As i walked down the beach i could almost feel that something terrible had happened

Freddie Shepherd wrote on 10 April 2005

I will try and keep this as brief as possible but you must forgive me if i go on a bit because you would be truely amazed at some of the things i have seen and done!    

I arrived into Trivandrum Airport last Wednesday [6 April 2005]; this is situated at the most south top of India on the western side of the country i the state of Kerela. I arrived at my placement on Thursday [7 April 2005] having been driven well over 6 hours in this 1930s' looking car! 

On the way we stopped of at the town of Kolachal where i witnessed some of the devestating effects of the Tsunami. As i walked down the beach i could almost feel that something terrible had happened as there were no boats at sea and everything felt strangely quiet as if i was stuck in the errie aftermath of the disarster. All the trees had been swept back and bricks which used to be peoples homes were now scatered around the swamp remains. There were people living in CAFOD and Salvation Army tents whilst the houses were being rebuilt. These tents were far too overcrowded. Not nice.  

However, i do not start my Tsunami relef work until i have finished doing six weeks teaching in a little school in the Tamil Nadu countryside. The village itself, which is nestled in the valleys of the Ghat Mountains (which are quite amazing), is very poor with people living in shanty type housing and many of the children are naked. The school is wonderful though, all the children are really friendly and are extremely well behaved, far more so than English children. They are also really keen to learn and they often walk to were i am staying after school (a round trip of at least 8 miles) to ask me questions. I am also invited to many of the students houses so i can meet their families. People here obviously don't see white people very often; even when i walk down the road i will have to shake hundreds of hands and wave and smile back to hundreds of children which is actually rather nice but it does get a bit much sometimes (dogs even bark at me!)    

The family who are looking after me are delightful but they speak very little English which is a tad frustrating but we get by.  Meal times are very strange not only because they are eaten with your hand but because the diversity and intensity of the flavours is like nothing i have ever had before. Quite literally i did not know that things could taste the way they taste here! Having to go to the loo in a whole and having to shower using a bucket of water is'nt great but at least the weather is good!   I had to travel 40 mins in a taxi to come and write this email because it is the only way that i can keep in touch with you all (having been an idiot by leaving my mobile phone charger in England!). I am not working with any other volenteers so things do get a bit lonely in which case i revert to talking to Harry who is the tiny puppy that lives in my room. Anyway it would be really great if next week when i make the 40 mins jouney i have loads to read about how all of you are getting on.

Freddie Shepherd wrote on 31 May 2005

The work so far has been very tough in the heat and it is a relief that the monsoon is arriving next week! Thankfully we have finished the concrete and the masonary work and we can now crack on with removing the scaffolding and starting the plastering work which, when finished, will mark the end of a great project. The project has been funded by Teaching and Projects Abroad and has so far been a huge success as have many of the other projects on nearby beaches. Over 2000 thousand people died in and around the area and it is such relief to see the various projects dotted around Colachal finally making a real difference to the people that were affected worse.     

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