I realized today it has been a week since I updated this last...so what can I share about the last week.
I walked to Thamel early in the week which was about 5 miles and fairly enjoyable. I enjoyed walking, the dirty air was not too much fun though. I also took a bus on my own for the first time. When Michael was here (He left last Sunday), we would spit the cost of a cab. I didn't particularly like spending $4 on a cab when a bus was only about 25 cents...I know $4 isn't much but it adds up. Once Michael left I couldn't bring myself to pay for the cab. So, I tried walking and the bus.
I also had my first ride on a motorcycle. Although in the US I prefer to stay off of them...I think it has been my favorite mode of transportation here.
Over the last week I have been preparing for the next two weeks...
While I've been here I have made several new friends one of which is Miranda. Tomorrow the two of us will be heading to Pokhara for an 11 day trek in the Himalayas. I'm very excited about this because honestly, how many people can say they've gone hiking in the Himalayas? (Not to mention I have been in desperate need to speak English with someone :) )
The kids on the other hand are not so happy about me going. Sunil has tried making many deals with me to convince me to stay. I had to promise them I would come back when I return but he still wasn't happy because it will only be for 2-3 days. I leave Nepal on July 31st and will arrive back in Orlando on August 1st...provided there are no problems with the flight. (Please pray...I don't know that I could handle that again!)
I'm not really sure what else I can share right now except that while I'm on my trek I will not have internet access...so I will not update this again until I return. I can assure however that I will have many pictures of my time in the mountains!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Contentment
It was three weeks ago that I started this journey with very few ideas about what to expect. I was told there wouldn't be flushing toilets, hot water, or even power at times...you don't truly realize what that means until you are living in it. I also knew the kids were suppose to be in school from 9-4 and I would have free time then. I didn't expect to have air conditioning and assumed their would be mosquitoes. All of these were things I came here expecting, but I've learned so much more.
My first day at the children's home was a little difficult because I expected them to know some English. Most of them know enough to communicate although we still struggle because of our theirs and my accents. I also never considered how difficult it would be to learn all 22 names. If they were names like Joe and Brittney I would have had no problem...but they're names like Sudarson, Monisha, Sapana, Vhim. Seeing them in print makes it easier which is why I had Vhim write them all down for me the second day :)
I was also told that they would provide my meals at the children's home but I didn't know it would be Daal Bhaat at every meal; don't get me wrong, Daal Bhaat is very tasty, it just becomes old after you've had it three times a day for three weeks. Occasionally we get some fried rice and potatoes or ramen noodles for lunch. This meal schedule has actually made going into Thamel even more exciting because I get to eat something different.
Speaking of Thamel, let me describe the city to you. For starters, I am staying in Kathmandu which is the capitol of Nepal. In Kathmandu there are many sub-districts. Narayanton is where I am and it's sort of like the suburbs. It's very pretty here with lots of farmland. The pollution is much lower here because there are less cars driving through. Thamel is were most of the tourists go. The streets are lined with shops and there are many cars driving through there. It smells awful and you constantly get people (especially trained kids) asking for money. There are several more sub-districts in Kathmandu of which I'm not familiar with the names of but it's an interesting city.
To get back on track, although there were many things I was expecting, there were also several things I didn't know or fully appreciate until I arrived here. I have found that there have been many times here that I was bored..I'm so used to constantly having something to do but here there is so much time to just do nothing. Often I have filled those times with reading, but I also try to just spend time with the kids. Even the youngest one who is 6 has no problem just sitting and really not doing anything. Many times we just sit and talk, although they typically are speaking Nepali. I can pick up a few words and try to contribute to the conversation but it's also fun to just listen.
I went from my life in Florida where I could turn on the TV, take a hot shower, go get a pedicure, go to the grocery store, a restaurant, the beach, or any number of things when ever I felt like going, to here in Nepal where I don't have any of those luxuries. Just coming to the internet cafe to talk to my friends and family or type this blog takes about a 5 minute walk (sometimes through mud) to do. I can't just turn on the faucet for a glass of water because there may be bacteria that I'm not used to in the water. I have to go to the shop, which fortunately there is on attached to our house, and purchase bottled water.
