Cambodia Progress from Jo, In-Country Agent.

In terms of challenging teaching and putting their training to good use Alana and Beckett have top marks. The local volunteer teacher they have been assisting has decided they were doing a far better job and has given the full control over classes. He has even drummed up another class for them to teach which he attends as a student. Both thoroughly enjoying it, but finding it challenging working on different teaching skills, especially shyness in class and managing their frustrations when communication gets hard. Thomas also gave them a little bit of training on editing the new website that has been created for Jay's School. They will include photos of the project work, introduce themselves and the students and write a small blog. Their additional task is to smarten the place up, so they have been cleaning up and reporting back on what they think needs doing in terms of fixing floorboards, holes in the roof and managing the library. They will be given a small budget to manage the project themselves.

The SHCC group continue to work the hardest in the group with their 5am wake up. They all love the morning cycle ride, so despite prompting they can change times they all quite enjoy it. Tristan and Mitch have been making great progress on the organic farming. They made a footbridge from wood and bamboo and they will make a second one next week. The teachers in the group Alex, Christie and Morgan continue to follow the Lets Go series. Lexi stayed at the guesthouse this week, but is chomping at the bit to get back there on Monday. The sports programme hasn't been too active this week, but a new local volunteer assistant will start next week to rally all the kids round to play pre-dominantly football (English style) and volleyball.

The girls out at Sangkheum center have started to get to the know children and doing creative activity classes. English classes have not fully started yet as the new school term hasn't started, which makes it difficult to make a schedule for the children. Sally will be assisting in making a film for the center and the good news Progretto Continenti the organisation that runs the center will purchase a video camera to assist in the project. The film will depict daily life at the center and help raise much needed funds.

Last weekend the group went to visit the awesome Angkorian temples which draw so many tourists to Siem Reap. This weekend some of the group have gone to the beach while others contemplate visiting Battamnbang, or venturing out and seeing more temples. Lexi, Hannah, Morgan, Olivia, Jenny, Christie, Sally and Mitch have all gone to Sihanoukville for the weekend, back on Sunday. No accommodation booked yet, but we've given them a number of options. I think they are very much looking forward to relaxing at the beach for a few days especially after their hard work this week. Its a long weekend as tomorrow (Friday) will be a religious holiday when the locals pray to their ancestors.

Jo.

Tyler & China - The Trip So Far

I remember the last few days prior to leaving Australia. Scuttling about Adelaide. Organising (sometimes) trivial and last minute things. Things like updating my Ipod. Printing tickets. Thinking, will this visa ever arrive? In the most lame and corny way known to human kind, one of the most fundamental things I did in those small amount of days was to decide my travel quote. The one which would begin my journal, the opening page. The concept behind the next 6 months.

'The aim of travel lies not in seeing new landscapes but rather in acquiring new eyes.'

I don't think I have read it quite enough since I arrived in this country, those almost two months ago. Despite China's developing nation status, it is quite modern and beautiful and industrialised. The cities I have inhabitated are large and bustling, they have a culture, but not one I have taken enough notice of. Instead I have been buying fanciful things and just floating about, oblivious to all that is surrounding me. Being stripped of your surroundings, friends, family, routine, my closet full of clothing, that fridge of western cuisine. Take all of these things away and you are left with something unknown, undefined, a mystery, a sphinx- a direct experience.

'Such an experience makes you aware of who it is that is having the experience. It is not always comfortable but it is always invigorating.'

I can sense I am constantly changing here, in small and ambiguous ways. I am seeing things that simply don't exist in Australia, whether they be in the customs, the food or geography. I love it. I love that I tried scorpion and I love the people that I have met, I love that all of them are older, which I interpret as them having experienced more. I have this thirst for their stories, and some of them are quite incredible.

Oonagh O'Hare has just experienced and seen so much. She is one of them people that inspire you to do more, to be more compassionate. She lived in Russia, working at an orphanage, then later lived in South Africa working as a volunteer in a HIV/AIDS hospice. She has a passion in psychology and an abundance of knowledge on the topic, which one would hope after a University degree on said topic.

