The holiday!!!!!!!!!!! this is in two parts, maybe more.

Right I am still in Bali but it is pouring with rain, so I thought it would be a good time to update the blog. I am afraid photos will have to wait until I get back to Ruteng, (hopefully on the 2nd of January 2011) flight is booked lets see it it goes according to plan!

First we had the sectoral workshop from the which started on the 6th of December for a few days, after that we had the volunteer conference. Really nice to meet everyone, most people I will not see for another year. Which seems very bizarre, but good to catch up to see how everyone's placement is going. Also good to know we all have the same feelings, on are we actually creating any change!! However also good to see how well we have all progressed with our Indonesian. We then had the volunteer conference for a a few days, culminating in a disco night. Needless to day loads of booze, bob doing back spins next to the swimming pool and most of us in the swimming pool with our clothes on before the night was out.

Then the next day Anne arrives for our holiday. Looking back now I think we crammed too much into the first week, but we had important engagements!!

On the 6th we stayed in Bali and then we went to Gilli Trawangan for two days, I wish we could have stayed here much longer. The Gili Islands really are very beautiful with loads of diving and snorkeling. After this we started our two days intrepid travel overland to get the Ruteng for the party of Anouk and Mark. We set out from Gili at 8am on the 8th I think. Hard to recollect as all my days have turned into one. We then got the little boat over to Lombok, (30 mins) drove across Lombok - for you who have made it to the tourist resorts and the beaches I hear parts of Lombok are beautiful. Unfortunately myself and Anne spent most our time at public, dirty, smelly bus terminals, we also saw loads of random goats wandering down the road, goodness only knows where they had come from. (I think between 3-4 hours) Then we got on a public ferry for the hop, skip and jump over to Sumbawa this I think took about two hours, but we had ventured into the land of where only a few tourists travel. So Anne got a quick introduction to staring, people asking you for money is you are a westerner, and the delights of pot noddle lunches. It's also the ferry where you sit in those hard plastic seats and always have people smoking and flinging ash over you. After this journey we than got on another bus, this was across Sumbawa, and I do not recommend anyone ever does this overland piece of the journey. We travelled across the Island of Sumbawa at night, it took about 14 hours on the coach. The driver was a nutter and on a few occasions I thought I was going to die. What I did not realize is Sumbawa is quite a big Island, and half of the island does not appear to have any road. The most interesting part of the journey, was when he had to stop to collect a motorbike ad five more passengers but there was no room of the bus,. Needless to say did not sleep too well that night. Amazing that there was not more vomit flying around considering the speed we were traveling. I really think the driver of the bus thought he could propel us through the air if he landed fast enough into a pot hole. Bright and the breezy the morning of the 10th we arrived at the port of Sumbawa for the next ferry trip of about 8 hours to LabuanBajo. This was uneventful except for the same ferry experiences of staring, hassle for money and smoke ash flying everywhere. (I think at this point Anne was questioning our friendship and why the had she come to Indonesia to see me) But what was so surprising in this stretch of Ocean is just how dirty the Ocean is. This is much more visible because of it being the wet season but the ocean was literally full of rubbish!! If anyone wants to make a business from waste management I really think here is the place to come. The Indonesian country needs some serious help before all there beautiful scenery and wildlife are destroyed.

So we arrive in LabuanBajo for one night only as the next day is the fours hours to Ruteng, so we can get to Marks and Anouks Party. Needless to say we made it to Ruteng, we stayed for two days and during that time it hardly stopped raining. But Anne got to see my house, the pigs next door and we made it to Marks and Anouks Party. The party was great. Drink was consumed, Paul ended up in hospital again, we thought someone had stolen the music system (but thankfully they were looking after it) and the next day we all felt a bit shaky. So Anne and myself had a day off from traveling and instead just meditated in Ruteng to see if a break would happen in the rain. It wouldn't so the next day we left to go back to LabuanBajo, we stayed for four days. Only four hours from Ruteng and we had sun, sea and sand. We had pizza, and I found some really good bacon ;-) Life was good again and it was starting to feel like a holiday. We spent one day out at Rinca and saw the dragons, and all the staff who come ....... you've guessed it.... Ruteng! Apparently the Komodo dragons can run at 20 kms an hour, so needless to say I was on my best behaviour. I could have done without the crazy German who kept trying to make the dragons runs after us, and get us all killed. Considering all the protection you get is a child with a stick from these dragons and they have killed two people in 20 years I would put the German down as a bloody idiot instead of a brace warrior kind. Around Rinca we did loads of snorkeling which has really got me thinking about loosing some weight and improving my fitness as I think I want to do a diving course at Easter.

After a few days doing nothing but reading, eating and actually resting a bit we headed back to Bali. We have had some glorious days but unfortunately a lot of rain. But it is that time of the year. I hear you lot had loads of the white stuff falling from the sky.... and I do not mean milk!!!!

Water not enough and then far too much!

Been a busy week for me this week, as tomorrow I start my making my way to VSO for training for a week and then I have a month swanning around Bali and the local tropical islands with my bezzy mate Anne. Yippppepeeee!

So this week I have dine than the last five months all together. I have finished my reports for VSO, I am confident on the mot

orbike and driving it all over the place. So on Tuesday morning I set off at 6.30am with Mark and Anouk for the 4 hours drive through the mountains

between Ruteng and Bajawa. Was a tad anxious as if anyone knows about Flores it does have loads of mountains, which makes for a very twisty and turny drive. However the journey was great, had to stop periodically to stop the a

ache in the nether regions, but apart from that nothing bad happened. No falling, no stalling. The only thing that did happen to me was a flat tyre in entering Bajawa, and it happened right in front of the garage, I get the feeling in future I may not always be so lucky.

