brum_nepal

From Chris / Tim (finally!)

2005-07-24T18:56:48Z

Hello!!

I know... I'm sorry... I didn't get round to keeping this thing updated whilst we were out there. There was always so much to do, I just never seemed to have the time (or was feeling ill...)

Anyway, I'm safely back in Birmingham (yay!), back at work and wishing that I was still in Nepal! I'm moving house sometime before next Sunday, although I'm yet to sign a contract... I've also got to move offices at work, but the room we're moving into still needs repainting... Oh, and we have to be there by next Sunday too! Fun! I've also just passed my first year viva (yay!) so I'm allowed to carry on, and hopefully in 2 or so years I'll be Dr Collins! (what's my Tim - surname?)

Anyway, nack to Nepal... I did write some stuff whilst I was out there whicjh I emailed to people, so that's probably a good starting point:

Namaste!

Greetings from sunny Nepal! :-)

I've got here safely and all is well! It's now 10pm (so probably only 4:15 back home!) and we've just been out for dinner.

This place is absolutely amazing! It's tiring me out but it's great fun, and is really constructive! I wish I could spend more time out here! The sights, the streets, the monkeys, the people, the smells, the colours... It's all just like nothing I've ever seen before!

The school we're working at is also amazing! The kids have such a range of abilities, even within the top ability group (i.e. least disabled) where some I can't tell why they're not in a normal school and some spend the entire time in their own world and don't respond to external stimuli! I wish there was more that I could do! Each of them is so amazing in their own special way, and each of them needs their own goals etc. Some days have been hard, when I've felt like Im not getting there and not making any impact. Other days they all work together, helping each other with the things that each of them can do (such as Bhim, who has some kinda motor neuron disease, teaching the other kids as he can write fine, Roshan being stronger and able to help the others with physical tasks, others passing each other things, reaching up to things for shorter people, whatever... They're all so amazing!)

We've also been doing loads of DIY round the school (in our lunch breaks/after school) which really needs doing, but they normally don't have the time or money to buy paint etc. We've made a massive difference to several rooms, and found different colours of paint under the layers of grime... Nice!

I'm moving into a different room tomorrow... The kids in there are the lower ability... Apparently they often don't even know that you're there! Our aim is just to show them that someone cares about them, that they are special and some of them might possibly learn something from us... We'll see! It's all a challenge, and one which I'm well up for.

I've also had some amazing experiences whilst out here... The "microbus" is an experience not to be missed! The country has a bizzare mix of hindu and buddhist symbology everywhere. We went to visit the "monkey temple" on saturday which was really cool, and full of monkeys with rabies! Nice! We didn't get bitten so all is well! The smells of the city are amazing too... I could go on about this place for ages, but I have to get ouyt of this internet cafe!

I should point out that that was sent after we'd been there for only a few days, and was aimed at people who wouldn't have seen the place. That means it's not necessarily a good show of what I thought to the place.

Will update more soon...

Hope you're all well and that you're all having nice summers!

Chris x

from Amilie / Wendy

2005-07-16T06:40:18Z

Hey all

Just a quick one, I got an email from Ben... 'Oh no' I hear you cry. Well it was ok. I had emailed him to tell him we were all back safely. Then, in response he sends me an email asking me if we would like to put up a small display of pictures in the guild about our trip! There's a turnaround for you!

See you all soon, and let me know what you think!

Emily xx

brum_nepal @ 2005-07-15T22:00:00

2005-07-15T21:01:03Z

Sorry that's coriander leaves, not cotiander leaves (incase James reads this!)

For Alix and Amilie and anyone else: Sieta's bright yellow potato dish recipe

2005-07-15T20:59:07Z

(As written by Ritesh):

Compulsory: oil, potatoes cut into strips, salt, cumin powder, turmeric, water to make it juicy.

Optional: Cumin seed, red chilli pwder, coriander leaves, micture of garlics and ginger grinded.

1) Heat some oil

2) Put little cumin seed and fry for a while. Be sure it's not overcooked. And then fry the onions together for sometime.

