Wanna be starting something...

They’re here!

The alarm went off at three o’clock this morning which could only have meant one thing, either I’ve forgotten again how to use this new watch or it’s time to go get the venturers! Luckily it was the latter of these options and it was great to finally meet all the people from all over the world that are going to make this expedition flippin' brilliant.

After some long flights and a five hour journey back from the airport, everyone is now here, safe and well and being fattened up on some lovely Iocal food. After a quick tour of field base, it was time for Mark to welcome the venturers from all over the globe and then for Julia to introduce them to the staff team. The full expedition team is now complete hurray!

As the temperature rose into the thirties this afternoon, the venturers got a chance to change into shorts and flip flops, meet their new home for the next 96 days, as well as lots and lots of new friends.

Their beds are almost set up, the sun has set and there are just a few more things to work through tonight before they pack their bags again and head out at first light tomorrow morning for three days training starting with a 25km trek to the camp site. It’s going to be a full on few days for them and we’ll be updating you on all their adventures along the way.

But for now, it’s time to get packing for us all and then a few hours sleep. Nighty night.

Expedition 11A is go!

Hello hello from India and welcome to the blog for the 11A expedition. This first post is pretty hefty as there’s so much to say, so keep reading as it gets really good towards the end, honest…

After an amazing five hour journey from Banagalore with the Raleigh drivers Prashanth and Manju, the bleary eyed advance team arrived at field base to a lovely welcoming ceremony with Manglamma and her daughters who we’ll be living alongside.

Bravo 1 and 2

There's so much to see on the way from Bangalore and it's a quick introduction into the Indian style of driving!

The  very tired field base team with our lovely jasmine garlands from Manglamma.

So now we’re settling in and getting everything ready for the arrival of the rest of the gang. We’re getting through lots of coffee and many, many ‘to do’ list are being written. We've also learnt to eat curry with one hand and no cutlery (messy!) and been getting to know the local wildlife pretty well. Being joined in the shower by two toads was definitely a first.

Ok so before I introduce the field base team and our new home, I just wanted to explain a bit about this blog and how it works for those out in here on expedition in India as well as you guys reading about your family and friends who will be coming to join us very soon.

The blog will be updated 2-3 times a week with news and photos of what everyone is up to, who’s working on what, how the projects are going, plus gossip on who’s got the best tan and who’s the most glam after not washing for five days – you know, the really important stuff!

This blog is also how you can send messages to people out here on expedition to let them know you’re thinking about them and reading about what they’re up to. The venturers and project managers will have no access to phones or the internet whilst out on project sites for a few weeks at a time, so coming back to field base to messages from friends and family really does create some huge smiles and possibly a few tears, but good tears. All messages for individuals will be printed, cut out and handed to them when they return back to field base between phases so it’s like getting their own letters through the post from you guys back home, just without having to wait a few weeks for the post!

While they’re out on project sites, venturers and the project managers will also have a blogbook that they can write messages in for friends and family and we’ll post these on the blog so you can see their responses to your comments. So use this blog to keep us posted on all the gossip from wherever you are and we’ll be doing the same in return.

Right, now onto the 11A field base team. Joining the permanent staff of Mark (country director), Julia (country expedition manager) Deepak (facilities manager) and Big Manju, Prashanth and Little Manju (the drivers) we also have…

  

We’re also going to be joined by Kathryn our photographer when the project managers arrive on Saturday so we’ll get her mug shot on here as soon as she arrives.

And here’s a quick tour of field base for you...

View as you come in the gates.

The main building and offices.

The field base staff and project manager dorm.

It's a large bamboo and grass hut open at the front and on the sides.

There are triple layer bunk beds with wooden boards to sleep on, so a good sleeping mat that works is a must, believe me! We were relieved to discover that the toilets are western and there are showers in the form of a tap, a bucket and a jug. There's also a few mirrors hung up and we've installed an amazing travel hairdryer for fringe emergencies. We've put in a request for a hot-tub but haven't heard anything back as yet...

The venturers dorm is right next door and in the same style just with a LOT more beds.

Next door to the venturer dorm is the dining hall where many a feast shall be had.

The new classroom building where we'll all be training together.

The logistics shed where all the expedition supplies are kept and the view back down the track past the dorms, the field base main building and out the gates.

Directly opposite the field base office is where the bravos are kept and to the left is the all important generator building for when power deserts us.

An incredible sunset that we witnessed last night.

Wow, that was a whopper, and there's so much more to come! Right, better go and decide what to name those toads, back soon...

Phase Two: Over and out

So here we are again, on the eve of Changeover two eagerly awaiting the return of the venturers back at Field base. This time we have them here for two days before packing them off for the final phase of their Raleigh India 10K expedition.

As always, Field base has been working hard in anticipation and preparation of the Venturers return: Myself and Polly B have been pulling together the expedition magazine, a long hard slog but hopefully well worth it for a great memento of everyone's time out here. Doug over in logistics has been his usual calmly organised self, everything raring to go with enough tins of tuna, porridge and noodles ready to fuel the venturers in Phase Three. Christina has done a brilliant job organising the loop shop (always a welcome sight for the sugar and e-number starved venturers) and creating the Raleigh India 10K t-shirt. Phil's been the reassuring voice on the end of the phone for all medical queries and entertained himself by writing, directing and editing our 'comedy' skit video ready for the venturers return. Whilst Anna has been masterminding the operation and Del has been a hive of organisation both ensuring that everything runs smoothly.

Out on phase they've been telling us what an amazing time they've been having. The projects are really taking shape and each group are able to tangibly see the difference they are making out here, both on site and to themselves.
 
