What can you get out of being a volunteer? In short, this…
Two days left in India… What a journey it has been! Working at St Mary’s School was a brilliant experience and it will definitely stay with me for a very long time! My dad said its an opportunity where ‘you get out what you put in’. I couldn’t agree more. Teaching the children was so much fun but also really rewarding! I was able to teach a class but also gain friendships along the way with both the teachers and students! One of the most satisfying moments was when Milly and I had a class test on the science lesson we had taught the day before. The whole class got full marks!!! Definitely put a massive smile on both the students and our faces! Its an achievement that’s pretty unheard of!
We can only hope the children enjoyed our stay as much as we did. Its an experience where you laugh till it hurts, create memories that will last and feel proud at what you’ve achieved!
During our last week in McLeod, Milly and I had one of the best! On tuesday morning we woke at 6am, slight bleary eyed with some very dishevelled hair. We heard the Dalai Lama was giving a service at the nearby temple early that morning so knew it was a must! Having shuffled down to the temple, we both sat in the temple courtyard surrounded by colourful prayer flags and masses of people chatting away amongst friends. Next thing we know, a small, elderly and cheerful man walks through the crowds! It was the Dalai Lama! It was amazing to see him just stride up through the crowds… Both of us think he smiled at us… There was definitely a connection!
Next day, us girls being the explorers we are, decided to visit the hot springs! Our trusty taxi driver, Sanju, offered to take us and walk us 2km to the hot springs from the car park! The car journey there was full of banter with ‘sanjybabes’; first he thought we both had kids, then he told us he was flying to england for our weddings, and then he asked if we would stay in Mcleod and live with him! Was brilliant! So 2km, after our walk to
Triund, easy- at least we thought! 10 minutes into the walk and the 3 of us were wading through waste deep water. Milly’s exact words were ‘hot springs? Hot springs? There’s nothing hot about this’! During her mare, Milly’s flip flop broke! Whilst Sanju and I were both in hysterics watching Milly struggle, she decided to hitch hike a lift off a passing lorry! Next thing we know, all 3 of us are in it thinking we had managed to skip the rest of the ‘walk’ and were headed straight for the springs. Hell no! 5 minutes later we were back out and walking through bushes with no path and soaking wet! Again Milly had a bit of a mare, fighting off mountain goats this time! It wasn’t her day! Finally, we arrived at the hot springs… They were in a temple/grotto but were boiling hot! Before Sanju had a chance to tell us that we had already jumped in! So worth the trek! Even Millz agreed!
The two of us met some awesome Tibetans who worked at a restaurant and having met up with them a few times we were soon roped into waitressing at theirs for a night! So much fun! We managed the orders and shock horror, we didn’t spill anything! The night ended with a few drinks and free meal! So so good!
So as you can see, we are really going to miss Mcleod! Teaching at the school, friends we’ve made, chai and tibetan bread have been awesome and are only a few of the reasons as to why we will return!
It goes without saying we owe a massive thanks to Hamish for setting this up for us! The past 3 months have been unforgettable and more than what I’d hoped for! For all your organisation and hard work, thank you VERY much!
Lots love
Elly xxx