I say all this not to complain about what things are like here but to share what God has taught me through this. I have lived the life where I have all that I could want and now I am experiencing what it's like to not have it all..but through that I have learned that I'm doing just fine without it! In fact, yesterday I was actually looking forward to our dinner of Daal Bhaat :)
Paul wrote to the church of Phillipi:
Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. Philippians 4:11-12
This means more to me now then it ever did. I have three more weeks here of which I will spend almost 2 of them hiking through the Himalayas and I can't wait to see what else God teaches me!
My first day at the children's home was a little difficult because I expected them to know some English. Most of them know enough to communicate although we still struggle because of our theirs and my accents. I also never considered how difficult it would be to learn all 22 names. If they were names like Joe and Brittney I would have had no problem...but they're names like Sudarson, Monisha, Sapana, Vhim. Seeing them in print makes it easier which is why I had Vhim write them all down for me the second day :)
I was also told that they would provide my meals at the children's home but I didn't know it would be Daal Bhaat at every meal; don't get me wrong, Daal Bhaat is very tasty, it just becomes old after you've had it three times a day for three weeks. Occasionally we get some fried rice and potatoes or ramen noodles for lunch. This meal schedule has actually made going into Thamel even more exciting because I get to eat something different.
Speaking of Thamel, let me describe the city to you. For starters, I am staying in Kathmandu which is the capitol of Nepal. In Kathmandu there are many sub-districts. Narayanton is where I am and it's sort of like the suburbs. It's very pretty here with lots of farmland. The pollution is much lower here because there are less cars driving through. Thamel is were most of the tourists go. The streets are lined with shops and there are many cars driving through there. It smells awful and you constantly get people (especially trained kids) asking for money. There are several more sub-districts in Kathmandu of which I'm not familiar with the names of but it's an interesting city.
To get back on track, although there were many things I was expecting, there were also several things I didn't know or fully appreciate until I arrived here. I have found that there have been many times here that I was bored..I'm so used to constantly having something to do but here there is so much time to just do nothing. Often I have filled those times with reading, but I also try to just spend time with the kids. Even the youngest one who is 6 has no problem just sitting and really not doing anything. Many times we just sit and talk, although they typically are speaking Nepali. I can pick up a few words and try to contribute to the conversation but it's also fun to just listen.
I went from my life in Florida where I could turn on the TV, take a hot shower, go get a pedicure, go to the grocery store, a restaurant, the beach, or any number of things when ever I felt like going, to here in Nepal where I don't have any of those luxuries. Just coming to the internet cafe to talk to my friends and family or type this blog takes about a 5 minute walk (sometimes through mud) to do. I can't just turn on the faucet for a glass of water because there may be bacteria that I'm not used to in the water. I have to go to the shop, which fortunately there is on attached to our house, and purchase bottled water.
I say all this not to complain about what things are like here but to share what God has taught me through this. I have lived the life where I have all that I could want and now I am experiencing what it's like to not have it all..but through that I have learned that I'm doing just fine without it! In fact, yesterday I was actually looking forward to our dinner of Daal Bhaat :)
Paul wrote to the church of Phillipi:
Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. Philippians 4:11-12
This means more to me now then it ever did. I have three more weeks here of which I will spend almost 2 of them hiking through the Himalayas and I can't wait to see what else God teaches me!
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Just some pictures!
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| We had another come down with the chicken pox this week. That makes a total of 6 now. Two of them are over it but we have two teenagers with it now who look so miserable. I guess it's true...the older you get the worse it hits. |
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| This is a picture I took of Soraj while he was studying for one of his exams. He wanted to go outside but it was raining, so he made himself a "house." |
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| I know this one is a little blurry, but I like it :) |
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| Sudip, Sapana, me, and Alisha B lying on us :) |
Well that's it for today...I wish it didn't take so long!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
So much to share....
So much has happened since I last updated, where do I begin?
Let's see...let me give you some background before I share this story. When Michael and I first came to the house, mommy showed us to our rooms and told us to make sure we keep our doors closed or we would get mice in our room. So, from, day one I have been sure to keep my door closed during the day and at night. I do have my window open most nights though to keep the room cool.
Well one morning last week Michael came into my room to tell me about his night. Apparently around 1am he heard a scratching noise by his head. When he tried to find the source it disappeared. About thirty minutes later he heard something on the window sill and when he looked a huge rat jumped of the window onto the bed next to his. YIKES! He was up most of the rest of the night trying to find the rat with no luck.