3) And then put the potatoes. Make the potatoes play in the oil with the stirring spoon.

4)After sometime of putting the potatoes, put on salt, cumin poeder, red chilli powder, turmeric, cotiander leaves, mixture of garlic and ginger grinded, as desired.

5) Put some water in it.

6) Cook for a while and serve it or ready to have it. Hmmm...m..mm

I've made it a couple of times - and it still tastes really good. Hope you all got home safe. Will be in Brum on 28th-30th July if anyone's about. If not, have a great summer and see you in September. Hannah xxxxx

from Alice

2005-07-13T20:50:22Z

Hiya!
Just a note to say that I'm glad you are all surviving so far and I suppose that by now you're probably on the plane or at least packing to get on the plane... I have actually nearly sorted myself out for going to Spain on Sunday or possibly Monday, minor details like plane tickets and travel insurance excepting of course. Discovered certain complications when I realised that despite the flights to Barcelona being very reasonably priced and convenient, it is sadly Bilbao which I am needing to get to, which needlesst to say is not nearly so reasonably priced or convenient... As my mum pointed out, it is just as well that I realised at this stage not later as that could have been a little problematic. Seems very soon and am sitting here wondering slightly if I really Want to spend 3 weeks of my life chipping mortar off an ancient chapel and then repointing said chapel, but hey ho, it will be an experience if nothing else! Family life is as chaotic as usual- my gran arrived today and could be overheard questioning Libby about whether the word that Libby had chosen to do Hang-Man with actually existed. Libby sounded outraged and said that of course it did, but she wasn't really sure how to spell it... I give up, I really do! Hoping you are all looking forward to returning to the madness that is England (it's very hot at the moment!) Safe journey, love Alice xx

Alice and Hannah

2005-07-12T14:35:56Z

Hey

Just FYI I managed a couple of things that we never thought I would manage... I got Ritesh out for a drink (and food!) to Boudah with Lala, Chris and I and 3 kids, and we went to a restaurant. AND I got a hug goodbye! Moo did too. Amyway just thought I would update you to that random fun!

Emily xx

Chocolate Cake!!!

2005-07-12T14:33:58Z

Hello,

This is the update that you have all been waiting for - THE chocolate cake recipie...

2 tea cups of wheat flour (a tea cup is the size of cup that Helenas serve tea in...)
7 rice spoons of cocoa (a rice spoon is a desert spoon)
1/2 tea spoon salt
1/2 tea spoon baking powder
1/2 tea spoon soda powder

250g butter
2 piece eggs
1 1/2 tea cup sugar
1 spoon vanilla

Mix the dry ingredients together
then add the soggy ones

When asked how long tyo cook it for, I was told that it depended on the temp of the oven... If it is a cold oven it takes longer. They usually cook it at between 150 and 180 degrees, in the oven (d'oh) and it takes between 1 and 2 hours... and you know when it is done because the handle of a spoon comes out clean.

The Icing (yummy!)

For eggs - only the white part. 5 pieces.
Sugar - 2 cups (tea cups)
salt - 12g

Whisk over hot water - lots.

As you can see, very detailed instructions...

See you in the UK Al - we should make this together in a couple of days...

Emily xx

from Alice

2005-07-10T14:09:22Z

Hiya
Would love to tell you that I've been doing lots of thrilling and exciting things, but the most momentuous event in my life over the past few days has been making multi-coloured biscuits with my little sister. Sang at a wedding yesterday (Love Divine of course) and babysat my god-son who wailed for nearly an hour before being placated with icing little cakes left by his mum...So yes, it's all been happening in North Petherton! Have just got confirmation about the projects in Spain and France- repointing and doing something to a chapel in the Basque country and then a week off (anyone fancy wandering round France/Spain in the first week of August? Seriously?) before redecorating and renovating houses for people on benefit in the west of France. As you do. Or at least I do! Hope your Everest flight was amazing and you took lots and lots of photos. Speaking of which, none of my ones of the LDC came out well at all (was an old film apparently so there are views of Niraj's head alongside a swimming pool in the Lake District- so so annoying!) so when you get back, could I make copies of any ones people have of the school and the kids? Really annoyed! Anyway, in a rash moment I promised to play football with my little brother...enjoy yourselves! love Alice xx

home again

2005-07-09T17:01:55Z

Hey, just a quick message to let you all know that I arrived home safe and sound! My flight from Kathmandu was delayed by over an hour which was a bit of a pain as I had a window seat but it was dark so didn't get to see the great views that La La and I had been discussing earlier.

