Working for the Garhwal English Medium School was probably the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done in my life.

Monday to Saturday I was teaching history and IT classes to students from class 4 to class 9, I hadn’t any previous experience as a teacher and initially this was a little daunting but I had Lori and the other teachers full confidence and support and got into the rythmn of things fairly quickly.

The children are wonderful, they are keen to learn new things and are always keen to play with you and speak with you after school. Having left the school now I miss them every day. They are absolute rascals.

I had my own room during my time there which was plenty comfortable and right in the village so I got to know my neighbours and really felt like I was part of the community. I had breakfast and dinner at Lori and Kunwars (lunch at school) and it was the tastiest food I’ve ever eaten, Lori also makes the perfect coffee – hot and strong! There were always opportunities to go out into Mussoorie or go anywhere Kunwar was off to that day and I very much enjoyed these adventures! Lori and Kunwar’s hospitality is unmatched.

The area itself is so beautiful it’s unreal, the step-style farming technique on the mountains gives it a really unique look and I often had to look around and just laugh because I couldn’t believe how incredible the place I was living was. After school and on the weekends I loved going hiking (always with another volunteer..) and seeing what there was to see in the area – you can spot all sorts of awesome plants and animals there, Langour and Rhesus monkeys, mongooses, parrots, giant vultures – I never saw a big cat which I suppose is a blessing in disguise..