PCT » Paul and Rach Elliston

An Intake Of Breath

PAUL, PCT, Training Centre No Responses »

Apr 112011

You know that strange sucking sound that all workmen make when you ask them for a quote, well we’ve all just made one here. It seems that to get the health and safety clearance which with help the Training Centre become a nationally recognised Technical Institute and registered with the Ministry of Education that we can expect a bill of around £2,200… Ouch!

It’s a lot of cash, but essential if we’re to grow student numbers (which is a key part of the plan towards becoming fully self-sustaining), since it allows us to offer nationally recognised certificates and greatly increases the perceived worth of their training. We’ll just have to bite the bullet I guess…

Teaching Again

Business Start-Up, PAUL, PCT, Training Centre No Responses »

Apr 082011

First day back in front of class and I had 3 of them (that’s 6 hours in total) today, which makes for a very long day. The first was great. The second was a little insipid and the last, our night school group, were positively disinterested, but that is understandable to some extent since they unfortunately get the pure theory course (since they’ll leave soon and there was no time to teach them in any other way) – even I’d be bored if I had to do that.

Future Plans

Future Plans, PAUL, PCT No Responses »

Apr 062011

Finished my chatting things over with Manuel. He has agreed to my suggested timetable for leaving the work here and is, I think, sad at that prospect, but he agrees with me that they haven’t made the best use of me while I’ve been here and he can understand why I might want to move on to something else.

The plan is that I’ll hang around until mid-July at least, to cover for the period that he’ll be out of the country. After that, if I don’t yet have a job to go to, then I’ll continue on a more part-time basis while I job search or until we decide to leave for the UK.

The fact that my leaving has now been agreed, allowed me to announce it at the staff meeting in the afternoon. We’re going to be having a vision and strategy planning meeting in May and my decision to leave means that I can now facilitate that from a more neutral standpoint. Not much was said verbally when I made my announcement, but there were a few glum faces around.

Settling Back In

Business Start-Up, Future Plans, PAUL, PCT, Training Centre No Responses »

Apr 042011

Been down to the Training Centre to catch up on where my business related courses are up to. Seems like David, the Director of Education, has done a good job in my absence and he’s been very complementary about the materials (even suggesting that they have changed the whole ethos of the Training Centre and given the students a hope for the future) – it was a job to convince him to let me take them on now that I’m back!!

Tomorrow, I’ll be meeting Manuel, my boss, and chatting about my future here, hopefully coming to some arrangement that is mutually suitable.

All Stages Complete And Home James

Future Plans, PAUL, PCT, RACH, Visa Renewal No Responses »

Apr 012011

With the right asking nicely letter in hand, we returned to the Ministry of Justice and got our required stamp and then went back to the Department of Migrations and I was very pleased to receive the new sticker on the back of my identity card to show that I don’t have to go through this whole process for another year. Hurrah!

Actually, we’re hoping that we never have to go through it again. We decided whilst out the country that we would be looking to move on when our promised two years with the Peru Children’s Trust expires in July. Of course, I’ll need to have something to move on to, so if I can’t find a job there is still the chance of having to renew again next year but, if only to avoid all the rigmarole, I sincerely hope not!!

The bus journey up into the mountains was fairly uneventful, but I can confirm that Huancayo is still in the rainy season. It was nice to get home though!

All Done

Families, Home Gardens & Nutrition, PAUL, PCT No Responses »

Feb 262011

The home gardening workshop went well. Arthur, who came with me, was very encouraging and said it was obvious how good a rapport I had with the families and that they had really responded to what I was sharing with them. We made a raised bed (a new concept for them) and then planted it with 5 different seeds. What was most encouraging for me is that, in a culture where working together is often absent, the families themselves have decided to get together and do a communal garden – a very exciting development as far as I am concerned.

Afterwards, we took the car down to Lima and only nearly died once – overtaking on a blind bend is not quite what I had in mind when I asked our driver to get us there safely!! It was good to get there and relax!

Translation Over

Families, Home Gardens & Nutrition, PAUL, PCT, Vineyard No Responses »

Feb 252011

My busy week and a half translating in various conference sessions and workshops for Arthur and Pete has reached an end. They’ve gone really well, but it is quite tiring to be constantly thinking in 2 languages and trying to remember who needs to hear what.

Off to Lima tomorrow (after giving a workshop on home gardening) to take Arthur and Pete to the airport before flying off ourselves on the 2nd to Brazil and Paraguay. Feeling exhausted, so hoping that a break will be just what the doctor ordered.

Back From Camp

Camp, Families, PAUL, PCT No Responses »

Feb 152011

Just got back from the first 2.5 days of the PCT Camp for the children (which gives them an opportunity to be kids, eat well, sleep in a bed and get some spiritual input). It was exhausting, but good.

I got the opportunity to lead some participative workshops with the children on two evenings, using a range of activities to “listen” to their problems – there are lots, the most significant of which are financial problems, difficulties with school work, poor quality housing and health concerns. I have to say that I was moved to tears reading all their comments about the physical abuse they suffer and particularly the comment (which one has to remember was coming from a child below the age of 12) that read “I feel that I am not for this world”.

Practically Done (In!)

Business Start-Up, Families, Home Gardens & Nutrition, PAUL, PCT, Training Centre No Responses »

Feb 112011

After a bit of an all-nighter, I have finally got to the stage of having all 4 courses ready… just need to go an find a printer… Hoping that they should all be ready for tomorrow

I am done in and how wonderful it would be to enjoy a day off tomorrow before the camp starts with 150 kids but, unfortunately, it is the only chance I have, before being out of action for a while, to visit the community where I am doing the Home Gardening Project and speak with the folk there about what they would like to plant and what size of garden they can make available. Never thought that a kids camp would be my opportunity to rest!!

Progress

Business Start-Up, PAUL, PCT, Training Centre No Responses »

Feb 102011

The fly is halfway out of the ointment. I’ve now got 3 course texts books finished (for 10 weeks only) and 1 of the teachers’ books. Could still be a long day tomorrow though…

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