Feb 1 (Monday) 7:00 PM
Yesterday was the last day in school The children were very sweet and some of them even made me some little crafts. I think they really enjoyed the craft because many brought me some to show me that they made of their own material with their own pictures.
Today was the first day of trekking. We took a taxi to the edge of Kathmandu and immediately started going up up up. We went up stairs for over an hour. I don't think I've ever gone up that many stairs before. Then we went “gradually” uphill which is just steep enough to not require stairs...but still uphill. We went through mulkharka and had lunch there. The rest of the way was pretty much up hill although the trail is so beautiful I get distracted from the pain easily. Paljour is a fantastic guide and doesn't make me feel like the slowest person in the world. The last little bit was downhill to Chisopani which means cold (Chiso) water (pani). We went for a quick walk before going back to the hotel. It is cold up here! And the cold wind blows as well. They put a heater under our table and it felt fantastic. There is another lady from France here and she is very friendly. T must be extra difficult to talk to the guide as english is neither of their first languages. We say lots of wildlife today. Monkeys and these funny little things that look like furry otters. They were black and white and ran and played like otters, but in the forest. We also heard barking deer and saw another kind that was small (the size of a big goat) and a reddish color. There was also a lot of birds and plants to hear and see. The views are fantastic and always make me smile. I am trekking in Nepal! I finally saw a buffalo which looks a lot like a cow, but has different fur (more like an elephants) and horns that grow back rather than frontwards. Had more dhal-bat (lentils and rice) for dinner. My stomach pains are still bothering me so I am making it an early night.
Feb 2 (Tues) 8:00 PM
Today I noticed that my camera time is off by the time conversion to America. It will be easier to keep track of the pictures if they are organized by the date. Anyway, yesterday we walked around 15 km and went more like 25 km today. My body is exhausted but I am loving trekking in Nepal. Today I saw people preparing their farms by plowing the earth with cows in yokes. Paljour says that they farm every terrace and have some kind of crop going every season. When w walk through villages there are a few people around because they are all out working in the fields. We took a break and had a snickers bar for a snack before lunch today. The chocolate tasted so good. Breakfast was basically a donut and I put jam on it. Paljour put honey on his. Lunch was boiled potato (in a pressure cooker because of altitude) and an omlet. They often put onion and spinach in their omlets. The potatos are put in the cooker just washed roughly so we take the skin off to eat them. My hands got very messy and I miss washing my hands after the toilet or after a meal. Today had some flat, but mostly uphill. We walked through several villages and are staying in Kutumsang. Pativhang yang, Thakuphaynayng (where we ate snickers), Chipling (where we ate lunch), Thankdong (break for toilet), then golfuvhangyang. There were a lot more villages, but we walked a bit further. We met up with a lady who was herding her goats and walked behind her for a short ways. She played the harmonica beautifully to pass the time. Dinner was Yak soup. Again, the meat was only available by chewing on the bone so I didn't directly eat it. However, I got a lot of meat and some bone pieces in the broth, which was fantastic. The noodles were amazing and reminded me of homemade chicken noodle soup noodles. I got a hot shower today! My first in a month. It felt so good. It is colder up here but, again, I love it. Now for sleep so I can make it through tomorrow.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Jan 22 through Jan 29
Jan 22 (Sat) 8:30 PM
I am in bed early and am going to read and then sleep. Thankfully they aren’t feeding me again tonight because I am still full from the picnic. While there, I went on a walk with a new friend through the botanical garden. I really liked it even though he said that it was much better during rainy season. I believed him because all the ponds were dried up and many of the trees didn’t have leaves. It was still nice. They did a traditional song and dance that is unique to the Sermathang area (where everyone at the picnic is from). I was told the song changed even though it always sounded the same to me (they switched between boys and girls) and they did it for one hour. Then they sang it back and forth for the hour bus ride back. I wish I knew what they were saying because I must have been missing something.
