A small reflection...

I've now done 5 days of volunteering and have spent just over a week with all the same people in one house. Both of these things have lead to contemplating this experience.

I visit different day cares and speak to the women that work there. Initially I felt uncomfortable, a white woman younger than most of them whom they've never met coming to tell them about how to look after themselves. Very patronising... However they were very welcoming and asked me question after question being intimately personal, just to ensure they would have an answer to their problem. I couldn't write fast enough!

My role seems to be to give advice but its not very well defined so I have also been given Xrays and reports to decipher. I keep telling them I'm not a doctor, but I still get called Doctor-ji!

The amount of work I do day to day varies, yesterday there was a huge storm which had cleared by the time I got to the day care but it still meant that no-one came. I saw an old man who didn't really have medical issues he just wanted to chat. When he found out I was from "London" he started spouting Italian! It was lovely to talk but I was also frustrated. Other people come home after placement and theyve had a fantastic day at day care playing with the children and I've spoken to one elderly chap in pigeon italian! I think my experience is just more of a slow burn.

So, the house; there are about 18 American people, and 1 person from France, Italy, Belgium, India, Germany and China. Everyone is very friendly but it can get loud. It can be quite difficult sometimes to get some space.

There is always something to do, we've watched bollywood films and played cards at the house. We've gone on walks to temples, the market and around McCloed Ganj (north dharamsala). It's really intersting to see the same thing through everyone else's eyes.

As a british person used to high immigration, speakig with the locals isn't a problem but there are many people who haven't spoken to someone with a strong Indian accent so I find myself translating!

Overall, this experience so far is an enjoyable one. It has already given me so many memories and it's only been one week. Who knows what will happen in the next 8?!