Nothing happens and then it all happens at once!

Well I have been pondering about my life quite a lot in Ruteng, as I have time on my hands. I am managing to still pass my Masters Course, so that is a relief and keeps me busy. Well busy as opposed to dying of boredom! Anyhow a bit of bad luck hit me, my computer broke (no more movies) and then got stung by a bee, which was rather painful and my head expanded to a very unfortunate size......and they have stopped selling petrol at the side of the road!!!!!!!!! do not even get me on that topic as I can rant forever about it!!!!!!!!!! However the good news is my head is normal again.

Thankfully the issue with my computer was just the cable that supplies the electricity. Now I have a Sony computer, but of course people do not have these computers on Flores, as that would involve something outside of the budget limits for most people on Flores. But thankfully people in Makassar have money, and I have friends in Makassar. So after only three weeks, I was reunited with a computer cord, my computer is working as I can watch movies and listen to music again.

Then to top off all this excitement, I have a new role. I am the roving volunteer on Flores, and I love it. I am busy and I am working. So this week I am in Maumere. Very nice place, sorry no photos on this occasion. Have met with credit unions, local government, government planning bodies and LSM's thinking about how to move the issue of disability. People are motivated ad interested in the main part and really keen for my help!!!!!!!! I am so happy.

Other volunteers are also getting in contact wanting advice and assistance on mainstreaming disability. So now I get to travel around this beautiful island even more and meet other volunteers. Last night Jack made me a truly African dinner and we watched premiership football until 1am, I have read books, relaxed on the beach, got very drunk twice! Quite honestly right now life cannot get any better. At this rate I might never come home.

My camera has been stolen....but I am feeling positive!

Well life as a volunteer is full of ups and downs. Depending on who you talk to more downs than up's, however if you talk to me right now more ups than downs.

Currently been on holiday which has been so nice. Met up with Mark and Anouk in Makasar, had a great and relaxing time. Also has my own little room in the attic, felt a bit like a flower in the attic, but I did get fed and I was allowed all day everyday. However the heat in Makassar is a different level to Flores! it is boiling, and if you have a hangover very, very unpleasant. However the bad news is no photos, as my camera has been stolen.

So visited Fort Rotterdam and the museum. Thanks to my lovely tour guides from the university for showing me around he museum. Had food I never thought you could get in Indonesia, which I have to say does show had backwards some parts of Flores are. Had burgers, Tokyo rice burgers, sushi, dim sum, and the list goes on and on and on. Managed to get into the most fabulous buffet at a five star hotel and stuff my face for the whole evening. Fantastic.

Considering the heat, I even went for a run in my new trainers. The good news was no-one really ran, as people kept loosing the course, and of course the best part was the numerous beers after the event. Met loads of nice and interesting people from a variety walks of like. People from Indonesia and people from outside of Indonesia. The best part was that people in Makassar could understand my Indonesian. I have to say I think the people are easier to understand as they speak a little slower in Makassar which was very nice.

But it was just so nice to see Mark and Anouk, who used to live with me in Ruteng. First question what has changed in Ruteng. The answer being we now have pizza, however I have to say the pizza is not comparable to the pizza you can get in Makassar.

After Makassar had a quick 2 day stop in Bali, which involved a lot of drinking and catching up with some old friends. which was very nice. now I have returned back to Maumere on Flores to deal with immigration. I was expecting an ordeal that would last days with loads of time hanging around doing nothing. But I was in the door at 9am, waited 40 mins had my photo taken and my fingerprints, undertaken electronically, all completed within 2 hours. This is a surprise as when I arrived in Bali this time last year our fingerprints were still being undertaken with black ink, which caused a right mess. (Things are obviously progressing) However being back in Flores has made me realize how much I missed Flores. Now I have been away the best part of a month I am starting to miss few friends back in Ruteng, and my neighbours, can't wait to see them when I return in two days.