Jan 24 (Monday) 9:30 PM
Today I went with Uttam to Baktapur (sp) to another Samata school. I thought it was for me to visit more classrooms but when we got there about 10 other visitors were there waiting. A guy named Jeffry had some of his students and volunteers from Australia there with him to give ~6 girls scholarships to stay in school. They also brought many school supplies and toys for the students. It was a big show and then they left. Like yesterday we had rice pudding to celebrate Uttams birthday. At least he was there today. Yesterday people filed in, ate, and then left but he never came. A different sort of celebration, but the rice pudding is good. I got rice, milk and coconut out of people as ingredients, but no measurements or methods. Good stuff, though. I felt terrible this morning and got better as the day progressed. I feel like I have been sick forever and I sure hope it stops by trekking time!
Jan 27? (Wednesday) 9:45 PM
Yesterday I really was sick and was unable to keep any food or water down until the late afternoon. I had some water and tea for the afternoon and a small bowl of soup for dinner. That was about all I could manage. I think it was something I ate on Monday. Anyway, I got to sleep all day which was very nice and I took advantage of it! I felt great today until about an hour ago so am in bed now. Pemba said a lot of people are getting sick now because of the change of weather and Nima said the garbage strike has had an effect as well. The garbage has not been collected for a week now so the streets are very dirty and messy. I went to my first “life coaching” with Bipin's wife Gill. It was nice to talk about the fun and the struggles of being in Nepal. She moved here from the UK so she knew a lot about what I was saying. School went well. The students are doing well with the craft and seem to enjoy the change of page in the day.
Jan 29 (Friday) 8:30 PM
Today the girls and I went to Boudha again. We went yesterday to look and went again today to buy. It was fun to shop for everyone. We also walked around the top of Bouddha 3 times (apparently you have to walk around either 1, 3, 5, 7..... times) Then they got hungry so we went to get Buff Momo. They really like the Buff Momo. They weren't too interested in finding the place I really like with cheese momo. They also got this snack that I have seen around a lot. It is a little puff pastry that the vendor puts a hole in with his finger and then puts lemon juice in it like a tiny cup. Then they pop the whole thing in their mouth. I got an orange for a snack. The students finished their craft today. I could tell they were dissapointed that it didn't look like mine but I think they were just excited to be doing something different. The teachers also were interested to learn the craft so I showed them quickly at lunch. I like them a lot. I just learned today I am leaving on Monday. I can't believe it is going by so fast. I am glad that I am going forward to a new adventure, though. Bouddha has been fantastic and the Samata school even better. It is a great group of people and students.
I am in bed early and am going to read and then sleep. Thankfully they aren’t feeding me again tonight because I am still full from the picnic. While there, I went on a walk with a new friend through the botanical garden. I really liked it even though he said that it was much better during rainy season. I believed him because all the ponds were dried up and many of the trees didn’t have leaves. It was still nice. They did a traditional song and dance that is unique to the Sermathang area (where everyone at the picnic is from). I was told the song changed even though it always sounded the same to me (they switched between boys and girls) and they did it for one hour. Then they sang it back and forth for the hour bus ride back. I wish I knew what they were saying because I must have been missing something.
Jan 24 (Monday) 9:30 PM
Today I went with Uttam to Baktapur (sp) to another Samata school. I thought it was for me to visit more classrooms but when we got there about 10 other visitors were there waiting. A guy named Jeffry had some of his students and volunteers from Australia there with him to give ~6 girls scholarships to stay in school. They also brought many school supplies and toys for the students. It was a big show and then they left. Like yesterday we had rice pudding to celebrate Uttams birthday. At least he was there today. Yesterday people filed in, ate, and then left but he never came. A different sort of celebration, but the rice pudding is good. I got rice, milk and coconut out of people as ingredients, but no measurements or methods. Good stuff, though. I felt terrible this morning and got better as the day progressed. I feel like I have been sick forever and I sure hope it stops by trekking time!
