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.