I didn't get lost once, largely due to the fact that there were about 10 middle aged Norweigian librarians on my flight who I kept seeing EVERYWHERE so I knew I wasn't lost! There was also a phillopino woman at Abbu Dhabi who found the fact that I was English either amazing or hilarious (hmm maybe I had something on my face?).

I got a bus home direct to Leeds from Heathrow - everything seems to be working fine (not totally sure about the underground) but passport control apparently took a while longer than usual.

Anyway, enough of my ramblings! I hope you get a better view of Everest tomorrow and enjoy the remainder of your time in Nepal. I had an amazing time - it wouldn't have been the same without you all! Have a great summer and see you in September! Hannah xxxxxxxx

From Rich

2005-07-08T15:28:15Z

So last time I signed off, I was teaching by myself in a school with manic 8 year olds claiming irritable bowel syndrome and unquenchable thirsts. (or should that be inquenchable... James I'm waiting for your correction!)

So this weeks teaching has been a vast improvement. Miriam has returned back into action which has lit up my life, not only because she is a very beautiful girl but also because it means I can sit back to large extent and let her teach those little shits in class two. The classic moment has to be when one of the previously mentioned crap-poodles decided to mimic something Miriam said with remarkable precision back at her. Miriam's aside to myself went along the lines of "I'll give that little bastard a slap!" which caused me vast merriment.

So the week of teaching passed very quickly with many a textbook reading and we actually succeeded in introducing class 5 and class 3 and two to some William Blake poetry. The week was interrupted by a welcome day off school on Thursday for the King's birthday. We went to a water park with the teachers and founders of our school and had a picnic day. It was a fantastic day and they had obviously put their hearts and souls into making us feel welcome and befriending us. We tried to play cricket but unfortunately, even Nepal has failed to escape from those little men who haunt the shadows of our planet and spoil people's fun by quoting health and safety regulations at those involved in pleasure. So our game was called short. But not to fear, the teachers decided to introduce us to Nepal's national sport which is a mixture between tag and wrestling going by the name of "capity" (or at least something sounding similar to it). Andy managed to fly the flag staying in the longest, whereas I on the otherhand got out quite frequently by taking too many stupud risks. But it was all fun!

The pain came with the food we had to eat. Although it was all very nice, it was very spicy and dry with little source and some of the buff had an unfortunate resemblence to horse manure. What was worse was they insisted on giving us double or tripple helpings, and took it as a personal insult if we didn't eat. After lunch we enjoyed a leisurly stroll around the park, and as it came to four o'clock, with our throats as dry as Saudi Arabia, we tried to make a polite getaway.... no chance. They strongly insisted we stayed for another meal of the same food we had already had earlier. With dry throats and no water left, our efforts at consuming it were hindered nad it became impossible. We adopted a tactic of folding out plates to hide the extent of our left-overs from them, and we made our escape from the kind hospitality.

