Swine Flu

I realise I have been a bit bad updating my blog recently but unfortunately we were all taken ill by swine flu (to be honest it was probably just ordinary flu but for dramatic effect I will say it was swine flu!!) Didn’t go to work all of last week and our lives revolved around sleeping, eating and watching movies. Of all the places to choose to go to in India, Pune seems to be the worst as it is ‘full’ of swine flu. This is only comparatively speaking and I’m pretty sure Britain still has far more swine flu than here.

By the weekend we were feeling much better and we ventured out to a couple of shops. I bought myself some very nice ear-rings and a skirt but am still on the lookout for some trousers that actually fit me! It seems as if I don’t have a very ‘Indian’ figure. On Sunday we went with some friends who we met here to a local hill station called Lavasa. It was quite a long drive away but the scenery was beautiful.

Phaltan

Not deterred by our experience in Solapur, this weekend we ventured back out of Pune to the town of Phaltan. We went to meet up with two other EWB volunteers who are working with the organisation ARTI to convert a diesel generator to biogas. It took two and a half hours on a bumpy bus ride to get there and when we arrived it didn’t take long to spot Jack and Jon - the only other white people there! They took us to where ARTI was based and showed us what they had been working on. It was quite a contrast to the office based work Maxine and have been doing! Later we were taken on the grand tour of Phaltan by one of the guys who also worked at ARTI. This included: a private tour of the local palace, meeting a famous Marathi actor, learning to drive a rickshaw, seeing kite string being made, getting henna on our arms and hands and plenty of chai! This all of course had been specially laid on for our arrival and was by no means a complete coincidence!

The following day there was a kite festival in the town and we were invited to go watch some locals fly their kites. The paper kites with glass string were very similar to those in the Kite Runner. People were flying their kites from rooftops across the town and would try and cut the string of the other kites with their own. The kites were able to go incredibly high and the guys somehow managed to control and direct them with only one string – something I didn’t fancy trying! Later on some guys turned up ith Indian drums and a strange electronic instrument. Every time a kite was cut down the drums would start up, the guys would shout and everyone would start dancing. Even Jack and Jon got involved at one point!

It was really nice to get away from the busy streets of Pune, be able to see the stars at night and breath fresh air in the morning. Not really sure whether Jack and Jon appreciated how much this made a nice change as I think they were both missing their creature comforts. I must admit that it made me realise that Maxine and I are very fortunate to be based somewhere where we can go out in the evenings and live pretty much the same as in the UK.

Solapur

On Sunday evening Maxi and I took the train to Solapur for work. It took 4 hours to travel the 150 miles and we finally arrived at 10pm. Dilip who works for Shelter and is based in Solapur met us at the station and took us to our new home for the next few nights. The house was practically empty but the conditions were similar to the hostel so we managed just fine!

We had been warned about the spicy food and the mosquitos in Solapur but neither seemed to affect us too much. Surprising for me I didn’t get bitten once but I was using 50% deet. I guess it is much more effective in an urban town than in the jungle of Thailand! As for the food I am feeling much better about Indian food now – think it’s a combination of everything settling down and hunger for more than just rice! I still can’t really handle the very spicy dishes and I’m pretty sure Dilip made sure I avoided the worst!

Whilst we were in Solapur we spent a lot of time in the Municipal Corporation talking to the slum department and the city engineers. It was quite difficult to understand all of the conversation due to the language barrier. They did speak good English but it is always difficult to understand the precise details when people are translating. We also managed to visit some of the slums in Solapur and were shown around by the slum leaders. I was struck at how colourful the slums were and in many ways how much the people looked after their houses. Some of the houses were quite substantial with walls and roofs but many were made from anything the people could find – corregated iron, tarpawlin, banana leaves, newspaper etc. We also saw the beginning of the redevelopment of one of the slums which was being led by the government. They were building G+1 concrete structures where the slum dwellings had been. Shelter disagrees with many of the government’s designs for the redevelopments so it will be interesting to learn how this project is received.

We are now back in Pune and I must admit it made a nice change to have a sandwich for lunch. It’s nice to be back in somewhere more familiar but at the same time we definitely get more hassled here. It’s tiring having to argue with the rickshaw driver everytime you go anywhere! But that’s for another post.

x

Accommodation

When we arrived in Pune our first stop was Nikam House Ladies Hostel where we would stay for the following 6 nights. The hostel was pretty basic but it was cheap, clean and near to work. We ate in the hostel on our first night and got our first taste of real India - a little spicy for me but good all the same! The daughter of the owner spoke good English and we often spoke in the evenings. She explained that a foreigner had not stayed at the hostel for 4 years and that they were all surprised to see us there!

As the initial culture shock started to die down we felt more comfortable in the hostel but we knew it would be better to find somewhere nicer and more permanent soon So our hunt for a new place started the following weekend. We met Susan (another volunteer) at the German Bakery in Koregan Park - the main hangout for backpackers in Pune. From here we tried to ring some agents but got nowhere. Some locals then offered to help and took us round some places nearby. The rooms varied quite a lot but we finally found a 2 BHK (2 bedrooms, hallway, kitchen) that had just been refurbished. It was quite expensive at 17,000 Rs. a month but being able to cook for ourselves was quite important! So after work on Monday we moved in to our new home!

The night before we left the hostel we were invited to have dinner with the family who owned the hostel. The daughter showed us around their house, introduced us to the family and explained a few things about Indian culture. Her mother was very inquisitive and kept asking us questions about the UK and how things differed in India. We had our first Indian sweets which were very nice - lots of syrup!

Engineers Without Borders 2009

Just a quick message to post a link to an article about the EWB-UK Placements 2009. This lists all of the placements that are being carried out this year including more information on the placement that Maxine and I are carrying out. Inevitably the placement will change depending on what Shelter Associates needs us to do and we are currently working on a new project in the town of Solapur. We hope to visit Solapur next week so will tell you more then. x

Day 4!

Starting to settle in now and can relax into Indian life. Have eaten some really good meals - big fan of South Indian food which I don't think we get much of in the UK. Been in work for two days now and we are starting to learn about the software we will be using. The project that Maxine and I will be working on will involve a rapid survey of slums in a new town south east of Pune. We will then interpret the data using GIS software so that conclusions about living conditions in the slums can be drawn. For now we have Saturday and Sunday off so we hope to find somewhere permanent to stay in Pune and buy some Indian clothes. The material is beautiful but think we will go for something more practical to start with - photos to follow! x

Arrival

So my second day in India and I am writing from an internet cafe in Pune. Got in last night and finally found the hostel which we had booked into! The all women hostel is quite basic (looking forward to a proper shower already) but it is clean and the people are friendly. Off to find the office later and to introduce ourselves to the staff. Feels good to be travelling again but struggling a little with the culture shock. Might have to make a trip out to Koreagon Park to see some familiar shops! Hoping to take some photos soon and will post them up. x

Preparations

So many people have asked whether I will be writing a blog that I have been persuaded to give it a go. I will warn you now that I am not a great writer but I will try to only include the exciting things that happen to me!

So I leave for India Monday evening so just two days to go now. Think I am just about getting there with all the stuff I plan to take strewn across my bedroom floor!

Also got a brand new netbook to take with me so should make it easier to stay in touch. It also has a webcam so gonna try and figure out how to use skype!? Hope you all have a great summer and will post something more interesting soon! xx