A vague description

So after being here for over 2 weeks (time goes so fast!) I finally feel like writing about it. I really notice my pattern: one week to observe, one week to adjust, and after all that I can settle a bit.

Its weird being here, surrounded by people (there are over 90 other volunteers here at the moment) and always interacting with everyone. I went from a place where I was surrounded by children, where conversation wasnt really the first thing on my mind, to a place where I am surrounded by people around my age, constantly conversing. I’m still getting used to it and still need to stop and kind of pull myself away once in a while to breath and take it in.

Our schedule here goes like this: Wake up call at 5:30am, this is done by a team chosen at the beginning of the week. Then we go for “morning circle” where we read off the jobs that need to be done and do stretches or yoga or singing. Then we start “first work” for two hours. So far my first work has been watering the swales, which are large indents dug out of the ground designed to slow down the flow of water in monsoon season. Actually I am watering the plants on the bumps of land beside them, which help to hold the water. Its difficult work, because we have to pull a 80 metre hose out into a big field, and then water these six swales, then roll the hose back in. I really love it because its like 6:30am, and you can see the huge yellow sun rising above the trees, burning the morning mist away quickly. I always come back from the job soaking wet and muddy, which is really nice.

Then there is breakfast, which usually consists of some kind of porridge and a whole helping of fresh fruit. Mostly fruit from the land, like papaya and banana, but also pomegranate and guava.

After breakfast we have “second work circle” where we get together and do some activity to kind of loosen up before working again. Today we put on music and danced around the main hut for 20 minutes, which was so sweaty and created some nice connections among the people.

My second work for the last two weeks has been building a garden for the “Healing Hut” (a place for people to get first aid, massages, reiki…etc) I couldnt have asked for a better job, all week I have been doing exactly what I came here looking for. Digging soil, building raised beds, digging circle gardens, learning about and planting medicinal herbs….and most importantly becoming extremely sweaty and muddy and sore.

Ah all these descriptions are boring me. So I guess thats all for now!

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