Indian Stout - there is a God!!
So for the last couple of weeks I have mainly been working on developing RedR's first aid capabilities. So basically im developing a four day first responder course. Thats about all im doing. I have been spending some time with Sanjay's wife (he is still in Bangladesh) and their baby. We have been shopping, like I need an excuse. we have also found a western style tailor so im hoping the stuff will be more useful for the UK.
I have also attended another training course, this time the training of trainers (TOT) which means I can be a trainer in watever filed, its good as it gives me more recognition internationally and it looks good on my CV. It was a good course, we went out everynite as a group which is unusual. There were 2 ppl from Sri Lanka which I really got on with, one had grown up in France so would be speaking english then talk in sinhala then switch to french it was really weird as his accent was perfect and if u ever hear Indian french you will realise why this surprised me!
The course involved lots of eating, drinking and shopping and the usual trip to Manas. It was hard work but alot of fun because of the evening sessions! After the last day I went to Sanjy's wifes for a childrens party fetival thing. Apparently its a state thing but the kids dress up like Lord Shiv and then they pour sweets over the child! It was surreal but fun to watch.
Then I was back in the office, I went out the other day to Indian Death metal with one of the guys ive met. It was great there were guys in socks and sandels at a death metal gig. There was also a guy in a grandpa sweater complete with knitted snowflakes, moshing along! It was fun, not like at home at all.
Then I ended up in Mahabaleshwar which is a mountain hill station about 2 hours out of Pune. I went with I guy i met on Couch Surfing (check it out) his family own some bungalows there wich are worth $2 million, he is like one of the kids form the OC but much nicer. We had met before at his cousins bar, where they serve Indian Stout! its actually really nice, maybe its not but ive been deprived for a while! Its the only stout brewed in India and is very drinkable, but i didnt feel like work the next day!
I chilled with Bahram who family are Iranian Zoroastrians. He is great, he showed me round the area. We played some golf. Well he played I went and found the balls. We also ate lots of strwberrys, went to the shiva temple, and hiked around. It was great. Bahram is trying to save the rainforest there which is evergreen so really beautiful, he is encouraging people with bungalows to rent them out so more hotels dont get built.
Last weekend was republic day (the office negleted to tell me this) so saturday was a holiay. Bahram was really busy with thte bugalows so I chilled read my book and got sunburnt. It was a much needed break. So after a weekend of takingit easy im back in the office (I took some days off too) and now its back to working on the first aid trainings and trying to get the Red Cross to back our course so we get some recognition.
I hope all is well in the UK, hows the temperature?
Happy 2008
Well this is most definitely going to be a long blog….
SO after four days in Pune I packed up again this time for Mumbai. I left nice and early knowing Indian time only to arrive at the airport 3 hours early and then Mum and Laura’s plane was delayed anyway. So after a 5ish hour wait they arrived. We headed into Mumbai both mum and Laura were not convinced by the road safety in India, they were a little panicked by it all, but we made it alive to the hotel. Once there they unpacked their hand luggage which was all for me!! Salt and vinegar crisps, mince pies, marmite, cheese, wine and pennies (for kids), I was in heaven I devoured 2 mince pies there and then (I hadn’t eaten all day anyway!). After unpacking we went for a wander around the area for mum and Laura to acclimatise. It was really busy as it was Sunday and the school holidays there were ppl everywhere! We were all knackered and after finding a Church for xmas eve for Laura we had a quick dinner before collapsing into bed.
The next day we thought there wouldn’t be much open (often if things are open on Sunday they are closed Monday) but we managed to keep busy, we went to the tourist info and then the tea rooms, a horribly colonial café, before going out to Hajji Ali’s tomb a Muslim shrine with an interesting story. Hajji Ali dies on pilgrimage and his coffin landed where the mosque is now, its out on some rocks and interesting to walk to. After that we went to a jian temple, not the one we wanted but it did the job, before heading to the train station which has to be seen to be believed. From there we ate then headed back. SO that evening mum and Laura went to midnight mass (at 10.30) while I got some sleep as I was suffering from a nasty cold.
