on these journeys, but that didn't stop several people coming up to me asking for money. I can't blame them as they see europeans as rich tourists and probably fair game, and when my allowance for 1 week is equal to what some earn in a month I am not surprised (about £30pw).
It was lovely to catch up with Amanda and Julie who met me at the station and we went for dinner. They are also VSOies and came out on the same flight as me. The advantage they have is that in the capital there is a small and active and young expat community who all like ot get together and do things which is great! Knowing they are only a short cheap train journey away is reassuring that if I get too lonely in Puri I can soon put that right!
The weekend was spent shopping eating socialising and drinking (not tooo much) and relaxing, (exhausting !!!!!) The lovely thing was that Orla, another VSOer has a car! so we were able to scoot around to shops and things and then she popped me back to Puri on the Sunday! Fantastic! Had lunch at alovely beach restaurant - grilled mackeral - mmmm.
During last week I decided it was time oto get to know the 7 CBR workers I will be training and what their expectations and needs would be: (Mick at SKWID would be proud ;) ) So I prepared a participatory workshop along the lines of 1, - problem tree, 2, - bridge building, 3, - expectations board,
This week I have been doing field visits with them, seeing 2-3 children a day in a variety of family, social and physical circumstances. Some have been quite heart breaking but some inspiring! They are really managing with very little resources and its amazing what they can do!
On the way back to the office this afternoon I saw an amazing swarm of huge bats around a tree - the locals just ignored it! So big I thought they were crows! Wish I'd ask Madhab to stop so I could take a photo - next time definitely!
That beach resturant looks lovely, and having fish sounds great too, can we do this when i visit? Im really hot too at the moment but hear its worse where you are. I am already considering renting an A/C. Trying the bike today so wish me luck. See you soon Rosie
ReplyDeleteI guess I have no right complaining that it's hot here when it's obviously really hot there! Hehehe :) My AC broke down last night, coz of the fuse I think. But the utility guy already replaced it today so I hope it will work if it gets too hot tonight!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, busy week indeed for you Sue! It's great that you've done the workshop with your colleagues. In here, my first set of tasks is pretty much laid out already. The capacity building things will be done in the next quarter. So I'd need all the luck then! :p
great photo of you guys! wish I was there!
gera
Hi Sue,
ReplyDeleteWell done on writing the blog, it sounds like you are having great adventures, if not hard at times.
Must have been good to get away on the train and see others from the group.
Thanks for sharing your experience, and I will keep looking out for more.
Are you posting the link into your facebook?
Kind Regards.
Kevin