Ok bit more info from my last few days in England first (as I cut it short last time). Well the new tenants arrived but it was not a stress free affair, especially as they were trying to decide where their cat was going to love in my pet free house. They did say they would not bring the cat with them but I expect it is happily peeing and sharpening it’s claws all over my new carpets.
Anyway, having given them the keys I headed off to Watford to go and see all my family (on my Dad’s side). It was great to see everyone – even if my news had got a little lost in the Chinese whispers. One of my cousins was excited to here I was going to Naples for 2 years!
Back at the house it looked like I had never tidied – bags and boxes everywhere. That included my room – I had thought I had cleared most of my stuff but there was still such a lot left. There was still a lot of last minute things to sort out and I spent the next couple of days on the phone and internet – forwarding addresses and cancelling utilities, etc. Then I met up with my friend Theo to hand over my Mum’s life to him. Thanks Theo – I don’t know what I would have done without your offer and I hope that everything goes smoothly.
Tuesday was the day to get the electrics fixed – I needed a new fuse board. The guy said it would take a couple of hours but it ended up taking the best part of a day. I was happy when he had finished and it was time for lighting up BUT then he told me that was the time to worry as the new fuse box was hyper sensitive and would turn itself off if there were any problems with the electrics in the house. Guess what??????? Yep it turned itself off straight away and continued doing so even after some adjustments. My stress levels went up and so did the electricians. We went around the house unplugging everything and then plugging things back in and then something else was wrong, etc., etc. Finally the electrician called out that everything was OK – he had accidentally put a wire in the wrong place and it making my house look like there was some major electrical fault. Luckily he was honest, I wouldn’t have known if he had said I had to have a hundred and one things done to fix the faults.
That being the final thing to organise, I got very restless at home (well the tenant’s home) and just felt that I had finished with the house so when Penny came round, to help me move some last bits to my Mum’s, I decided that I wanted to go as well. So I snuck my case out of the house and just left – I’m not that mean, I did phone the agents the next morning to ask them to let the tenants know I had gone.
Finally the big day came. I started it by cooking a full English breakfast and then it was time to hit the shops – who would have thought that in all the time I had been getting ready to go, I wouldn’t actually have time to shop. Was hoping to get some speakers for my iPod but only had time to stock up on some drugs and a battery charger. Took Mum and her carers out for lunch, toasted farewell with a bottle of Champagne and then the taxi arrived. Arrived in plenty of time at Heathrow and got checked in – there was a little problem as I did not have a return flight booked by a letter from VSO was enough to smooth the way. Opted to have a bit of time on my own on the plane – knew there were 4 other VSO people onboard but wanted to wind down and reflect and was hoping for a little snooze. Half way through the flight, just as I nodded off a man 2 seats in front started screaming. His wife was not well and was passing out. So there was a call for a doctor – luckily I was booked in as a Miss – all the cabin crew gathered around and oxygen came out, etc.. How’s a girl supposed to sleep with all that going on! Don’t worry the wife was fine.
After a 5 and ¾ hour flight, we had to change planes in Doha (Qatar) and arrived at 5am (which was 2am UK time) and had a 5 hour wait for the next flight. I managed to stay awake until about 30 minutes before check-in and then nodded off in a chair. Luckily I had not had much to drink and woke up in plenty of time to get onboard. There was a bit of queuing to be done but I passed the time by marvelling at how tall I am again. Not the only reason I choose Asia but it’s not a bad thing! As people got on the plane, a lot of people had sat in the wrong seats, so most people were just sitting in an empty seat THEN, right near the end, a small group of French people got on. They insisted that they have the correct seat number and half the plane had to get up and move around. The flight to Kathmandu (4 hours) went quickly and half way through the flight I introduced myself to the other volunteers and had a chat with them. AND the Dutch lady is going to be in the same town as me. After Neeltje on my last trip, I am worried (Hee Hee).
Was a little worried about the visa process on arrival. Our working visas had not been processed in time and we had been told to get a tourist visa but the form said a maximum of 3 months and no working. I decided the best thing was to be as quick through the process as possible and worry about it later so I ticked tourist and asked for 1 month. – sailed through without a problem.