The reason we all escaped

off to Bajawa is that Mark and Anouk have worked with a local NGO in establishing a water project, in a little village called Leke. So now families have access to water in the back yards, instead of having to walk 3kms up the mountain to get water. If you have seen my facebook page you will have already seen the photos. It was a phenomenal occasion and one I am not likely to see again any time soon. We all danced, drank the local brew, ate mountains of rice, got to eat the buffalo and a pig. Listened to a lot of speeches, sweltered in the heat, so found a nice cool house to sit, eat and sleep in the afternoon. Normally it rains in Leke in the afternoon, and it did rain a bit when we ft, but on the whole the weather was fantastic.

However then the next day we needed to return back to Ruteng. I could not get my bike to start in Aimere (Opps I had run out of fuel) but of course I went through all the other options, has the spark plug gone, maybe the battery - but no simple enough the bike needed a drink.

Again Journey beautiful and uneventful until 21kms outside of Ruteng, and then the most tremendous thunderstorm. Lightening, thunder, when you are in the mountains you definitely sound like you are closer to the action in the heavens. So they return was a bit slower. At time we had to stop and take shelter.

Just to give you some idea this is what the front of my house looks like when there is very heavy rain.

The fridge has arrived - but then I lost my bank card!

After taking my 1,700,000 rupiah out of to bank to buy my fridge, all was good. I walked away from the bank machine and went to the fridge shop. My desired fridge was still there, I managed to get a written quotation and sort out the delivery. Then the rain started, so I stayed in the shop had a conversation about parties and dancing and of course all essential questions in Indonesia, are you married, how many children, what religion, where do you live - however they did need to know where I live, otherwise they wouldn't be able to deliver the fridge. So I drew a little map, as I am the person with no address. On my little map was Hotel Rima, The church with pink and yellow walls, my little wooden bridge over the drain, Personally I think I excelled and I should consider a future as an artist. After this lengthy discussion it was actually decided it would make much more sense i I just jumped in the van and gave directions. Considering I do not know my left in right in England it was an experience. So I had the craziest 15 minutes in the van, whilst the man driving was smoking, eating and talking on the mobile phone. He then sent a text, and then he typed my phone number into his phone, as it was on the details from the store.

Anyhow got to my place and van driver became action man, he bundled the fridge on his back, he climb's up the little muddy hill in front of my house in his flip flops and landed the fridge in my kitchen. THEN DISASTER - The fridge plug does not reach the kitchen socket. The kitchen socket is about two millimetres too high. However problem is solved fridge is now in the living room until I buy an extension cord. Anyhow paid fridge man, who I later know to be called Paul, and got the fridge on so I could have cold beers that evening with Mark.

Night with the beers a nice success, obviously night life finished about 9pm so I go of to bed, and Mark returns home. Then I start getting loads of text messages, what have I had to eat, am I lonely, do I need company all from a number I do not know. You guessed it, it was from Fridge man. He was brave as he also tried texting the next day, but today I think he has given up because of lack of responsiveness.

Two days later I look or my bank card. I then I remember I did not collect it from the bank machine when I left with the money from the fridge, so I trundle off the to bank on my bike and report it lost. No problem. Another one will be delivered in about three weeks. Also bank staff inform me I have to go the police and report it lost. At the moment I do anything just to stay out of the police's way, as I have heard some horror stories. Luckily Jenny from Bali was here for two days so I treat her to a trip to the local police station.

How many policeman does it take to fill out a form about a missing bank card. 5. One to put on the official stamp, one to fill out the form on the computer, one to look for paper for the printer, One to offer general advice to the one of the computer who does not seem to confident with spelling and another to watch as having two white people enter the police station was a big event.

So I go through the story of the bank card numerous times, only for the police to say I lost the card on the way home. I get to sit next to a quiet Indonesian lady who I was reliably informed was a robber. However despite the hiatus,the form only took 30 minutes. Not bad at all. Had to answer those questions for the form that are very important, married? children? religion? - my god it is just a bank card that I have already had blocked at the bank!!

However quick discussion about premiership football, Wayne Rooney, Old Trafford etc etc, Then I thought in a minute they will want money or their 'administration fee' but it didn't happen, they just let me walk out with my little report of my missing bankcard.

So walked up the road with Jenny, feeling thrilled and had the best veggie lasagne made by Anouk.

How hard can it be to buy a fridge!!

Well I won't bore you with the paperwork process you have to complete before you have permission to buy the fridge.However I have now visited both of the shops that sell fridges in Retung.I have idetified the cheapest. All good so far. Then in Indonesian I clarify the cost of delivery included in the price. Then the fundemental question,what is your address? Now here is the issue. I do not have a clue I live between a church and a simpanto shop, cross over a little bridge just the right size for holding a motorbike, walk up the muddy hill until you reach the house in front of you, Ah ha I do not live here,but if you walk around the corner and through the garden you then reach my house. I drew a little map to assist the people in the shop.All sorted, so I went off to the back to withdraw my 1,700,000 rupiah, but now I cannot remember my pin number for the life of me. Fuinnyhow these little things can be so infuriating.

But the good news is my bike had an issue with it's fuel supply,all sorted now and it rides really well. Unfortunately on my right leg I have a massive bruise from when I nearly came off the bike which has frightened me a bit, but if I want to get out and about I have got to get used to the bike. Hopefully I will not have to visit a garage for the next few weeks, as I have been twice a week in two weeks, and it is quite a challenge. People are not used to women riding motorbikes so going to the garage involves loads of people laughing behind your back, and talking in the local Manggarai language so you cannot understand. Quite honestly sometimes just leaving the house is a challenge due to the amount of hassle from everyone.

So I am off to the shop for tupperware tubs,and the market asI fancy some eggs and tomatoes with my rice today. Then the fridge will have to happen on Monday when I find my PIN number,

Floods and cooking oil.

Well this week has been remarkably quiet, but busy at work, I am in the process of writing reports for international donors, and trying to set up an exhibition for International Disability Day on the 3RD of December. Not been helped by the fact I am not feeling on top form, bit of an upset stomach and reoccurring headache, and nearly fell off my motorbike the other day.