Also really nice to see Charlie who arrived in the batch as me to Flores. He is doing such a good job in Maumere, he has just finished an exhibition of things made by the local communities he works with. The exhibition was so successful it sold out of most products on the first day. Good for you Charlie!!!! And my mum will be happy as at last I have bought her a traditional Ikat to take home at Christmas.

Dead bodies

Well I knew I was going to a funeral, but actually sitting in a room with a corpse of someone I never knew....I was not expecting that. However the funny bit happened before we got to the slightly smelly body.

First I spent two hours in a car going to a distant village beginning with the letter W. On the way Sister Petra was very sick. I am always surprised by how very sick Indonesians get when they go travelling, considering they have lived in this mountainous country most of their lives.

After this we turn up to the house, I follow the sisters inside. Then one of the sisters remarks..Where is the body? We quickly scan the room, the family of the deceased is present, but seem not to know where they have misplaced there dead person. The Sister's have an idea, we go to the priests house to ask where the dead body has gone.

So we arrive at the priests, I am supplied with cake and beer, they know me well in these parts! and the priest explains that the body has been moved as the family home was not big enough. At this point the sisters highlight it might be a good idea to inform the family..as they are wondering where the dead body has gone.

So one of the priests leaves to inform the family. 3 beers later I have very rosy cheeks, I am also getting desperate for the loo. However we have to leave or we will be late for mass and the priest who has also joined me in 3 beers, is leading the mass. So we get back down the mountai, find the dead body in the neighbours house, and mass is had.

The priest was slightly more animated than usual I will put that down to the beer. I had tears in my eyes, everyone thought I was upset about the dead person, but infact I was very, very desperate for the loo.

Mass finished I go to the loo, at last, and we eat. Then all of a sudden I get shouted at by one of the sisters. She asks if I have my camera, I say I have and she tells me to go and take a photo of the dead body. I explained that really in England this might not be considered polite. She explains it is not polite here either, but as I am a tourist noone will mind. I still refuse. As at this point a number of relatives are crying over the open coffin.

We then return home. Two hours back to Ruteng. Once again Sister Petra is very sick....she continue's to be sick for a few days afterwards.

For anyone considering volunteering.

I am putting this on my blog, as I think it helps put into perspective how different people view volunteering and the different motivations people to choose to volunteers. It also demonstrated a the different views of life we have and what we expect from life.

I must emphasize the the views that I express in my blog are solely my own, but I feel I have a responsibility to put this on here, so people considering volunteering the future know the kind of issues that they may come across.

All three points in a response to a meeting help by volunteer representatives.

Point one. How Volunteers are talking about Indonesia. I cannot believe anyone who has been through the assessment process in their home country and undertaken the in country training can act in such a manner. Fundamental to the process of becoming a volunteer is to understand cultures and taking your time to learn about local cultures and learn to work within them. Yes they may be frustrating, but as a volunteer you are a guest in this country. To come here with idealised views about some perfect utopia is not professional when you are working in the field of development. All of the countries that we come from have faults.

Point Two. How can volunteers be coming to Indonesia to work and not realise they will have to speak Indonesian! It is clearly highlighted in all information received before you come to Indonesia. Surely the reason we are here is to learn about different cultures, learn a different language and broaden our horizons from the lives we live back home. Learning a language is hard, I am definitely not a natural, however now that I can converse on a basic level my quality of life here and my ambitions for the future have grown dramatically.

Point Three. As volunteers – who have agreed to live here on a basic salary like local people and live like local people, we are not doing a very good job. Again and again I see issues being raised about lack of money and living conditions or can we fly instead of having to travel for 14 hours overland? Why! You have agreed to live here under the local conditions, so now get on with it! Then you can experience the local culture, you can also experience that life is like living in a place where a majority of people will never even get near to having enough money to be able to get on an aeroplane. If you are in the fortunate position where you have the opportunity to travel across Flores, one of the most beautiful Islands in the world take the opportunity and make the most of it. You even get to stop the trip half way and meet up with other volunteers and share some stories. Not everyone has this opportunity whilst they are here.

I know life can be tough...but it is nowhere near as tough as the majority of the population of this world who will never get the experiences or the quality of life that you are having now.

Things are better!

Thought I had better update this quickly, as things are a bit better then the last two days. Can't really say how I think each time I have a holiday I also need two or three days of being miserable before I get into the flow of things.

Yesterday met a really inspiring sister, who spent 10 years doing development work in Mozambique, she is now a head of a school here that offers some inclusive education, so going to see if I can help with some fund-raising over computer equipment for the low vision children that they cater for.

My frustration really is people here not understanding why I am here, and just thinking I am an English teacher. (Ironically I am not very good at English - so I would never get through the training to be an English teacher)

However after a few beers, and dancing around my living to to Dire Straits, I am feeling much more in the mood. Also have started to do a course with the Open university on Global Development which looks really interesting. So it gives me something to focus on.

When little adjustments seem so big!

So I have been on holiday. I had a fabulous five days with Bob, Sarah, Jenny and Paul. Hopefully if I can get the internet to work you may even be treated to some pictures on this occasion. If it does not work, sorry but I will try and get them on facebook.

So life on holiday was social, involved drinking far too much beer which was a lot of fun. Visiting a swimming pool on a number of days, eating good food. Sitting in a lot of sun, it did rain but not too much and beer was always a good distraction when the rain arrived.

Trip back was adventurous on the public bus, especially when we had an unscheduled stop 20 kilometres outside of Rutting as the engine had overheated, which also seem to stop the gears working on the bus. Something you will always needs when dealing with mountain roads.

Then I arrived back in Ruteng. I found out I had headlice and it was raining hard! So I arrive one day late back into work, as I needed to sort out the headlice issue first. Today arrived at work and really wished I was still on holiday. Started writing a report for VSO – only to realise I am not fulfilling any of my objectives. Then looked at my to do list realising nothing on it has anything to do with disability...Then you guessed it. The tears started to flow. What am I doing here?

However salvation arrived soon after. I have my first official invite to a communion party on the 1^st of May, then another one arrived soon after – so I am going to need some new shoes.

Then one of the teachers husbands came to visit me at home and fixed the flat tyre on my motorbike and has arranged for me to get a water dispenser delivery so I do not have to boil water.

However I am going to have to reconsider what I am doing and how to get some element of disability work back on the agenda...but as they say here pelan pelan! (go slowly!)

Easter has arrived...and so has PIZZA!

Well as people on facebook will know, a pizza place has arrived in Ruteng. Not only that they do stuffed crust, with cheese or meat. Imagine my delight. They also have Chedder and Mozorella cheese. I may never need to come home! Only issue is they do not serve beer in the pizza place...but they do a very nice banana split - with lovely ice cream. I hope they survive my only concern is that must be importing most of the ingredients from somewhere foreign, as you can definitely not buy these things on Flores. But whoever has managed it.... good luck my son, I am sure my custom in the next year will help you out at the beginning of the big pizza adventure in Ruteng!!

Beside that not much else has happened. Have had the most hilarious time teaching the teachers English. Now realise the best way to get them engaged is by doing something silly. This week was heads, shoulders, knees and toes with the actions! People here have NO coordination. After Easter I am considering pin the tail on the donkey - with blindfolds! So it is fair and we can include the 4 blind students now part of this course (oh yes inclusion) I have sucessed in one of the many VSO objectives at last!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well this week saw me get nipped on the toe by a scorpion. Nothing serious, and can be treated with a particular suncream from this part of the world. Which I am currently stocking up on, so I am prepared next time this happens, and do not do what I did this time. Scream mainly in English and tell my neighbours I think I am going to die. They thought that was most amusing.

My lovely neighbours have done all my washing for me. As I also developed an eye infection this week, which I seem now to be totally recovered from. Just goes to show I need to clean more. They have also fixed two pairs of my trousers which is nice.

Of on holiday on Tuesday to LabuanBajo, so hopefully will have some gossip for the next time I right.