Xmas morning mum and laura opened their stockings!! I went to a lot of effort, I asked Raju to decorate them, they looked awesome! After that we headed off to elephantia Island, which has some caves in (but no elephant the brits dragged that back to the mainland). Its an hour from Mumbai by boat and it was really nice. There are shops all the way up then monkeys at the top and various places to stop for a drink. You can even get carried up and down on a wooden chair with bamboo poles, like a litter, but a bit scary as you face backwards on the way down! After we got back we napped before heading out for xmas dinner. We had an expensive horse and carriage ride round the area then went to the Taj Hotel. The most expensive and lavish hotel in Mumbai, right by the gateway to India. We felt VERY posh and it was great! They had a buffet so I got ll the western food I was missing like cheese, and the others had Indian food, all were happy! It was really reasonable with wine and coffee thrown in too. After a fight for the pen I went to reception to ask for more. Then we went up to the tower where a very nice waitress allowed us to look at the view, if only I could afford to stay in places that nice!
So early the next morning we set off for Pune. After the drive over we went shopping in my favourite place MG road, bargains were had by all as I had fun getting the price I wanted! The next day we went to Sangam, the world guide house. Its an hour form where I live, after we found it we were shown round. It was surreal as mum said sanitised India. I enjoyed being with other girls from around the world, and in exchange for some first aid training I will hopefully be staying there every now and then (they have a swimming pool!) After Sangam we went up to Sinhagd fort which I had been to before, 40km out of Pune but some amazing views of the area. Mum and Laura like it a lot. On the way back our driver stopped at a temple on the top of a hill on the outskirts of Pune with views into the city it was a random but pleasant stop. After that we headed back to my apartment to get ready eat and then went to the bus stop for our coach to Goa. The sleepers are weird its not quite ¾ size beds one on top of the other and on both sides of the bus, with a very this isle, 2 ppl in each bunk on above the other on both sides. It was an experience!
We arrived nice and early to Panjim. After we found our hotel we went for a much needed breakfast and a bit of a wander round the city. After going back and showering we headed out to find out what we could do in Panjim. Our plan was to use panjim as a base to explore the area so we were looking at trips. After sorting that and pacing the town and civilised snakes on the trace of a hotel, we napped before heading to the houses of Goa museum which was great. Its in a random place and is in a purpose built building the architect/owner also has his house and a playschool there, it was really coo. We spent a while there, I bought a book on India architecture then we headed back to town on the bus. That night we ate by our hotel it was good but took a while, I had vindaloo, I still cant believe I can eat such spicy food!!
Day two in Panjim we had decided to get the bus out to a spice plantation. However on the way there we got a good price for a taxi out there so that’s what we did. Daniel, took us there, it was great. Purely for tourists but fun non the less you get a traditional dance when you get there and flowers then you get shown around and see the different plants and how they collect betel. Then after you get a cold shower rinse down you back (don’t wear white trousers like one lady was!) then you get a buffet lunch and a taster of feni the local liquor made from cashews. After this we went for elephant washing!! Me and mum rode an elephant an then washed Gunga, it was sooooooo cool (photos on facebook!) as we weren’t prepared for this I ended up very wet exploring temples. We went to some of the temples on the way back that were in my architecture book, it was interesting. Then when we got back and showered we went exploring for dinner. We traipsed the town partly looking for somewhere the next night for new year, and partly because of laurs lack of sense of direction! Eventually we went to a place that is also in Mumbai and the guide book raves about, its like an posh English curry house inside! But the food was amazing. We also got chatting to an Irish couple who were having their anniversary meal which was interesting, she worked promoting science to school kids, she asked me if I want ot be an ambassador for science, im waiting for her email!
Sunday, we went on a trip to the 2nd largest waterfalls in India about 1 ½ hours from Panjim. We were the only foreigners on the trip (there was a girl witht eh most amazing eyes on the trip). We went by bus then by jeep to the falls that were amazing. Once there it was only the westerners and the men that swam, we had a grate time, before being herded back into the jeeps and then the bus. We also stopped at one of the oldest temples in Goa on the way back. After a break we went for dinner and found a great restaurant where we decided to head back for new year too.