But I did have the shock of my life last week when we did have a heavy down pouring of rain. A drain behind my house must be blocked. As I opened my front door only to realize my little house was surrounded by water. The house next door to me got totally flooded, thankfully Indonesians do not focus too heavily on furniture or internal furnishings or it would have been devastating. The thing about living on a mountain was their was so much water, then it stopped raining and drained away straight away, the only things remaining was lots of mud. I am now sitting in the internet cafe putting off the inevitable hours of hand washing I need to get done, as loads of my clothes are covered in mud.

The next issue I have is MINYAK TANAH I can't find any. Basically cooking oil. It is hard to find and when I find a shop that does sell it is habis (empty) - so it feels like I am searching for the holy grail. All I want is a fried egg!

Kupang and sinking ferries and a fabulous school choir.

Well I have arrived back from Kupang and I have received over 200 e-mails enquiring into how I am , so thank you everyone for your concern, and I am sorry I could not access an Internet any sooner.

As people in England seem to know better than people in Indonesia Volcanoes have erupted, their has been an earthquake and a Tsunami, which has created absolute devastation to parts of Indonesia. This has not affected Flores.

However what has affected Flores is two ferries full of passengers sinking in Ende and Maumere. This happened on Saturday 23rd of October. The same time I boarded a ferry with the school choir on a trip to Kupang. We had not heard of the incidents at Ende and Maumere before departing. 100's of people have died and families have been devastated. I arrived safe and well in Kupang, although very tired after the 24 hour crossing.

So arrived safe and well in Kupang with the school choir and our dancers. We stayed in the Sekolah Luar Biasa in Kupang (School for outside normal). I was told this was a new school with only five pupils. So had the shock of my life when I got out of the bathroom on Monday morning, to walk across the school playground in my Sarong and hair in a towel, only to find hundreds of children in the school playground. The kids looked at me and I looked at them....I really was not expecting a load of children to turn up. The last thing the teachers and children of the school expected was to have a half naked Bula walking across the school playground at 7am.

I survived my week of eating boiled rice with a bit of veg and fish for breakfast , dinner and tea. Must adit had had a funny effect of my bowel movements. Especially since I ate some fruit and drank some green tea last night. I think I must have lost a lot of weight in one night. I shared my room with the children and the teachers, and I cannot believe how well behaved children are in Indonesia. We spend hours doing nothing, but the kids did not complain and found little things to do to entertain themselves.

The children attended church twice on the Sunday and sang for the congregation, and they performed two shows, as well as meeting with the very important guy incharge of the Manggarai offices in Kupang. They had dinner with the Bupati, and what was so nice is on these formal occasions they were treated as equals and with respect.

The on the last day the best thing in the world. After weeks of waiting I got to go to the beach!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Goodbye to Mikal.

Well on October the 16th Lau, Danny and myself in 'travel' to see Mikal, a volunteer who is coming to the need of her placement. Of course this was a time to reminisce, talk about ow things are going, and as all good volunteers know a good time to go and see how many things can be pillaged so you do not have to buy anything for yourself.

I got plates, knives, forks and spoons. Some Hot Chocolate which was disgusting and out of date and made me vomit. 100's of DVD's (and they work) and a map of Flores, which is out of date, made in 1993, but this is the kind of thing which is impossible to find here.

First shock we had was Mikal explaining that she received water once a week, so she has to be quite careful with her water storage. Also she had to contend with scorpions and Geko's the size of mini Komodo dragons.

I was excited as once again I thought I would see the beach. On arrival Mikal explained the unfortunately the beach was 17 km's away. However plenty of beer was drank, we had the option of tequila but opted out as none of us wanted to be sick of the journey to Bajawa the next day.

Membangan sistem dan prosider keunangen. To develop sistem and procedure finance (literally)

So I was all excited about the possibility of seeing a nice beach. I was sooo wrong. First I left Ruteng with Sister Lydia at 3.30pm in the afternoon. Already know this was going to be an issue as the journey to Ende where the plane takes off is seven hours away. I had started work on the same day at 7am in the morning. So after my seven hours in the car, listening to music that can make your ears bleed, guess how much of a bad mood I was in when I arrived in Ende! Yes you have guessed it, a foul mood. 

So shared a hotel room with the sister I was accompanying to Sumba, next morning woke rather early, as the Sister got up at 3am to watch the television which happened to be positioned by my head. At 7am had to ride on a back of the motorbike to the airport. Which was fine, except I was the only white person around for this flight. So I was a tourist attraction once again. But the things that really caught me off guard in Ende is that you have to get weighed before you get on the plane. Now I am not the smallest lighted person in the world, and knowing the Indonesians I taught this has the potential to get very embarrassing. However all the airport staff were very good when thy saw the scales tip over 100 kilos. (Which is really unusual in Indonesia) However the sister accompanying me had a dance and a jig whilst laughing and shouting at the top of her voice to everyone who would listen about my weight. (however I was quite pleased it is the first time that I have been weighed since leaving England and I have lost nearly two stone) weight I really did need to loose. I just hope I can loose a bit more. 

So we get on a small plane, kind of one of those planes they do not let into British air space as they could potentially crash at any moment. But in comparison to England and Europe where everyone runs for the seats on the plane, here people are really polite. They wait for mothers and children to get on the flight first, and the infirm and then the sisters and priests, and then the rest of us. The flight was about 30 mins, and as we traveled over Island of Sumba I could see white beaches and crystal blue waters. Glad I saw them at this time, as I never saw them again and my week was about to deteriorate. 

So I arrived in Waitabula, the sights include a cathedral and a hospital and the Bishop of Sumba lives here too. My accommodation, was my own room in a house, with the other participants of the course, I think 14 in total. However Sumba is very hot, and we had no air conditioning. Their was 3 squat toilets and mandi's between 14 so things got a bit frought at times. 

The food was brought from a local rumah makan and motorbikes in every meal, and it was absolutely gorgeous. I love Indonesian food so much, I am going to have to have some serious cooking lessons before leaving here to learn how to cook some of this dishes. Even boiled vegetables spiced up I love, especially those dished that involved aubergines. YUM YUM YUM!

