Wednesday night: I met the new lady at the bus stop about 9pm- she's a 63yr old called Anette from the UK and has spent the last few years working as an accountant for charities in places like South Sudan, Nigeria, Cambodia, Romania, etc. So she is nice and very interesting!
Thursday: I waited with Anette for the school bus to take her to the project but it was over an hour late, so we'd walked most of the way before it picked her up. Another day of 1-1's, which was going well til one of the boys pooed himself in my safe space as he helped me with it! I walked back with Anette and showed her the local village and we sat chatting for much of the night. I cooked eggs, beetroot and carrots for us. Plus, a rather amazing thing happened this evening: I got a very kind offer from someone who I've never met but play online scrabble with and who reads my blog of £200 to help complete my safe space! So thank you very much Geoff (I think that's his name), it'll certainly make life much easier!
Friday: I walked with Annette and no one offered us a lift- think she's jinxed me or maybe they just can't fit two on their mopeds! The floor had been laid in the safe space- it's like sandy, gravel but comfy to walk on barefoot. I attached a few more bits to the ropes around the edge- some different materials and dangly bits, so it's starting to look like a real room! I don't know where the days go- playing and exercising with the kids I guess. I got a lift back with the male teacher and again sat with Annette chatting- it is nice to have a good English conversation and I realise how few English people I've been around the last few months.
Saturday: we left separately to increase chances of getting picked up and sure enough I got a lift and she didn't- so maybe she is my bad luck charm. But jeez!!! What a day!! I'm not cut out for this! So I was meant to be doing my staff workshop at 10- I went in early to do a powerpoint presentation as the power was off the last two days so I couldn't make it! But one of the staff was on the computer and wasn't moving for anything! Luckily Anette let me borrow her laptop when she arrived! The presentation was only to a few of the staff- one of the women who is 1 of the two qualified teachers was so rude and totally disinterested- pulling faces and stuff! Then the plan was to go to Pondicherry with the good teacher to buy some of the stuff we needed for the safe space- this was about 11. But he decided we'd get the 1.30 bus and have lunch first and he could meet a donor who was visiting. The donor still hadn't arrived by 1.30! I played cards with some of the residents and taught them to hula-hoop, but most of the time they don't want to do anything! The computer wasn't working so I couldn't write up my recommendations to leave for them to continue with the children. I was so bored- I hadn't even got my book! I sat and got more frustrated that I was wasting my time! Then I noticed the nice pass-the-parcel I'd made for my life skills session that never happened had disappeared! That was it! I decided I'd ask and if it had been opened I was going to quit! Finally they finished with the donor and the manager said that yes one of the residents had opened it all! I was fuming- what a waste of my time and why should spend my money on such things if they don't respect them!? So I said to him that I couldn't carry on- I was wasting my time because the teaching staff had no interest in enabling the children or even providing them with stimulation. It was my tantrum- like on the walk in Israel- although I got no refund from this one! However, he was very interested in my views and called in the good teacher who is in charge and he agreed that he was having problems, particularly with this female teacher and how they'd only got more pupils in the last couple of weeks since they got the van to pick them up so were struggling. They plan to talk with this female teacher and give her an ultimatum, while employing another teacher who is more passionate to help cope with the extra kids. I am cross at myself- it is always the same- my standards are too high and I expect too much from people! But I really didn't want to just quit, as I feel completing the safe space would be such an achievement and they do need some guidance on enabling their pupils- for the sake of the young people! So, 6.30pm we left for Pondicherry- stopping for veg and bread for the project. About 8 we was driving around the busy centre looking for shops! But, again, I had in my head the plan for my space and what I wanted to buy. They had suggested a stereo, which seemed a fair enough idea- they all like music and it could be moved to and from the safe space, while benefiting the others. There was a perfectly acceptable cd/radio/USB stereo for 2500r's, but no! They wanted a bigger boom blaster with a microphone and everything for 6000r's! Telling me the sound was better, they could use the microphone for speech therapy.... What could I say?? Then the teacher had a long list of sports equipment- they already have badminton rackets, etc, and no one is interested in sport- I have tried playing games! And I have seen no PE lessons while I was here, so I tried explaining that I was planning on getting toys which would be used every day and that all the children could use..... I think they could tell I was getting angry, so we just got a football! Finally we found toys and got an array of cars, bricks, inflatables, rattles, etc. By this time it was 9.30pm- I was tired and hungry and hot! We had an hour drive back- most food places were shut so we drove past our village to Mailam and I got a much needed dosa (pancake thing)!! Arriving back home about 11.15pm after leaving at 7.30am. On the plus side, after an appeal on their social media we found an artist to come and do a mural on the wall of the safe space, although sadly it might not be til I've left (Anette has said she'll send pictures and I'll leave a few ideas, ie the children all printing their handprints to make a tree).
