28/10/08 well thought I would start from departure lol. I was a bit nervous getting on the plane my seat was near the window yes!!! Was hoping it was. It was really good on the plane just chill out watch films and have some food what was really nice compared to what am eating now a choice of chicking dinner or curry no choice about it because I will be eating curry for the next ten weeks. Eight hours on the plane when I got off the heat hit me sooooooooo hot. I went to that toilet and there was women handing paper towels out I wasn't going to give her any money but I gave her 50p not much I no but she was buzzing.

AS soon as we changed some money we had an 8 hour coach journey to Agra it was hot 30 degrees. Driving thought deli was a real shock to see so much poverty there was people lying on the streets, kids half naked not through choice but through poverty they was begging at the bus for food so me and amber gave them chocolate bars. There was rubbish everywhere and stray dogs but not like are dogs these so skinny and dead dogs everywhere.

The traffic here is out of this world I have never seen anything like it there is no structure no traffic lights even if they was I don't think they would use them. The main way of transport seems to be scooters and you see a whole family on one scooter up to five people a woman holding a new born baby sitting sideways, and its so noisy people blowing there horns to say sped up or move out the way. Yeah mad!!!!

After seven hours of the poorest place I have ever seen in my life we got to stop for a cig break, there was a little girl there dancing and an old man playing some sort of instrument we took a few pictures then the man persuaded me to dance whilst the others videoed it and laughed. We gave them 20rupes then got back on the bus which is horrible you just bounce around everywhere we finally got to Agra and went to a hotel which was really nice I had a shower which felt so good even though it went FREEZZING. After eating we got ready to explore even though we was advised not to go out me and amber persuaded Karvey and Clark to come out. There wasn't room for all four of us in the tuck tuck so I sat in the front I didn't mind anyway suppose we could of done it the India way and fitted eight in lol. We went to loads of shops full of statues Clark tried to haggle a bracelet down but no look so off we went to the next shop where a young man was showing us how to make carpets Clark bought one then we went out side some young lads wanted us to look in there shop so me and amber went in they put bracelets and necklaces on you they want you to buy everything but I just settled on one thing a present for someone.

Then we went to a café/bar we didn't eat but got two beers they was massive. Then me and amber needed the toilet we asked the waiter who pointed out side it was just a hole in the ground (seen plenty of them now lol) but it had to be done.

30/10/08. Today we travelled from Agra to Jaipur so back on the bus bouncing around for the next six hours. When we arrived we went to the idex house to discuss are orientation were we was split up into groups to stay with are host family. In my group me, Amber, Lonnie and Anna I sheared a room with Anna. Then we got dropped off to meet are host family Reeta Shivhare her husband Rakesh Who works for the government , reetasmother in law Chadrakla and her son Anant who is eighteen.

Reeta told me there was a shop across the road where I could ring home there was a little boy there who was helping me because he was the only one who could understand me I was glad to hear from someone at home but soon had to go because of the cost. The little boy and his brothers and sister wanted me to take pictures of them which I was happy to do they wanted to take pictures of me and fell in love with my camera. I went back for dinner but I couldn't eat anything because I felt sick so I just went to bed.

31/10/08 Today we got up for breakfast curry potatoes which was not that nice. Were going to buy are salwar kameez today. I picked a really nice orange one I even got shoes to match even though I would rather wear my trainers. One of our guides gave me a ride on the back of his motorbike he took me around the block and we nearly crashed into another bike it was a bit scary. Then we was dropped off back at are host families we had dinner talked about England with reeta then when I went to go bed I had an invasion of killer ants they was massive!!! I killed about 20 of them with a brush that Rakesh Reetas husband KINDLY gave me I thought I killed them all but after five minuets in bed I had one crawling on my face I turned the light back on and there was loads of them I didn't get much sleep that night.

1/11/08 I woke up to not as many ants I must of killed most of tem in the night. I had another freezing cold shower (don't think am going to feel hot water till I get back) I had a banana for breakfast couldn't stomach another curry tostie then I went to see the kids over the road whilst I was waiting for the bus and let them play with my camera. At the idex house they told us about the work we will be doing in the villages. I just can't wait to get to Himachel Pradesh to start work I no I will love it. There is teaching, child care, women's empowerment, beatification I would love to do the teaching but would be happy to do any. Then we went to watch a bollywood film which was ok I sort of understood it even through it was in Hindi and I didn't have a clue what they was saying I think it was called the return of gomar something like that anyway. We got dropped off at are host families for are last night tomorrow we will be travelling to Amber fort were we get a chance to ride an elephant I cant wait I think I will wear my lotti lovin india tshirt berni made me because its soooooooooo true!!!!

