Well, on the drive to Thiruvalla from Trivandrum, the word that kept coming to mind was "enraptured" (I know that sounds cheesy, but sorry, it's the truth). I felt such an indescribable feeling (perhaps a mix of excitement, warmth, intrigue, wonder, etc.) in the back seat of the car, just passing through Kerala.

This was despite the fact that the driving totally lived up to my expectation of death-defying bravery and complete disregard for all rules of the road (save for the ONLY important one which is written on the back of most vehicles lest a driver forget: SOUND HORN!!). Yes, it was hectic and at times quite frightening, as we came within inches of collisions at least every couple of minutes. Yes, they drive at break-neck speeds on narrow roads, never letting a hill or a blind corner or oncoming traffic deter them from over-taking any vehicle which impedes their progress. And yes, the cows do seem to have the right of way. But even though I knew that I was in danger at all times, I just loved every minute! It was joyous and exciting and really marvellous in itself. Somehow, it just works beautifully. It isn't chaos and drivers seemed not to harbour any rage toward each other despite the feverish horn-honking and shameless tail-gating.

I guess I could liken it to a mosh pit; to the uninitiated bystander it appears to be a scary, violent and lawless place, but everyone inside it knows that it is full to the brim with camaraderie, good will (mostly!) and fun. Well I can't really attest to whether or not the Indian drivers are having "fun" per se, but I can vouch for the fact that they are highly conscientious, with lightning-fast reflexes, and what they seem to lack in courtesy and patience they make up for with pure skill.

In many ways, India so far appears just as I imagined it: beautiful, busy, diverse. I am stared at in town, but usually not uncomfortably so, and the looks I get are generally coming from smiling eyes. I can't say it definitively yet as I've been here only such a short while, but people seem to be very welcoming, if a bit curious.

On the Sevika Sanghom

It's been about 2 weeks now since my arrival in India, and I'm starting to settle in. I am picking up bits and pieces of Malayalam and I feel much more confident about getting around town without getting hopelessly lost. Getting the bus was my biggest problem at first, because the bus stops are unmarked; you just kind of flag one down as it passes, and tell the ticket man where you want to get off when the time comes. And of course they are (legendarily) crowded. Women sit in one section and men in the other. It is so segregated, but people are very helpful and friendly when they see me struggling to find a place to wedge myself if amongst the crowd.

My main work will be at a primary school for children from poor families, teaching kids aged 3-5 spoken English through fun activities. I must admit I'm pretty nervous. There are no materials, training, or curriculum available at the school, so I've been trying to come up with things that will keep 20 plus kids entertained for hours at a time! It's no small feat for me! Luckily the past volunteers have left a lot of craft supplies in the apartment for me, but I am feeling a bit paranoid....what if somebody decides to pee their pants? Or eats the paint instead of making a picture with it? Or runs amok and starts tantruming on me?? Truth be told, I don't know the first thing about teaching wee ones, or keeping them under control en masse. So please wish me luck, I may need it!

Love, Kira

Kira with fellow volunteers, Claire and Elsa

Jacqueline Ryan, Jyothis Volunteer, 2005

 
One of the best times of my life was spent during my gap year in India. More than a year on since I left India I still have vivid smells, tastes and experiences from the country and the most cherished memories of the people I encountered and worked with.
 
Three years ago is when I initially got in touch with WorldWideVolunteering, through which I found Kerala Link.
 
I had just finished my A-levels in the June and it was my first time living away from home when I started my placement in the September of 2004. The whole experience was both daunting and exciting at the same time; I remember stepping off the plane into a thick of humidity, heat, noise and smells. The roads were crazy. And I'll never forget the evening I arrived in the small town of Mavelikara, my home for the next six months, it was Lord Krishna's birthday and the streets were filled with music, dance, colourful costumes and plenty of food. I jumped out of my taxi and hurried to join the celebration; the first of many to come. 
 
The hospitality and generosity of the locals was unimaginable, people really went out of their way to welcome me and make me feel at home. During the first month when the novelty period had worn-off, the previous volunteer had gone home, and I was left to cope with the reality of being stuck in such a diversely contrasting country, where I didn't know the language, had no friends or family, and undertaking work that I hadn't really carried out at that level before.

Caroline, the founder of Kerala Link had provided me with lots of verbal support and contacts to get in touch with, and she advised a very gentle work load to ease myself in. The staff at Jyothis School were difficult to get comfortable with at first as only a couple of them spoke English. I started with just a few mornings a week teaching Makaton sign language which really helped the students' communication skills, and took sports, art or dance in the afternoon. Teaching Makaton was a first for me, but I found it easy to pick up and it actually helped me to learn the local language of Malayalam. Once the communication barriers began to come down I realised it was often people were nervous to talk to me more than I was to talk to them, and soon found myself being invited to weddings, tea and a full Kerala banquet.
 
I love the kids I worked with, all eighty (as it was then), half of them boarded and the other half of them made up to a three hour journey on the fourteen seater mini bus to school (but it was most likely to be about twenty-five students on the bus). I tried to work with most of the students although some were quite seriously disabled that I felt too inexperienced to conduct sessions that included them. I did lots of art work with the students; from collages, painting, paper lanterns, and a huge mural for the Christmas Nativity. We made costumes and even performed a dance with some of the more able students to "Wig-wam-bam" in the Christmas play. The students loved to dance, I used to join in and we'd all mimic the bollywood moves or just dance like crazy to the Malayalam songs.

Most of the students loved playing sport, or at least attempting to, as running round waving the badminton rackets or just simply booting the football as far and as hard as possible were often practiced techniques. However, I did manage to train up a group of about thirty of the students to take part in the Kerala State Special Olympics, where the students won lots of medals in long jump, shot putt, and all the running events. And just prior to the State championships in March, I organised the first Jyothis School Sports Day, where all the students participated in an event, whether it was the walking race or throw the ball in the bucket and each student was presented with a sports medal I brought over from England.

There are so many individual incidents and memories that are still so vivid in my mind, things always make me chuckle, like when Shubu used to stick a pencil on his top lip and pretend he was the teacher, one hand on waist and the other wagging his finger at the students; or at the State Olympics when Regith sprinted past Hassan at the last 100m on the 4x100m relay, Hassan crouched there in a low start position ready to sprint to glory, his dreams stripped away from him, he was in tears of devastation and poor Regith couldn't understand what the problem was, we were cheering him to run - so he just kept running!
 
It really was the most fulfilling time of my life; I learnt so much on and off placement. I made so many life long friends and received so much more from the students than I ever imagined I could teach. It has altered my values, my opinions, and changed my whole perspective on life.
 
I am now at university studying an Arts Management course and hope that I can one day pay-back what I received again by working in a similar deprived or developing community using the arts as a medium and an opportunity. But whether charity work, voluntary work, or humanitarian aid is in your future plans or not, I do recommend taking a voluntary placement to indulge in experience and broaden the mind.
 
I would like to thank Kerala Link; a superb charity. Caroline, Colin and Elaine have been a great help and great incentives to do more work.