Volunteering in Kolkata, India

There are numerous reasons why so many people volunteer abroad every year. Some have a desire to travel, want to learn a new language, and meet new people. Others want to make a difference and gain a better understanding of the world. For me it was about all of these things, and the words of Mother Theresa had been in my heart for some time: “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”

Whilst volunteering at Calcutta Hope Boys Home, I had the opportunity to teach and play with the children, but also to be taught. I travelled, and was taken to many places. I made a difference, and yet was educated by most of the people I met. I taught English, and learnt a little Bengali and Hindi along the way. I developed lifelong relationships with the children at the home and the staff at SEED. I gave and received love, kindness and affection. We laughed, we cried, and we danced (India style!). It changed my life.

The children at the home have been street children, abandoned or treated so badly that they have been forced to leave home. Children traffickers have cruelly exploited some. They have been in danger from drugs, predators, disease and even their own family. Calcutta Hope Boys Home offers children a safe environment to grow. The children have become happy and healthy, and are finally realising their right in life – a childhood. Experiencing life with these children was rewarding in so many ways. The managers of the home – Bijoy and Mr Chadajee – care and love these children, as if they are their own. It is an inspirational environment for all.

There remain around 200,000 children living on the streets of Calcutta. It would be a wonderful thing if these children could become the lucky ones too…  www.calcuttahope.org.uk


Becky x

The Perils of Deal-Hunting: an "interesting" trip to York

My first blog is a bit of a rant, which unfortunately can't be helped considering a recent experience on a weekend trip to York, but a great time was had so we'll end on a high.

I love York for its history, culture, boutique style shopping, tea, cake, beer...and ghosts of course.  Having visited for the first time last September I was so keen to return that I booked a lovely (hmph) deal for my and Woody's (bf) anniversary.

The room was above a 16th century Inn and was cosmetically very nice - exposed beams, free standing bath, old skool fireplace.  The service however was a total shocker.  I am easy going but it was one of those occasions where it very truly was just "one thing after another".  The basics:

1.  "Accidentally" arrived 2 hours early - the check-in and check-out dates had been misprinted by the company (which shall not be named but is one of the leading voucher-deal-liars).  Consequently we had 3 hours difference between check-out and our pre-booked train, which we endured due to the fact the train company wanted £50 for us to amend out tickets!

2.  No Prosecco upon arrival, in fact there was no Prosecco full stop - which was a key feature of the deal "2 night stay with breakfast and bottle of Prosecco upon arrival"

3.  SaniFlow system - no plumbing meant seemingly endless  motor noises coming from the bathroom, along with the bathrooms of the 3 other guest rooms.  All.  Night.  And of course nothing was to go down the toilet....

4.  The tiny bin next to the loo was never emptied (bleurgh).

5.  When a member of staff came in during the day to take the rubbish and make the bed no rubbish was taken and the room was left unlocked....our laptops were in there!

6.  Second morning....all the guests were incredibly confused as not only was there no breakfast but there was nobody to ask what was happening.  In the end one guest (who wanted feeding before driving for 4 hours) located the manager (who lived on the third floor, which was only accessible through a door on the landing that looked like a cupboard) and guess what...she was hungover, her excuse being "it was my partners birthday last night and we had drinks downstairs...somebody swapped their shift and haven't shown up"...or something of the sort.

We ended up getting a refund from her for the breakfast we sought in a Wetherspoons down the road, but in an age where customers want an experience - "a relationship over a one-night stand" - it just befuddles me, why would this woman think it a good idea to generate all these bookings by giving 2/3 of her profits to a voucher-deal business only to perform like this and deter any repeat customers, where she would have ultimately increased her revenue in the longterm?!  A complimentary stay in the future was proposed...

York itself was awesome though.  From walking the city walls, contemplating the queue for Betty's team rooms (http://www.bettys.co.uk/), having an amazing meal in Lucia's restaurant (http://www.luciawinebar.co.uk/york/) - actually the meal was outside - in January, seriously, there were heaters and snuggly blankets on the back of chairs, fairy lights and a total Mediterranean atmosphere.  Also the Minster was beautiful as was The Shambles.  I found the Roman Baths really interesting, although I couldn't get Woody through the door and instead spent a fair few minutes explaining the first underfloor heating system to him as we went to find York's oldest pub instead....

Becky x