Conservation - INDIA Volunteer stories - Corinne Hunter

Corinne Hunter

During the summer I travelled to India with Projects Abroad to take part in a conservation project and to do research for my dissertation. My first five weeks were spent in a small rural village called Ullar. In the village we lived in the upstairs of a family's house but went to Lakshmi and Durai's house at mealtimes (often accompanied by one of their dogs Monty). I wasn't sure what it would be like eating spicy food three times a day but it wasn't long before we each found ourselves having more and more helpings. Idly and lemon rice were definitely favourites amongst the volunteers.

Each morning we would get up early and walk to the model farm where we would water the plants before breakfast. After breakfast we would return to the farm to do some work such as planting medicinal plants in the nursery or packing compost bags for market day. We usually had a siesta in the early afternoon which was good as it was very hot at this time in and around the mid thirties. In addition to working on the farm, Ponraj and Saro, the Projects Abroad staff, also organised trips to nearby villages and schools to do some planting and to promote environmental awareness including refusing plastic bags when buying food at the supermarket (which one tended to forget sometimes!). We also visited both an organic sugarcane farm and a sugarcane factory. It was interesting to see the process of how sugar is made using different methods (and to taste a bit).

On Thursdays we took the bus to Rajapalayam where we set up a stall at the market selling compost, and a few of the medicinal plants. It was also a chance to check our email at the internet café and to do some shopping at the supermarket. It was usually very hot sitting in the market and so it was great to be able to have a cold drink and some chapatti at the hotel where we ate lunch. During our free time in Ullar we sometimes went to "the rock" which is a short walk from the village and looks out towards the Western Ghat Mountains. It was very peaceful with just the sound of the wind and the odd tractor and was also an opportunity to spot peacocks.

At the weekends we went on trips to see other places in Tamil Nadu such as Madurai and Kanyakumari. Volunteers have the option of joining a trip organised by Projects Abroad or organising their own trip. Some of my most memorable experiences were from our trip to Kodaikanal with other Projects Abroad volunteers. It was a long journey to the hill station but it was definitely worthwhile and was very different to the other places we had seen. Being in the mountains I found myself saying "It's a bit chilly" (a sentence I never thought I'd say in India!), as the temperature was much lower than down in the village. The next morning around thirty volunteers met after breakfast to go on a trek through the forest. The scenery of the mountains and waterfalls was fantastic and towards the end we came to "The Dolphin's Nose" which was a slab of rock where we could sit overlooking the valley.

After five weeks in Ullar I moved to Muttom on the south coast in order to research the part which Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have played in recovery from the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami and some of the effects it had on neighbouring villages. Ponraj kindly accompanied me and I was able to interview some of the local residents, members of the church who provide warning systems and NGO employees in the local town of Nagercoil.

After I had completed my research, during my final week in India, I travelled to Delhi to visit one of my school friends who was now studying there. It was great to see her after several years and to experience another part of India. As well as seeing some of Delhi such as India Gate and being introduced to the Indian equivalent of Starbucks, Café Coffee Day (CCD), we also took a trip to Haridwar and Rishikesh in the mountains. One of the most amazing experiences was swimming in the Ganges River in Haridwar. It is of such religious and spiritual importance to millions of people across the world and one couldn't ignore its humbling presence.

Now that I am back in the UK there are many things which I miss about India, especially the hospitality and friendliness of the people. To be able to experience another culture was fantastic and the memories will last a lifetime. I would recommend the opportunity to anyone and I hope that one day I will be able to return to India.