New years eve not that youd know it we went to old Goa with its Churches, we ambled round and took pictures and had our picture taken too. After being tourists we took on the bus to Candolim a beach. It was hot and sweaty and not so nice but we made it in one piece and spent the afternoon frying! After doling out free health advise and finding by accident my future engagement ring we tried to get back into town along with a lot of other people. The lack of buses meant we tried to find a taxi when we found one who would give us a good price if we shared we found a family of 3 French people who by chance were staying at the same hotel and came for near where mum used to live. We mentioned to them where we were going to be for dinner and our room number if they wanted to join us. Then we slept, and got woken by Chris calling from the Welly to rub in his beer choice! SO we headed off to the restaurant, when we go there the table we had booked was taken, but the French family were there and had reserved us a different table, completely unexpentently!! It was a really nice evening with wine a great food and MASSIVE sparklers at midnight, which set my hat alight, I was gutted! After a civilised new year we headed home!
The next morning we were heading up the coast to Anjuna, partly for the free market on Wednesdays and partly for some beach time. We waved off the French family and got into Daniels taxi. An hour later we were there. The hotel was stunning it was a family home which still had the original furniture and was beautiful! We went on a beach hunt and after some shopping and booking massages we didn’t find it. SO we went back and hired a bike instead (due to not being able to sleep cos of some lost bangles!) As me and laura were about to head out on the moped we hired the family were having lunch and all were invited, even though I wasn’t hungry I wasn’t allowed to not eat! Eventually me and laura went on the bike, id never driven one before and laura had never been on the back of one! It was a rocky start but I got the hang of it and it was much easier once Laura relaxed! We went down to Baga beach which was like a Spanish resort with all the brits sizzling away but it was a beach none the less! Once we made it back I took mum out to explore the area, it nearly killed us both but we survived to tell the tale! So after planning for the next day we went for a random dinner which was Nepalese with a western twist!
We went to the beach that morning with the intention of heading to the Anjuna market in the afternoon. While on the beach we went parasailing, mum came too, I was very proud of her! Then we got a boat to the market and shopped. As we had done a lot of shopping in Pune we didn’t need much but is was a MASSIVE market that defeated me who loves a good haggle! (and the lack of cash we had also defeated me). It was very exhausting. We got back and were so tired we ordered dominos pizza which we swore we wouldn’t do! Then we went for our respective massages, mine was the shortest so on the way back I stopped at Nelson’s bar by the hotel. Nelson is a massive man U fan and hates cricket! But it was the first bar I found where I felt safe drinking on my own, I loved it. I met a random couple form the UK who are moving to Perth and after a long chat and a beer I went back. Mum and Laura were very relaxed and none of use were hungry so we decided on a liquid dinner in nelsons! It was great the closest to an English pub ive found!
So our last morning in Goa we thought lets go to yoga! So we went to yoga at 8am, actually it was really good it was quite long and hurt but it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. After we had a pleasant breakfast before heading back and showing before going to the airport for our flight to Mumbai. After fighting to check in and various delays we got to Mumbai and dragged mums bag up the 4 flights of stairs to the hotel. We mooched on out way to our chosen restaurant, Laura had become a haggling monster and almost bankrupt a guy over a toy rickshaw! Then we had dinner in Sachin Tendulkar’s restaurant!! It wasn’t too expensive and the food was great. It was a major ego boost, his face was everywhere and the tables had quotes form other cricketers about how great he is! It was really nice.