Outside were some of the VSO office staff with a big sign to welcome us, load up our bags and drive us to the Pacific Guest House. Driving through Kathmandu I was struck by how run down the city is and there are very obvious signs of poverty. Dusty roads and smoggy air with people everywhere and cars and bikes battling against what appears to be a non-existent traffic system. It seems that it is everyone for themselves, so if there is a gap and you think you can get through it you go – after you have given a beep of the horn to let people know you are there. If there is no gap then you make one. Apparently the risk of accidents is what concerns most VSO volunteers here in Nepal.
At the guest house, we had a quick introduction and discovered that there were 5 other volunteers that had just arrived (3 from Kenya,1 from Uganda and 1 from the Philippines and 2 more coming in the next week or so). One of the guys from Kenya is also going to my town - it's going to be a party town I think! So we are now quite a gang. Actually VSO has around 45 people volunteering in Nepal at the moment. We were advised not to go out of the guest house as there had been student elections that day and there had been some trouble and riot police were on the streets (welcome to Nepal) but 2 volunteers, who have been here for a few months, took some of us on a quick tour and then we went for dinner. Great welcome – great curry(with chicken- they also have buffalo on the menu)!
There was no electricity in the evening so we were wandering along dark alleyways with pot holes. Some shops etc have their own generators so there were some lights on and others were lit with candles. The guest house has it’s own generator too but this is only used to power some of the lights. I got a shock at 4am when the power supply came on and all the lights I hadn’t turned off came on. Apparently there are 16 hours a day without electricity and the longest block of electricity is only for 4 hours. The good thing is you get some information in advance – so tomorrow there will be electricity from 4am-8am (very useful – NOT!) and from 4pm to 8pm (ish).
Looking through an information pack we were given, I discovered that there are 2 volunteers already in Birgunj and one of them is at my organisation. Unfortunately he will be leaving the organisation and the town just before I arrive – I think that is bad organisation, it would have been great to have someone to show me around. We spent the afternoon at VSO’s offices with a security briefing to tell us about the current climate, crime, earthquakes and evacuation procedures!!! Then it was party time with all the office staff and volunteers based in Kathmandu.
It rained this afternoon but I was told this was unusual. In actual fact, apart from one day last week, the last time it rained here was Boxing day and before that it rained in October. Consequently there is a water shortage here at the moment.
Anyway that's enough for now .... day of rest tomorrow and then we are having a Treasure Hunt around Kathmandu on Sunday, language classes start on Monday, oh yeah and we get to go for a home stay in a village in a few weeks time!
Anyway, having given them the keys I headed off to Watford to go and see all my family (on my Dad’s side). It was great to see everyone – even if my news had got a little lost in the Chinese whispers. One of my cousins was excited to here I was going to Naples for 2 years!
Back at the house it looked like I had never tidied – bags and boxes everywhere. That included my room – I had thought I had cleared most of my stuff but there was still such a lot left. There was still a lot of last minute things to sort out and I spent the next couple of days on the phone and internet – forwarding addresses and cancelling utilities, etc. Then I met up with my friend Theo to hand over my Mum’s life to him. Thanks Theo – I don’t know what I would have done without your offer and I hope that everything goes smoothly.
Tuesday was the day to get the electrics fixed – I needed a new fuse board. The guy said it would take a couple of hours but it ended up taking the best part of a day. I was happy when he had finished and it was time for lighting up BUT then he told me that was the time to worry as the new fuse box was hyper sensitive and would turn itself off if there were any problems with the electrics in the house. Guess what??????? Yep it turned itself off straight away and continued doing so even after some adjustments. My stress levels went up and so did the electricians. We went around the house unplugging everything and then plugging things back in and then something else was wrong, etc., etc. Finally the electrician called out that everything was OK – he had accidentally put a wire in the wrong place and it making my house look like there was some major electrical fault. Luckily he was honest, I wouldn’t have known if he had said I had to have a hundred and one things done to fix the faults.
That being the final thing to organise, I got very restless at home (well the tenant’s home) and just felt that I had finished with the house so when Penny came round, to help me move some last bits to my Mum’s, I decided that I wanted to go as well. So I snuck my case out of the house and just left – I’m not that mean, I did phone the agents the next morning to ask them to let the tenants know I had gone.
