If you think about it: the two words 'working holiday' should never be put into the same sentence. It is funny how people automatically assume that because you work overseas (in this case - India) that you are on some sort of 'holiday' that entails a little work. I would like to correct what I would call one of the greatest misnomers.... sure Scott and I did spend a couple of weeks around Delhi (partly work related) and a few days in the Sunderdhunga region and up at Kafni valley alas does this constitue or qualify you to be on a 'holiday' when your average working day starts at 6.30am and you don't crawl into bed till 9.30pm. Six or sometimes seven days a week. And can I add that while our projects on the ground are funded by the World Nomads Footprints Program, we work for the love of it!
An average day can entail anything from dealing with the odd headache and logistics of running classes for primary school children, teaching, installing Solar Home Lighting systems to disseminating educational materials, conducting talks with national and international trekkers, community dramas (that can encompass a myriad of issues) and oh - did I mention that we also run a basic health care outpost as well? The latter can entail people coming in at all hours of the day and night: some community members, others from surrounding villages and in the odd case trekkers who have injured themselves (or in one case a wonderful Australian mountain biker who came a 'cropper' requiring stitches to this his knee). As absolutely fantastic and challenging life in a small Himalayan village can be... this is not what I would call a 'holiday'!
Our time in the Pindari valley has been amazing, enriching and rewarding. I can think of lots of words to describe the experience but I fear that none will do justice to the topic at hand.
Despite variable climatic conditions in the last few months the barley and wheat crop was successfully harvested, though yields were slighty lower than normal. Everyone has been praying to a pantheon of gods and the rains came at just the right time. There was a collective sigh of relief. This year the potato crop is luscious and growing while you watch it. A vast difference to last year when the early rains failed, leaving the crop struggling through the season, then too much rain at the wrong time all but destroyed what little remained.
The fields were ploughed and the amaranth and Rajma crops were planted at the end of May. The timeless agricultural cycle continues though the villagers having experienced crop failure or reduced yields in the last few years are concerned about changing weather patterns and 'global warming'. The men describe the alarming rate at which the Pindari Glacier is melting and can plot the retreat by geographical markers. The old men (the few who are left) are a wealth of knowledge on the region and the current rapid changes.
PEAK has been expanding its role in the community. The Panchayat has expressed concern with the ever growing rubbish loadings in the valley and has approached us to work collectively over the next few months.We aim to introduce waste management strategies to deal with this increasingly vexing issue.
As usual so much to say... but enough for now.
Bonnie & Scott
PEAK