SO that was it in the morning after going out for breakfast and buying some more toy rickshaws we got a taxi to the airport. I waved mum and laura off (or so I thought) before going to a meeting with HCC. I was visiting their bridge which is 7km long and its to join the bay across the sea to relieve traffic, ive been excited about this for weeks as it fascinates me! Photos are on facebook it was very cool, and I learned a lot about large scale water construction. After that I headed to the bus stop for buses to Pune. After an almost 2 hr wait I got the bus. 10 mins into my journey I got a txt saying mum and laura hadn’t taken off and they were staying in Mumbai another night at air India’s expense. I didn’t really understand until I was on the outskirts of Mumbai and it wasn’t worth me getting off the bus. So they rung me later they were in a 5* hotel (the one the auzzie cricketers stay in) and they had one 3 min call per room so they had got 2 rooms. I was fuming! I was in my basic apartment with not chairs let alone a bath!
The next day at work I was still bitter not only that but their flight was in the paper too! Eventually they took off and I got back to work. Sunday I went to Dr Viveks for the afternoon, which was much fun! SO now its back to work but the good news is im getting furniture AND a fridge in my apartment! Yay!
I hope you all had an equally eventful new year and xmas! I have now booked my flights home and else where, the details are on facebook but I get back on the 16 September, see you all then!
Dr Esther
Wow I havnt done this in a while and now there is So much to write Im bound to miss something out. Here goes...
So after the Sphere course my focus was the 1st aid course, we had to translate 150 slide into Hindi which sounds simple but it is everyones 2nd language as most speak their stats tongue first. So the we had to make sure it wasnt posh Hindi but usable Hindi and then some conditions dont translate from english but anyway. We also had to get Hindi fonts onto all computers and the computers we would be taking, basically it was stressful. We had 7 people in the office working on it and me getting frustrated as I couldnt help. SO we spent a stressful week in the office. However we got it finished with an hours to spare at which point the laptop broke dow, God was testing us!
The one advantage of not being able to help meant I was free to go to the other side of town for Chunkah celebrations with Chabad, I helped make doughnuts, its crazy to think this time last year I was in Israel! After Praveen sacrificed his new laptop Sameer left for Kashmir where me and Dr. Bali would be working. Sameer is not used to winter and so Im worried about him suffering from Frostbite, its cold in the Himalayas! Anyway I had to think about packing myself as I was off with the other team to Lucknow after meeting a friend for coffee I met the Dr's for our midnight departure down to Mumbai.
Dr viveck and I had worked together on and off for the last month but it had always been business discussions. However on the journey to Mumbai we talked and realised we had the same sense of humor, which was wicked! So we talked through the night and when we finally made it onto the plane we conked out. Dr Mahesh had not flown before and enjoyed the whole experience!
Once we finally made it to Lucknow we had and huor and ahlfs journey to the site we would be based at. Once there the guys were in the nice guest house and i was somewhere else. I asked to move to the guest house with sky tv, a real toilet and a lounge room. I later found out I was in a house with the only female engineer onsite, had they have said that I wouldnt have asked to move!
Anyway I much enjoyed the luxuries of the guest house. Once on site all my concerns went away. It did not feel as unsafe as I thought it would. In fact the complete opposite. The officers and engineers had a nice community of about 40 families and the bachelors in the area it reminded me of he pre-war villages in the UK with a tight community where the men worked and the women just pottered during the day.
So after sleeping and planning with Mr M K Singh we made arrangements for starting the next day. We were expecting to teach two batches of 50 everyday, however the reality was different. The first batch was in English so I could teach, we had 30 people. It went well. The second session was in Hindi and we had 20 ppl. This was not how we planned it. We were also falling behind as each session was starting late which meant we were finishing late, which meant less time on the sofa! Anyway we decided to change the session times and start at 7.30 and the second session at 6.30 giving us 6 hours during the day to sleep and recover. Me and Dr Vivek however were here to teach so after doing a session we asked for a car to go out to the laborers on the road and conduct some sessions in the field, it was very cool and much fun! So after a second day of less numbers were decided to do a public demonstration with some people who had already done te course. Our idea was a small demonstration. However Mr Singh had other ideas. We set up a scenario with some plants in the audience. Then Mr Singh set of the emergency siren which meant ppl had to assemble and be counted. At this point someone collapsed and we waited to see plls reactions. We as the medical team came with the ambulance, lifted him and took the casualty to ‘hospital’ at which point the ambulance came back and we explained what had happened. It was a success 200 ppl thought it was a real situation!