The following night the power went out around 8:30 so I decided to read a book on my phone in bed. I was really getting into the book and around midnight I was still up reading. As I was reading I felt something crawl across my leg...now I'm sure you're thinking "Oh no, it's the rat"...well it was not the rat but anyone who knows me would understand why this is so much worse. I flicked it off and when I looked I saw that it was a cockroach! I immediately jumped up and thought how silly I would look to anyone watching, but I was terrified and the cockroach had taken off. I reluctantly laid back down and continued reading. For the next hour every noise made me jump (I thought about Michael and his rat). Finally around 1:30am the roach had managed to land on it's back giving me the opportunity to take it out with my shoe. Than I was able to go to sleep until the rooster crowed at 4am :)
What else...mommy bought buffalo for us one night last week. Most of it was ok...several bites were difficult to swallow though.
We also harvested corn which was an experience. When we got it all back up to the house we cooked some on a fire and boiled some.
I'll tell you tomorrow...I'm out of time today.
Let's see...let me give you some background before I share this story. When Michael and I first came to the house, mommy showed us to our rooms and told us to make sure we keep our doors closed or we would get mice in our room. So, from, day one I have been sure to keep my door closed during the day and at night. I do have my window open most nights though to keep the room cool.
Well one morning last week Michael came into my room to tell me about his night. Apparently around 1am he heard a scratching noise by his head. When he tried to find the source it disappeared. About thirty minutes later he heard something on the window sill and when he looked a huge rat jumped of the window onto the bed next to his. YIKES! He was up most of the rest of the night trying to find the rat with no luck.
The following night the power went out around 8:30 so I decided to read a book on my phone in bed. I was really getting into the book and around midnight I was still up reading. As I was reading I felt something crawl across my leg...now I'm sure you're thinking "Oh no, it's the rat"...well it was not the rat but anyone who knows me would understand why this is so much worse. I flicked it off and when I looked I saw that it was a cockroach! I immediately jumped up and thought how silly I would look to anyone watching, but I was terrified and the cockroach had taken off. I reluctantly laid back down and continued reading. For the next hour every noise made me jump (I thought about Michael and his rat). Finally around 1:30am the roach had managed to land on it's back giving me the opportunity to take it out with my shoe. Than I was able to go to sleep until the rooster crowed at 4am :)
What else...mommy bought buffalo for us one night last week. Most of it was ok...several bites were difficult to swallow though.
We also harvested corn which was an experience. When we got it all back up to the house we cooked some on a fire and boiled some.
I'll tell you tomorrow...I'm out of time today.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Movies
The kids love action films here and in my opinion they're very cheesy. I don't understand a word they're saying and the graphics are awful compared to the films in the US. However, this morning when they asked if we could go to the theater, I couldn't resist seeing the excitement on their faces. We have watched several movies at the house but this was the first time going to the theater.
They all got dressed up in their best clothes. I was planning on wearing the t-shirt and and long shorts I had on but Hira insisted I dress nicer...so I switched into a skirt. We walked the 10 minute walk up to the main road...all 19 of us. I can only imagine what we looked like to others. Two of the younger boys, Sudip and Soraj, held tight to my hands.
At the top we waited for the bus...and by bus I mean a big van that you stuff as many people as you can into. In addition to our 19 there were probably already 20 or so people in there. We just pack ourselves in like sardines and hold on tight for the bumpy ride.
It took about 15 minutes to get to the "movie hall" and then we all filed out of the bus and over to the theater. I guess in Nepal you pay for a certain area of seats. We purchased the cheaper seats which meant we sat in front of the theater. It wasn't bad though, we were about 6 rows back from the front.
As I said I didn't understand a word they were saying aside from the few phrases I've picked up in the last week, but I figured out the story line well enough. It played for about an hour than there was a 5 minute intermission and the second half was about an hour as well. All in all it was fun and the kids really seemed to enjoy it. Besides school, most of them don't really get to go very far outside of their neighborhood.
Sudip and Sushila sat by me.
They all got dressed up in their best clothes. I was planning on wearing the t-shirt and and long shorts I had on but Hira insisted I dress nicer...so I switched into a skirt. We walked the 10 minute walk up to the main road...all 19 of us. I can only imagine what we looked like to others. Two of the younger boys, Sudip and Soraj, held tight to my hands.
