Woke up at 6am this morning panicking that there are only 3 weeks left!! At least it was an incentive for me to get up in the loft and do a bit more sorting. Only 2 cupboards left to do and stuff to deliver to Mum's, the charity shops and the tip and then I am DONE.
Had great news today. Got my tickets (actually make that ticket - it's one way) through from VSO and was delighted to find that my baggage allowance is higher than I thought. VSO tell you it is 25kg but my airline has allowed 35kg. You may not think that's a lot for 2 years and 2 months but it is a lot more than the 25kg I thought I would have. Have to go back to the tip now and see if I can retrieve the kitchen sink - I threw it out when I didn't think I would have room for it.
Great news on the vaccination front too - all finished and final blood test done, so no more black and blue arms and feeling ill. Strange thing was the nurse, who gave me the injections, had actually been to the town I am going to be based in in Nepal (first person I have met that has been there). Great I thought,"So what's Birgunj like?" "Well, it's a border town so you know how they are. It is very isolated but had a good street for shopping and the people were very friendly. Oh and the hospital across the border is very good." Thank god for friendly people in Nepal - that's what I say!!
So that means I am down to about 1000 things left on my 'To Do' list. With 3 weeks to go, I make that about 50 a day! No problem - I'm pleased it's going down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Thursday, 19 February 2009
Where's time going???
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Photos: Above - My tidy house ready for viewings; Below - my spare room at worst (3 weeks ago) and how it looks now!
Here I am again - finally found time to sit down after a hectic couple of weeks.
Been busy, busy, busy getting the house sorted out and ready to put on the rental market. Finally got it done today and so am giving myself an evening off from sorting, boxing, tipping, freecycling, trips to the charity shops, fixing and decorating to have a glass of wine (or 3!) . Did have an interesting experience on Gum Tree. Thought I would try and sell a few things. Some guy showed an interest and then said he was sending a cheque. The cheque arrived Special Delivery for £1000 for an item that was £45. Wished it was a god send but feared it was a scam. Unfortunately the later was right and I went and handed into the bank. They thanked me but didn't give me the £1000. He is still emailing asking me to send him the difference by Western Union - does he think I'm crazy? Well OK, maybe, but not that crazy.
Of course I have been making time to catch up with friends. Although there is a hint of sadness now as I see them and think that it might be a couple of years before I see them again. Of course you are all invited to visit, but friends seem to be reluctant - we can always find a hotel when you come if you think my place will be to squalid for you.
Have had much needed help from a few good friends - Lyn and Rob you were absolute stars helping me declutter and move stuff to have carpet laid. I still have a image of Lyn, whenever I lose the will to throw things out, saying 'just get rid'. It's just what I needed and the house is looking better for it. Others too have been offering help and support, both while I am here and when I am away - thanks to everyone, I was in danger of going loopy once or twice. If I haven't taken up your offer yet, don't worry there is still loads to do and I am sure there will be an ongoing need for parcels of goodies to be sent to me in Nepal.
Have been stocking up on gadgets to fill my lonely, non-English, power cut evenings (feeling sorry for me? Just wanted to encourage the parcel sending). Now have a wind-up radio and torch, music, a new laptop (with memory) and someone gave me a solar power charger which I hope will work. I am a muggers dream!
Injections are almost finished - although I got an unplanned one this week. That's 8 down and 2 to go. Blood tests - 2 down and 1 to go. Anti-malarials sorted. It is great actually to be able to tick things of my MANY long lists. Now the correspondence to deal with - I love the taxman (NOT!). Only found out that I have to do self-assessment as I will no longer be considered 'resident' but no one wants to talk to me about it and they keep sending me the wrong forms - last week I was asked to do self-assessment for last year - why? I wasn't even here!
As I said though I am getting through the lists and am now getting some sleep at night. It was 4 weeks to go yesterday so still loads of time eh?????????? Promise to be more cheerful next time...
Been busy, busy, busy getting the house sorted out and ready to put on the rental market. Finally got it done today and so am giving myself an evening off from sorting, boxing, tipping, freecycling, trips to the charity shops, fixing and decorating to have a glass of wine (or 3!) . Did have an interesting experience on Gum Tree. Thought I would try and sell a few things. Some guy showed an interest and then said he was sending a cheque. The cheque arrived Special Delivery for £1000 for an item that was £45. Wished it was a god send but feared it was a scam. Unfortunately the later was right and I went and handed into the bank. They thanked me but didn't give me the £1000. He is still emailing asking me to send him the difference by Western Union - does he think I'm crazy? Well OK, maybe, but not that crazy.