The following session had 56 people at it. However after that numbers dropped again. I asked to do a session one afternoon with the women and children from the site which was great fun. We had around 20 kids and 30 women. We covered less but I enjoyed the challenge as for many they relied on home cures which are massively unfounded. It was interesting that the women were reluctant to try CPR on the manikins. I conducted this session in basic English with help from Mrs Singh. It was an experience. That evening we had another English session with the PM (project Manager) the highest person on site, so there were a lot of photos!
An idea surfaced that we should go to the crushing plant (6 hours drive away) and do a session for the 200 workers there. Of course Dr Vivek and I jumped at the chance (we were loving our work) and as we functioned well as a team, even me without Hindi we decided to go. Dr Mahesh had support from Mr Singhs No 2 who was a natural teacher and had picked up the concepts quickly and we went off on our mission. Mr Singh brought his 2 girls and wife along which I was confused by until someone showed me what was near by! Some of the most famous temples in India were 40km from the site so he planned to tke them on Sunday.
We finially made it to the crushing site, even after a 6 hour drive me and Dr Vivek wanted tot each a session. We were told to clam down and have a night off, so we got a tour of the quarry. It would make an awesome sat for a james bond film and my engineering side was loving every second. After this I was introduced to carron, a bit like tiddly winks crossed with pool, I was rubbish but it was a lot of fun trying!
The next morning we did our demonstration for 150 people, which was received well and some of the feed back was very touching, I will never forget the gun man who spoke perfect English! Of course I had to do my duty and spend some time with the few women onsite. They were all wives of the engineers but I was something new to them. I have never drunk more tea tan this last week! I also received a number of gifts and a marriage proposal for one women’s 8 year old! After this as it was Sunday there was a game of cricket I was given the honor of batting, while I tried I still stand by being a professional spectator! However It was pleasant to watch for an hour. Then we headed on the 2 hour drive to the temples.
I have never felt so dwarfed by a building. There were 25 temples over the site and the detail in the carvings was stunning. The temples are famous for their naughty scenes, but it was done in such a way that it was not tactful but not crude either. WE spent ages just walking around. I really enjoyed it, especially with the Singh family of which I am now a part and I am also very grateful. After the temples we went shopping, which was great fun with Dr Vivek and Mrs Singh as I got India prices and not tourist prices! We then went to the light show at the temples which was disappointing but also surreal. The English they used was crazy. Considering for most people there English is their 2nd or 3rd language they used words like circumambulate (used 4 times) to say they walked round, it was funny but I was sorry at the same time that I had trouble understanding so the Singhs were lost. After this we went back to the site for an anniversy party and dinner and more carron. On the way there was a fight over money was my entry for the temples had been more than everyone combined and no one would let me pay the difference, I had to threaten to give the driver the money if no one took it, they then got into trouble from Mr Singh for being forced to take it!!
The next morning was an early start and out car wouldn’t start, which I found very entertaining. I don’t think I have mentioned that it was on average 4-7 degrees at night and during the day from 10-20 depending on the sunlight! So the car was too cold to start. But eventually it did. On the way back Mrs Singh made us stop in Lucknow as I had commented on her clothes so she bought me one ready made suit of Lucknow speaclity work an another piece of material of stunning Kashmir work. I was so frustrated that they wouldn’t let me pay. So me and Dr vivek asked our driver to stop in town while we bought cake and thank you presents for the Singhs and the site.
After delivering our last session and realizing we were 500 ppl behind we had a farewell dinner and cake with the PM and Mr Singhs team. It was very plesant. After this we had a team meeting and around 2 we made it into bed. At 6 we were up again for coffee at the Singhs before I got a car to the airport and the other 2 headed off to the next site 2 hours down the road. My bag was 1/3 full when I left Pune on my way back it was full and almost over weight, I didt too much shopping! After a delay I made it back to Pune, I was so exausted. I went to the office then slept for 14 hours.