That's all for now folks,

Rich

from Alice in Brum

2005-07-07T12:20:25Z

Hi everyone!
Just a note to let you know that I got back fine to lovely sunless Brum. It's freezing here! The journey was a treat and a priviledge of course; very little sleep, a truely delightful sejourn in Bahrain, but at least there were stunning views at times. I totally forgot to look for black clouds over Iraq though, but the mountains a bit further on were very spectacular!! Got my megabus okay (stopped in at Sainsburys- you want me to pay HOW MUCH for a bottle of water??!!!!) and went to my new house, rather than Tennis Courts for a night. SO there has been 1 night with all 5 of us there! Seeing my new room at 1am after a long flight, faff getting buses etc and severe tiredness, was not a good plan...by the time it had my suitcase on the floor and a heap of cardboard boxes in a corner, there was no space whatsoever! Waking up after hours of sleep though it didn't seem quite so much of a rabbit-hutch but I haven't finished unpacking yet, let alone packing to go home tonight and surely it isn't normal to have just one single socket only in a bedroom??!! Home tonight though and will be having my bath mmmm.

Just fyi and for entertainment, I went into the chaplaincy today to retrieve my viola and they are having lots of fun there! They have enlarged the broom cupboard beside the Anglican office and moved the wall between the two to make the office smaller and to make a disabled toilet beside it where the broom cupboard used to be (assuming it was a broom cupboard!). Father Stephen's office has lost a bit off the front to extend the corridor, and they have blocked up the ANglican office's original door, opening a new one out onto the new passage by F. Stephen's office. Does that make any sense at all? Probably not"! THought you might be entertained to hear though. Should look pretty different by the time term starts up again.

It seems incredible to me not only that I've come back but that you are still all out there- you have a great time! How are plans for the Everest flight? You all seem very far away now... Ah, thinking of you all and the Daal Bhaat... ( though the left-overs that I found in my cupboard and freeezer meant that I've had a fish-cake with beans and pasta recently- not bad for a random meal!) I was so chuffed to hear about Suman and Powan and Bhim realising- that means a lot. I've learnt a whole heap from the trip and I am so so so so so glad I stayed that extra week (and Cat didn't mind at all).My sunburn is now looking very dull- not so much continents but little islands that are disintegrating. Just when I was hoping that it would still look awful (but be painless) so I could get the maximum sympathy vote from my family (though my legs would hae to be pracctically rotten for any sympathy from them!)... How is everyone else's? Hope you are all getting on well in both the schools! Take care and lots of love Jess.

from Alice

2005-07-04T15:43:43Z

I have to go home tomorrow. :( That's about it really. Leaving do was sad and odd to think that I won't be seeing my little Randomly Violent friend again... I should pack. Boo. You lot have a wonderful time and btw Rich, you're underestimating yourself a lot in that last entry. Have a great time everyone and keep updating this thing and emailing me so I know what you all get up to. It's been really amazing... Alice xx

From Rich

2005-07-04T15:10:11Z

In the same way that tidying one's room is a handy distraction from revising for an exam, writing an entry to this live journal is a great distraction from preparing for teaching class two tomorrow!

They are in short, a class of kids about 7 or 8 who have two questions that they constantly repeat "Sir, can I drink water" and "Sir, Can I go to the toilet?" And no matter what you try and teach them invariably you have to fight off a barrage of those two questions in a way that is best represented by a slightly nutty king trying to show his humanity by trying to stop the tide coming in.

Andy and James seem to have taken very well to teaching the classes and have loads of dynamic ideas for what to teach. Andy seems to have a real gift for teaching and has a natural ability to reach the kids at their level, whilst James has a comprehensive wealth of useless information which is actually turning out to be very useful in the context of teaching, and his musical ability is a great ace for him to have up his sleeve. I on the otherhand, find I have very little to offer the kids. Having to teach the kids by myself due to Miriam's leg rot has been a challenge, especially as I have very little in the way of natural talents and the metaphorical cards I have up my sleeve seem to be less like aces and more like remarkably boring cards such as the 3 of clubs or the 7 of spades. I find that the usefulness of teaching 8 year old Nepali children what the optimal rate of inflation is or what hypothetical pareto improving tax systems are, is incredibly limited.

Still, I must be British and fight on, and luckily Miriam will bail me out tomorrow as she returns to the school with her vastly improved rot of the leg.

Signing off

Rich

from Alice- again!!