Finally the big day came. I started it by cooking a full English breakfast and then it was time to hit the shops – who would have thought that in all the time I had been getting ready to go, I wouldn’t actually have time to shop. Was hoping to get some speakers for my iPod but only had time to stock up on some drugs and a battery charger. Took Mum and her carers out for lunch, toasted farewell with a bottle of Champagne and then the taxi arrived. Arrived in plenty of time at Heathrow and got checked in – there was a little problem as I did not have a return flight booked by a letter from VSO was enough to smooth the way. Opted to have a bit of time on my own on the plane – knew there were 4 other VSO people onboard but wanted to wind down and reflect and was hoping for a little snooze. Half way through the flight, just as I nodded off a man 2 seats in front started screaming. His wife was not well and was passing out. So there was a call for a doctor – luckily I was booked in as a Miss – all the cabin crew gathered around and oxygen came out, etc.. How’s a girl supposed to sleep with all that going on! Don’t worry the wife was fine.
After a 5 and ¾ hour flight, we had to change planes in Doha (Qatar) and arrived at 5am (which was 2am UK time) and had a 5 hour wait for the next flight. I managed to stay awake until about 30 minutes before check-in and then nodded off in a chair. Luckily I had not had much to drink and woke up in plenty of time to get onboard. There was a bit of queuing to be done but I passed the time by marvelling at how tall I am again. Not the only reason I choose Asia but it’s not a bad thing! As people got on the plane, a lot of people had sat in the wrong seats, so most people were just sitting in an empty seat THEN, right near the end, a small group of French people got on. They insisted that they have the correct seat number and half the plane had to get up and move around. The flight to Kathmandu (4 hours) went quickly and half way through the flight I introduced myself to the other volunteers and had a chat with them. AND the Dutch lady is going to be in the same town as me. After Neeltje on my last trip, I am worried (Hee Hee).
Was a little worried about the visa process on arrival. Our working visas had not been processed in time and we had been told to get a tourist visa but the form said a maximum of 3 months and no working. I decided the best thing was to be as quick through the process as possible and worry about it later so I ticked tourist and asked for 1 month. – sailed through without a problem.
Outside were some of the VSO office staff with a big sign to welcome us, load up our bags and drive us to the Pacific Guest House. Driving through Kathmandu I was struck by how run down the city is and there are very obvious signs of poverty. Dusty roads and smoggy air with people everywhere and cars and bikes battling against what appears to be a non-existent traffic system. It seems that it is everyone for themselves, so if there is a gap and you think you can get through it you go – after you have given a beep of the horn to let people know you are there. If there is no gap then you make one. Apparently the risk of accidents is what concerns most VSO volunteers here in Nepal.
At the guest house, we had a quick introduction and discovered that there were 5 other volunteers that had just arrived (3 from Kenya,1 from Uganda and 1 from the Philippines and 2 more coming in the next week or so). One of the guys from Kenya is also going to my town - it's going to be a party town I think! So we are now quite a gang. Actually VSO has around 45 people volunteering in Nepal at the moment. We were advised not to go out of the guest house as there had been student elections that day and there had been some trouble and riot police were on the streets (welcome to Nepal) but 2 volunteers, who have been here for a few months, took some of us on a quick tour and then we went for dinner. Great welcome – great curry(with chicken- they also have buffalo on the menu)!
There was no electricity in the evening so we were wandering along dark alleyways with pot holes. Some shops etc have their own generators so there were some lights on and others were lit with candles. The guest house has it’s own generator too but this is only used to power some of the lights. I got a shock at 4am when the power supply came on and all the lights I hadn’t turned off came on. Apparently there are 16 hours a day without electricity and the longest block of electricity is only for 4 hours. The good thing is you get some information in advance – so tomorrow there will be electricity from 4am-8am (very useful – NOT!) and from 4pm to 8pm (ish).
Looking through an information pack we were given, I discovered that there are 2 volunteers already in Birgunj and one of them is at my organisation. Unfortunately he will be leaving the organisation and the town just before I arrive – I think that is bad organisation, it would have been great to have someone to show me around. We spent the afternoon at VSO’s offices with a security briefing to tell us about the current climate, crime, earthquakes and evacuation procedures!!! Then it was party time with all the office staff and volunteers based in Kathmandu.
It rained this afternoon but I was told this was unusual. In actual fact, apart from one day last week, the last time it rained here was Boxing day and before that it rained in October. Consequently there is a water shortage here at the moment.
Anyway that's enough for now .... day of rest tomorrow and then we are having a Treasure Hunt around Kathmandu on Sunday, language classes start on Monday, oh yeah and we get to go for a home stay in a village in a few weeks time!