Jan 27? (Wednesday) 9:45 PM
Yesterday I really was sick and was unable to keep any food or water down until the late afternoon. I had some water and tea for the afternoon and a small bowl of soup for dinner. That was about all I could manage. I think it was something I ate on Monday. Anyway, I got to sleep all day which was very nice and I took advantage of it! I felt great today until about an hour ago so am in bed now. Pemba said a lot of people are getting sick now because of the change of weather and Nima said the garbage strike has had an effect as well. The garbage has not been collected for a week now so the streets are very dirty and messy. I went to my first “life coaching” with Bipin's wife Gill. It was nice to talk about the fun and the struggles of being in Nepal. She moved here from the UK so she knew a lot about what I was saying. School went well. The students are doing well with the craft and seem to enjoy the change of page in the day.
Jan 29 (Friday) 8:30 PM
Today the girls and I went to Boudha again. We went yesterday to look and went again today to buy. It was fun to shop for everyone. We also walked around the top of Bouddha 3 times (apparently you have to walk around either 1, 3, 5, 7..... times) Then they got hungry so we went to get Buff Momo. They really like the Buff Momo. They weren't too interested in finding the place I really like with cheese momo. They also got this snack that I have seen around a lot. It is a little puff pastry that the vendor puts a hole in with his finger and then puts lemon juice in it like a tiny cup. Then they pop the whole thing in their mouth. I got an orange for a snack. The students finished their craft today. I could tell they were dissapointed that it didn't look like mine but I think they were just excited to be doing something different. The teachers also were interested to learn the craft so I showed them quickly at lunch. I like them a lot. I just learned today I am leaving on Monday. I can't believe it is going by so fast. I am glad that I am going forward to a new adventure, though. Bouddha has been fantastic and the Samata school even better. It is a great group of people and students.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Jan 18 and Jan 19
Jan 18 (Monday) 6:00 PM
I didn’t go to class yesterday because I still wasn’t feeling well so everyone was wondering what I was. Especially the classes that got to start their civil engineering projects today (or at least were supposed to). The class – for the most part – seems to be happy with this project so far. The 8th grade classes didn’t get to start the project today because the Prime Minister of Nepal visited the school today. The school has been in the newspaper many times since I have been here so he came to check out what the school was about. It was a huge deal (of course) with the armed guards and posted snipers the entire time he was there (which was probably about 2 hours…if that). I got to be with the paparazzi people and the news crews taking pictures for the school. I was glad I brought my camera today. I really had brought it to take pictures of the students and their project so the timing worked out well for me. Another school had come as well and they gave a presentation which was really just the dress of the different cultures of Nepal. They were all so cute! It was very warm today so the students started to get restless as the PM gave his presentation today but you should have seen their smiles when he talked to them. They also had a nun who is famous to this school for some reason and also a famous TV start there. What a fun day for the students. I hope they get to be on the news! One newscaster wants me to talk to him before I leave for the village. That would be an awesome Newspaper article…haha. Tomorrow they actually get to start their civil engineering projects. I hope they have fun!
Jan 19 (Tuesday) 1:00 PM
Recipe approximation I watched:
~1 Tbs cumin
~1 tsp salt
2 garlic cloves
1 sliced carrot
2+ chopped cabbage – maybe bok choy or spinach
~3 c old rice
Sauté vegetables in oil and add seasoning, when tender add rice to warm.
Jan 19 (Tuesday) 9:00
Well I guess it is holiday again tomorrow. I never find out very far in advance. Anyway, now there is no school (or at least no classes) because of the festival. So tomorrow I am going to get a dress to wear for festivals since I am assuming there will be more. Today I went to the social tours office again. Not really for any particular purpose other than making some temporary plans for life coaching and trekking and maybe some other adventures. I tried to take pictures of the traffic but the organized chaos just can’t be captured on film. That will have to be left to words I guess. However, I could not get pictures of some amazing things like one guy on a motorcycle with three children off the back of a woman sitting “side saddle” on the back of a bike or a woman sitting on the back with her child on one knee being held with one arm a little too casually. In the Kathmandu traffic it was scary for me to see them.