2005-07-03T06:59:03Z

Oy, you lot- what happened to the idea of keeping this thing up to date? (Apologies to Emily, who is updating as I write). Well, on the exciting note, my cheese-on-toast imitation has now become more of a bright pink reptilian impersonation. Was kept way too happily amused by peeling huge swathes of skin off my knees this morning but have learnt an important lesson- skin is there for a reason...(it made a nice noise though!!)

Had the most brilliant day at the school on Friday- did magic painting with Lala and my lot which was messy but much enjoyed, albeit with a number of holes left in the paper. In a more rash moment, got all the shakers out and beaters and a horrible whistle thing with a plunger that Thuglet (Suraj) adored. I was a bit less enamoured after the first 10 minutes, but we ended up singing Wheels on the Bus and thumping along very happily, with the Nepali teacher singing too. My randomly violent little friend had a very good morning but slipped up at the last minute. Ah well.

Painted lots of fruit, veg, animals and marmite on the dining room walls yesterday. Looks so much better, and the very next time I should want a picture of a rabbit in a frying-pan, I will know who to ask (always a useful piece of information). Shopping today and a visit to see Mr. Gulf Air to sort out flights home :( Would be a good plan to work out how to get from Heathrow to Brum at some point in the near future... Reading this over, it is amazing what rubbish i can produce when I'm not fully concentrating on typing but I hope you will all cope. See you soon! Al (Jess) xx

From Emily

2005-07-03T06:53:32Z

'ello everybody!

I like this keyboard! It is nice to type with which means I shall be writing lots of emails! People will love me!

Yesterday went well - I was majorly impressed by Andy's drawings on the walls and everyones efforts were amazing at painting them in. Pritesh was so happy - I don't know how many of you saw him, but he was clapping and dancing all the way down the corridor (I have never known how to spell that word) when he saw them. Sita seemed reeally happy too. I saw her looking at her storage thing for hte kitchen and smiling lots.

the whole cake thing... I wanted to just cut the chocolate cake that i had brought to the school, however Rekka made a song and dance about it adn gave me flowers and things. um... she likes her little things like thatl. The farewell ceromonies will be like that but more planned, and longer! Bring tissues and prepare yourselves! you just ahve to kind of go along with these things.

I have had a very cheerful email from my mum, who tells me I am going sailing for a week around St Vincent in October! Yes please! Who could say no to that?! I like having a tan (sorry guys!)

ok, I should email people, I may update later if i have time, although having just visited the lovely and very obliging Mr ATM shopping is calling!

Other than that I want to go home, but life is ok, and I am still just about managing to smile for about 80% of the time. Sorry Chris for being a complete bitch behind closed doors!

Keep updating people!

xx

from Alice

2005-06-30T16:37:25Z

Well. what can I say?? Well, to start with, I should really have been home by now, but have stayed an extra week which is fantastic!!! I'm so glad I can, and even the yellow pusy blisters (going for the cheese-on-toast look) are worth it! School was interesting this morning- took a day off yesterday and moaned like fun about not being there- went in this morning and was home by lunch...Sleep was good this afternoon! Consistently Violent Boy can write Nepali numbers up to 30!!! Not that I can take any credit for this at all, but I didn't know he could until today! He also pinched my leg, which oddly enough, did not earn him the same approval. Funny that. Still, rafting was great, fantastic, awesome, really amazing, lots of fun is going on and I'm loving it here, inbetween winces of course! I am writing this with 4 slices of chocolate cake in front of me- only 1 for me, the rest of them are for Emily and Chris, who are becoming ladies and gentlemen of leisure ( :p) so life is good!! Gotta go, bed calling. Alice xx

From Angela-la

2005-06-30T08:16:24Z

ok the ouches we're very well deserved - after spending a day in pain at the school we caled out the doctor - 3 of us have caugt some kind of infection in our legs ---woo hoo!! looooverly gooey yellow pussy blisters on our thighs.

ikissyiooow!! (a word to be explained in person!)

the others at the school got the kids to make me alice and moo some "get well" cards which are all really nice and made us smile.