The next few days are being spent on writing reports coordinating with Kashmir and generally checking the course is going well. I am now gearing up for my holiday as mum gets here on Sunday with Laura and so I am not doing any work for 2 weeks, im on holiday. While I am exhausted it is good to see how well the course is being received and that it is working.
I have just had a call from Dr Vivek about how well it is going on the second site. The contact guy there met me earlier in the week and assumed I was a Dr as I am working with Drs. When I said no I asked y he was a dr he said it was an engineering dr, so I asked if I could be called a non medical dr, so now I am known as Dr Esther. It is polite to call women their name and madam, so I am either Esther Madam or Dr Esther, see Ruth it dosent take 5 years! However Esther Madam always makes me think of mum calling me a madam as an insult. The other option is Auntie which is wat all the kids call me, it is an informal formal title, it just makes me feel old! argh all the titles!
I have an oddly satisfied feeling about the whole thing. So that’s it, sorry it took so long.
Banglaore and More
So we got set off fr Bangalore which involved getting down to Mumbai. Once there I was so excited about a women only security check with no que that we didnt eat for a long time as their is no food in the terminal as its still being built. After the wait for plane food (where someone thought Mandar was my guide!) I got my first taste of kingfisher airline, very nice! We made it to Bangalore and got to the site where the exibition was taking place the next day. While there was alot going on noone told us anything. We found our area and set up and then sat there trying to find out more. FInially we gave up and went to the guest house.
The next morning we headed off. Got there and sat there, we had about 100 school kids and that was it. While we can work with kids we wernt prepared so we didnt have the best material but we pulled it off. I managed to get an invite to the police search and rescue centre and find a swimming club in Pune. SO while the business contacts were useful the numbers wernt. We spoke to around 10 people who were actually interested in RedR, there was also cricket on so no one came in the evening. The next day was even slower so I went shopping to stop annoying Mandar. We didnt get the greatest treatment and found out the exhibition was being complemented with a conference that we didnt get invited to. Which put us in a bad mood. The evening had more people, some from the conference, who also brushed past us and were not interested in our community preparedness but more in their own business. After being told to do yoga to loose weight and having my photo taken many times by the guys in the area next to us. As we left in the evening the guy who was guarding our stuff asked mandar for a bribe, which put him in a foul mood. SO we decided to skip the next day.
We went to the exhibition to get our stuff and then went to the zoo out of town. SO I got a safari with lions and tiggers and I got to give an elephant money to give to his trainer, and i saw a MASSIVE king cobra and other animals. It was a normal zoo in India. We also went to the butterfly park next door which was really nice to relax in. Eventually we headed off to the airport to fly back. WHich was delayed. We got back in the early hours.
Since then I have been working non stop on the first aid course. We had a training course last week on needs assessment which I was present at but was working at the back the whole time. But I presented the course to the Big boss and got the thumbs up (RedR have realised my abilities to sell anything!) I also got an invite to Mumbai to see a construction site across the bay, which im very excited about!
The day after the meeting all the doctors involved in the course and I met to discuss details and how the course should be taught. SO I am now visiting 3 construction sites around India in the next 3 months as well as working on other projects. I am also hopefully going to Bangladesh in the future but it will most likely be after the new year. But I will go, there is no shortage of work there!
So this week I have another training course this week, Sphere standards, and I intend to actually attend this one. Its gotton cold here and I need to buy some winter clothes, I only bought 1 jumper so thats another excuse to go shopping. Though I went earlier in the week for some tourist shopping with some of the participants, which was really nice, I got cheap shoes!
Diwali 'happiness'
So after my meeting with the donors to present the first aid course (which of course went fine) everything started to die down for Diwali. We had Wednesday in the office and then Thurday, Firaday and Saturday off. Everyone when back to their village or to be with their families. So the flat was empty. Luckly Sanjay had not been able to join his wife with her family so I had some company.
On the Thursday we met for lunch and dinner. We discovered this place up the hill behind my apartment which has an amazing view over the city and you could see the fire works. Down between the buildings there were the odd fireworks being set off which scared me alot as you never knew when they were coming. The worst was the one with no flash but just a LOUD bang.
