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).

The VMs arrive

Excitement was in the air today at Fieldbase with the arrival of the full Volunteer Manager team. This morning was a floury of activity tidying and preparing as we waited to greet them off their five hour coach ride from the airport.

  

Josse and Olly receive their Bindi's



Their arrival was marked with a traditional Indian welcome ceremony led by Manglama, who's family lives the Fieldbase site and Prashanth, one of Raleigh's team of drivers.

 

Prashanth gives Hannah her garlands




Garland Girls - Eira, Caroline and Rachel

 To avoid jet lag, the team were straight into training and have been kept awake learning the basics of life on Raleigh including 'three bowls', group contracts and cultural awareness. With a couple of energizers thrown in for good measure to help them power through.



L-R Doug, Susan, Christina, Olly, Laura, Luke, Phil & Sterling



L-R Del, Caroline, Liam, Bethan, Charlotte, Lynne, Doug & Susan 



Understandly they're all a little shattered now, so it's early to bed tonight as we have an intensive itinery of training ahead of us over the next few days.

Training, raining, but no complaining!

Continuing with the tale of the 10H venturers' arrival, later that evening Sham the snake man turned up with his slithery mates to ensure that our new arrivals had sweet dreams.

 

 

On Sunday morning pushing on through a jet lag haze, our new arrivals shook off their sleeping bags and got moving on a 26km trek to Uday's famous chicken farm. Campsite fun began with some of the venturers having to contend with monster-sized tents that unfortunately weren't waterproof. Me (Marie), Jen, Anita and Hannah discovered this later that night. In the name of  personal development, monsoon do your worst!

The rain kept falling and the training kept on coming. Lessons in camp craft (slop pits, short drops, preparing a chicken for cooking), tool training, medical aid, field communications were soaked up. And the swim tests at the Hindu temple helped refresh tired souls. 

  

 

Today the venturers are taking it easy in Mysore as field base prepares for a riotous party and sensational revelations...it's project allocation time! 

Finally, a special birthday mention to Sabrin!  Attempts to keep it quiet on Sunday from project managers Alissa and Annette failed, and she was swiftly punished with some chocolate cake.

 

 Happy Birthday Sabrin!

Hi-de-Hi!

A few days in and already it's apparent: 10E's venturers are a class act. Unphased by jet lag and with enough energy to power the state of Karnataka, they took on Wednesday's 20km trek as if it was a walk in the park.  I am pleased to report that they did indeed stop at Krishna's Bakery to enjoy egg puffs and vegetable puffs too. These pickled, pastry delights powered them through the lashing rain as waterproofs were swiftly unfurled.

Arriving at Uday's hip and happening chicken farm, the venturers impressed us all with their dynamism as a tented kindgom sprung up before our eyes. Lessons in camp craft followed: how to rustle up a satisfying meal using a Trangia; the art and design of slop pits, the science of the short drop. Returning to the subject of satisfying meals, pasta, noodles, soya balls, tuna and a generous tin of tomato purée were on the menu; and will be for the next 10 weeks, tee hee.

The following day our happy campers hotfooted it to the temple grounds for three more sessions: swimming, field communications and medical training. There were a number of intrigued and somewhat bemused spectators as we provided a sideshow to the wedding that was taking place. The bride and groom didn't seem to mind; they requested we join their group photo!

A chilled out 2km walk back to camp allowed us to take in the beautiful scenery, flora and fauna. Once there, hilarity ensued as the venturers devised some highly entertaining skits depicting events so far. Anna led an optional session on the reality of where our food comes from by demonstrating how to prepare a live chicken for cooking. Whilst dinner was underway, Sham the snake man popped by with his non-venomous friends. The venturers welcomed the slithery guests to camp but drew the line at inviting them for dinner. And so the day ended with everyone gathered round the campfire, as the purified water and conversation flowed.