We've arrived! Week One!

Dear all,

Sincerest apologies for not starting this earlier, I've been heavily snowed under with various training, auto rickshaw rides, bike stunts and allowing my bowels to adjust! :)

So we arrived into a different world at 3:30am Tuesday 6th October, it was so hot & humid in the middle of the night, that was the first thing that hit me, although nothing could prepare me for second thing, people, people, people and more people. There were hundreds just waiting for friends, family, clients to arrive, packing out the front of the airport. These people weren't just waiting outside the arrivals hall but sitting on the pavements and some even sleeping on the roads waiting for flights or people.

The noise was unreal, megaphones going off, people shouting, horns bleeping constantly and the heat, WELCOME TO INDIA.

So I spotted Swamy (he was wearing an Oasis shirt) and we then headed to the taxi, then met Becky (Oasis Chennai Team Co-ordinator). The first thing I did when the luggage was packed in was reach for my seatbelt, Becky turned around and said, "Don't bother with that, nobody here does." After getting on the roads I had second thoughts about taking her advice! There are usually 6 vehicles abreast heading in one direction, cars, lorrys, motorbikes, push bikes, animals, autos, it is simply unreal. No gap is too small to fit through even at 30mph!

So we arrive at the YWCA, our accommodation for one night only, only to find that my main bag was full of soaking wet clothes, a mystery still not solved, the bag wasn't wet on the outside at any point, just the inside. So at 5am after I'd unpacked EVERYTHING to let it dry we hit the much needed hay.

So up at 12:30pm we went down to meet Leena (Mumbai Co-ordinator) and Swamy for some lunch, I ate very little (take not Hannah) due to severe tiredness and jet lag. We planned on meeting Laurie at the airport (he was coming down later due to a stop in Mumbai). So the afternoon was spent starting diaries and watching Flash Forward (amazing show on Five, watch it).

6:30pm was meeting Laurie time and this changed as soon and Leena & Swamy arrived, typical India, our plans changed instantly. We were moving to the much bigger and nicer YMCA, a double bed for Laurie, a lounge area, a sea view (not quite) all in our room. We picked Laurie up from Chennai Intl. Airport, it was great to finally be the 3 of us in Chennai!

The next 3 days were spent training in our room (because it was so big), we looked at Indian Culture, The Poor, Indian Church, Teaching English, a City Tour and Youth/Kids work. The highlight however was the Rupee Runaround, basically we had to get around Chennai with a set amount of money, armed with only a task sheet, one mobile phone, some Rupees and a sense of adventure. We had to follow some set directions, complete a series of tasks and be prepared to bargain with Autos (Rickshaws) because they love to rip white people off. We had never been in any transport apart from Taxi's, with the Oasis Team communicating, so we were truly thrown in at the deep end not knowing any Tamil. We took Autos, rode buses, saw the flat, went into SD Puram (one of the communities we're working in), saw Vyasarpadi (another community) and ended up at Spencers Plaza (big shopping mall, that's air conditioned)! We actually saved money too because we refused to be ripped off by Auto drivers so we bargained or walked away, that worked a treat!

So after all the training we moved into the flat on Friday evening, we were so excited about actually being able to fully unpacked and settle into Indian life. So we were finally in the place we would spend 5 months living, eating, sleeping, working, laughing, washing etc! We relaxed that evening with Jeanie (Education co-ordinator from Mumbai, she is from Sussex). We had a lie in on Saturday, which was much deserved, we then we phoned Swamy who took us to meet Pastor Jake and see where Powerhouse church meets. We then spent the afternoon ten-pin bowling with Swamy and then shopping at Spencers Plaza. Saturday evening was spent at Dosa Calling (an Indian fast-food outlet) eating Dosa's (like a rice pancake).

Sunday was church day and we rushed out the door and asked the auto to take us to Sparky's for Rs. 55 and 60 if he was quick, he was very quick! Church was great, A/C restaurant, songs we knew (Strength Will Rise, Jesus We Celebrate) and a friendly atmosphere. After church went with Anju (a young Indian Lady who befriends all the GAT Teams) to the church Youth program, they provided lunch, we played games and studied 'words of encouragement'. It was great meeting new people, especially Josh an American who works with IJM (Intl. Justice Ministry), we could get advice and talk about things clearly with no translation/communication problems! We scrounged a lift home with Timmy (the Youth Pastor), well he offered and he lived close anyway. That evening we went back to Sparky's for dinner (20% off on Sundays if you went to Powerhouse church, bargain), it was amazing meeting Tom (the owner, he's from California, also a Christian) and eating some Western food (the hamburger was beautiful). Then we capped off our first week with diary entries, a brief (only for me) workout and relaxing on our sofa (we dragged the spare bed into the living area and added cushions & pillows, perfect)!

So this is all I have time for today because we're off now to Viji's (sports guy from Oasis) church for a youth meeting, in English!

Thanks for all your prayers and I'll be doing this weekly, so in theory on Monday a new post will be coming!

Take care and God Bless!

Tom xx