A Walk in the ....Gorge 01.12.10

‘Are you any good at fixing things?’ Fiona asks me, handing me a pair of broken sunglasses and a tube of glue, then proceeding to walk out of her office.

It is my first day ‘Kadesh’, a safe house for girls in Floreal. Since I’ve found out that the word means ‘sanctuary’ in Hebrew. Very appropriate. Miss Appandu, as the girls affectionately call her, set it up just over a year ago. It is a safe place where girls from difficult backgrounds are welcome to live, almost as if it is a family home.

At present seven girls live there, one just left after turning eighteen. From what I can see it is very well kept, and they live surrounded by a great deal of love. On of the first things Fiona told me about was punishment. When the girls walk into her office having done something wrong they cower before her expecting something physical. ‘I would never lay a hand on the girls.’ I was relieved to hear this.

Shortly after repairing the sunglasses in a slight panic- it was my first test- I went for a little look around the place. Round the corner I came across two girls plunking away on an irreparable piano; it sounded like they were enjoying themselves. I began talking to various people in French and Creole and the seemed surprised, but wanted to practice English a bit. After all they already know their own language and have an exam coming up in English. If they fail it, like 30% of the Mauritian population does, they have to re-sit the whole year at school.

After piling onto a bus and driving for what seemed like a long time with a food stop on the way we arrived at the Black River Gorge car park. We sat for lunch, automatically separating ourselves into three groups. Young children (and Fiona), men and boys and finally young women; I fitted into the final category. Unfortunately, I had only brought a banana as I had been under the impression that all I had to bring was footwear other than flip-flops and a positive attitude.

We walked through tree-lined paths full of mosquitoes, over rocks, up steep dusty slopes coved in dry leaves, across rivers and beneath the scorching Mauritian sun above.

Speaking mostly in a mixture of Creole and French I got to know quite a lot about the girls and was amazed by their total commitment to God. One of them told me that even though her and her boyfriend were totally in love she knew that she had to leave him because she didn’t believe that he would ever give his heart to God! She also told me that she enjoys speaking in

tongues; wow, that came as a surprise. It was fascinating hearing about it.

After at least 3 hours walking, with numerous breaks- one of the girls didn’t feel very well- we arrived at a deep pool of water at the bottom of a stream. Everybody took off their shoes and walked in; the ice-cold sensation we experienced instantly refreshing us. We sang together, spoke of love and life and took photographs. Until I saw them I didn’t realise what a relative giant I am. I plan on returning to Kadesh soon to do activities with the girls there. The previous Project Trust volunteers in Mauritius spent a bit of time there every week for the eight months that they were here and made a real difference. In fact one of them, Lizzie, had sent a letter to the girls and Miss Appandu read it out on the bus to them; they were thrilled.

MANGO MADNESS

Inappropriate title I know. Sorry. I had just returned from 4 days and 3 nights camping with CEDEM to find that the house was locked and the keys were no-where to be seen.

I was thirsty and had no water, so I thought that I could follow the kids’ example and ‘casse un mange’- pick a mango from the tree.

That I did, and bit in it to find it was very hard and bitter but still provided a bit of moisture- my saving grace.

However, since then I have found a singly yellow mango hanging joyfully from a supply branch. Yesterday night (9^th December) we had a friend over from Albion that Katie and Chloe know from work so I cut up this little gem into four and inside we were greeted with delicious, sweet and most importantly ripe yellow mango! Fantastic.

A Couple of Photos...

Jimmy, Sarah and I under a tree with a peacock in it at Casella (Sarah is terrified of birds!
Sarah, me, Hannah and Jimmy exploring a Mauritian beach for the first time- Flic en Flac, West Coast.

Jimmy, Michelle, Hannah, Sarah, Katie, Me, Chloe- first bus trip to Port Louis (taken and edited by Ben!)

Bus Rides, Seamstresses and Moon Light River Walks- The Night Before the Wedding

After days of preparation, mostly finding Indian jewelry to wear with a beautiful blue sari my friend Natasha- from shooting- and her boyfriend came to meet me at the bus station in Rose-Hill. We began our voyage to Rose-Belle, which was ever so slightly longer than I had expected. First a bus to Curepipe, then a pleasant walk through the station there; Natasha was very protective over me and held my hand, and at points her boyfriend’s hand too, but mostly mine. We took the L’Escallier bus next and during the journey we spoke French and Creole. The bus was so loud that even when I spoke to someone sitting not directly beside me but one seat away my words were lost to the engine. Natasha would repeat what I said to her boyfriend, but speak more rapidly and in better

Creole. The bus ride was spent chatting, comparing cultures, and photographs. Rose-Hill is in the Western Region of the Central Plateau, and Rose-Belle i

s in the South East. On entering we passed the most beautiful and colourful Tamil Temple I’ve ever seen; I plan on going back to visit. The town was bustling and bright at 6pm or so and only slightly worn by the week that had just passed; vendors remained with intricate saris and churidars on show; cars, buses, motorcycles, bikes whizzed by through the cool evening air. After a ‘short cut’ covering a long road from what now seems like the city to the country side, passing numerous tables of Mauritian men gathered playing card games, stray dogs wandering hungry and even frogs croaking- I later learned that she lives by the river- we arrived at her house!