The next day the course started at 8am. And then I realized I was in trouble. The course was from 8am through to 5.30pm in accountancy and the course was all in Indonesian. Now I am very keen to learn the language, but this was overkill. So I sat quietly in the corner and did understand some of the discussion. but then at about 10am the sun entered the sky and everyone in the room started to boil. No air-conditioning! The people in charge of the house had to go and buy some more fans whilst we all melted, but tried very hard to look as if we were concentrating. This continued for five days. 

Now I am practicing my Bahasa Indonesian, however being in a house with no escape, with only Indonesians for company was really hard work, especially when the sister I went with became ill.  So a massive thank you to Arnold who saved me, he could speak a bit of English, but was also very, very, funny! 

Very big thank you to the bloke who organized for me to have a beer on the last night too! It was so nice. 

Also thanks to the Bupati of Sumba who had an impromptu visit from me and a group of other trainees at the end of the course, and was very nice and pleasant. He is new and people were preparing for his party. 

We also went to visit the Bishop, but unfortunately he was busy. 

Party tricks, sorry for everyone who reads Hello Mr as you will have seen this story!

How to survive the Sopi!

Well I am pleased to announce that I have won one of the biggest challenges of my life! Well a drinking competition anyhow. Went to a party celebrating someone’s graduation. Ashamedly I have no idea who this person was, as it was a friend of a friend of the Aunt who works at the school where I am based. So I dutifully turned up with the Sisters that I work and live with at the moment. Now thankfully the other two volunteers from Ruteng Mark and Anouk are on holiday so I am looking after their house. Probably very good because of what happened next........

You have to bear in mind the life I have had since arrival in Ruteng has been listening to praying and singing at 5am, (I am sleeping, but it penetrates through the walls of the convent) cold mandi, very cold mandi at 5.30am and breakfast at 6am. (Don’t panic on Sunday’s I get a lay in, breakfast is not until 7.00am) Start work at 7am tea break at 10m, lunch at 1pm siesta till 5pm (I check my internet, go for a walk, look at my motor bike think about getting on it and then think...maybe tomorrow, as it still scares me). Dinner at 7pm after listening to 6pm prayers through the wall whilst I am reading. For those of you know me you will know that I am not the most religious of people, so this is a change of life for me, but one I found very relaxing. However I did fear I was becoming institutionalized.

So when Mark and Anouk said they going on holiday and could I please look after their house, of course the answer was a massive yes!!!!!!!!!!! And I am pleased to report that I have been nearly very well behaved. Well until the events of yesterday!

So I turn up to the graduation party and some of the teachers from the school are present. Now in work I have been quite quiet, people know me by my laugh, I live with nuns what could possible go wrong. Well Pak ? (he has been asked to remain anonymous due to the shame) thought I should try a bit of the local Sopi. How can a girl resist? (What Pak ? does not know is I know about the dangers of this stuff, as I have been taught well by Mikal, Anouk, Mark, Danny, Lau and Teresa and our recent adventures in the Bajawa district attending first communion parties. Those of you on facebook will have seen the photos and me attempting to introduce the waltz to The Island of Flores) So I have my first drink of Sopi with Pak ?, he then pour’s me another which I seem to drink, but actually goes to the new friend sitting to my right when Pak ? Goes outside for a cigarette.

At this point the sisters leave the building, expecting me to leave with then. I explain I am in the middle of talking to someone and I will be fine to make my own way home. Pak ? enters the room with another drink for me of Sopi. Which I drink. Pak then goes to get another drink, but I make another friend sat on the left who knows what I am doing and offers to help. Pak ? get another drink so I drink it slowly Pak ? then has to go to the loo, so my now friend of the left drinks it. I offer to get the next drinks. But What I actually get is water for me and Sopi for my new friends and Pak? Noone could tell because of the colour of the glasses were drinking from. You know those plastic ones. Anyhow this pattern of drinking did go on for a few hours. And by the end I was quite merry, as were the new friends. Also the Sopi transformed me into someone who could speak and understand all Bahasa Indonesian spoken, but poor Pak ? could not walk!!!!

Anyhow got home and went to sleep. Today woke up and have a bit of a headache and my fluent Indonesian seem to have disappeared overnight. However Pak ? Apparently he is sakit! I bet he is!

Anyhow off to the Island of Sumba tomorrow. Tomorrow I have between 5 and 6 hours on a bus, stay in Enda overnight and then fly or boat it to Sumba. Sumba is an island with pristine beaches and beautiful scenery. I am going to be seeing the conference facilities of a hotel for five days, whilst I try and understand an Indonesian accountancy course. Fun oh FUN!

Hope everyone is well, this site will not be updtaed for about three weeks, as I will not get back from Sumba until next weekend, and then I only have four days in work before I go to Bajawa and Mbay, but will try and gets loads of photos so I have more to write on my return.

I've been kissed....By a Nyamuk!

Otherwise known as a mosquito. I was asleep in bed minding my own business probably having a nice dream, and the damn thing bit me right in the lip. I awoke in the middle of the night with a slightly sore lip, then I looked in the mirror and it looked like I had undertaken 10 rounds with a heavy weight boxer, my lower lip was so swollen I could not speak. So in true Rachel style instead of worrying about this I went back to bed. Next morning I woken up and the swelling had already gone down by half. Good job, as I looked very stupid.

Well my life is very exciting at the moment as I am borrowing the house of the other volunteers in Ruteng whilst they are on holiday. As a result I spend very few hours awake. Yesterday I woke at 10am went back to bed at 1pm got up again at 3pm and then went to bed at 8.30pm. I try to make it all the way to 9pm but that is proving really difficult.

I was also an hour late for work this morning, but noone seemed to mind. (Saying that I did work over the weekend and officially today is official holiday in Indonesia) however makes more sense for me to work as VSO are visiting for their first monitoring visit next week and all the reports need to be completed. Fits in nicely, as any days I should not have worked I can take around Christmas and have a nice long holiday. Then I am truly going to be letting my hair down.

