Wednesday 26 August 2009

What might it be like?

I'm always being asked "Where are you going to live? Do you know what your accommodation will be like?" So I though you might like to hear what my official placement offer says. My rule of thumb is to expect the worse and be pleasantly surprised!

In summary it says that my accomodation will be 'in Rayagada town, independent and have basic amenities, a room with attached bathroom and space for a kitchen'. Now whether the bathroom is of the sit or squat kind is not specified, and whichever doesn't actually bother me. Either way the it could be a with a tap with running cold water or a big bucket water store, no washbasin of course! All very similar sounding to what I've experienced elsewhere. Basic furniture, a bed, table and chair, will be provided. A bed is nice for us "soft" westerners - most Indians locally will sleep on floor mats - but it will be nice to be off ground in case of the inevitable creepy crawlies!. Cooking will be by gas stove and a fridge will be provided - wow now that did surprise me when I first read it as I had been envisioning having to market each morning and evening for food.
Now if it is an electric fridge, then how useful it will be remains to be determined by the regularity of power and the frequency of power cuts. But you see I'm pleasantly surprised already by little luxuries!

So those are my expectations of my home for the forthcoming two years. Naturally I will post on the reality when I get there but for now I thought you might like to take a look over at a colleague's blog – Hilary has just arrived in Koraput, some 100kms away from Rayagada and this post tells of her trip there from Delhi (2 days and 2 nights by train) and her new home, complete with pictures.

What do you think? Is this what you'd expect?

7 comments:

  1. Wow - her accomodations are a heck of a lot nicer than I had envisioned! I especially like the visiting and also dead cockroaches - they must be like the Welcome Wagon we used to have here in the States for new people in the neighborhood - those bugs are everywhere!!!

    I'm glad you have found another familiar face to share your transition with as you mentioned in your other post. Exciting times are coming for you!

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  2. Molly, Yes they were better than I was thinking would be available so I was pleased to see Hilary's pictures. Tempting to think that my accomodation will also be of similar palatial grandeur!- looks from the outside something like a small villa - no?

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  3. Thank you for the link to the other blog, Sheila. That was fascinating.

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  4. Glad you enjoyed it, Hilary will be my nearest VSO volunteer neighbour once I get there, so I am glad we have hooked up online and that she is such a great blogger and emailer telling me all the things I need to know before going. Her experiences will stand me in good stead I am sure. I am looking forward to meeting her in person.

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  5. Oh Sheila, Hilary's account and photos were incredible! I'm looking forward to photos of your new 'digs!'

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  6. I think Hilary is stopping by this blog as and when she can so I'm sure she'll pick up yor positive comments. I also look forward to seeing my 'digs'. Two months still seems a long time away , this is definitely an exercise in patience, but I am sure it will start to go by very fast indeed.

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  7. I've just picked up on the comments on my blog - great to find out that people are actually reading it, I sometimes wonder if I'm talking to myself! I have builders in my house at the moment, finishing off the work that was left undone in July at the start of the monsoon. All being well it won't leak next monsoon. Fingers crossed. Will post more photos when it's done

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