Charlie One have now completed all brick work on the five houses, two roofs are up and they've finished plastering on one. Tonight is a closing ceremony with the village, no doubt a joyous but emotional affair.

Charlie Two completed all 12 eco-sanitation toilets. Today they had a sports day with the community and a leaving celebration tonight.

Echo Three have worked tiresly on the trench and made fantastic progress. They had a leaving ceremony yesterday where they enjoyed a big feast.

Echo Four have had a a slightly challenging phase due to weather conditions but have been resourceful finding other ways they can support the community and certainly made the most of their time out there.

Tango Five are jubilant after completing the trek yesterday! They're now making their weary way back to Field base on the day and a half journey up from Kerala.

We can't wait for them all to descend and tell us all their stories ...

In het begin - A Dutch view of Raleigh

Guest Blog by Michiel Kruize, 2nd November 2010

Ik ben nu 3 weken hier in India. In het begin was het voor mij, en ik denk ook voor alle andere, erg wennen. Het douchen (wat met een emmer, beker en laag kraantje gebeurd), het verkeer maar ook zeker het Indiaanse eten. De Engelse blijken thuis regelmatig curry te eten dus vinden het lekker ,maar ik en voor zover ik weet ook de rest van de Nederlanders, vinden het niet echt lekker.

Nu na 3 weken ben ik al wat meer gewend aan het land. Zo ben ik dingen te weten gekomen over waarom dingen gaan zoals ze gaan en waarom er geen wc papier te vinden is in de Indiaanse wc’s. Morgen komen alle groepen terug van hun project. Ik zie er erg naar uit om de andere Nederlanders te zien en hun verhalen te horen.

Photos by Polly Baldwin http://www.dynamicpictures.co.uk/ (unless stated otherwise).

Mini Medics get arty

Earlier this month Raliegh India forged a relationship with the local to Field Base secondary school in close by Jayapura village, to introduce a Health Education Program to the students.

Raleigh is introducing a number of initiaves to help improve hygiene standards at the school, including the training of 'Mini Medics' - a group of class represenatives from across the school who will be sharing their new hygenie skills with their fellow pupils.

Continuing India 10E expedition's work with the 'Mini Medics', last Friday Anna and Deepak took Medics Charlotte and Laura plus Polly in Comms to visit the school to start the next project.

After Introducing the new Raleigh Volunteers to the 'Mini Medics', we recapped the seven steps of hand washing that they had learnt the week before. The students all recited the routine perfectly (putting some of us Raleigh volunteers to shame!)

We then started them on their next project which is to design and paint a mural to go on one of the school's walls to remind all the students the importance of hygenie.

Split into three groups the 'Mini Medics' sketched design ideas around the themes of hand washing, protecting their feet and personal hygenie.

Too quickly our session with the 'Mini Medics' came to an end but we did have time to grab some photos of the students with the visiting Baloo the Bear who's come all the way from Castle school, Walsall in the UK to meet them. John, our Logistics Manager's wife Bobbie works at the school and has got her children to write to the kids at Jayapura.

  

Next time we're going to pull all of their design ideas into one big mural design and get started on painting it on their school wall with them. We'll also be presenting them with all the donated flip flops and school materials the VMs have provided. We then hope to do the same with all the donated items the Ventueers will hopefully bring in a couple of weeks time.

For more information on the Jayapura School Health Education Programme, including the donated flip flops and school materials intitative we'd like all India 10k Ventueers to support us with before they arrive here, please click here.

Training, Treking and Team allocation

It's been a intense week of training at Fieldbase as the Volunteer Managers settle into their Raleigh roles. Over the past few days the team have sharpened their map reading skills, got up to speed with Communications protocol and sorted out all the important admin.

   



Trek training came as a welcome respite from the classroom, although the 5am alarm clock was not favoured by all! Split into two groups setting off half an hour apart from Fieldbase, the team orientated themselves over a 21k route.

The groups both held a decent steady pace of about 4k an hour and so were done just in time for lunch. Luckily the end of the route was marked with a bakery where the team tucked into delicious egg puffs before jumping on a local bus taking them back to Fieldbase.



We've been well fed so far with local caterers providing curry for lunch and dinner and breakfast being the obligatory Raleigh fuel of porridge. We're also a fit bunch, with sun rise yoga classes and jogging groups going out on routes past paddy fields and through local villages, not to mention the odd game of late night frisbee!

The main topic of conversation and head space for the Project Managers has been Project Allocation to find out where they will be on Phase One. Anticipation has been building all week and the wait was over last night as the announcements were made whilst the team were out to dinner in Mysore. So without further ado ...

Phase One Community team will be Carloine, Eira and Liam leading Charlie One. The inital Environmental phases are Echo Three with Hannah L, Charlotte and Christina and Echo Four consisting of Hannah W, Sterling and Laura. Heading out for Adventure phases are Tango Five led by Mountain Leader Lynne accompanied by Josse and Bethan and Tango Six which Mountain Leader, Olly will be leading with Phil and Rachel. Finally, Fieldbase Medic for Phase One is Luke and assiting Logistics will be Susan.

The teams have now set about familiarising themselves with their individual projects and will be off visiting their sites for a few days this week to get to know ther surroundings and complete their preparations. Upon their return we'll catch up with each of the groups to tell us all about their projects.

Till then, Raleigh India 10k Volunteer Managers bid you farewell :)

All text by Polly Carpenter and photos by Polly Baldwin www.dynamicpictures.co.uk (unless stated otherwise).