Vaishale Hatel is another one, she has filled her entire passport with Visa stamps, which impressed me greatly. She is English, with Indian parents and taught herself Hindi by watching Bollywood films as a child. She constantly suggests books for me to read, which when I arrive back in Australia will be on the top of my to do list.

My Australian cohorts are no different; Emily Clarke and Molly Wilkinson. You can definitely notice a distinction between Australian attitudes and behaviorisms and of those from abroad, there is just this general level of relaxedness. I enjoy it immensely. Both of these human beings are extremely intelligent, I mean when Emily speaks Chinese to the locals, at restaurants, the Shenyang North Train Station- it's just so sexy. And Molly, here lies a woman that knows her literature. I love her sleeping habits and her ability to sleep anywhere, a comment to be taken literally. If it wasn't seen as creepy and potentially illegal, I would video her waking up. Such a blessed soul.

My friend Bob told me to be a sponge here in China, and that I am being. I am absorbing all that I can. I have learnt about Irish history, a bit about India- a depthy brief on the Caste system and divisions with Pakistan, American politics (I LOVE POLITICS), Swedish politics, English politics, ideologies, rights. The Chinese language, Mandarin. It's a tough one. I think I have picked up quite a lot. My teacher, Jessica, at my school, she's swell and exceeds the scheduled 2 hours per week of teaching. I have picked up a lot of functional language! Oh, how words are useless right now. For describing this exact moment, I am utterly content.

I shall be endeavouring to Inner Mongolia later this week, and Beijing again. To celebrate National Day in Tiannemen Square, apparently millions converge there for the holiday. It should be amazing. *It will be amazing. It is my hope I will have the time to write Part Two prior to October 1st. Keep posted and just keep on keeping on.

Tyler.

Kel's Quito Update

Hi everyone.

Ecuador is quite the place!

It is definitely very different to the life
that I was used to in Canberra. The roads here are insane (I seriously do
not know how half of the drivers in Quito got their licenses…), lunch is
the main meal of the day and the cultural divide is extremely present in
all aspects of the city. The climate is pretty warm during the day, though
quite cold at night. I am currently sunburnt! I am currently living in
Quito (the capital city of Ecuador), working and volunteering at a school
for young children with disabilities (el centro de ninos discapacidad) in
Quito. The school is approximately 1.5 hours away from the apartment I am
living in, so I’m seeing the inside of a lot of buses every day!

I undertook a week’s worth of comprehensive Spanish lessons to try and
improve my Spanish skills, in order to better communicate with the children
I am working with in my placement. I am going to be undertaking additional
Spanish lessons for the rest of my time here in Ecuador.
The school that I am working with is in a really poor part of town. We
have been told never to wear jewellery or show any signs of wealth there,
because being obviously foreigners (gringo’s) we are targets for
muggings. Safety is something we are all learning the importance of here. I
am teaching English to a class of 8 young children, 7 boys and 1 girl, who
are all aged between 10-15 years old. They are all extremely intelligent
but suffer from a variety of different disabilities (eg: cerebral palsy,> attention defecit disorder, down syndrome). I teach them English for about an hour each day, but assist through their morning lessons. I am certainly improving my Spanish by hearing it constantly day in and day out!

The children’s names are: Andy (12), Cristian (10), Jhonny (11), Micaela
(14), Lenin (10), Kelvin (15), Fernando (15) & Damian (11). In the last
couple of lessons we have covered “Hello, my name is ____ and I am ____
years old”, basic numbers and are now looking at the English alphabet.
That will take the rest of this week to cover properly and then we will be
moving on to colors next week.

It is interesting to see the differences in teaching styles in other
countries. The teacher that I usually work with is a bit confusing. Last week I had to rescue two of the boys from a classroom that she had padlocked them into for 45 minutes (she was gone for about an hour and a half). Not the best way to discipline young children with disabilities if you ask me. It is something that I will get used to throughout my placement.

