Busy!

I haven't been able to post for so long! been so busy or on a terrible computer so would type and then connection would go...

The interviews I did last sunday were great, I did four in one day so was a very long day and very tiring. My RAs are great but also got quite tired, I still have the info from a village to come to me - it was al in Tamil so I understood nothing! I have a couple of responses to my questionnaire from very influential Indian NGOs which is brilliant, one wants me to call them so they can do 'justice to the questions' which is ace though I hate using the phone with a passion. She is the CEO of a very important aid coordination group that actually was borne out of the disaster so wil be great to have her input. Shame I can't see her in person but the phone will do, and she seems very nice which helps my nerves!

Can't believe we are leaving on Thursday! Is such a relief but also quite nervewracking and am so worried about what I will leave undone or forget to do and only at home will I realise. My RAs haven't managed to do any more reseach for me yet but want to start again on Monday - I think a day off on Sunday will revitalise them as they haven't had a single day off for two weeks and work very long hours. DB thinks I should go along to the meetings and then they will be mroe likely to do the work and not call me saying they haven't done any but I always thought doing interviews every night after work was ambitious of them - they are at least two hours per village pus travelling - and wouldn't start until about 6. I can't go, I wouldn't leave the villages until about 9pm, it would be nighttime, I am pregnant (18 weeks now!) and would be so stressed about how to get home and safely too - the buses are a wreck and we never travel on buses at night in rural areas together let alone just me as is not safe really. PLUS we keep having mega thunderstorms - last night it went on from 6pm until 12, rain rain rain, the streets were flooded and the leccy was off - can you imagine if I was in the middle of nowhere with all that?!! The roads would be flooded, the buses infrequent if at all and probably don't have windscreen wipers (I kid you not, there is a reason why India's roads are the most lethal in the world). Nope sir, I would rather wait for the RAs to have some kip and do it in their own time. They don't need me there to cajole them anyway, just a bit of leadershp to steer them when they are wandering (such as now) so they know I do care and want it done, but are really diligent and helpful people (such is the Indian way) and I trust them.

So although I am on tenterhooks about how many participants I will actually get, I am also confident it wil be ok. Hopeful. Tentatively hopeful. Eek, am shit*ing myself!

better go, is lunchtime. I wonder what I shall eat today - omlette and chips, fish and chips, or cheese toastie and chips?!! Roll on Thursday...!!! Am at least well and healthy if not spoilt for choice ;0)

x J