Volunteering Impressions

Namaste!

So first week of volunteering is over and we are both exhausted! We are staying with a very sweet host family consisting of the big mamma, 2 daughters and 1 son who thankfully speaks good English and is our translator/Nepali teacher most of the time. The house is nothing like the houses in England - it is made out of bamboo and clay and they clean it by layering mud on the floor! We eat dahl baat (lentils, rice and curry) for breakfast and dinner so although it's nice I'm getting pretty sick of it, whereas Laurence is loving it. The family keep goats and have a big garden with all the vegetables they need for cooking so we're eating organic! The views from and around the house are incredible - we are quite high up in the mountains, overlooking the Kathmandu Valley (we're in a place called Panchmane, near Jitpur, around 12-15km North of Kathmandu in case anyone feels like looking it up). There are also regular power cuts, but its all part of the cultural experience!

Both Laurence and I work in a tiny school 2 minutes up a hill from our host house. There are only 18 children in total, ranging from 3 to 9 years old, and we are both getting very attached to them! They are so innocent and sweet and get excited about the smallest things from playing with a blow up ball to Laurence's beard (which is now getting longer and even more orange!). For now we are helping the teachers with anything they need us to do, such as lessons in English and maths, as well as playing games with the little ones and trying to keep some of the more naughty boys under control. Soon we will start working with them on more longer term plans like introducing a more structured teaching approach, as the current situation is rather chaotic.

Everything else is absolutely fine with us - we're healthy, happy and now thoroughly in the Nepalese culture, which is great. If anyone wants to get in touch with us, you can call
00977 9808064914 - this is our Nepali mobile number, however where we are staying we have a very bad reception, so if it doesnt go through, that would be why.

Next weekend we are going to Chitwan National Park with the other volunteers. This is where we get to ride elephants and trek through the Nepalese jungle, so we're all very excited!

That's all for now - next update coming up soon. Some more pictures are up on Flickr now so you can check them out on www.flickr.com/rozziandlaurence

Namaste and lots of love from us both!

xxx

PS: Happy Birthday Paps!!! I won't be able to call you on the actual day as we will be back in Pachmane, but I will be thinking of you. I hope you have an amazing day - love you lots!!!! xxxxx