Went to a communion party last week in Bajawa, which was very good fun. Plenty of drink was consumed and I learnt some Indonesian dancing, also really good to catch up with some f the other volunteers. I would love to say I have loads to say but at the moment life is pretty normal. Well I think it was always like this, it is just when you are new to it all it all seems so new. However in the next or two I will try and thin of some exciting things to write about. I hope everyone is well.

This week...Literally been living in the clouds!

I think this must be an occupational hazard of living up a mountain. But woke up the other morning, and for a split second I thought it had been snowing!

(very strange for Indonesia) but then I realised this was not the case, it was just that clouds had moved down the mountain and enveloped the school. I could not see the other end of the school because it was so cloudy.

Here are the photos of where I am staying.

!So here you can see the bathroom facilities, I have one of the more luxurious bathrooms as I have a flush toilet the other toilets here are squat toilets. However my flushing toilet does not flush, which actually took me longer to get used to than I imagined!

The blue square thing is where the water is for my mandi so I just take the little pink bucket each morning and chuck it over me. (Well not quite as it is to cold, I gently introduce myself to the water, otherwise I think I may die of shock.) The next photo is some of the grounds of the convent. You cannot quite see it but my room is in the top left hand corner, slightly around the corner. The white building in the middle is the chapel. It takes ages to load photo's so I shall try and put some photos of the school on next week.

Not much has happened this week, due to the sisters being away, and strangely enough the night-life in Ruteng is quiet. Last night I went out with other volunteers and had a few too many beers. I think the big event this week is a party in the town centre on Saturday. I am not sure why but I will find out and let you know next week. Things are so quiet I am even contemplating joining the gym! but at the moment I am still in the contemplation mode and I think I can drag that out for a few more weeks. However I have signed up to do Teaching English a Foreign Language. I am hoping it will help me before I start teaching the staff English here are the school.

Well in the meantime I am going to surf the net as I want to see if I can find any scholarship opportunities for children who are blind or deaf to go to university or train to be teachers, as I am sure I saw something the other day. If you come by anything on the internet you think I may be interested in, please let me know. Many thanks Rachel

Bajawa is even colder than Ruteng..or as I seem to like to call it Retung!

Well my English pronunciation and spelling are not improving out here. All of a sudden I seem to be devising my own language. Made all the sisters reel with laughter when I renamed the town of Ruteng, Retung. No wonder the poor bus driver was confused!

Well as promised I have now found stable internet and photos will now be coming in various shapes and sizes. Firstly my transport. The trusty motor sepeda,

Must

admit have not gone far on it. For a

start it is a kick start bike, I have developed muscles in my right leg I never knew I had, I do wonder if after two years one leg might be bigger than the other. Well I suppose time will tell. Mind you I would need to ride the bike more than the once a week that I am averaging at the moment.

I feel like I have had a busy week this week, but now I am trying to think of something to write I cannot think of that much. At work I have managed to build a simple website for the school. Here is the link, please have a look. http:// www.karyamurni.webs.com/ now all I have to do is devise a simple training package in Bahasa Indonesia so staff who know how to update it. That will be one of my tasks for a few weeks.

I am also compiling an excel spreadsheet with a difference, I am adding photo's so we know exactly which child is which and new staff starting at the school will also know. I am really hoping this will help with data collection. Again some simple training will need to put together. Thankfully the excel training has already been started by Mark so I just need to add a simples session about adding a photo to a spread sheet.

The sisters are on holiday this week, they have very kindly been donated a holiday by a sponsor, so they have all gone to hot Bali, and myself and Sister Petra are here in cold Ruteng. However at least we can rest assured that this is not as cold as Bajawa. It was freezing at night there. Thankyou for Danny and Lau for letting me stay, had a great time. Thanks to the staff at Bappeda for the coffee!

As people will see from these photo's life is quite simple for volunteers.

In the next exciting instalment of my blog I will put some photos of the convent where I am staying and the grounds. If you are lucky you might even get a bit of video, depends how brave I am feeling.

This week the children also performed in the Independence day celebrations in Ruteng. Some people will have already seen the photo's on the website of the school, if not they are well worth a visit and the website is very easy to navigate. But good news for people who have been asking, I got a photo taken.

After a day is this sun, I developed nasty sunburn. I became a bit complacent as it is not normally that hot here, due to the cloud cover. In future I will be much more careful.

People keep e-mailing me about the food and what I am eating. It's easy to remember I am eating white rice, fish and green vegetables 3 times a day seven days a week. I know that sounds bad, but actually I really like it. Especially with a nice dose of Sambal, (the hot chili paste - very popular here)

Please keep in contact. Rachel

Sorry for the delay....I have found an internet connection that works!

Well at long last I have arrived in Ruteng, Flores. The 10 hour jounrney from Bali was fun. First the flight was slightly delayed, but I had to endure 4 hours on a bus around winding mountain roads, some of them not with the saftest surface in the world. None of this was helped by the tiny hangover and the lack of sleep from the night previously (Yes Teresa, Alanna and Bambang - I hold you all responsible) I cannot believe I went clubbing (I hate clubbing).

I am also pleased to report noone vomited on the bus, so my image of noone being able to do this jouney without chucking up has been laid to rest. It cannot be that bad as I did manange it with a tiny hangover, but I think 4 hours was the limit. Any longer and I think I would have struggled.

Anyway arrived in Ruteng, about to fall asleep standing up. Dropped my stuff in my room and then got introduced to the sisters. To all those people who thought I was joking I am really living in a convent. Yes me! Thankfully met Anouk and Mark, two other volunteers from VSO, who quite honestly I do not know how I would have coped without them.

Well Ruteng it half way up a mountain so it is cold, which means the Mandi (shower) is FREEZING! I am so glad I cut all my hair off, otherwise it would have been a night mare.

