Lets get the job out of the way. So I’m living an working in this office in a place called faridabad (just outside dehli), I’m working for a charity called face India and my job title is program co-coordinator. The charity places volunteers from overseas in ‘work camps’ (that last 2-3 weeks) or long term volunteer positions (anything from 4 weeks to a year) they get the volunteers through the internet and educational partners around the globe (think they have two partners, Korean and American universities) The main man is called manoj kumar who is really nice. I’m not getting paid any money.
Started off by trying to find out exactly what the job is. Narrowed it down to 2 main points (after a drawn out conversation). Get volunteers for the projects and getting more projects for the volunteers to go to. FACE already has about 20 projects that aren’t being filled so I decided to start with the first part of the job (getting more volunteers). Looked at the website which is not very good and decided that first of all that it needs re-writing but as I’m not a website designer and I don’t have time I’m just going to do some tweeking. All the projects are in different formats, its not obvious what ‘we’ do. Links that don’t work. Lots of little things. So all I’ve been doing for the last 2 days (work wise) is sat in front of a computer re-writing and writing copy for the website. Not very exciting, but it needs doing. Still quite a bit to do but I need information from manoj who keeps saying he has it and will get it, but Manoj is in hospital since last night at the moment (more on this soon). The work isn’t really what I want to be doing as I want to be the person working on the projects not the person sending people to projects so I’m going to get the website in a more user friendly set up and write some adverts for them (if you think my prose are bad these guys cannot write English very well at all) after that I’m going to sit down and talk to manoj about what I want to do. There is no point me coming to India to sit in front of a computer not learning anything that I want to learn. Saying that manoj is really happy to have me here so couldn’t / wouldn’t just leave.
I’ve got a cold which is making me a bit grumpy and haven’t’ really left the office too much recently which I don’t like. Still had some fun. Didn’t realize how independent I like to be. Manoj keeps ‘suprising’ me by arranging for me to do different things, I don’t like this! In my mind I’ve made my own plans and its annoying me slightly (I am a bit grumpy!). I’ve met some of the local guys who are all at an engineering college and there going to take me out soon which will be good. Going to a wedding tomorrow of the next door neighbor, yesterday he had a pre wedding party which was good fun, only problem was that the kids all thought I was brilliant and would not leave me alone. In the end I had to go because I’d wound them up to the point where there mums were shouting at them (I assume telling them to calm down) and they were going Mental was very funny. Only problem now is that they keep coming up to the office and saying hello. Its ok though as it means I can practice my hindi (that’s a language) on them.
Manoj tried to take me to another wedding yesterday but I was Indianed out and really wasn’t feeling well. In the middle of the night manoj woke up (he stays at the office some night?s which i find a bit strange as he has a lovely wife and kid and doesn’t live that far away…told him I don’t mind being on my own (I really don’t) but he doesn’t listen.) any way … he woke up in the middle of he night being sick. So he went to hospital, I’ve not seen him since but his mum came to clean the office this morning and said he’s still in hospital hope he’s ok. Manoj thinks I’m ill because two evenings ago (I think) we had some chicken and I bought us both a beer and apparently drinking beer in winter (its Indian winter) is bad for you….. I don’t believe him.. had a good evening that night we sat and had an ‘adult’ conversation (not about sex.. about politics:) lots of Indians are very anti Muslim.
Oh I’ve bought equipment so I can make my own coffees in the office, I’ve also got some brandy left from the train so in the evenings I’m having delicious brandy coffees. Very nice. The reason I bought this stuff is because I’m in dispute with the chai (tea) man. He runs a stall round the corner and tries to charge me 5 roupes when chai cost 3 roupes, had a big argument and caused a big scene (again:-) and he charged me 3 roupes. The very next day he tried to charge me 4 roupes and I wasn’t having any of it. He apologized later and told me to come for chai when ever I want (it is good chai) he’s closed today because its Sunday.
What else has happened
Told Manoj I’m not going to go away with his school president to sell the school as I don’t want to (he was fine about that, didn’t want me to go)
Had some lovely messages from people (mike and nog nearly made me cry)
My dad’s been reading the Blog, Maybe this will inspire him to ‘logon’ and joing the world wide web!
My brother has been writing gayness on my wall (I’ll get you!)
Got a real taste for Samoas and this strange fruit they have over here
This blog probably sounds like I’m moaning. I am a little, I feel really ill. I’m in this office (don’t really have my own space) want to get on with some work but really can’t as I need other peoples input. Can’t really leave the office as I have the only key and people are coming in and out all day so can’t lock them out. Its not as bad as it sounds I just don’t have any one to moan at so I’m moaning on here.
Love you all chris
p.s James Smythe is going to put my blog on another website so I can make money from adverts, if you see James can you tell him to sort it out also give him a cuddle and call him big bear ..
p.p.s don't be suprised if you see me 'online' as i probably am.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment