January 27th

sian-ellis — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 18:18:00 GMT

On the 27th we got a mini bus to a market nearby Gopalpur (where we are staying for training). Around 90% of people tended to stare at us but it isn’t intimidating, it’s just intrigue, like they’ve never seen a white person/western person before. What I couldn’t get used to (and still can’t) are the requests to be in photos, the people who try to sneak in a photo when they think you can’t see, and even more peculiar; the ones at a distance who are glaring and taking some pretty extensive photos.

Anyway, the markets were pretty damn cool. Very busy. Full of wandering cows, tuk tuks, bicycles, rickshaws, motorbikes, buses, cars and people.

When returning to our base in Gopalpur, we had a really nice game of cricket on the beach. Beaut.

The next day was the start of training and the first talk was on awareness about safety, i.e. the risk of kidnappings and sexual harassment. Great way to start the day.

Language barriers meant I couldn’t understand the chat on the political structure of India, which was frustrating as I am keen to know. What I do understand is that it is a federal system with a constitution and both a President and a Prime Minister.

HELLO India

sian-ellis — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 13:55:00 GMT

Our journey from London to Gopalpur entailed a flight to Mumbai, a five hour wait in the airport, a connecting flight to Bhubaneswar, and a four hour coach journey to Gopalpur. The most interesting leg of our journey was the four hour coach trip. This coach felt more like an assortment of metal pieces glued together. One of which actually lept from the vehicle along the highway, and was later retrieved by a passenger. I joked that it offered excellent air conditioning as the side door was left wide open whilst we were traveling.

We passed women with oversized bundles of hay and wood toppling their heads, a family of cows casually meandering towards us, dusty, crowded markets and stunning green countryside.

On arrival, we were met by three of our national counterparts who placed a ring of bright orange marigolds round our necks, and a single red spot on our heads. This is a tradition to welcome God, but for us, they were welcoming guests.

I am glad to be spending the next couple of months here.

Ten weeks in India

January 27th

HELLO India