Firstly we would like to update you that our omelette count has found a new joint leader with Orlagh now joining Ben with an impressive 5 omelettes each this morning.

Our morning was a lot more relaxed after our half an hour lie in, well deserved after the tough trek yesterday. The second day of the Global Awareness Weekend began with a workshop that Surender, the director of MGVS which runs Kaplani High school and Donk Primary school, had so kindly given up his time to do with us. Through this we learned the importance of the empowerment of women in rural communities and how to prioritise development in the local villages such as Donk. Helping people to help themselves really is the only way to bring about long-term change. (We’re also really excited about the chance to sponsor a child from Donk!)

After this intense but eye opening discussion we warily moved on to a short play which we were assured by the teachers had a relevant meaning to the workshop; however initial doubts were raised once Richard started “swimming” around the yard and Alice saving babies (newspapers)… Mrs O’Brien would’ve been proud of their dramatics. But it did help us to see understand the saying ‘if you give someone a fish you feed them for a day, if you teach someone to fish you feed them for a lifetime’.

After forewarnings from Christine of the mayhem to follow we set off on another short trek to the local bazaar for a much awaited bit of retail therapy, which was made all the sweeter with a taste of sizzling chocolate brownies with ice-cream and succulent strawberry milkshakes (YUM!!) There were many weird and wacky purchases, not least a cane bought by Andrew to keep the Rainey students in line (perhaps taking his new role as head boy a little too seriously).

Once again the locals were infatuated with the girls taking a lot of photos; Alice was even mistaken as Paoirse’s wife as he was consulted for permission to take her photo.

We now eagerly await our pizza and movie night (the very appropriate Slumdog Millionaire) and, with anticipation, look forward to returning to the city of Dehradun tomorrow evening and back to the sweltering heat.

Missing everyone at home, but having an incredible trip!

Love Sean, Alice, Niamh and Rachel xxxx

Starting off today’s blog with a mention of this morning’s omelettes at breakfast. AMAZING. Ben had 5, Paoirse had 3 – stocking up for the day ahead…

Today was the infamous trek to Donk which had been looming over us for the past few days just like the monsoon!

In spite of the miserable weather we set off with high spirits relishing the challenge that lay ahead. So we started the downhill trek with a lot of caution for the leeches due to the sensationalized stories shared between team members. We were using the umbrellas we would give to the Donk children as walking sticks and sang a variety of songs from Queen to the Wicked soundtrack. Eventually after only one stumble we reached Donk Primary School, a small, two roomed building, not much larger than some of our own garages. After a very thorough leech inspection, whilst enjoying the breathtaking views, the teams split up into new teaching groups.

We took turns to teach whilst the other group visited the village of Donk where we saw the one roomed houses where a family of 7 would have lived and these were considered the best houses in the area. After the team swapped about, everyone could agree that the kids were the smallest, cutest and most adorable 3-5 year old children we had ever seen! We distributed balloons, school bags, handmade woolly hats and umbrellas to each of the children who truly appreciated them. It is fantastic to know that it is only because of Saphara that these children are getting an education.

After a substantial amount of photos we started the ascent… We split into three groups according to Catherine it was the tigers, the bears and the sloths.  Some of us had some company along the way with the children from the school who are a lot more accustomed to the journey than us. Although Ross insisted on carrying one wee child the whole distance home. What a gentleman! We were pretty emotional at the fact we were complaining and the small children were walking in flip flops with no heels and had next to nothing to eat all day so when they were asking for food we gave them everything we had! We passed some of our students from Kaplani – they greeted us so excitedly which was tough since now we had seen where they lived.

Meanwhile 30 mins behind everyone else in the sloth team, Catherine found the Journey quite difficult and had to stop after every hill (not that the rest of them minded!) Ben “The Tank” Montgomery was another gentleman and carried Catherine and Chloe’s rucksack for the whole trek, much to their appreciation.

Several hours later, everyone arrived back at the hotel to take full advantage of the showers and eat a lot of Indian cuisine after a long hard day.  This time last week we met at Belfast airport. Time flies when you’re having fun!

Love Rebecca, Paoirse, Chloe and Ben xxxx

P.S. from Christine. Thanks so much to all the ladies who knitted hats for the children – as you can see they look great on them. And thanks to all who are praying for our NW team – we’ve had wonderful first week and all are happy and healthy.

We had a rude awakening last night around midnight when all the power in the hotel went off. We are told that it was the fault of the torrential rain, so common during the monsoon season, in full swing, but sure that’s India for you…

The taxi journey to Kaplani high school this morning was even more exhilarating than usual, as the night’s deluge had caused many landslides that closed our usual road. However we were able to get to the school using a series of alternative (and SCARY) smaller roads. We’re glad to say we made it in the end!

We arrived at school just in time for our first lessons, although this wasn’t before getting absolutely and completely DRENCHED on the two minute walk between the cars and the school. Hopefully that puts the rain into perspective for you…

Sadly today was our last day in Kaplani as we must move onwards towards Donk primary school tomorrow. Each lesson flew in, as we wished all our children well for their futures, and soon enough it was time for our goodbye concert with the children. We watched in awe as the children performed dances displaying their Indian and Himalayan culture which they are very obviously proud of. The headmaster even went as far as to say that they were the best dancers in the area. We then performed some traditional Irish music that we had prepared on the tin whistle, The Dawning of The Day.

This went down a storm so we treated them to an American chant/cheer choreographed by our own Sue Sylvester, Chloe Gibson and then we all sang “Country Roads” for the children, telling them that we considered Kaplani to be a home for us in the short time we’ve been here. We ended our time by giving small presents to the children and we were touched by their joy in getting something as small as a bracelet or pencil. It makes us realise how little they have – while we have so much. Several emotional goodbyes and MANY, MANY handshakes later we bade the Kaplani children farewell for the last time.

Due to the problems with the roads only half of us were able to go home in the jeeps initially so the boys generously decided that they should be chivalrous and let the girls go home first (in other words we were volunteered!) Luckily we were left with a unique opportunity to play football on an empty gravel pitch 7000 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL! We therefore engaged in a brutal grudge match between rooms 203 and 204 (better known to us as Jasmine and Dahlia) in which room 203 triumphed with a score of 16-12 and were awarded the coveted Kaplani Cup (a slab of marble with permanent marker on it.) It was an intense match where blood was drawn. However, it was the work of a leech which decided it liked the look of Richard’s leg and wanted a taste. We were all extremely tired when we got back to the hotel, not to mention very sweaty and hungry. Oh well, it’s all in a day’s craic in India.

Hi to everyone back home, see you soon,

Andrew, Amy, Peter and Richard x.