Friday 14th December 2007

Hello everyone!
I’m getting fully into the Christmas spirit now, and everything’s so exciting!

We’ve got a new volunteer who has come to our orphanage a few days ago, she’s called Karla, and is from Finland, and is really nice, so that’s good.
She and I have been putting our heads together to plan a lovely Christmas for all the children, and I’m so excited now! I can’t wait – it’s going to be so much fun!

I’ve already talked to the kids a lot about Christmas, and we’ve done xmas vocab in English, and made a lovely big snowman and xmas tree to put on the wall in lieu of a real tree – I’ll attach a photo cos it looks really great!
The kids all made paper presents to stick under the tree and coloured nice pictures etc.
Anyway, the plan so far for Christmas is quite elaborate, so I’ll let you all in on my plans (it’s SOOOO exciting!!) Continue reading →

Wednesday 5th December 2007

Ok, so after all the excitement with Motilal at the hospital, I was pretty shattered, but Priya insisted I go out on Friday as usual.

I wasn’t feeling too well to be honest, I’ve caught a cold and was knackered, but figured I’d just go for dinner and catch up with everyone and then come home. (I also wasn’t feeling rich enough for a big night out, as Motilal’s stay in the hospital cost me 21,000 rupees – about 160 quid, which is quite a lot on my budget, although a kind friend has offered to help me pay it).
I’d tried ringing Alan a couple of times on Thursday and Friday, and he hadn’t answered, but that’s not unusual, and I knew I’d see him at the pub. Continue reading →

Saturday 24th November 2007

Well the purpose of this email is for us all to have a good laugh at my misfortune, hence the title (that’s what a 17,000 pound education will do for you, with posh long German words and everything!)

I was at the post office collecting a huge parcel of stationary supplies from my lovely friends in Korea (big huge thank you to Penny, Elin, Suzie, and anyone else who contributed to that – it’s fantastic).
On my way out from the counter to go and get my customs form signed, I tripped over a huge pile of rusting metal that was apparently being stored in the middle of the floor. I stubbed my toe really badly, and you know that intense pain you get when you stub your toe, when all you want to do is swear as loudly as you possibly can? Well, I was leaning against the wall, gripping my toe and managed to avoid screaming abuse. Priya wanted to have a look, and when I eventually ungripped my toe I realised that there was already blood soaking through my sock onto my hand. Continue reading →

Monday 12th November 2007

On Thursday I came downstairs after a lie-in (I didn’t get up till 6.30) and discovered to my amazement that Aamaa’s son Anil was up and about.

I’ve never seen him get up before 9 or 10, but apparently he was playing in a local football tournament (marrieds vs unmarrieds) so I bundled up all the kids in hats and jumpers and off we went to watch.
The match was fairly uneventful – there were a lot of manly displays of hawking and spitting – I’m not sure how they managed to play half the time! Continue reading →

Friday 9th November 2007

Hey guys,
Ok, so update on the situation so far.

I went to meet with James X at the Umbrella Foundation, which is an amazing organisation with 6 orphanages and over 300 children in their care. They have been running in Nepal for over 20 years and have a LOT of experience with this kind of thing.

I’ve looked around two of their orphanages and they are fantastic – really properly well run and funded – all the kids have beds, clothes, go to school, get well fed etc.
James is a lovely frenchman, who’s Irish wife Vivienne set up the foundation, and he’s got greying-whitish dreadlocks that make him look rather like an ageing fraggle. Continue reading →

Saturday 3rd November 2007

Ok, now I’ve outlined for you all the basic situation, and while it may continue to change every day (I will keep you posted on any new developments), I wanted to just finish off this 3-part monster of an email by telling you all a few of my thoughts on the whole thing.
Everything that has gone on has really made me think hard and re-evaluate what exactly I’m doing here and what good volunteering can do.

I’ve been well aware for a long time that my orphanage is a very special place indeed. There is so much love and affection between the children themselves as well as with Aamaa, Priya, and all the caring friends and family who constantly visit. I’ve already told you that it’s more like a very big family than an orphanage.
There are lots of willing, helping hands that make it all seem to run smoothly. Continue reading →

Saturday 3rd November 2007

… the story continues…

We talked to an American guy named Mark, who volunteered at the orphanage years ago and has stayed in touch with Ram. Mark is studying the effects of voluntourism in developing countries and has done lots of research at orphanages, so we asked him if he could help us place some of the children with his contacts at other orphanages.

Then we talked again about the options. Ram has now realised that there’s no way he’s going to be allowed to be involved at all in anything to do with the orphans, and Alan has insisted that their Aamaa leave immediately, as she seems to be the immediate threat.

Daniel was very upset about closing the orphanage, as although he’s willing to do it if it means the children ultimately have a better quality of life, but he can’t bear to split them up, and trying to decide which 5 would come to us and how to split up the other 6 kids was proving terribly hard on him, as he’s so attached to all of them. Continue reading →