Peacefully by the door lay a dog with a name similar to ‘pancake’; apparently it is a joke name that makes Mauritians laugh- but I didn’t and still don’t understand why…the joys of being a foreigner. He was sweet so I went over to stroke him and put my hand out for him to

smell as if he was a horse…but unfortunately this just resulted in him gnashing his extremely sharp teeth and gnar

ling at me. I became fearful, but thankfully Natasha picked up on this very quickly and stood on his lead allowing me to pass into her living room safely. The walls were adorned with a couple of faded family photos, a clock, a mirror, a Hindu calendar and a heart with an arrow through it painted onto the wall- seemingly with glitter glue with the letters ‘W.E.D.S.’ visible. Her bedroom simply hosted a Hindu calendar. Religion, clearly, is a very large part of life for her family- it must be noted that there was also a shrine beside their front door.

Soon after arriving we walked round the corner to her seamstress who, the eve of the wedding, was finishing up her sari. Except it wasn’t just a chori (top bit) and a 5m piece of material, it was more a long skirt with a piece of material to drape over the shoulder and give an appearance like a sari; see the photo of Natasha in the green outfit if you are still conf

used; which I imagine you might be. After trying it on and making some suggestions for final improvements we met up with her friend again who had purchased some bread and they led me to a new and exciting world.

Through the atmospheric shadows we walked together, across a narrow rusty bridge, down flights of uneven concrete stairs, past shrines and benches until we arrived at the river at the bottom. Positioned in front of us lay a small pool of water beside an attractive Hindu shrine; we were in the gorge. The three of us perched on the steps, youthfully bathed in the silver light of the moon, surrounded by the exquisiteness of nature. Fine beads of moisture descended rapidly from above, fresh as tears; we sheltered beneath an umbrella. I savoured the thought that although the mosquitoes were enjoying my blood I was very much enjoying myself. I was living a fairly tale beneath the stars and pregnant clouds of the southern hemisphere with my new found friends.

Proudly, when we returned home, Natasha told me that her mother had bought us some meat for dinner; I shamefully admitted that I am a vegetarian (or as many people say here ‘a vegetable.’) Panic struck her face so I calmly offered to make pancakes- she had the right ingredients and that seemed like a good solution. As I prepared them she insisted that she could not survive without meat and proceeded to hack away at a frozen hunk of it; joking that it was like in an advert on TV where a man is captured struggling substantially when trying to get his dinner in order. I’m still not sure what the advert was for- but it was hilarious when she put her leg up on the counter, pushing it hard, acting like she was trying to pull something hard…and failing miserably.

We ate with her cousin, Souraj, next door. Many families live in the same houses, often with different floors for different generations. I haven’t yet met any young Mauritians (20s-30s) who live away from home. The room consisted of some cupboards, a bed, a TV and a round table with a couple of chairs. An Indian film played in the background; both Natasha and Souraj understand Hindi. There were English subtitles, and it seemed like at random points in the films the actors would say a few words in English and then continue as before, but I was only able to see the left half of the screen- hence wasn’t totally aware of what was going on. It did, however, seem like a good film about the relationship between a bodyguard and a young girl- kidnapping, shooting, death and tears all played a part.

We returned home and had a sleepover; girly chats, looking through photos, trying on clothes, listening to music, and then finally- we were blessed with the gift of sleep.

Hello, This is Charlie in Mauritius...

For the first time in my history of blogging...which to be brutally honest is not a very long one... I am able to report to you from Mauritius.

- I arrived on the 28th of August 2010 at around 9am to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport in the South Eastern Coastal Region of the island with 7 fellow Project Trust volunteers who had in many cases been eagerly awaiting being 'in country' so to speak, for months.

- Within this entry I am to share with you stories of:

1. Our departure both from our homes (well...mine) and the journey we embarked on

2. My first impressions of Mauritius

3. My first week in Mauritius

4. The other PT Mauritius volunteers (and their projects)

5. Work at CEDEM/ Vignta

6. Visa Trouble

7. House Hunting

8. Moving In

9. Extracts from my Diary

10. General Ponderings

-Enjoy...

