ramro chha, bhok lagyo chiana!

much has happened since my first entry i think but it is hard to comprehend and express at the moment. i am still trying to soak up the language and culture as well as the political unrest and difficult daily living situations.

it is hard for me, as a guest in this country, to begin to sympathize or understand the challenges facing the local people of this village Taukhel and of this Nepal. as a guest we are consistently brought tea and biscuits, even when cooking gas is unavailable for most of the population in Kathmandu. we are offered snacks, warm water to shower (when the sun shines strong enough), a western style toilet, and or own bed and room. in this house 37 children and young adults occupy maybe 8 rooms. four of us volunteers take 2 rooms. and this Ama Ghar has so much compared to most other people. it is so good. each child has art supplies donated by visiting korean teachers, cards and board games, sports equipment, DVDs and CDs and so many strong willed, educated, independent minds. when the power is out, music still finds a way. the lights just came on but the excited cheers barely interrupted the singing i hear from my room. today the newspaper announced that each household will receive 6 more hours of electricity per week. that means load shedding will be in affect for 41 hours (meaning the power is shut off) instead of 47 per week!

i am amazed by the strength of the people here. just like anywhere else the children are full of energy and talent. many people are well educated and informed about world events and history. much more educated than me. and yet they still look to me, a college graduate with no experience, as the answer to their lack of inspiration. what do i have to offer? very little yet i represent to them something great. i don't exactly know what that means yet. i don't want to let anyone down, but i am doing all i can do to soak up all the experiences i'm having.

nothing seems all that profound initially but i know this experience will always influence my life decision and the paths i take.

ama dal! auntie bhat!

it is hard to believe it's only been a little over a week since i stepped off Thai Airways 319 into the sunlight of Kathmandu. that days was by far the clearest day we've had and i don't mean because there are always clouds. we could see the Himalayan range, which i have learned is a rarity in this valley. a rarity because of the smog filled atmosphere which makes the hill less than 2 miles away a greenish brown blur. Environmentally speaking, Nepal is discouraging, politically speaking, the future just as unstable as the trash piles floating down the Bagmati river. But then there are the children. I have been blessed in so many ways. First with the opportunity and support to leave my home and encounter a new world in this small, volatile country. second, with the companionship of melyssa and gabe, who showed up at my hotel in Bangkok with bags of Malaysian snacks and Thai food. And third with the many friends awaiting our arrival in Nepal. My experiences thus far have included exploring many Hindu temples, Buddhist stupas, eating samosas and roti (flatbread), experiencing a festival in a village called Sankhu, riding public transportation (mostly small vans packed full of people bouncing on dusty roads), and Ama Ghar. The majority of our time has been at a lovely four storey house full of 37 children, 4 volunteers and a rotating set of Nepalese staff and the American director. It is a full house, a loving home that has made being away from my own too easy. Melyssa and I share a room and the situation is ideal. We wake up when we want about 6:45 but get to lay in bed for awhile while the children get breakfast and dressed for school. We get amazing tea and then help the children with their homework if they need it. When we stay at Ama Ghar for the day, we are served dal bhat, rice and lentils at 10 which is always amazing. The children return by 4 and we spend the afternoon playing volleyball, hide and seek, or drawing. The children are so funny and kind and loving. The youngest ones are 8 and seem younger than that to me. They are small but very smart and love drawing (and particularly love having me draw for them). They are very well taken care of but of course just seek attention from us. I am so glad they have the resources and encouragement to explore their creativity. All of the children have their own talents and I am amazed by their dancing, guitar playing, reading skills, and desire to teach us their language and culture.

Being in Nepal feels very natural to me. I know i stick out as a foreigner but it doesn't seem to hold such a the negative stigma as other places. it is a privilege i am well away of being a white american. We have met several nice Nepalese people our age who are wiling to help us and show us around. We have spent several good sight seeing days with Anil, a friend of Hillary from Portland. He took us to his village, has taught us some Nepali and checks in with us frequently to make sure we are happy happy. We also met with Sam who is in Kathmandu and will see other friends from college and Portland as time unfolds. I am healthy and happy thus far. Internet is difficult to get right now so please be patient with me as I will not be able to update very often. love you all.

hours