Venturer Messages!

Hello, dear followers. I hope that you’re all well. Here are some messages sent from our venturers to you, their loving public. I’ll be updating this particular post as and when any new messages come in, up until Thursday, when the venturers leave to go out on their project phase; so, if you don’t see a message written to you here, keep tuning in and one may appear.

Camilla Tricker writes...

“To Lisa, Graham and Saskia Tricker,

I’m all good. No slow lorises, but there’s lot of dogs and cats and a cow called Maji. Did some yoga today with Ella; have a trek tomorrow; then find out what phase I’m in. Lots of Love. Camilla.”

and...

"To Lisa Tricker, Volleyball at the beach sounds good and I found out I'm Foxtrot One - so the community one. We leave tomorrow so am not going to be able to send many blog messages, but will get your messages when they come round. Also, I can't top up from here so I can't send any messages unless you top up my phone online, which apparently you can do. Had a good trek and taken even more photos. Love, Camilla. Xxx P.S. Can you get Sas to tell Flavia that I should be able to eat the food at hers now, not just halloumi chipati :-)"


Nasim Nejabat writes...

“Hi Alex,

Thanks for the message. And yes, you did do it right and sent it twice. We are going trekking today and camping overnight so I won’t get any more messages until Wednesday, I think. Anything interesting on my emails? I am missing you so much too. Can’t wait to hear back from you again. Say hi to everyone from me. Xxx”

And Nasim also writes...

“Hi Dad and Anisa,

I don’t know if you guys got my texts. Do write on the blog for me and let me know what is going on. Could you also open my letters and anything interesting or important and let me know? I hope Ava is ok. I am great and everything is good. Just missing you guys.”


Emma Vos writes...,

“Hey lieve mammie,

Ik was aan het ontbijten toen ik jou bericht kreeg. Ik moest meteen huilen zo verrast was ik. De mensen zijn erg aardig. Ik mis je mammie. Xxx Emma”

Eleanor "Maddy" Aulakh writes...

"Hey ma! Having a lovely time, thanks for the message! Our groups get decided soon, then I won't get to contact you apart from on this blog infrequently. It's not too hot and I'm not too bad at everything! Love you lots. Maddy. xxxxx"

Alex Burgess-Smith writes...

"Dear Mum and Dad and Ben and Mike and perhaps Tony - depending on how lazy he is feeling!,
So, to start, this message is NOT heavily censored by Mitch, a LOVELY man and our communications manager (who writes the blogs). I am enjoying myself IMMENSELY, and have met lots of people who are all very friendly. So far, life has been fairly hectic and devoid of free time, but as of late, I have managed to come into some. Yesterday we saw a snake catcher, which was exciting to watch, and became sponges as we soaked in around 5 hours of lectures on topics ranging from culture to emergency response. Today, we trekked a short 12km (over 4 hours) to a field and tonight are camping under the stars (literally, due to the distinct lack of light pollution. Oh, and I finally saw Orion's belt after years of lying, saying I could see it when I couldn't! Anyway, lots of love to all. Yours, a very happy and very tired Alex."

Patrick Scott writes...

"Nedd, Happy 23 month anniversary my love! I'm missing you already. Hope you're having a good week. Have there been any embarrassing photos of me on the blog yet? ;-P Speak t you soo :-) Patrick xxx <3"

Ella Preece writes...

"Hey (Tom), Glad you're still attending Friday movie nights :-) I'm missing them and a tub of Ben and Jerry's! We have just been put into our project groups, so I'm in Foxtrot 2. You'll see pictures hopefully. Barney's photo has been good company lol! Love you lots. Ella xxxxx"

and

"To Mum, Roby and Tab, I am losing track of days and time here but it still feels like we have long time here althought its going quickly. Hope Tab and Matt enjoy Spain. Its so far from home life! Would love a bath! Tell Ruby to turn the tap off when doing her teeth since it can be my shower out here! lol! Missing you all. Lots of love. Ella Xxxxx" 

Francesca Barron writes...

"Dear Barrons and Tattie, I'm fine. I was quite lucky for the flight out as I got to go by business class which was exciting in itself. I went trekking the other day and we went through villages and saw loads of different things. We are in rural India, so there are loads of farmers growing crops. Tomorrow the adventure begins as I'm going onto my project of building eco sanitation toilets for 15 families. I'm staying in a school and I might be lucky enough to watch Indian people make the food being prepared for us. I will finish the project on the 18th August and then travel on to Wayanad. I guess that everything's going as usual for you. I can't wait to tell you more. This has been the best trip for me so far. I love you all. Fran xxx"

Sophie Eaton writes...

"Hi Mummy, Phoebe, Will and Daddy,

I am very well and having the best time here in India. We were updated with the Olympics last night, I hope team GB wins a medal. HAPPY 16TH BIRTHDAY WILLIAM!!! I hope you have a really good day and I’m sorry I can’t be there to celebrate with you; but I am thinking of you on your birthday!:-)

I am glad Phoebe had a brilliant time at Marfest. Yes, I did go on a trek on Monday; had to wake up really early in the morning and camped in the evening. I am in Foxtrot 2 and Fran is in Foxtrot 1. I have been eating too much curry and please don’t feed me curry when I get home. I really miss meat and pizza and pasta, so that would be really good to have when I get back! Also, a Macdonalds – I am in dying need of a burger:-)! Hahah! We had an expedition photo today and all the group photos so they should be up soon, YAY!!! I really want a nice bath as the showers are a little basic here. Be grateful you have lots of water as it ran out yesterday! :-(

I am off on my first phase tomorrow morning, so very excited. It is very strange not seeing you all every day. My PMs for my project are Alice and Katherine and we also have two host country venturers called Pandi and Jay, who are so friendly!:-) The people here are all so nice and friendly and can’t wait to get to know the people that are in my project group.

The trek that we did was a practice one. It was flat all the way to camp. The walk was 12k! We were the first group to arrive at 10.45 having left at 6.10am. Missing you all lots! Love you all lots too!! I will see you in 27 days! Sophs xxxxx"

Right, well that’s all for now. I hope that my Dutch has served me well there. Just kidding, Emma wrote it in Dutch for me! I hope too that you are beginning to see the possibilities of this blog, particularly in an environment in which access to emails is pretty much non-existent. Keep

watching and keep posting! Everyone loves getting a letter.


Next time on the Raleigh India 12I Blog: Snakes on a Plain...until it rained, and then it was more like Snakes Under a Roof.