I think the main challenge that I have found so far with the placement is
discovering how best to plan classes to accommodate different abilities. In
Australia it would be very uncommon for such a wide age range of children
to be sorted in the same class. The ones who I believe have the highest
learning abilities are at the younger end of that age range. It is again
quite a contrast to what I am used to. I am enjoying teaching them though, and they are having some fun teaching me Spanish. It is pretty sad to see the large impact that cerebral palsy can have on one young life though! It truly is a terrible condition…

In addition to completing my placement, studying Spanish at the Spanish
academy and becoming accustomed to life in Quito I have also had the
opportunity to do some travelling on the weekend. Last weekend I went to a
town called Otavalo, which is approximately 2 hours by bus away. It hosts
an amazing market which is one of the top things to do in Ecuador if you
ever get the chance to come here! It was quite a costly day…but still a
lot of fun.

The markets spanned an entire city block, and then branched out over all
of the neighboring streets. Many street vendors took advantage of the fact
we were foreigners and upped their prices, but it was still a part of the
south American experience. I went through about 2/3 of the money I had
brought for the weekend in 3 hours… So fun!

We also went to an old weaving village to see how the items are crafted.
An Ecuadorian weaver took our group into his home and gave us a weaving
demonstration. It was quite the sight to see The town was what I had
pictured the undeveloped parts of Ecuador to be like. It was quite
different to new Quito! I got some good photos there which was fun 

I also learned the importance of insect repellant in the
mountains. Although malaria is not particularly common in Quito, sandflies
exist in the mountain areas. And they will swarm you…not fun! We also
visited the volcanic crater at Lake Cotacachi. It was absolutely beautiful.
Members of our group completed a walk around it in 3 hours (it’s usually
a 5 hour walk which is quite impressive!).

Next weekend I will be visiting the town called Banos, which is built at
the bottom of an active volcano. It’s famous for its spas, hot springs,
white water rafting, horse riding and massages. It will be a fun weekend!

Well that’s all from me for this update, I will try and send another
group email around in the near future I will be more accustomed to my
placement by then which will mean I can shed a greater perspective on it
all.

I hope everything is great with you all. Keep me posted on things while I
am away! Stay safe and stay well!

Keep in touch

Kel
>

Charismatic Cambodia

The atmosphere here is so relaxed. I don't feel the emphasis people seem to place on timing and speed here as I do in Australia. The roads are always busy, and motorbikes frequently drive along the footpath to beat the remaining traffic, but I feel perfectly at ease. School has been exhausting on everyone though, and I think waking up at 5:30am every morning is beginning to take it's toll on the alertness levels of all the Jay's school and SHCC volunteers. Regardless, we've all still managed to make the most out of our weekends off - from seeing sunrise at Angkor Wat last weekend (or, in Jenny and Olivia's case, flying to Thailand!), to driving 10 hours on a bus to Sihanoukville this weekend. I think everyone is enjoying teaching so far, as well. At least, no one has complained about it too much to the group at large if they're not enjoying it.

The children here are all so beautiful, and so charismatic! I suppose I think that of most children, but these ones have been through so much more than the middle-class Australian children I'm used to. They all wear the same clothes day-in, day-out here due to the extra expenses clothes would place on the parents. At first this didn't phase me much, as it was what I had anticipated. However, after thinking about it it seems ridiculous that I had overlooked it, or just shrugged it off. With my constant change in my wardrobe over here, I feel a terrible amount of guilt whenever I complain about any of my trivial problems as these children have nothing. Other than their lack of clothes, they have sporadic electricity use while at home, are excited at the prospect of having 200 riel at their disposal (around 5 cents in US dollars) on the rare occasion they are given money, and big, beautiful constant smiles on their faces. I think I'm just too hypersensitive for a third world country, maybe the idea of poverty is finally beginning to set in.

On our first night in Cambodia, Jo and Thomas (in-country agents) explained to us that a large proportion of the population earn around $350 annually, and many people are living below that line.

That's how much I earn a week, working 25 hours. Not to mention that I paid four and a half thousand to do this program, a sum I earned in a few months, which would take them over 12 years to earn! And these gorgeous, fresh-faced children have to live with the knowledge that these white-skinned westerners are given all the opportunities the world has to offer, while they have been robbed of this privlege due to circumstances they cannot change and did not choose.