Leaving Edinburgh- my picnic party, my blessing and my last meal

1. My Leaving Picnic

As a sort of a farewell gathering I organised to meet with a bunch of friends in the meadows today (Friday 21st August) for a picnic, some frisby and general banter.

I decided that the food wouldn't be the main focus so got some rolls, big pack of crisps some juice and a couple of cakey things so if people were hungry they could tuck in...even if they were just peckish.

Having a party, to me, marks the importance of certain events in people's lives- in this case my impending departure. People were invited to picnic from 1.30pm onwards, most didn't arrive until quite a bit later than 2.30pm and did so in trickles. Also, as some left others arrived.

A little book provided an arena for people to write a little goodbye message when later I will stick a picture beside to match the faces to the words; having read them I was very touched. A very good friend of mine had arranged to get a T-shirt printed (unexpectedly) and gave it to me as a present. On the front of it a picture of us lying on the grass in Hyde Park Earlier this summer screwing up our faces in response to the sun. (see above)

I really enjoyed the gathering and felt very supported by the warmth and well wishes of my friends and also really appreciated that although a number of them don't know each other they all got talking and gelled, in some ways bonded together by separately knowing me but also by their own personalities and enthusiasm for people.

Everybody sat in a large and slightly odd shaped circle in the meadows which was marked with a little Mauritian flag (which became increasingly broken as more and more people came, waved it and planted it in the ground with pride... not careless- just enthusiastic!) Many p

eople brought food with them which was much appreciated by hungry hoards of friends... and a small group of 'party crashers' who we allowed to sit with us as they wanted to play frisby.

It was strange to think that when I said goodbye to many of my friends here it would be another year to wait to see them again. I felt glad, in a way, that I had already said goodbye to a number of very important people in my life as although it was emotional it was not too much to bare. And also all of the goodbyes did not come at once... thank goodness... I don't know if I would have been able to handle that.

At one point two of my friends and I went to have a shot on the bumper cars as there was a bit fair style thing going on very near our picnic area. On our way back from bumper cars the heavens opened up, as they often do in Scotland, and we ran back to find that many people had packed their things away and were brandishing- in some cases broken- umbrellas. By this point it was about 7pm and the climax of the gathering had been reached, so it was a good time to be on our merry way.

2. My Blessing

The last time I went to my church, Currie Baptist Church, I was blessed by the minister and one of the elders (I'm not sure if I can really call him that- he's not old). They took me up in front of everybody and got me to share a little bit about what my plans were for my year in Mauritius; my church had been incredibly supportive with fundraising and helped arrange an 'April Fool's Quiz Night' in their meeting hut and also a sponsored walk across the Forth Road Bridge- both of the events together raising about 800GBP.

I was already feeling quite emotional on the way to church as it was my last day in Currie, my hometown, and the thought of leaving everybody behind (Note: I admit to being a little melodramatic as I know that I'll only be away for a year) was a bit much to bare.

The minister and the elder (Kenny) stood either side of me and held my hands and began to pray for me, thanking God for me and my desire to spend a year abroad working with children, for being a part of the church community in Currie and wishing me well on my way and that I'd be safe in his (God's hands). I could hear the love in their voices both for me and for the father and was overcome with emotion and and began to cry...which looking back on it is slightly embarrassing... it wasn't just the prayer- it was the thought that I wouldn't be back for a while.

Anyway, I felt the blessing from them was a very important part of the process of leaving for me and I'm very grateful for the kind words spoken.

3. My Last Meal at Home

To mark the last night of being at home for a while my family had an Indian meal together.

The food was delicious.

I love my family... and our rabbit!

Excitement and Anticipation

Hi Guys,

Sorry for writing such a massive first blog. I got carried away directing it at current and future PT vols so they could get a good idea of training and the likes.

But I recently discovered that blogs are actually meant to be little updates, the focus being on 'LITTLE'- I write in capitals to emphasise the point.

So,  I've decided that if you want to hear things in lots of detail with lots of passion and enthusiasm you can write letters to me when I'm away which I will read, re-read and cherish (and reply to)! I'll post my home address when I have it.

Also, after feeling very anxious about leaving I felt a massive surge of encouragement and excitement yesterday thanks to reading the blog of one Lizzie Beattie who has just returned from CEDEM. She speaks of Mauritius; the home, the children, the people with such fondness that I had trouble sleeping through my excitement. (See-  http://www.spanglefish.com/sendlizzietohelpafrica/) PICTURED ABOVE- Lizzie.

I've planned a little leaving get together for Saturday and have started to tidy/gut/organise my pit (bedroom). Will post pictures when it's sorted, and of the party if there are any nice ones.

That's all for now,

Charlie x