I didn’t go to class yesterday because I still wasn’t feeling well so everyone was wondering what I was. Especially the classes that got to start their civil engineering projects today (or at least were supposed to). The class – for the most part – seems to be happy with this project so far. The 8th grade classes didn’t get to start the project today because the Prime Minister of Nepal visited the school today. The school has been in the newspaper many times since I have been here so he came to check out what the school was about. It was a huge deal (of course) with the armed guards and posted snipers the entire time he was there (which was probably about 2 hours…if that). I got to be with the paparazzi people and the news crews taking pictures for the school. I was glad I brought my camera today. I really had brought it to take pictures of the students and their project so the timing worked out well for me. Another school had come as well and they gave a presentation which was really just the dress of the different cultures of Nepal. They were all so cute! It was very warm today so the students started to get restless as the PM gave his presentation today but you should have seen their smiles when he talked to them. They also had a nun who is famous to this school for some reason and also a famous TV start there. What a fun day for the students. I hope they get to be on the news! One newscaster wants me to talk to him before I leave for the village. That would be an awesome Newspaper article…haha. Tomorrow they actually get to start their civil engineering projects. I hope they have fun!
Jan 19 (Tuesday) 1:00 PM
Recipe approximation I watched:
~1 Tbs cumin
~1 tsp salt
2 garlic cloves
1 sliced carrot
2+ chopped cabbage – maybe bok choy or spinach
~3 c old rice
Sauté vegetables in oil and add seasoning, when tender add rice to warm.
Jan 19 (Tuesday) 9:00
Well I guess it is holiday again tomorrow. I never find out very far in advance. Anyway, now there is no school (or at least no classes) because of the festival. So tomorrow I am going to get a dress to wear for festivals since I am assuming there will be more. Today I went to the social tours office again. Not really for any particular purpose other than making some temporary plans for life coaching and trekking and maybe some other adventures. I tried to take pictures of the traffic but the organized chaos just can’t be captured on film. That will have to be left to words I guess. However, I could not get pictures of some amazing things like one guy on a motorcycle with three children off the back of a woman sitting “side saddle” on the back of a bike or a woman sitting on the back with her child on one knee being held with one arm a little too casually. In the Kathmandu traffic it was scary for me to see them.
Jan 20, 21, 22
Jan 20 (Wed) 8:00 PM
Today was another day off from school. The family had a celebration at the monastery but only Pemba went. There were a lot of things to do here. The girls had homework and more patty things had to be made (rice flour and water mixture deep fried). I did wash again. I feel I was more successful this time and also less rushed. In the morning the girls and my host mom took me shopping for a dress for festivals. I was too tall to buy one already made so I got to choose fabric and had it specially tailored. Nobody seemed too excited about it but I am looking forward to going back in 3 days for it. I walked to the grocery store again today (Gemeni) to get the candy for the students. The children here don’t know what “candy” is because anything sweet is known as “chocolate.”
Jan 21 (Friday) 8:30 AM
Interesting things from the newspaper this morning:
1. The #1 cause of death for women in Nepal between the ages of 15 and 49 is suicide. And they say that # is underestimated because most people don’t want Police attention when that happens so take care of it on their own.
2. It was not until the last few years that fatherless children were allowed to become citizens of Nepal. This came about (if I understand correctly) because the civil war that lasted 8 years and ended in 2006 left too many children fatherless. Also, if the parents are unknowns a child can be given the last name Nepali.