So arrived on Saturday evening. On Sunday I was a judge for a colouring competition. None of the children from SLB took place ( I think this may have been because they were disabled) but all the other local schools took place!

On Monday I attended a lecture, again in Indonesian on the church and spirituality help the poor and the abnormal. (anyone who knows me will know I am biting my tongue a lot at the moment) It is really hard to explain unless you experience, but here in Indonesia disability is viewed culturally and religiously very different from the Western World. However saying that it probably was not that long ago really that philanthropy did similar things in the UK.

I was designated official photographer of the service celebrating the 25 years of Kayra Murni the School were I am now working. The main part was a church service attended by the Bishop. It was all very nice and very Indonesian. I did not understand word. However the dancing and the singing by the students was out of this world. They are a really talented bunch.

On Monday I started work. Not really doing too much. However I have realised that noone has an accurate record of which children attend and live at the school! So on Tuesday like any good manager started looking at the historic documents and compiling a database. The world is an easier place with a database. Three weeks later still not achieved but the end is coming ever closer. I thought it would be a small piece of work. I was so wrong.

Highlight so far has been helping Mark and Anouk plan a party for the children. this happened on Saturday. The children got to eat meat, a real treat for them. They also all got a present - which Anouk and Mark had achieved through some friends, family in Holland. Best of all the children all got a present with their name on. There own name. The toy belongs to them and no one else! Amazing how something so small can be viewed so importantly.

A toy shark hand puppet (attached to a child) went to church the next morning, and got into trouble for being animated! Childhood is very different here.

On Wednesday 17th it is Independence day here. The children will be playing their drums and marching now I have found Internet connection I will try and get some photos on here in the near future.

And the really good news is I now fit into my XXXXL Indonesian shorts, they did not fit three weeks ago.

More news soon. Promise.

7 Days and Counting.

Well in 7 days I fly out to Flores. The reason I have come halfway across the world for 2 years. I am going to be meeting Sister Christine, my manager, and Anouk another volunteer working in Retung with the same school 1 day a week. Thank goodness I am feeling much better than last week.

This week we have had more language school. Unfortunately our normal language teacher was replaced. It has made me really appreciate how hard it is for people to teach English. Our normal teacher is really interested in everything, so when we ask questions in our lessons about certain things Indonesian he thinks why we would ask a question and answers things as well as he can. He also has a good level of confidence in his language skills and is able to verbally communicate almost fluently in Indonesian. Unfortunately his replacement does not have this same level of confidence, but also does not understand why we think in certain ways. E.G. In Indonesian you do not take a photo, you photograph.

However this was a beneficial experience as I think it was possibly a introduction of what things may be like, such as people not listening, or not comprehending what you are saying. Culturally having very different experiences about how people learn information, but also how daunting it is when you cannot understand anything going on around you.

This all culminated in a school trip that we went on Friday. Which turned out being a tour of souvenir shops which sell their goods in American dollars. The people facilitating the trip just did not understand that our budget at the moment equates to 3.50 pound a day. Quite interesting not having much money, but being judged because of the colour of my skin!

This week we have had one volunteer fall off her push bike after being hit by a car. It was Alanna, same person who got bite by the dog. She's not having much luck at the moment.

The good news is that Lau and Danny, two of the Phillippino volunteers who are going to be moving to Bajawa together, which is only four hours from Retung have got a three bedroom house! Which means somewhere for me to sleep when I visit.

The wedding I am going to tomorrow is in the local banya (community) we have been invited as it is either the nephew or cousin of someone who works in the VSO office. Don't really know how he feels about 8 foreigners gate crashing his wedding. The wedding goes on over a period of days, and I do not know which bit we are at on Sunday. On Thursday the bride was carried to the future husbands house to talk with him about there future together. In the UK we have horse and carriage, or a car for such events. In Indonesia about 12 men carry bamboo rods in the shape of a square and carry the bridge and groom on top of this. Everyone must be quite strong in that process.

Looking forward to tomorrow, so next week I shall try and get more photos on the website.

See ya

Boring week!..........

Well I have done it. I am now officially allowed to ride a bike with a top gear of 120 mph around Indonesia. The bike training was tough. Not the exercises on the bike, but the heat and all the padded gear we had to wear!! I was sweating and stinking like a pig for two whole days. However I now have the joy of borrowing a bike and going out by myself, which I am not particularly looking forward to, but it has to be done so that I can get my confidence up on the bike. This week I have been tired and quite fed up. Has been that changing to a new country is tiring.

Had a bit of a black spot last week where none of the Indonesian Language made any sense to me for a whole two days, but it seems to have come back now. Volunteers are all starting to get a but tetchy with each other, as we have spent so much time together, and we are all at the different stages of the change process. I seem to have my first dip and was close to wanting to come home, as everything just seemed a bit too hard, but I seem to have come out of the other end. Amazing what watching 7 hours of the West Wing can achieve.

Today I have been sarong and sash shopping. A photo will appear as soon as I have one. This is in preparation for a wedding I am going to next Sunday. So lots of photo's will follow. Have also found out that in Indonesian culture they celebrate when girls start menstruating. Glad this is a bit more private and confidential in England.

Hope everyone is well, and much more will appear in the next installment.

I made it to Ubud!!

I set off on Saturday like a little intrepid explorer, off to practice my haggling in Bahasa Indonesian. The end result was getting three Bemo's. One into Denpassar, One to the other side of Denpassar and then one onto Ubud, at the grand total of 40,000 rupiah. Despite haggling this is still the same amount as the Perama tourist shuttle bus, that actually drops me off near my house and is much more comfortable, but I can say it was an experience. I also wont be doing trips like this very much, as it cost 40,000 Rupiah. In England 40,00 is about two pound fifty, but when you are living on 130 pounds a month, this is a lot of money! Managed to find myself a little home stay just outside Ubud called Biang's, as recommended in the Lonely Planet. Owner was lovely, and understood my very strange Bahasa Indonesian sentence construction. In Ubud saw Monkeys in the rain, watched the 12 hour thunderstorm, mainly from my patio, as the thunder was loud could not sleep, sounded like an airplane was coming though my room, and enjoyed my hot shower!!!! not had one of those since leaving England, only difference with this hot shower, was the room had no roof, so all the wildlife got to see me naked, not just once but twice.

