INDIA

I'm here! A lot has happened in three days, so bear with me - I'll try and write it all in order, but I might get excited and skip bits and come back to them later - you would think with a computer I could just copy and paste things into the right order, but that's just no fun!

Headed down to Heathrow with mum on Sunday afternoon, got there in plenty of time! Stopped at the travelodge and couldn't make mum's TV work because the remote control was rubbish! Headed to Heathrow via McDonalds, and then stood in the queue for check in - I didn't do online check in because I didn't trust Jet Airways, but they were actually ok, so definitely online check in next time! But I did stand chatting to a random American woman who is volunteering in Nepal - she enjoyed talking at me... 

Checked in, and then got through security with no problems, headed to my gate, where I got there early enough that I could sit and watch the news and catch United's amazing goals on the sport bit :P Plane eventually boarded and I was in the middle of the centre aisle... not cool! but the people sitting either side of me were ok, they kept themselves to themselves and just slept! Watched a few films and slept a little bit...

Got off at Mumbai, again no problems - security let me through fast because I looked honest and trustworthy in my uniform! Met the driver, and then Ellen, the other Sangam Volunteer (SV) (she's Swedish) and we travelled to Pune, through some gorgeous countryside that I of course slept through... 

Got to Sangam, and have been having a seriously good time :) There's 8 of us in my dorm at the minute, so that's me and Ellen who are working in Sangam itself, and also Claire (Oz), Danni (Canada), Jill (Scotland), Diane (England), Carol (England) and Chelsea (USA). Today Claire, Ellen, Danni, Diane and Chelsea went to a Market in the morning to have a wander round and I tried custard apples (seriously, tasted like custard) and this afternoon Claire, Ellen, Carol and I went to a temple, and to MG road which is a big touristy shopping street - saw TWO elephants!!

Evening activities have so far consisted of playing games - yesterday I thrashed everyone at Monopoly, and today, we played Sanguno (yes, the Sangam version of Uno - if you put down BP the person after you has to pick up 5 cards, unless you have Lady BP in which case you're safe!) and then did a jigsaw (Jess - be jealous!) 

Work starts tomorrow, so that will be fun - meetings all day apparently, starting with a formal introduction to everyone, including the local Sangam staff, so that will be fun :) I think we're basically going to be finalising the stuff for the event coming up in a couple of days!

Off to bed now though - I might get up for 7am yoga... we'll see!!

Ooo and I forgot - played in the swimming pool this afternoon :D it's been raining lots (like more than monsoon standards - apparently it rains one day in every three, and it rained for three days straight) so it's very full, and the sun hasn't been out much so it's colder than it could be! Right - actually off to bed now!

TOMORROW

There's an old Chinese proverb that states

"The journey is the reward".

Now, whilst I'm hoping that tomorrow's journey won't be horrific, (There do appear to be at least some English films playing on Jet Airways entertainment.) I also hope it won't be the reward!

I'm leaving home at around 1pm tomorrow, just after lunch. Heading down to book mum in at a Travelodge, as she's staying overnight so she can go to Hampton Court Palace tomorrow (apparently to console herself because I'm leaving...). She has admitted that she only wants me there when she checks in so that I can show her how the TV works!

We'll then spend an hour or so there, and then she's taking me to Heathrow to check in and jet off! The plane leaves at 9.25pm and arrives at 11:00am Mumbai time - that's 4.30am to everyone in England - I'll be sure to text you all to tell you I've arrived safely! (This is a lie, have you seen the price of international texts?!) I will however update my blog as soon as I am in a fit state to do so, and have a spare moment!

I've been told that Sangam has wireless, so I am braving my dying laptop on a long haul flight and hopefully it will still be working when I get there! Sangam have also said that internet access can be sporadic, so if you don't hear from me, I probably haven't died!

So, my last blog from England until December! I'd better head to bed - though I might be too excited to sleep!

=D

FAQs

As the time for me to leave grows nearer, people are starting to ask questions! I'm getting a lot of the same questions, so I thought I'd answer them here, and maybe fend some of them off before I get asked them again... If you want more information, I'm scattering hyperlinks through this blog, and there's a few links over there --> 


Where are you going again? 
I'm off to India - you know that! More specifically, I'm going to Pune, Maharastra, India - which is about 4 hours away from Mumbai. It's towards the West of the country, in the central band. 


Where are you staying? 
I'm staying, and volunteering at Sangam, which is to the North of Pune. It's a World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) World Centre. The photo in the background of this blog is Sangam. 