Of course I have been making time to catch up with friends. Although there is a hint of sadness now as I see them and think that it might be a couple of years before I see them again. Of course you are all invited to visit, but friends seem to be reluctant - we can always find a hotel when you come if you think my place will be to squalid for you.
Have had much needed help from a few good friends - Lyn and Rob you were absolute stars helping me declutter and move stuff to have carpet laid. I still have a image of Lyn, whenever I lose the will to throw things out, saying 'just get rid'. It's just what I needed and the house is looking better for it. Others too have been offering help and support, both while I am here and when I am away - thanks to everyone, I was in danger of going loopy once or twice. If I haven't taken up your offer yet, don't worry there is still loads to do and I am sure there will be an ongoing need for parcels of goodies to be sent to me in Nepal.
Have been stocking up on gadgets to fill my lonely, non-English, power cut evenings (feeling sorry for me? Just wanted to encourage the parcel sending). Now have a wind-up radio and torch, music, a new laptop (with memory) and someone gave me a solar power charger which I hope will work. I am a muggers dream!
Injections are almost finished - although I got an unplanned one this week. That's 8 down and 2 to go. Blood tests - 2 down and 1 to go. Anti-malarials sorted. It is great actually to be able to tick things of my MANY long lists. Now the correspondence to deal with - I love the taxman (NOT!). Only found out that I have to do self-assessment as I will no longer be considered 'resident' but no one wants to talk to me about it and they keep sending me the wrong forms - last week I was asked to do self-assessment for last year - why? I wasn't even here!
As I said though I am getting through the lists and am now getting some sleep at night. It was 4 weeks to go yesterday so still loads of time eh?????????? Promise to be more cheerful next time...
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
GULP - 6 weeks!!
All of a sudden the days are flying by and there is still so much to do. Think there will be 4 other volunteers heading to Nepal at the same time as me and we will spend our first 2 months together in Kathmandu doing some in country training. It sounds like a long time to train but I have to learn Nepali and if you have a look at the writing you will understand why (it's Sanskrit)!!
After that I head off to my placement in Birgunj. Thought you might like a little background so here goes...... Birgunj is the capital of Parsa district lying directly south of Kathmandu on the Indian Border in the southern central Terai. It is only 2 km from the border - so I can easily cycle there. The area is very flat and hot, with summer temperatures up to mid forties degrees Celsius. Winters are pleasant, with warm and sunny days although there can be fog which brings the temperature down and can make the temperature much colder. The monsoon rains fall from July to September. High humidity makes the temperature appear much hotter from May to August.
The organisation I will be working for works through community based projects to help disadvantaged groups, so here is a little about that..... The local population is a wide mix of ethnic groups due to urban migration and the location near the Indian border. The area attracts job seekers from the outlying villages and neighbouring districts where there is wide spread poverty and poor standard of education. Gender inequality is inherent in the society and girls and women receive less education, training and other social services, and have fewer employment opportunities and freedoms than men. Parsa borders the state of Bihar (one of India's poorest states) which influences the culture and attitude of many people in the area. Nepal also has a caste system (like India) and so another group that I will working with are the Dalits, the lowest caste (AKA the untouchables).
Mood is swinging at the moment from excited, to stressed (so much to do before I go and running out of spots to have injections), to very excited (new life, new language, new culture), to a little concerned (new language and how do I survive with power cuts of 16 hours everyday?), to I JUST WANT TO BE THERE NOW!!
After that I head off to my placement in Birgunj. Thought you might like a little background so here goes...... Birgunj is the capital of Parsa district lying directly south of Kathmandu on the Indian Border in the southern central Terai. It is only 2 km from the border - so I can easily cycle there. The area is very flat and hot, with summer temperatures up to mid forties degrees Celsius. Winters are pleasant, with warm and sunny days although there can be fog which brings the temperature down and can make the temperature much colder. The monsoon rains fall from July to September. High humidity makes the temperature appear much hotter from May to August.
The organisation I will be working for works through community based projects to help disadvantaged groups, so here is a little about that..... The local population is a wide mix of ethnic groups due to urban migration and the location near the Indian border. The area attracts job seekers from the outlying villages and neighbouring districts where there is wide spread poverty and poor standard of education. Gender inequality is inherent in the society and girls and women receive less education, training and other social services, and have fewer employment opportunities and freedoms than men. Parsa borders the state of Bihar (one of India's poorest states) which influences the culture and attitude of many people in the area. Nepal also has a caste system (like India) and so another group that I will working with are the Dalits, the lowest caste (AKA the untouchables).