On Firday two of Sanjay's friends form Mumbai came to Pune so we met for dinner to have our own Diwali party. The Friday noght was the main night for fireworks. I felt like I was in a war zone! the fireworks were being let off int he street as people went by on bikes. They were everywhere, i was not nice, im glad of the British rules. Again we went up to the same restaurant. It was better there as you were above the buildings so the bangs were reduced. But I connot begin to explain how crazy it was. From the restaurant you could see the shear amout of fireworks being let off, millions of Rupees set off in sparks.
We had bought our own crackers as we knew the owner of the restaurant was setting of their own too. I lit my first firework in my life and I have to say im going off them quickly. Saturday I got woken up to do some work for a conference in Bangalore. As everyone else had family and friend to see I felt I might as well do something. SO I did.
Unfortunately Saturday and Sunday I was ill. I dont know why but I had fever and stomach cramps. I cant think what I ate as I hadnt eaten. But hey it kept me busy. So monday having not seen anyone for the best part of 48 hours I made it to the office tired and sore but I had work to do for Bangalore. So today too we have been working on this international conference on diater management. ME and Mandar are going to represent RedR so I get 3 days in Bangalore, im very excited. So I have this business trip then I have to tidy up the first aid course (im the content advisor!) then I have 2 trainings next to each other, then I have 2 weeks till mum comes. some days are busier than others.
Engineer or life saver?!
So literally just after id finished my blog last week i got called by my boss. He found out through Praveen I had some first aid knowledge, it took this for him to ask to see my CV! It turned out that planned for that afternoon was a meeting with Dr. Vivek and Sameer (from Gujarat) about planning the first aid course for a big construction company, he thought mabye I could get involved. I have been flat out since then working. We had to design the course, produce power points and develop the course hand book too. That went form then until today when we met with their team to demonstrate the program and the book. They want this course ot be half a day and cover their main construction sites. Its over 80 days of training all around India. While I cant eb involved as the main team I will be allowed to deliver some of the english cousrses(not the Hindi ones). Ontop of that Sarbjit wants me to develop a 2 day course for RedR in february to give here in Pune, so much for being an eingineer!
Appart form that Sunday Mandar took us for a drive round Pune to the fort and some other places (we drove 2 hours for a beer!) the pictures are on facebook. I am now nackered as last night we left the office at 12.30 (admittly we had 3 hours out to go shopping). The shopping was Diwali shopping I bout some clothes and jewllery and general indian stuff. I have found a ball dress here which i will prob buy and get mum to take home!
The only other event this week was over dinner one night. We went somewhere we often go. However Half way through dinner I turned round to find someone obviously taking my picture with his phone. It is not uncommon for people to take my picture as I am obviously white. But this has never happened in a restaurant. Mandar deffinatly earned the title Uncle as he got the manager who then insisted on them deleting the photos, Mandar got quite angary and has said I am not allowed to go to that place again (he'll forget in a week!). Whiel the incident wasnt funny it was espically as they called one of the people in the flat who was sleeping saying we had been in a fight. He came charging down half asleeep!
So its been a quiet week for stories but busy with work. I was asked if I would be prepared to go to Bangladesh for a consultancy project as they wanted a female engineer and I was the best on offer. However they felt I want experienced enough, which im not, im kinda glad as I dont think i could take the responsibility! I also got paid. Not much but it was more than i was expecting and its nice to know im appricated. All in all a good week for work, my CV is growing!
Hows winter in the UK?
Bollywood Star
OK so I didnt manage to be a tourist, I ended up having lunch with Reema one of the girls from the hostel that I was in when I first arrived. It was very plesant and we ambled around buying bits and bobs, some tourist things that would cost more elsewhere, that sort of thing. After lunch I was lying on my bed thinking what will I do tonight when I got a txt form Shlomi an Isreli guy I met a in synagogue who invited me to Chabad (the Jewish outreach centre in Pune) and then to meet some of his friends. WHile its theotherside of town I decided to go.