Needless to say Ubud is at higher altitude than Sanur so it does rain a lot, but I managed to choose one of the wettest weekends in Bali history to make my journey, and got thoroughly soaked. Most entertaining part of the day was when I thought I was following a footpath, only to be chased by an elderly gentleman who could not speak a word of English to tell me I was heading towards the rice paddy field, and it was flooded and if I did not get back in the road, I was going to get very muddy and find it hard to get home.

Sunday night watched England loose to Germany, an occasion that I hope to forget quite soon, which referee did not think our second goal was not a goal, it ruined everything. So had loads to drink and went to sleep. Woke up the next day feeling a bit ropey. Now going to support Holland, as loads of Dutch people are here. (Because it used to be a dutch colony) and they are playing Brazil tonight.

Big thank you to Anne who is letting us use her big screen at her house for Lau's Karaoke for his birthday and then world cup footy afterwards. Beer will be flowing. Not too much though as that costs 20,000 Rupiah for a bottle - 1 pound 25.

On Monday went back to school to get introduced to the concept of transitive verbs, lets just say on Tuesday I was not so keen to go back. Some of the Indonesian is starting to make sense, but this is definitely a long and sometimes painful learning process. Tomorrow starting the motorbike training.

As people who know me know, I have had 10 car driving tests in the UK and failed them all. So when I told people I was going to be riding a motorbike in Indonesia people looked at me like I had gone crazy. Well whilst in England I went to Crystal palace and passed my CBT, basic competency on a 50 cc moped. You know those lawnmower's as that do not go over 30mph. Tomorrow I start a course on my bike. The bike is a slightly more powerful bike. It is a 160 (means nothing to me) But they look big and the top speed is apparently 120 mph. I think this my be slightly more powerful than the one I tried in London, so watch out people of Bali when I hit the road on Saturday afternoon, after my briefing the transport police of Bali.

I'm covered in Mosquito bites.

Despite covering myself in DEET Mosquito repellent the cheeky little monsters have managed to climb into bed with me and feast on my toes. This has made walking quite uncomfortable.

Well last Saturday I truly experienced Indonesian queuing systems at there best. Waited with my mate Charlie from 11.30am for a show that started at 6.30pm, as we knew it was going to be very busy. The Balinese are so so proud of their heritage. At 5.30pm myself and Charlie stood near the stage for the 6.30pm show. The seats inside the arena were all full, it was out in the open so I stood at the parameter fence and had a really good view. Then as the bell chimed to indicate the start of the show it seemed like millions of locals, kids, parents and grandparents came from out of nowhere. I do not do know how this happened, but I got pushed out of the way, but it was all very polite. It did not feel like the morning crush on the London underground. Whilst being pushed away I was spoken to, laughed with (and possibly at). So it was good as I could hear was happening but not see, only issue is my Bahasa Indonesian is not that good yet. Best thing was it was a child's show, and the children were rolling around in hysterics at the jokes that I could just not understand. At this point decided to leave and go and eat some of the big pig cooked over the fire. Which was very tasty.

This week has been fairly quiet. Still in my home stay, but I have said more than the three words of last week. Think I may have managed two sentences in Indonesian this week. Language school is becoming a bit more enjoyable. I seem to be the clown of the class. The teacher was trying to describe an Indonesian metaphor about doing two things at one, (this involved an Indonesian phrase about diving and drinking water) I thought he was discussing drowning. We were at total cross purposes which kept everyone entertained. I had also never realised how important it was to know the difference between verbs, nouns and adjectives - I know you are meant to learn this at school but I never saw the point. However now I do! You never know I may return to the UK with better English skills than I left with.

I have spent a lot of this week on the beach watching kite surfers, and their six packs, whilst doing some study and homework. I know life is just so tough! I also get a bit of attention as I sit on the beach talking to myself in Indonesian and periodically someone kindly comes over and corrects what I am saying wrong, which sounds weird, but is very helpful. Especially when they generally seem to be quite good looking.

My weight loss in continuing but has slowed down which is good news. My speed going the two kilometres to school on push bike has halved which is good, and my bum does not hurt as much anymore, which means I must be getting used to it.

The night before last watched the football, as I feared that it could have been England's last game. Ended up with my friend Alanna watching in the Community Hall next to the Hindu Temple. Terema Kasih to the two young boys who showed us the way. We were in good company of about 6 local men, who thought it was quite unique having the English person turn up,as they are all supporters of England. I was like a mini celebrity.

Tonight going to a part on the beach as one of the volunteers has turned 30. Going to be a late one, then tomorrow I am going to try and venture to Ubud for the weekend. This is more complicated on a volunteer salary than it sounds, as it could involve up to three Bemo's. Anyhow I shall see how I go. So this weekend will practising my Indonesian on booking somewhere to stay for the night and bargaining prices on the transport and the shops. All good practice.

I hope everyone is well.

Sampai Nanti Rachel

I've arrived.......Bali is beautiful.

Well arrived in Bali after my long flight, got off the plane and started sweating like I had never sweated before upon leaving the airport building. 3 volunteers arrived from the UK at the same time Sarah, Peter and myself. We were met by one volunteer Jenny, from the Netherlands, who has been working in Bali for about a year. Also met by two members of staff from the VSO office Bambang and Ujang.

For the first week stayed in a homestay near the beach in Sanur, where lots of couples seem to go for their honeymoons, and I was lucky as I got a room to myself, whereas other volunteers had to share. That night we went out with some other volunteers Mikal and John and found out in total we were eight newly arrived volunteers 3 from the Philippines, 2 from Canada and 3 from the UK. One bloke was supposed to come from Africa but had cancelled at the last minute.

