I’m leaving on a jet plane, I hope I make it back again

So first post, I’m in India, safe and sound. Not sure how to write a blog so I thought I’d just take extracts out the old diary.

On the plane and it STILL doesn’t seem real. Currently focused my attention on the time zone difference but am baffled. My in-flight interactive screen tells me ‘local time at destination:1.36am, but hasn’t changed for the last 5 minutes. I’ve come to the conclusion that it is wrong. This is all rather academic anyway as, even if I did know the time in India, I have yet to work out how to change the time on my watch…Today has also been strange as I’m not looking forward to the trip at all. I feel sad and scared which is odd as this is something I’ve planed to do for so long. I suppose I’m sad because I’m leaving so much which I love so dearly and scared as I’m undertaking my biggest challenge yet. I am for the first time in my life, really alone. If I get into grief it falls to me to fix things and I don’t feel capable to be honest. Still if you never try, you never learn. I hope that by the time I return home I will no longer doubt my ability, no longer look to others to sort out my problems and never again worry about being alone. I also hope to appreciate what I have and know more about other cultures and ways of life.

Its now 7.58 Indian time, 3am ish English and we are about to arrive in Delhi. I’m tired. I’m going to see if I can steel the Jet airways blanket.

One blanket stolen, unfortunately my hold luggage predictably didn’t make it. Kalama I suppose. I have a 2 hour wait for the next flight and just want to get there now, feeling very alone in the airport. Its raining which is disappointing in a way, although it might work in my favor as it will keep the mossies at bay now I don’t have any deet. Right, going to read my trashy book before my thoughts wonder too far down the ‘should have stayed at home’ route.

And then I arrived. Met Claire at the airport arrivals. We soon worked out that as the only white people at Udaipur airport we were probably both waiting for GVI. We were met by Raj and driven in a bus with plastic sides the 30 min drive to the house. This was the India I wanted to see. The calm clean cold environment of Delhi international airport was replaced by the hectic dirty madness which is the Indian road system. Cows in the road, while families on one bike, breaking replaced with beeping, people driving the wrong way down the duel carriage way. Bright saris and stools contrast with the dull dirt on the roads and the half finished houses. Wild doge roam with cattle, some tied, but most free to amble where they please. Somewhat overwhelmed we were given a tour of the house. The facilities are pleasant, the house can house about 30 people but only 10 are here at the moment. The other volunteers then came back, they seem really friendly. We are just about to head out for a meal. My spirits are cheered, lets hope I don’t get food poisoning on the first night.