After falafel we went round to Shlomis friends, one of which I knew as she is Israeli too. We watched this budget film about going round India on Royal Enfield motorbike, very funny but scarily accurate. I wanna get a copy to bring home.
After getting back late, it was work the next. As ever he cleaning lady (moushi) woke me on the dot of 8.45 (I never get a lie in!). It has basically been a week of going to the office and not much else. One night me and Praveen went to buy a radio as I want one when im alone in the apartment. We didnt manage it. Every day this week he has promised me a radio and still I dont have one! So Friday I was looking at a weekend alone and decided at 10am that I wasnt going to do that. So I bought a bus ticket to Mumbai. As it was Friday night my intention was to get to Mumbai for 7 and go to Chabad there for dinner. The bus had other plans. I got on the bus at 2.45 and arrived to mumbai at 9, I made it to Colaba at 9.45 and got to my hotel. It wasnt the best place and I didnt sleep much. I hwent for a walk before bed and went to look for Chabad but didnt find it. So I walked to the gateway to India and saw it. While there I talked to a German guy and then went back to bed.
The next morning I had decided to go somewhere else for the night so I went to breakfast in the western place (I had cornflakes!!) and rung round to find somewhere else to stay. I had decided to walk there dump my bag and explore. If only my sense of direction was better! I walked right past and found half the places I had intended to go back to. So I went into the oldest British building in India, a Church. Then I went to the clock tower at the university, the photos say it all. After that I watched the cricket in the maiden oval, there are about 10 games going on at once its crazy. After that I found the hotel and dumped my bag. It is right by this local craft fair for Diwali so I did some shopping and went to the Price of Wales Museum next door (300 Rupees for tourists, 10 for locals and students, its not worth 300!) After that I went to the VT train terminus. Its amazing. No matter wat the British did Mumbai has some amazing architecture, slightly crazy, but amazing. I went looking for the Crawford markets, but never found them. SO I went to Gaylords (wat a name!) hotel for lunch. After that I went to watch the cricket again, this time there was more of an audience, most of whom had never seen a women watch cricket. (you get stared at alot, its mainly to do with cleavage, legs their not interested in, but cleavage!) I sat with the only other white person, a dude form Bournemouth, for support.
After I went back tot he hotel for a nap I discovered that the synagogue was behind the building so I went for a look and got invited for the saturday night service to see the Sabbath out. This interrupted my nap but I still went. It was very small with only 10 men and me and another tourist in the womens section. AFter that I decided to go for a walk, not a good idea at night as a female on your own. I try to be polite. This guy stoped me for a chat as it went on he said ur form UK u can buy me a shoe shining kit. (the cost is around 400 rupees, not quite 5 quid). He would not understand I was working for free here and needed my money for me, and that I needed money once I was back in the UK. He believed if ur form the UK u are rich, a common belief even with the people I work with.
Anyway. The next morning was an early start as I was being an extra in a Bollywood film. It is very common that along the main road in Colaba there are people offering money to be an extra for the day. This was a night club scene, supposedly in Toronto, there was 20of us. We got there at 8.30 am and left at 7.30 pm. We got clothes (some hideous. its not wat would be worn in a club in Toronto, but wat the Indians expect to be worn!) I didnt do much in the morning, the others were just dancing or milling around to make it look busy. After lunch I was the waitress to the 3 guys and so have interaction! hell yeah im a star! There was one guy there who was making a living out of being an extra in Bollywood and tv and comercials. Apparently for a voiceover you get 6000 rupees. We got 500 for the day. It was long and boring and unless the money is better I dont feel the need to do it again. I have said if any voice over is needed im available!
So today im back in to office, I saved on accommodation and got the bus back last night it only takes 3 hours at night! We had a staff meeting and thats about it. I found out that a meeting last week in which some e learning resources were shown to the client were received really well and the contract extended for at least a year. They commented on the voice (mine) and how nice and clear it was, its a good thing I dont have a Brummie accent! So I am now the voice of Sphere Humanitarian Standards!
Hows England, I havnt heard much from anyone, all well?