Still, I'm enjoying teaching them (even if Morgan is a much better teacher than I am, she appears to be quite a natural), and I think everyone else is too. Though the Sangkheum Centre girls haven't started teaching yet (their term starts on October 2nd) they are still enjoying the company of the students who live at the centre, and their fellow teachers. They were given the chance to show the teachers new games to play this week, and Sally got to teach them her favourite childhood game - Fruit Salad. She seemed quite excited at this prospect, and Hannah, Olivia and Jenny seem to be enjoying their placement there just as much. Beckett and Alana have bravely taken up their job as the sole teachers at Jay's school, with only a student to translate, as the former teacher has stepped down into the role of a student in one of their more advanced English classes. Being helped only by the previously stated student in their less advanced classes, and given additional classes they were not aware they would be teaching, their placement appears to be quite difficult at times. No one ever said it was supposed to be easy, i guess - but it is absolutely, without a doubt worth every minute of it. I'm still having difficulty believing I've been here almost a month, but I'm loving every moment in this fantastically surreal, poverty-ridden country.

Alexandra x

Mwaluganje Camp - Elephant Sanctuary Kenya

This week was an amazing week. A group of us were sent on a two hour drive to Mwaluganje Camp. This is the Elephant Sanctuary. Who would have ever thought that every morning you would wake to see the rising sun over the hilltops. It was beautiful.

We arrived at Mwaluganje at 2.30pm to then be greeted at 3pm by the local school children. They stayed with us for one night. During their stay we helped put up their tents and make a paper mache elephant. We had so much fun with them. The reason for their stay was for International Peace One Day. It is to recognise the peace we share between one another.

The night they stayed was fantastic. Seeing as we had a generator at this camp, electricity was only available from 6.30pm until 9.30pm, for all the other time we survived off of no electricity. Once the lights were out, we all sat by the camp fire telling stories.

The following day we arrived at their school and for Peace One Day we planted trees at their school and then had a big game of Netball and Football. Netball has never really been my thing (as some people may know) but I had so much fun! Football was tough as well. The kids are amazing at playing! My team ended up losing 3-2, but it was a whole load of fun.

On the Tuesday morning a couple of us woke up from our tents at 5.30am to see the sun rise.I don't think I have ever seen something so spectacular in my life. Even looking in the hills we would see elephants walking by, it is something someone really has to experience for themselves. I can't describe how breathtaking it is. After breakfast we left for our game drive, we saw so many elephants and they came so incredibly close to the bus they are amazing creatures!

In the afternoon we went to the Elephant Dung Paper-making Dispensery. (The name is pretty self-explanatory). This was a lot of fun. I made a photo album and painted an elephant on it.

The following days was hard work. We did a lot of road maintenance for the Safari Bus because it was really difficult for them to drive on. I don't think I have ever worked so hard in my life! The next day I was very sore. We also went to the school and built the foundation for their kitchen because they were in real need for one. By the end of the working week I was so exhausted that I had to give in (with a couple of other people) and go for the easy option out. We worked in the Tree Nursery, planting small trees to keep the elephants away from the school. It was still hard work though and we managed to plant exactly 180 trees!

I wish that everyone could experience what I am experiencing right now. I am lost for words on how amazing this journey is. The people are incredible and the scenery is to die for. Next week I am in for more project work and then we LEAVE FOR ZANZIBAR!! YAY!! Have to do an eight hour drive to Tanzania, stay there overnight and then catch the ferry at 7am to Zanzibar, will be quite an experience. I will let everyone know what happened next fortnight.

Jade x

Party Time in Nepal - Photo Update

Eleanor, Siobhan and MJ at home in Ghana

Date: /09/2010
Time: 6:29pm
Location: Eleanor’s bed Yaabim, Agona Swedru
Blogger: Eleanor
Co-Bloggers: Siobhan and MJ
Maache! (Good morning!)

It feels like ages since I last blogged because we have been constantly busy. On Wednesday Afternoon Kofi and Seth took the group down to Big Milly’s where we were met by some Rastafarian Ghanaen’s who had a collection of drums which we carried down the beach to a large gazebo! We learned the traditional drumming alphabet which, according to our teacher, allowed us to be able to play any rhythm. By the end all of our hands were red and numb and we were looking forward to standing up and getting our boogy on. Two traditional female tribal dancers then walked us through two dances step by step which Seth filmed for our entertainment. Needles to say we all felt rather ridiculous and uncoordinated but all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. By the end we were exhausted and I could not believe Kate, Hanna, Georgina, Sophie and Bec’s stamina when I realized they continued playing with the children when we got back to the hostel. The rest of us collapsed onto our beds and had a nap before dinner.




