As the days go by

I've now been teaching at the school in India for two months however there are only three hours of lessons each day. With few distractions (like television and internet), limited freedom (as I can't leave the school site) and little company after school (the cook, the dog and her puppies) - you'd probably expect me to be so bored by now. But once I've completed my three months here, it will be hard to ever complain of being bored again, or at least when I am by myself, someone else may still bore me! This experience has made me more creative and resourceful and I've found many ways to amuse myself......

Bruni the dog with her puppies (one source of company!)

For one whole month I had a different hairstyle everyday. They'd get more ridiculous as the weeks went by as it doesn't matter to me what I look like here which is nice. Luckily there aren't too many photos of my masterpieces. I also optimistically took along some paints to try and capture some of my beautiful surroundings. I was quickly reminded of why I haven't painted for years – because I'm terrible! Luckily the paints have come in useful for coloring in simple drawings that I have created for my lessons to illustrate objects like 'flower' and 'sun'. I've now hung the pictures proudly in the classrooms with sellotape which will no doubt unstick in a few days. However, I actually have a daily routine which keeps me surprisingly busy. It's unbelievable how different it is to my life at home in every way:

Drawings I made for Alice & Wonderland.
Such a difficult story to explain to those who speak little English!

5.25am – 5.30am Wake up Blearily I put on my clothes in the dark.

5.30am – 6.15am Morning Exercise I walk, run and do some stretching around the field before anyone is awake as, being in a confined space, it's hard to keep fit . I can't believe I'm this active so early in the morning, I normally don't feel like it but once I'm finished I'm always glad I've done something. One of my exercises is actually inspired by a punishment that I saw being given to Class One children who hadn't done their homework. The children must hold their ears squat down and then stand up 20 times, this is very tiring, if you don't believe me try it.

6.15am – 6.30am Tea I make chai on the small gas stove for myself and Sanku the cook as he lights the fire. I never used to have any sugar in my tea but now I'm seriously addicted as it's my only vice and I look forward to my every cup.

The Vegetable Patch

6.30am – 7.00am Help with Breakfast I'm usually sent to the vegetable patch to go and pick coriander, chilli or green leaves. This is one of my favourite moments of each day as the sun has just risen so looks very picturesque and picking food to eat from your own back garden is immensely satisfying.

7.00am – 7.15am Breakfast Usually we eat beaten rice with small bits of one or two chopped vegetable (like potato and onion). I'm always very hungry and am now used to having rice for every meal, even breakfast.

Washing up at the pump

7.15am – 7.30am Wash Up I haven't yet mastered washing the plates, pans and cups without thoroughly soaking my feet and clothes. I do lots of pumping to get water from the ground throughout the day for showering, drinking and washing up, so much so, I've developed new areas of tough skin on my hands and my arms are now much stronger arms than before!

7.30am – 7.45am Get Ready

7.45am School Gates Open The sound of bicycle bells can be heard in the distance as children begin to flock in. Before assembly they clean the classrooms, play and relax. I look over my lesson plans and am greeted by students with 'Good Morning Meeees' (Miss said in their cute accents!)

Children play before school

8.15am – 8.30am Assembly The bell goes and everyone lines up in rows before the temple. Assembly is normally led by Kartik, a 14 year old boy who teaches Class Two. First the children say a prayer and then the national anthem is sung.

8.30am – 12.00pm School Time I teach Classes Three and Four Maths and English. At 10am it's break time so I can relieve my sugar addiction by having a chai and I sometimes play badminton or Karam Board (wikiiiiiiiiiiiiii) with Class Four students.

Class Three working hard

12.15pm – 12.45pm Shower After waving goodbye to the children, I mentally prepare to wash. I do so with a bucket of luke warm water heated by the sun at the pump. It can be quite refreshing when it's hot but as it is now Winter, and cooling down, it's becoming less of an attractive prospect. I wonder if I smell at all – I can't tell!

1.00pm Lunch A prayer is said and we proceed to eat, of course we do so without cutlery, instead using our right hand. This is fine with me as I am often told off at home for using my fingers, but here this is no problem.

Sanku serving up lunch

1.30pm Wash Up I still leave the really tough things like the huge pot for Sanku to do as it's very difficult. He has to scrub and scrub and scrub to leave the pot, heavily blackened from the fire, looking almost like new.

1.45pm – 2.30pm Lesson Planning I use the school's class textbooks as a guide for my lessons but I always like to add my own exercises and activities to check that the children have understood. I'm never short of ideas as there is always more to learn.

2.30pm – 4.00pm Own Time I often sit on the wall by the temple watching people work in the fields as I write my diary. I this regularly to get out my thoughts as I don't really have anyone to talk to about what I'm thinking. As it's so different here I need some way of processing everything. I also practice my Hindi words and characters ( not that I can pronounce them) but it keeps me busy. However now my mp3 player has broken music and my Hindi audio lessons are also off the agenda!

4.00pm – 7.00pm Cooking Sanku is very creative at making different dishes each day despite a limited choice of vegetables. Each evening we eat a different version of rice, daal and vegetables. However as each of these must be done on the fire, cooking takes forever. I mainly help with chopping, washing and fetching things but try to also keep an eye out for how everything is being cooked so I can replicate some of the recipes at home as some of the dishes are delicious. Having said, that there are other dishes that I am fed up with but I can't complain as I am always hungry. It gets dark around 5pm – 5.30pm.

A variety of rice dishes (banana fry, potato and mustard seeds, cauliflower and papaya and green leaves)

7.00pm Dinner It's amazing how quickly dinner is eaten in comparison with how long it takes to cook.

7.30pm – Wash Up Somewhat harder to do in the dark

7.45pm Go to room After dinner I have some more time to myself in which I usually read. It's so nice to do this as in England I never seem to get the time or it's just easier to watch TV.

9.15pm Bed I'm always out like a light, or as we have no electricity, I should say out like a torch. Going to bed at 9.15pm doesn't feel strange here. Although I do sometimes think about my friends on a Saturday morning at 6am (English time 1am) who are probably still awake which is always strange and amusing.

Repeat this routine six days per week for eight weeks and you have an idea of what my life has been like! Sunday is without a doubt the hardest day of the week which is ironic given that every minute of my weekend in England is treasured. But here the school is the life and soul of the place and it's not quite the same without the children and their enthusiasm. I enjoy my morning yoga and then have lots to do like cleaning my room and (attempting) to wash my clothes but there is nothing to break up the day. So this is when I miss home the most. But then there isn't much time to dwell as my routine starts all over again the next day....................