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A bit of manyana

Sunday 30 August 2009

by HilaryJWPhoto of HilaryJW

Tomorrow has partly come.  On Friday I acquired a brand spanking new mobile modem device to plug into my laptop and get me online.  Unfortunately I couldn't get the device that I really wanted as it is not yet available in Orissa.  That would have given me broadband coverage, sadly this one is just dial-up and subject to the fluctuations in cellphone traffic; i.e.

Manyana

Friday 28 August 2009

by HilaryJWPhoto of HilaryJW

Shopping
I wanted more butter so I went into a likely looking shop and asked if they had butter.  The lady behind the counter looked puzzled so I repeated my request.  Looking confused she said "Drink?"

Koraput at last

Wednesday 26 August 2009

by HilaryJWPhoto of HilaryJW

We had a fun last day of ICO training.  The Oriya language class group set out early to visit a Jain temple with Bimal, our teacher.  Three of us shared a rickshaw, following Bimal on his motorbike with Margaret hanging onto the back.

Departure

Monday 24 August 2009

by dorothynelsonPhoto of dorothynelson

Nearly ready to go.  Second time round feels oddly anti-climactic, so I
have to remind myself that Rwanda will bear only passing resemblance to
Eritrea, even though both are in Africa and VSO is recognisable
anywhere.  Lots to learn, not least Kinyarwanda, which I have found
very difficult so far.  I'm not sure how many of us are going on Friday

Back in Gondar

Monday 24 August 2009

by JoannaGriffinPhoto of JoannaGriffin

I arrived back in Gondar this morning after a few weeks away on a langauge course and a break back at home in England. It is good to be back and also to see that some of the work started by me and my VSO colleague who is also working with me in the physiotherapy department has been continued while we have been away.

leaving the safe harbour

Monday 24 August 2009

by ianbromagePhoto of ianbromage

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

Epics

Tuesday 18 August 2009

by HilaryJWPhoto of HilaryJW

Epic Number One: The Post Office

Learning to cook

Wednesday 12 August 2009

by HilaryJWPhoto of HilaryJW

Today we had a cooking lesson instead of language class. This was requested by many of us who are a bit bemused by the array of different spices you can get here in India and interested in how to cook some of the dishes we've come across here. Our teachers were Pintoo and Anil, the 2 cooks in the VSO programme office here in Delhi.

Delhi Days

Monday 10 August 2009

by HilaryJWPhoto of HilaryJW

The weather isn't letting up here in Delhi. That makes me sound so British, talking about the weather!  The high humidity levels make it really uncomfortable as the body can't cool itself properly. I seem to be constantly pouring with sweat, am consuming up to 7 litres of water a day and having about 3 bucket washes to try to refresh myself a bit.

Inspiring visit

Saturday 8 August 2009

by HilaryJWPhoto of HilaryJW

On Thursday we were taken to visit part of Delhi where an NGO run an initiative to help some of the many homeless people living in Delhi. Many of these people are economic migrants who have travelled to Delhi from many different places in search of work.