In the morning we had a cooking lesson where Felicia taught us how to cook Jolif Rice, Red Red (bean Stew), Boiled yam and Fried Plantain. The kitchen was very small and hot so not many of us survived the entire class. Round of applause for Iszy who managed to stand up in the Kitchen for the entire time. What a trooper. Elephant stamp. We were very excited to leave the hostel to meet our Host families. We all squeezed into a very hot tro-tro and many of us fell asleep on the way to Agona Swedru.

Siobhan got woken to excited screams when we realized we were at the first house. We all waited eagerly in the bus to find out who would be living there for the next few months. Hayley and Ellie were called to come on down and we all started to get nervous to meet our own families. All our houses are very different, for example theirs was situated in a high school compound which is where Seth lives and teaches. Kate, Iszy, Hayley and Ellie were just on the outskirts of town but we got dropped off before we got to see everyone’s houses. We know that most of us are a short walk from the centre of town. Sophie and Bec were placed in a Muslim family and spent their first night with a feast to celebrate the end of Ramadan. Jyo and diane unfortunately had to visit two host families before finding a suitable one. Third time lucky, they are now living upstairs in an apartment block with a small caring family. Siobhan, Mj and I live in a house which is conveniently situated a few minutes walk from the markets and an internet café where we had our first experience of temperamental African internet connection. Our family is big and loud with lots of kids and we feel very much at home here after decorating our room with flags, photos and our Ghanaian names. Ekua (Siobhan) meaning born on Wednesday, Abena (Eleanor) meaning born on Tuesday and Akosua (MJ) meaning born on Sunday. During our first meal we were surprised to see a large pig waddle out of the bushes outside our house. We also have 3 or 4 baby goats who make adorable bleating noises all day long and of course each morning we are woken by mr rooster who likes to make a lot of noise.



We got to spend the weekend with our families which meant that on Sunday we all attended a morning church service. Everyone had a different experience but we all found the services went for a good 3-4 hours. Mj, Siobhan and I attended a Church of Pentacost on children’s day which meant a lot of singing dancing and poem and bible recitations by the kids. The whole service was conducted in Fante until the Pastor welcomed us “Visitors” in English and made us come up and introduce ourselves. We were very flustered but later found out that the same thing happened to all the other Anitpodeans Volunteers. We stumbled home after the long service and went straight to bed for nanna naps.



The week was spent as a large group painting a new orphanage owned by Felicia from the hostel. Seth met us on the first day to tell us how to catch a tro tro to the orphanage. It was pouring with rain and seth arrived in “Ghana Time” (about an hour and a half late) by which time we were drenched. We were welcomed by some other “obruni” volunteers who were from germany. They are currently teaching the kids at the orphanage. It was a long long week and we worked very hard to paint the entire exterior of the building and 5 rooms inside. Somehow we all had some energy to get to know the children and play with them before we left each day.

On Wednesday was our first Obruni meeting which is where all foreign volunteers who live in Agona Swedru meet and discuss their experiences, travels and have a chat. We were amazed at how many Obroni’s were volunteering in this one Small Town. There are two meeting places, one in town and one in a hotel which has a pool that we are able to swim in for 5 cedis. Some of us went with some English Volunteers to check out both meeting places and later in the week we decided to go back to the hotel to use the pool and eat some western food after a day at the orphanage.

This weekend most of the girls are visiting Cape Coast but some of us are branching off the stay at the Green Turtle Lodge further west, which is a popular place for volunteers to visit so we were eager to check it out. On Monday we all start our school placements which we are anxious and excited about. I will keep you updated on how our weekly adventures go and what it is like to be a teacher in Ghana. Mabre mekoda (I’m tired, I’m going to sleep) Until next time, Eleanor ☺
p.s
Not many of us are coping with the traditional food but most of us manage to sneak in a few treats here and there especially after discovering western supermarkets and hotel food.