the school is proving to be abit of a challenge - or as the case may be not enough of a challenge. the children in the class that im working with dont really respond to anything that i do with them - its screaming crying biting nipping and rocking in a corner all the way. with the language barrier communication is very little or nil. most of them cant even hold a piece of chalk let alone use it. basic throwing and catching games seem to half work with some of them and pointing to body parts and naming them (as the teacher does) seems to be a pointless excercise which is completely forgotten by the next day.

the highlight of the day is music and dance where we get all the kids together put a tape on and sing thigs like heads-shoulders-knees-and-toes,hokey-kokey, and musical blobs (where when the music stops they all try and run ontop a blob drawn in chalk ont the floor) they kids seem to love it and have a fantastic time- getting them all mobile and interactive.

its also really great to see how the olderones help the youger ones - not only in dance but at lunch time - and in getting dressed.

in the afternoons we try and do some maths with the more competent lot which emily works with - this prooves to be an interesting task. i was given 3 kids of completely different abilities to work with one who couldnt count to 10. another who kept falling askeep could count and say the answers out loud but couldnt write it down. doing the same question 1 + 2 = 3 over and over again but still gettign the written answer wrong each time is tedious!. the other girl knew exactly how to count, add up etc but neede my constant attention when she is doing it. so its pure madness - and i cant see any progress - but we have to persist.

so all in all it ahs so far been an iiiiinteresting experience
the jury is out on enjoyment at the moment.
more updates later

xx la la miss xx

brum_nepal @ 2005-06-27T20:21:00

2005-06-27T14:44:33Z

ouch
pain
ouch
sunburn
achyness
ouch
arms

rafting - amaaaazing such a beautiful place
gettign there was a bit hairty though the bus was on a road only 2 feet wider than the bus itsself - and on one side there was a near vertical 500ft drop!! never been so scared in all my life. but the rafting was amazingly fantabulously fandabidosy. but
ouch
i ache everywhere!
back to the school tomorrow, armed with ideas cant wait to get back into the thick of it.
again - not stringing sentances together very well - more updates later
xx

from Alice

2005-06-25T06:16:18Z

Wow-lots of entries on Live Journal!! So great you all love Nepal too! I'm good at the moment, except for being totally up in the air about flights and the school and rafting and everything else and I really don't know what to do!! Rafting will be cool though (perhaps literally) and it will all sort itself out I'm sure...

Loved Pashupatinath where Hannah and I went yesterday- burial ground for Hindus and Bhuddists and the most incredible sights- temples and temples and temples and could see the funeral pyres...very strange and such a different outlook on death. Very thought-provoking! We finished painting the dining-room and it looks transformed. Suraj said it looked rim ro!! I have been whinging continuously (and shall continue to do s) about attacks from Random Violent Girl which actually drew blood, but she has been so affectionate inbetween I can forgive her (mostly), not that that will stop me whining! Interesting working with her and some of the others overthe last few days and getting to know them better. Loving it!!

Got to email my uncle now. Take care!! Al xx

From James

2005-06-25T05:54:07Z

Hi all,

I am going to try and write a slightly more in depth entry this time. Nepal really is an unbelievable place, full of many wonders and a fair few stret traders too.
I shall do this in chronological order now. IT all began on the thursday when we arived, the whole day was a little bit of a blur to me but my favourite part was seing the school and meting the children, it was quite a new experiance to be called "James Sir" and they were all fascinated by my hat, my watch and my camera.
The evening was fun, my first nepali meal I suppose, although the only way I stayed awake was by having water thrown on me by Emily and Miriam. I had Lentals and rice, although it tasted very spicy.
The first night here was very comfortable, although I am the only one in the room who actually sleps in their shets rather than in a sleping bag, but I'm not too worried by this, the beds are very nice.

