I arrived about two weeks after Jo and Kate, with almost no idea what to expect.  With 36 hours of travel behind me, I crawled into bed and woke up to the sounds of Raphael all around me.

It has been an island of peace and complete tranquillity in an otherwise bustling country.  It took a week for me to begin calling it “home” and to tell each other “I can’t wait to get home” while out and about on weekends.

The emotional and physical breathing space provided by Raphael has been a most wonderful gift, I have been sleeping better, eating better and am far more healthy.

Working with the children themselves has been just as good.  Watching them grow and learn, and the progress that I have helped them achieve has been a fantastic experience.  I wouldn’t give it up for anything.

My teachers, after some initial communication difficulties, had a fabulous set of expertise and were great company.  I will be sure to stay in touch.

On our weekends, we travelled widely throughout India to Rishikesh, Haridwar and Jaipur, experiencing only a tiny part of what India has to offer, but a wonderful part none-the-less.

I will return to Raphael in time and in the interim, I be sending everyone I know from Australia to experience it for themselves.