How long are you there for? 
3.5 months - I'm leaving on Sunday (28th August) and I'm back just before Christmas! 


What are you going to be doing over there? 
As I said before, I'll be volunteering at Sangam, and that basically means running the events that are being put on (and attended by guides/ girl scouts from all around the world), planning new events, and "working on long term projects" 


Are you excited? 
What a silly question - of course I am! Also slightly nervous, as I'm sure you can imagine, but I can't wait!


Are you packed yet? 
Don't be daft - I'm not leaving til Sunday, that's four whole days away! 


I think that's most of the questions I've been asked - if you've got any more, ask away! Better get back to packing =P

ONE WEEK

Seriously, one week to go. That's crazy. 


Things still to do:
- Travel Insurance (pain the backside, I want to travel for 110 days, and I'm asthmatic, they do not like these combinations!) 
- Spare inhalers (going to see the nurse tomorrow) 
- Money (minor details)
- Phone (Need to change to pay as you go, rather than contract!) 
- Packing


There are probably more things, but my to do list is in the other room, which has now been transformed into my Packing Area. It is slowly being filled with stuff . Passport, neckers, uniform... Packing will occur officially on Friday. Saturday will be too late for me to stress, Thursday will be too early for me to stress, Friday it must be! 


Sangam here I come!! EXCITEMENT! 

Living the Dream!

Busy couple of weeks! Went to Wales, got the QG exploration sorted (hopefully!). Had a fantastic time, investigated tourism in North Wales, it was ridiculously hot and I came home with yet another panda tan - beautiful! Everyone had fun and it came out cheaper than expected which is always a bonus!

After Wales I had a rather manic day at home, washing (or watching my mum do my washing), sleeping, and repacking! Up early Saturday morning, got on a train to Birmingham, where I met Andrea, and got on another train to Bath off to a friend's wedding :) Had a lovely day catching up with people I haven't seen for a while, spent far too long in Wetherspoons in the afternoon - brilliant! Then Sunday, straight back to Leicester, straight to camp!

I'm at Charnwood 2011 (youtube it, there are some brilliant videos being created by the media team!) on staff, and my job is to sit in the big top and supervise the internet cafe (plus a few other things). Lovely job, doesn't involve much, although I am based in the Activities Team Office, so I end up doing jobs for them too so busy busy busy!

I'm having a lovely time though, in a field, living the dream! Once this is over, it's just India to concentrate on! Scary Biscuit!

Jabs, Visas, and Other Fun Things!

Well, Monday I went to see the nurse, had a Hep B jab, and she very nicely informed me that I didn't need to have any more! I like this kind of discussion! (saved me £60 as well) 
Went to the bank today, and they said I just need to make sure my phone details are up to date so they can check it is me using my card in India. Went to O2 who have suggested I transfer my phone number to a Pay As You Go Sim for the three months I'm out there, so I don't have to pay for a contract I'm not using. 
Going to Birmingham tomorrow to the embassy to (hopefully) get my visa sorted. 
It's all go! 
Still need to sort out health insurance, and do some other bits and pieces, buy a new water bottle (going to get one in Bham hopefully), find some decent navy blue trousers... all the exciting things in life. Can't wait to actually be on the plane now - I am bored of planning! 


Oh, and I've been planning Wales, because my love of planning things is clearly that large. Everything is nearly sorted now - I have organised everything I need to organise (I hope). One final meeting for that on Thursday (I hope) and then we're off on Monday (I hope!) 


But now, to the important things in life - off to read Harry Potter! Going to see the new film on Saturday - can't wait! 

Summer Holidays

So, America was a long time ago now, but I had an amazing time :) Then I finished my degree off, and graduated, which was also amazing! So now it's my very last summer holiday, this time next year I will hopefully be doing one of those job things, so in order to make the most of this time, before I head off to India, I am obviously doing my QG exploration, amongst other things. Full summer plans go: Devon on Saturday for a week, then back in Leicester for a week, and then the exploration, then a friends wedding, then Charnwood 2011 for a week, then three weeks of getting ready for India! 


So currently in process:
QG Planning: 
- health forms
- risk assessments
- planning a walk
- organising travel


India Planning: 
- visa (must fill in electronic application veerrryy soon!) 
- jabs (booked for Monday 15th) 
- insurance
- homework (might right some of this up here) 


I also need to actually unpack from getting back from uni before I have to repack for Devon! But The OC is on TV (mostly because we put the DVD in and pressed play...) so I'm just going to sit on my backside all evening instead :P