In class

The school http://sikkimacademy.com/

This is where i am http://sikkimacademy.com/ . GS… the principle is trying to find funding so that the school can stay open throughout the three month winter holiday. This is because a large number of hostel children go and stay with abusive family or family that just can’t afford to feed them during this time. When the school reopens some of the kids arrive back bruised, filthy, withdrawn and starving. I’ve had been listening to some awful stories over the last few weeks. Interested in helping? See website for details.

I’m looking forward to a break next weekend

I’m looking forward to a break next weekend. Can’t wait to have a hot shower and the luxury of electricity all day and night so I can actually get into bed without my gloves on!  As its Easter we have a long weekend, I might go to Gangtok and get a jeep to (6 1/5 hours) to Gurundongmar and Pankrama Lake. It’s supposed to be a holy experience!

Or… if not this holiday then next (two long weekends next month) I might go to Pelling and trek to Khercheopalri Lake which takes 5 or 8 hours depending on the route. It beats walking around Maylands Avenue…don’t you think?  Sorry ladies :o) ha ha.

The school principle invited the volunteers for tea yesterday. His wife cooked some traditional nibbles. Eggs boiled and fried, onion bhaji (not nearly as good as yours Steve R) , potatoes fritters and other bits and pieces, we all walked away with full bellies.

The two Dutch girls are leaving tomorrow, the kids have been busy writing farewell letters and drawing pictures, they will be dearly missed. We had a bonfire after dinner as a farewell treat. We toasted marsh mellows…I can’t ever remember having toasted marsh mellows before…unless I was drunk and that’s why I can’t remember…but OMG are they tasty!

What we’ve been doing over the last week or so..pictures to follow

We took the kids for a walk down the river. They moved stones to make a pool then strip off and jump in, they didn’t care that it was freezing. The boys made a separate pool for the girls.  It was just so refreshing seeing kids being kids. They were crying with laughter!

As I only teach in the mornings there's plenty of time to concentrate on getting fit. I walk for 1 ½ or 2 hours a day, this involves 372 steps up the mountain. With all this exercise and no booze I’m sure to lose weight…can’t say I’ve noticed it fall off yet.

The school PC won't let me upload all my wonderful pictures :o(

I've taken loads of pictures but can't share them with you at the moment :o(. 

Apparently on a clear day you can see Kanchanjunga…the third highest mountain in the world.

One of the helpers from the school invited us to his house to share in a Buddhist home blessing ceremony.  I had my first taste of rice beer…it was awful!

I went exploring today...there is so much to see...I hugged a couple of trees on the way back.

Food is pretty boring...i miss your curries Steve R!!

Teaching

Started teaching on Wednesday. The kids are so eager to learn… it’s such a joy!

Arrived!

Saturday 2nd April

After a horrible 6 hours door to door journey the jeep dropped me off outside the school, I was met by about 5 or 6 children running down the path saying “hello miss..what’s your name? There were about 50 children who couldn’t wait to meet me. Gorgeous smiles and so unspoilt. “Sit here miss..can I get you a drink miss? My name is ….it was just so beautiful. The principal look me to my accommodation. A basic but clean two bedroom apartment with my own bathroom and kitchen. I also have a balcony with the most outstanding views. I was expecting to stay in a spider, flee infested shack so that was a wonderful surprise. We went back to the school had dinner and met up with the other four lady volunteers. One America, two Dutch and one English. They are really friendly. It’s Sunday tomorrow so we are going to make a trip to Jotherang. I start teaching on Wednesday..that should be fun! Lucky for me all the others are qualified so I’m going to sit in on their lessons so I can get some kind of idea what to do.

All the children sleep in one room, there are about 60 of them. Two to a bed. Most of them look about 5-7, hard to tell as they all look so small. After prayers one of the volunteers read them a bedtime story while we all sat on the floor hanging on every word. Then the kids gave you kisses and hugs before they retired to bed. What an extraordinary day which I am just so grateful to be lucky enough to experience.

Hard getting used to hardly cold washes and limited electricity. The kids make it all worth while. Pictures to follow soon.