And so, day 2...
IT began, as so many th8ings do, with a wakening. Rich has discovered the best way to wake me up is to click his fingers repetatively. IT was quite a cool day by nepali standards, and first of all we went to Dhubar square, where we all recieved a number of good luck symbols. Icluding, seeing the child godess, being crapped on by pigeons (holy animals_ and one guy comeing up to me and telling me I look like Jesus (made all the more wierd by the fact that he crossed hiumself as he said it).
The afternoon was very good too, we have been to the school that rich, andy, miriam and I wil be teaching, it is very nice, and the lack of glass in the windows makes the heat almost bearable.

In the evening, i went out and have bought my first piece of authentic clothing from nepal, I have a, for want of the proper word, jacket, with an orange edge, I'll put a picture up when I can.
Haggling is difficuilt, but a lot of fun, if you walk out of the shop they chase you down the stret shouting lower prices at you!

Anyway, not much else to say, but this is the third day here, and I am haveing a wonderful time.

JAmes

From La-La (angela)

2005-06-23T16:34:11Z

we're here!!! and what a FANTASTIC place!! at the moment everything is a bit of a daze as i have had 3 hours sleep in the last 57 hours which is not advisable! but i have been too excited to sleep on the plane. really begining to feel the effects of sleep deprivation! but bedtime is after internet so yay!

excuse the excessive use of exclamation marks - im just overly excited despite tiredness.

went to the school today travelling by "bus" which consists of a van slightly bigger than a people carier car - with benches down each side taking around 15 people!! talk about a squeeze! i got to see most of the children - but only for a short time - it seems like a great place and im really looking forward to working there as from tomorrow.

still a bit sleepy so i cant really think of anything to say - will update more in more awake state!

xxx

From Chris

2005-06-23T16:09:50Z

Woooooooo!!!

We're finally here!

We're in NEPAL!!!

Yaaaaay!

Bouncey bouncey bounce!

Ok, I know everyone else has been going on about it for ages, but it's finally hit me! It's really exciting! I can't wait to get out there... I'm looking forward to the challenge of teaching, and the chance to care for people who otherwise wouldn't get it. I hope that I can make some kind of difference, even if it's only something personal to one child, and that others wouldn't think much of it... Teach someone a bit about reading, maths, whatever; teaching someone how to play a game, no matter how simple; showing someone love... Letting them know that someone else cares for them, maybe even them smiling. Whatever happens, I'm sure it'll be great!

Anyway, I need to sleep of my jet lag, I'll update this more later.

Just to say again: I'm so glad I'm here!!! :-)

From James

2005-06-23T15:52:13Z

This has been one of the most intense days of my life. Incredible in so many ways. The school was great to see, although I understand it is not normally like it was today. The children are very friendly and not only put up with my harmonica playing, but danced to it too.

The meal this evening was very nice, dahl is becomeing something of a favourite of mine.

Will finish nowthough as I am jet lagged and need sleep soon.

from alice

2005-06-21T14:02:48Z

Hiya!
To put your minds at rest, it was hot and sunny again today so tans are still an option- for you lucky people that can hope for such luxuries! Today was a good day, but we were all so so tired and still are! Have stocked up on stuff for tea in the hotel, we're that lazy, and I for one am planning an intense diary catch up session...probably accompanied by our favourite programme on CNN all about Celebrity Stylists, which is on night after night after night and we all love dearly.

I took a couple fo the kids out individually again today and tried to stop the most thuggish one trashing the entire place- think large gym balls flying round the room...for one very happy moment, I thought that he had off his own bat elected to pick up all the beads from the floor (left by slightly less thuggish class-mate) and replace them neatly in the box, but my delight was shortlived as they soon became higly effective missiles. oh well! Said thug was utterly transfixed by the fish we got yesterday...you win some, you lose some, I suppose! Anyway, chocolate doughnuts are calling! See you all in a couple of days!!!! Alice xx

monsoon

2005-06-20T16:40:48Z

Hey, Just to let you know that the bright days of 37C appear to be over. The monsoon broke last night and the weather now resembles (ever so slightly)that of.... England! It's still pretty warm - no jumpers needed but very muggy. See you soon! Hannah xxx

PS Amilie and Alix's money laundering business is going well