The Dark Side of the Moon

How poetic is this title? Anyway, back on topic. Although my trip has been amazing, it is definitely not all rainbows, unicorns, lollipops and butterflies.

Class I. Oh what to do about Class I. This week, Jordan and I decided to drop Class I as we simply could not handle them. They scream and yell and jump on the tables and throw bags and it gets absolutely insane. No matter how loud or how much we yell and no matter how many stickers we give out, they simply do not listen to us. When I had their class, I would feel so helpless as I would have absolutely no control over them. When another teacher comes in, they miraculously turn into little angels. So quiet and so obedient. I think they know that we will never hit them or hurt them physically. But I hate telling them off or yelling at them to be quiet as I want to be a positive impact on their lives. When I have their class, I turn into a person that I'm not. I shout most of the time (which most people have not heard me do) and I get so exhausted that when they talk to me, I struggle to smile. I didn't want to give up on their class as I came here to give India my all but it just was not working. It's such a shame as we could have so much fun and do so much with these kids but if they don't listen and all we do is shout and yell, what is there to do? They'll give you all their attention if you let them draw or sing rhymes or give them colouring sheets but I didn't come to India to babysit.

We're currently taking Class 1 for the school concert and teaching them Old McDonald Had a Farm and it is a huge struggle. Instead of 40minutes of their screams, we have them for 75minutes. It really is so exhausting.

It's strange as I have developed quite a strict schedule when for the first seven months of 2012, I slept and ate and did whatever whenever I fancied. Now I wake up at 7:10, have breakfast at 7:30, finish up last minute preparations up to 9:00 where school starts. After school, I prepare for the next day and go up to town if I need to (have to return before sunset as there are lots of drunks up in town and no street lights) and play with the boarding kids until 7.30 which is dinner. There I chat and inform our hosts about our day until about 8.30. Then I shower or do my laundry and get ready for bed. Only then do I have time to myself (not really as I share a room but it's the closest thing I get). And by then I am so exhausted, I quickly write in my journal and fall asleep. If I try to sit outside after school and before dinner to do my own thing, somebody will come sit by me and watch what I do. And since that is awkward and uncomfortable, that will naturally turn into talks. I guess I don't really mind too much but it would be nice to have time to be alone without hiding out somewhere (I'm currently writing this inside the school canteen and look a that, kids who stayed behind for tuition have found me).

Since Pokhriabong is so high up in the hills and the clouds visit the town so often, everything is constantly damp. Making our room the perfect place for mould. It comes creeping over walls, paper, pillows and most annoyingly, clothes. This involves a lot of scrubbing to get rid of the mould on clothes or throwing away of paper or other not as important things.

Also, the dampness means that washed clothes do not dry completely and there is always a strange smell that comes out of freshly washed clothes. It is just such a nuisance.

From today, it has been three weeks since I've been away from home. This is the longest I've ever been without seeing my parent's faces. Although I'm not actually homesick, when I do think and dwell on thoughts of home, family and friends, I do get a bit sad and upset. When I have internet access to go on Facebook, I keep it to a minimum and avoid Newsfeed as I know I'll just feel left out or get a little homesick.

I'm being harassed by little children. A ten year old girl keeps trying to touch my face and calls me cute. A nine year old girl kisses me on the cheek to greet me and an eight year old girl strokes my face whenever she can and one time she grabbed my hair and put it against her face. This isn't really a negative but it is just a little bit strange...

Food is starting to get very repetitive. It is quite yum but having the same thing everyday can be a bit boring for the mouth. Breakfast is roti, egg and this chickpea/nut things with an overly sweet tea. Lunch is rice, potatoes, daal and some kind of vegetable. Dinner is either an Indian version of Chinese noodles or rice, potatoes, daal and some kind of vegetable. We get morning and afternoon tea which is once again an over sweetened tea. Never before have I craved pasta, pizza, steak and home-made food this much. Australia, treasure your access to a large variety of food. Eat for me!

On the plus side, I haven't gotten “Delhi Belly” yet! I expected food/water poisoning during the first week.

My immune system: 1 India: 0

Although, I think I'm catching a cold... So perhaps

My immune system: 1 India: 0.5