That night had a cold shower which was so nice, meeting my new roommates, a cockroach and a geko not quite as much fun. Needless to say I had a fan in my room and slept like a baby on the first night.

The next day met for lunch on the beach with the rest of the VSO staff (on a sunday) and a group of local Balinese people who have disabilities to play beach games and get to now each other. We all had the most fantastic time and I got eaten by mosquito's and got very, very wet. But I also dried out very quickly. Did not sleep as well this night as I was more aware of strange insect noise, which kept me awake.

On Monday spent first full day in the VSO office undergoing some of the training, we had to attend the VSO for all five days in the fist weeks. Training covers different topics such as what we need to to get our allowance and other such things. Somehow I got voted to be president of the group, goodness knows how I obviously just look organised. Also became apparent that the 3 lads from the Philippines are all coming to the Island of Flores, whereas everyone else is going to be moving to South Sulawesi, another Island. So when we move to placements I will be in Retung and Danny and Lau will be Bajawa, fours hours away and Charlie will be in Maumere 8 hours from where I am. I am also the first volunteer to arrive to undertake disability work, so it has become quite a big thing.

It has been confirmed that when I initially move to my placement I will be living with the nuns in the convent. My first week also involves a five day festival to celebrate my arrival. Possibly the best induction to a job I have ever had!!

After the first week in the home stay I then moved in with a host family, where I will live for the next 6 weeks, this is to assist me in learning the language. I also attend language school everyday except weekends and Wednesdays. I am finding the language quite hard to master, but I am hoping with loads of practice some people will know what I am saying on Flores.

At the moment in Bali their Arts festival is taking place which is a massive event. Loads of traditional costumes and music. I will try and get some photos onto the Internet, just difficult as viruses are a big issue in Indonesia. We have warning not to expect placements to be like Bali as Bali is not the rest of Indonesia, so we are also preparing ourselves for another transition in the next few weeks, where we are more likely to experience poverty, malnutrition of young children and very high rates of maternal mortality, which has devastating impacts on families and communities. However is nice that the whole introduction is step bu step as I do not think I could have coped with the massive change all at the same time.

Until later, Sampai nanti Rachel

STRESS!!!!!!!!

Well so much for keeping my bog up to date, sorry everyone for my tardiness.

Well things have been really busy for me. Since I last wrote on here I have now completed by short term locum stint in Lewisham, so thanks to the Disabled Children's Service for all the support that has been offered to me.

Finished on Friday last week. This week have been in Community care live, was also hoping to go again today but then disaster struck, Nationwide's ATM swallowed by Barclay bank card! Yes total disaster.

So today I have raced around London collecting my passport from VSO to get to the bank, to order another bank card, slightly concerned as I also move house this weekend, what is the likelihood on the bank card going missing......I shall keep you posted. Then raced back to VSO to give them back my passport, as VSO is waiting on some piece of paperwork from Indonesia before it can go to the Indonesian Embassy to get my entry into Indonesia.

It is still hoped that I fly out at 12.30 midday on the 4th of June, from Heathrow Airport, of course Ash cloud permitting, but it does appear the ash cloud and civil aviation ate a bit more relaxed about these things at the current moment in time. However for me I do wonder if everything will come together in time.

Tomorrow I complete my vaccinations, and next week I complete my CBT training for riding the motorbike.

Of course with me in general nothing is straight forward, so I am off to Swansea tomorrow as my provisional licence needs it's photo updating and this takes three weeks, anyone good with calculations will have noticed that I leave in 2.5 weeks. So I am off to Swansea to sort my provisional licence out and hopefully be able to get it back by Tuesday in time for the motorcycling. Please everyone make sure your photos are up to date on your licenses or you could end up in the same mess as myself.

Positive to all of this is that I have never been to Swansea, so for one night may be a bit of an adventure, and I have managed to find accommodation on the beach so I am happy.

I am also confirmed as having the title of Programme Integration Specialist, when I find out what this means I shall let you all know. I shall try and get this updated next week.

Confirmed.: 1 week later....everything has changed.

Confirmed.: 1 week later....everything has changed.

1 week later....everything has changed.

Well I quite one job, but have just found another temporary one, so that will keep me out of trouble for the next 6 weeks.

Indonesian language is coming along, but my goodness, so they really have to roll all their R's out there. The Indonesians seems to love the constants, 'r' and 'k'. The sentence construction I am really worried about, but he ho!

At the doctors on Tuesday to get my medical done and start my vaccination programme.

The dentist has given me the all clear ;-)

And guess what T4 featured from of the lsland of Flores this week, and they are again next week, you can see all this on this link http://www.channel4.com/programmes/ultimate-traveller/4od#3048373. I will get to see all these sights but without the teenage angst, thank goodness! However it seems English may be more widely spoken than I initially believed, but I am still going to keep up the Indonesian, it would be so handy to know another language.

Hope everyone is well

Hi my name is Rachel, I am a social worker and I have quit my job in Local authority social work.

And the countdown is well and truly starting today, I have received confirmation that the placement identified in Indonesia for me definitely wants me, this has all been coordinated by Voluntary Action Overseas. I must state that the content of the this blog does not represent the views of VSO, and are just my thoughts and reporting's on what I have seen and the things I am learning from day to day. So it looks as though I am going to be leaving the country in the 5th of June 2010 for a new life for 26 moths in Indonesia. Needless to say life changing!

Just a few obstacles I need to get out the way, getting the all clear from the doctor and also praying that their is no delay in the Visa.

However if all goes according to plan I should be departing the UK on the 5th of June 2010 with my first stop being Bali for the first two months, ready for an 8 week induction. This will incorporate intense language training, further motorcycle training, getting used for riding with limited road surfaces and I will also need to start learning some basic sign language. This is because I am going to be working in a boarding school on the Island of Flores with children who are deaf or blind.

So the count down begins 82 days and counting before I leave the UK for some sun, Volcano and rocky roads. I shall try and update this weekly. Rachel