At the top we waited for the bus...and by bus I mean a big van that you stuff as many people as you can into. In addition to our 19 there were probably already 20 or so people in there. We just pack ourselves in like sardines and hold on tight for the bumpy ride.
It took about 15 minutes to get to the "movie hall" and then we all filed out of the bus and over to the theater. I guess in Nepal you pay for a certain area of seats. We purchased the cheaper seats which meant we sat in front of the theater. It wasn't bad though, we were about 6 rows back from the front.
As I said I didn't understand a word they were saying aside from the few phrases I've picked up in the last week, but I figured out the story line well enough. It played for about an hour than there was a 5 minute intermission and the second half was about an hour as well. All in all it was fun and the kids really seemed to enjoy it. Besides school, most of them don't really get to go very far outside of their neighborhood.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Pictures!
I will try to post more soon...it took an hour to do this many :)
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Nepali weddings and bathrooms
As promised I will tell you about the bathrooms...in Hira's words they are "very simple."
You have a room about 5 feet deep and 10 feet wide. Half way through there is a step up where the "toilet" is located. And by toilet I mean the ceramic bowl is in the cemented into the ground. You have to squat over it and there it does not flush. Most toilets are like this however I have seen one traditional toilet. On the other side of the bathroom is the shower which does is cold water...but at least it's running :)
I will have pictures eventually...still need to figure out how I can upload them.
On another note, I had the opportunity to experience a Nepali wedding yesterday. We arrived around 9:30am and at 10am I watched as they put what looked like red rice on the mans forehead. It has a name and it's part of the Hindu tradition but I'm not really sure what it's called. I was able to pick out the Christians because they didn't have any mark on their head. Surprisingly there were quite a few. After the rice thing they walked around in a parade with the groom and some others who I'm not really sure who they were.
The groom drove off following the band and the men followed. The women stayed back to cook or sit. Around 1 we ate. I'm not sure what it all was except the Daal Bhaat. I know there was some chicken as well as potatoes and it was all very spicy. I did my best to eat it and "mommy" was kind enough to notice my hesitation in drinking their water so she sent her daughter Alisha to buy me a bottle.
After we ate, we went back outside to dance. One of the older women kept dragging me out to dance. They found my dancing quite entertaining as I'm sure anyone would have...I have video of this but it will have to wait until I get back to the US :)
We danced for several hours than around 7pm "mommy" said we needed to go. I guess the bride and the groom come back to the house later but "mommy" was worried we wouldn't be able to get a bus back home if we stayed much later. We walked about a mile up hill to get back to the main road then we caught a bus back to the house.
It was a fun day but I was exhausted and actually slept from 9-6 without waking up once :)
You have a room about 5 feet deep and 10 feet wide. Half way through there is a step up where the "toilet" is located. And by toilet I mean the ceramic bowl is in the cemented into the ground. You have to squat over it and there it does not flush. Most toilets are like this however I have seen one traditional toilet. On the other side of the bathroom is the shower which does is cold water...but at least it's running :)
I will have pictures eventually...still need to figure out how I can upload them.
On another note, I had the opportunity to experience a Nepali wedding yesterday. We arrived around 9:30am and at 10am I watched as they put what looked like red rice on the mans forehead. It has a name and it's part of the Hindu tradition but I'm not really sure what it's called. I was able to pick out the Christians because they didn't have any mark on their head. Surprisingly there were quite a few. After the rice thing they walked around in a parade with the groom and some others who I'm not really sure who they were.
The groom drove off following the band and the men followed. The women stayed back to cook or sit. Around 1 we ate. I'm not sure what it all was except the Daal Bhaat. I know there was some chicken as well as potatoes and it was all very spicy. I did my best to eat it and "mommy" was kind enough to notice my hesitation in drinking their water so she sent her daughter Alisha to buy me a bottle.
After we ate, we went back outside to dance. One of the older women kept dragging me out to dance. They found my dancing quite entertaining as I'm sure anyone would have...I have video of this but it will have to wait until I get back to the US :)
We danced for several hours than around 7pm "mommy" said we needed to go. I guess the bride and the groom come back to the house later but "mommy" was worried we wouldn't be able to get a bus back home if we stayed much later. We walked about a mile up hill to get back to the main road then we caught a bus back to the house.
It was a fun day but I was exhausted and actually slept from 9-6 without waking up once :)
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