Sunday: I was so relieved to have a much needed day away from the project!! Although ants had got into my porridge oats and being the pauper I am these days- I picked out those I could see and still ate it! I got the bus with Anette to Pondicherry where we went to the Sunday market, found the fruit & veg market, had lunch, got a few treats from the western supermarket and headed back. We burnt some more of the rubbish that was still lingering from the Germans, I did a 20l water run and watched a film on her laptop. I had been badly bitten by Mosquitos on my foot and scratched a few of them, leaving some nasty wounds which have been becoming more aggravated and, despite using antiseptic creams, have left me with a swollen foot and in great discomfort. The problem is probably that you rarely wear shoes in India- you are always taking them off to go in anywhere. I visited a pharmacy today and asked for antibiotics- they said I only needed 2 days worth which seemed a bit odd! But I'm hoping it gets better soon!
Monday:
I hobbled all the way to the project, even without my jinx Anette who is now using a bike. The usual stuff....... I hobbled 2/3s of the way back and with intermittent power we read, attempted dusting, chatted, ate melon, mango and ice cream! It is just so hot here- Anette is suffering and I'm more used to it but I'm drinking 4-5 litres and still not peeing all day! Its up to about 39c most days but it's the humidity that gets you! I decided tonight that I will be more positive- tomorrow I will go in and be more laid back and focus on the good! I now have a flight booked to Delhi for 14th July (thank you smell for being my internet provider/admin assistant!!), so I'm kind of committed to seeing through my 4 weeks and will do what I can!
Tuesday: the manager called a staff meeting today and basically told everyone how disappointed he was recently as the staff were not meeting their responsibilities and issues around wastage, food quality, passion in the teacher, etc. Which really pleased me as I had noticed it and just thought it was the India way or feared he wasn't tough enough to tackle it. But for the good of the project, the staff do need to step up, so fingers crossed! I organised a pin the trunk on the elephant game which I whipped out when the kids needed something to do..... A local school bus gave me lifts most of the way going and coming back today. But it is quite interesting watching the local village life; I've seen funerals (glass/plastic coffin), naked men showering beneath water tanks, old people sat playing some game that involved rolling stones like they were dice then moving other stones like they are pieces?! Sometimes the locals shout out "hello Alexandra", as so many have asked what my name is the last few weeks. Me and Anette had cauliflower, carrot, boiled egg and bread for tea- random but a good square meal. The manager called by in the evening- I'm seeing a man about more toys on Monday and he made a call tonight about car parts, so hopefully it'll work out! There was a rustling in our sink bin and I pulled it out and a rat jumped out! I screamed like a girl, even though I was kind of expecting it. Anette then did the same as she was outside and saw it's escape route! We have set a humane trap, but we're never going to get rid of them with the state of the place.
Wednesday: I am really working as a classroom assistant- only I end up chasing round the difficult kids who'd otherwise be locked up alone or supervising classes as the other staff disappear. And it is bloody knackering- I get 10 mins to eat my lunch and the rest of the time you're being punched and pinched and your hair is being pulled; you're being pissed and s*** and spat on. I have seen improvements with some of the kids I've spent time with- walking, toileting, motivation, behaviour, etc. But I'm not really able to fulfil my OT potential as I'm too busy (and the language barrier/lack of resources). Had two social work students with us today and they did say that I must be tired as I hadn't stopped all day. They were nice and could speak good English. Got a lift on a moped back to the village. Nothing in the trap- but the food had gone. The rats are becoming more brazen though, so as we sat chatting in the evening we saw two run past out feet to the bin! We moved the bin up on the roof of the toilet outbuilding for now. I had borrowed an old laptop from the project (it's all in German) and so made some communication cards to introduce to the non-verbal children and started writing my plans for the children I've been working with for the staff to follow when I leave (supposedly!! I'll give them a final workshop on Saturday and teach them the exercises, etc). I'm also writing a report- observations and suggestions- regarding the school and how to make it work as they are planning to expand and build this big new school building without managing what they have now; it's up to them if they pay attention or just put it in the bin, but at least I will have done all I could and not given up! I will also leave a notice for future volunteers in the house about how to have beneficial interactions with the residents/pupils- some volunteers appear scared of them so ignore them and others spoil them.
Thursday: the two really challenging kids were not in school today, which made my day much easier! And the others enjoyed playing with a car set I'd bought! The power was off all day but when we got back to the house we needed to fill the water tank from the well in the garden (which requires power)- so we had no water or electricity until about 7 when it thankfully come back on! The joys of 3rd world living!
Only a week left- I can do this! I hope you're all ok and appreciating your luxuries at home!! Foot update: the wounds have now got scabs on them and the redness and tenderness has disappeared so I won't be hopping home thankfully!