Mood is swinging at the moment from excited, to stressed (so much to do before I go and running out of spots to have injections), to very excited (new life, new language, new culture), to a little concerned (new language and how do I survive with power cuts of 16 hours everyday?), to I JUST WANT TO BE THERE NOW!!
More preparations
PHOTOS: Inside Harbourne Hall, My SKWID buddies
Reality hit when I returned to London with only 8 weeks left to sort my life out. So that's decorating the house ready to let it (I have become quite a DIYer but will be relieved when it is finished). Then there is my life to organise - house to clear, finances to organise, insurances, more injections, letting the house, selling my car, saying my farewells, shopping, packing (only normal allowances) etc ................ and Mum's finances, wheelchair, etc........... Loads to do and time is ticking.
Amongst all this I found time to attend my 2nd VSO course this time on Health & Security - as if I didn't have enough to worry about! and Skills for Working in a Development. Again it was great to meet a new set of people and at this stage we had all got our placements and were excited to be heading off to all corners of the world within a couple of months. This was a very practical course and we had good running sessions, role playing and of course learning new skills.
While on the course I became a celebrity for the day when I was interviewed and photographed for the Independent Newspaper - if you fancy a laugh have a look ..... http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/an-army-of-altruists-vso-boosted-by-record-rise-in-recruits-1522538.html Not too happy about the middle-aged reference though! Also have had offers to do a live slot on BBC Breakfast and to do a BBC programme for daytime TV - unfortunately no time to be a star.
Also received my departure date and flight info. so it is official, I am off on March 18th.
The journey continues
PHOTOS: Clara, my brother and I; Me bringing in the wood, Steve's house;The view from the garden; Steve's yacht
Early January and next began the round of forms to fill out for visas, next of kin, medical, dental check-up and ALL the vaccinations to get done and I do mean ALL! With so much to do I decided it was only right to take some time out and so I headed off to Barcelona (well just outside in the hills of a National Park) for a short break to see my brother and his girlfriend and their new house in the hills. Had a good time with my brother, although he could only hobble short distances as he has a bad ankle and is waiting for a 2nd operation. Thought I might get an opportunity to top up the tan but it was freezing, it snowed and we only had a wood burner to snuggle around! It was great though.
Wednesday, 4 February 2009
My journey begins....
PHOTOS: Harbourne Hall (Birmingham) where I did my training and my P2V course buddies.
Here is a quick review of my time so far:
After a short time to adjust to life back in the UK, I started thinking about what I wanted to do next - of course I had given it some thought while I was away. Anyway decided that my ideal would be to go abroad again but to spend time in one place, doing some worthwhile work and learning about another culture. Spent a long time looking into various options and finally decided VSO (Voluntary Services Overseas) looked like a really exciting prospect, offering everything i was looking for. Have a look for yourself http://www.vso.org.uk/.
Of course I dithered a while longer and finally applied for VSO in September, attended an assessment day and was interviewed at the end of October, got accepted 2 weeks later and had my offer of a placement in December. Actually, I had 2 placement offers. The first was for New Delhi and the 2nd was for Nepal. Originally I had a leaning towards a placement in Africa, as I have never been and have always wanted to go. But, fate has been good to me so I was open to any placements that I was offered. I decided that New Delhi was not the place for me - not for 2 years anyway (too big and crowded) and am very excited to be going to Nepal (another place I have always wanted to go) and so I will be going to work as an Organisational Development Advisor for 2 years and 2 months!!!!!!
VSO have a set process that you go through once you have been accepted and this includes training courses (pre-departure) as well as access to lots of online resources to brush up on the country you are going to and the skills you will need to do your work.
VSO have a set process that you go through once you have been accepted and this includes training courses (pre-departure) as well as access to lots of online resources to brush up on the country you are going to and the skills you will need to do your work.
The first course (Preparing to Volunteer) was in Mid-December. This was an opportunity to consider some of this issues around developing countries and aid, trade & debt (past and present situations). Also looking at disadvantaged people and HIV and AIDS and finally some sessions on the personal issues around working as a volunteer overseas. The best part for me though was getting together with a group of people that had the same ideas and goals as me - I know a lot of you (especially at home) think I am crazy (well maybe I am a little!!).
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