Let the journey begin...

Hey,

Welcome to my journal for Nepal 2009. For the next 7 1/2 weeks 6 of us from the University Of Aberdeen will be participating in a volunteer project with PSD Nepal teaching English and helping to build a school out in a village called Harmi in the Gorkha region.

The following people in our group were:
- Jess Lees(Me)- 2nd year Psychology Student
-Christina Allnutt- 3rd year Primary Teaching Student
-Phil Harrison-2nd year Zoology Student
-Debbie*-3rd year
-Sam*-3rd year
-Ella*-3rd year

We all started out working with the student run charity HELP (which stands for Humanitarian Educational Long term Projects) and after many hours of bag packing, organising Ceilidhs and writing to various businesses for sponsorship our story begins................................................


Well, we have arrived in Delhi so far for a changeover to Kathmandu.
Looking out the window of the airplane we could see a cloud over the city. Most likely down to the pollution caused by lesser developed factories.

I am currently sitting in the business lounge where all the UK transfer passengers were led to.
Hmmmmm, nice people. Some luxury before we live in the sticks for the next 7 1/2 weeks.
Already have some fond memories of this trip such as how nicely the Indian airlines treat you and how the food doesn't taste like vomit (well, I guess that curry never looked appetising anyway so it's got to taste good, it relies on its taste alone since it's not much of a looker in the world of food like other foods for example, the pineapple.)

The first thing we couldn't get over in the business lounge was that all the food and the drinks were free! May as well enjoy this whilst it lasts until we're out fending for ourselves. Anyone who knows a student well would be right to say that we gather as much free stuff as we can wherever we are.
So after stocking up on water and filling up with food, whilst the others went to sleep Debbie* and I went to look for the loos and the look on her face when all she saw was a hole in the ground for a toilet was priceless.
This is going to be interesting seeing everyones reactions to a non-western culture and way of life.

A bit tired now as I got no sleep on the flight. (I hate flying and what I hate more than flying is sleeping on planes)

Talk soon!

Jessxo

(*Note- These members of the group do not wish to be recognised but play a huge part in this journal, due to this their names have been changed so that they can remain anonymous.)