2/11/08. The elephant ride was so good there was loads of people trying to sell me things when I was in the cue I did buy some things you just cant help your self. There was a guy following me and Amber all the way through the elephant ride trying to sell us a cover but I had already bought some stuff but amber fell in love with and we got it for 10 English pounds. We had a tour and some girls came over and asked me could they take a picture so I got one to. Then I bought a picture of me and Amber on the elephant. After the elephant ride we went bake to the idex house for dinner on the roof curry again

We went to the train station to get are train to Himachal Pradesh which was about an hour late (I wouldn't of moaned if I new what it was going to be like) We got on and it was a night train with beds but we had to squash 9 of us onto two seats because we had so many bags no room at all for 14hours no one slept and the train was full of cockroaches we all had a shoe in are hands and killed about 200n hundred it was the worst train journey I have ever had in my life. There was some sort of officer who walked past with a gun a few times but he didn't seem to mind we were making so much noise killing the bugs. When we got off the train people just stared at us and laught (they seem to do that all the time in India) We waited for a bus to pick us up two land rovers came yes just five hours till we get to camp they loaded are bags which didn't look safe with two pieces of rope holding them on it was leaning tone side lol. We got to the house it is so big not what I was expecting at all it's beautiful. There was another group already here 9 of them they welcomed us had dinner then we went to see are roomsI am shearing with Amber and two Irish girls Michelle and Joy they are soooooo funny.

4/11/08

We went to visit the schools today which are in the middle of knower just so remote they are four primary schools I just fell in love with the second one I new that was the one I wanted to work at the kids are so cute but you can tell they will be little terrors they was all good through. We went back to camp to decide which school we wanted to work at I got my choice and was buzzing

6/11/08

We started work today I am shadowing a girl called segan who has a class of four 7 year olds and I teach an older boy in the afternoon called satchin he is so clever but cant speak a word of English I would just rather play games with them all day teaching is boooaaarrrrinnnngggg but the kids love it so its ok with me.

7/11/08

We all work till twelve on Saturday at my school surkeri we are making a fence out of branches to stop the ball going down the cliff which I think is pointless because it could just bounce over and the kids just run up and down the cliff anyway it's so dangerous. After we had lunch some people went to Kangrabut four of us stayed ere and went for a few drinks in a hotel but I just felt ill and went bake to camp I got what I thought was a taxi back two camp and just went bed in the end I went doctors and got sum medicine.

10/11/08

Well I have been off school for two days now and I am so board out my head its unreal I'm defo going in school tomorrow I miss the kids I hate being poorly : - (

22/11/08

Me Lucy, Debbie and jo went paragliding today it was well good loved it. It wasn't that scary more chilling in mid air well it was a bit scary jumping 3000 500ft off the Himalayas well I would deffo do it again if I get the chance. I didn't want to come down I was enjoying it that much my instructor said he done his traing in England and spends Christmas in Manchester.

27/11/08

I haven't written for so long so thought I better. We have heard a hotel has been blown up in Mumbai by terrorists and that they are going into hotels and killing British and American people everyone are getting calls from home to cheek they are safe or telling them to come home. I rang home to find out what going on and found out its nothing for us to worry about.

28/11/08

Just finished work I loved it today (but I do everyday) to see the kids so happy makes me happy to. We done arts and Crafts making models then we played musical statues which they love. Then after dinner I tried to teach them how to skip but I think its going to take longer than I thought, well I have got five week left but its going toooooooo quick. Most of us are going mcloude this week end because it's the other groups last week here. Can't wait its going to be sik bring on the week end Woooohhhhh!!!!!!

1/12/08

Twenty of us went mcloude we had a good weekend we went to the restaurant and had some nice food better than curry. We All stopped in the same hotel had a few drinks there then went xcite mine n Ambers best club lol They are well cheeky they charged us 50rupes to get in but ooo well We all had sik time

2/11/08

I have been ill since Sunday night my face swelled up I looked horrible and I got a lump in my neck I had to go hospital again the doctor said it was a allergic reaction so he gave me loads of tablets I am sure its unnecessary to have that many of them well I just going to have to trust them. I am feeling better now so I am defo going to school tomorrow I'm missing the kids and even if I still feel ill tomorrow am going in because we are taking the kids to the zoo cant wait they will love it!!! : - )