Jan 22 (Sat) 10:00 AM
I think yesterday has been my favorite day here so far. School went better – the students weren’t determined to push my limits. During one of my breaks I was looking for the English newspaper and walked into the teachers lounge. The female teachers always hang out in the room while the boys tend to sit outside. Anyway, one of the girls had string in her mouth and both her hands and was hovering over another girl sitting on the floor. I asked what was going on and she was fixing and shaping eyebrows. They asked to do mine which was helpful because I didn’t bring tweezers. It was absurdly painful but I don’t think my eyebrows have ever looked so good. They were laughing at me (for fun) because my eyes were watering so badly and my eyebrows got so red on my light skin. The students definitely noticed the redness even in the dark classrooms. Then Susil took me out to a music show. He is currently a student of music and his classes were canceled for this show so he asked if I would like to attend with him. I loved it and was more than impressed by what these musicians could do with the special Nepali drum they used. I really liked it. Plus I got a 30 min motorcycle ride to and from the show, which was at the same location as the orphanage talent show. I love riding the motorcycle here. It is scary but relaxing at the same time and it is a great way to explore Kathmandu. Then we had visitors for dinner at home – which is always a surprise to me – and a volunteer from another NGO from China was there. We talked a lot and it was nice to hear how she enjoyed Nepal as her stay is almost over.
Today I am at a picnic, I think mostly family as I recognize several of the people from dinners during the past week. It was pretty much like our picnics except we had potatoes and “beaten rice” rather than hamburgers and we sat on tarps rather than at tables. I am still unsure how the people can sit cross-legged for so long. My legs fall asleep and my hips ache after not too long. It was an hour busride to the picnic where all the women and children got seats (although we were very squished) and the men stood in the aisle.
Today was another day off from school. The family had a celebration at the monastery but only Pemba went. There were a lot of things to do here. The girls had homework and more patty things had to be made (rice flour and water mixture deep fried). I did wash again. I feel I was more successful this time and also less rushed. In the morning the girls and my host mom took me shopping for a dress for festivals. I was too tall to buy one already made so I got to choose fabric and had it specially tailored. Nobody seemed too excited about it but I am looking forward to going back in 3 days for it. I walked to the grocery store again today (Gemeni) to get the candy for the students. The children here don’t know what “candy” is because anything sweet is known as “chocolate.”
Jan 21 (Friday) 8:30 AM
Interesting things from the newspaper this morning:
1. The #1 cause of death for women in Nepal between the ages of 15 and 49 is suicide. And they say that # is underestimated because most people don’t want Police attention when that happens so take care of it on their own.
2. It was not until the last few years that fatherless children were allowed to become citizens of Nepal. This came about (if I understand correctly) because the civil war that lasted 8 years and ended in 2006 left too many children fatherless. Also, if the parents are unknowns a child can be given the last name Nepali.
Jan 22 (Sat) 10:00 AM
I think yesterday has been my favorite day here so far. School went better – the students weren’t determined to push my limits. During one of my breaks I was looking for the English newspaper and walked into the teachers lounge. The female teachers always hang out in the room while the boys tend to sit outside. Anyway, one of the girls had string in her mouth and both her hands and was hovering over another girl sitting on the floor. I asked what was going on and she was fixing and shaping eyebrows. They asked to do mine which was helpful because I didn’t bring tweezers. It was absurdly painful but I don’t think my eyebrows have ever looked so good. They were laughing at me (for fun) because my eyes were watering so badly and my eyebrows got so red on my light skin. The students definitely noticed the redness even in the dark classrooms. Then Susil took me out to a music show. He is currently a student of music and his classes were canceled for this show so he asked if I would like to attend with him. I loved it and was more than impressed by what these musicians could do with the special Nepali drum they used. I really liked it. Plus I got a 30 min motorcycle ride to and from the show, which was at the same location as the orphanage talent show. I love riding the motorcycle here. It is scary but relaxing at the same time and it is a great way to explore Kathmandu. Then we had visitors for dinner at home – which is always a surprise to me – and a volunteer from another NGO from China was there. We talked a lot and it was nice to hear how she enjoyed Nepal as her stay is almost over.
Today I am at a picnic, I think mostly family as I recognize several of the people from dinners during the past week. It was pretty much like our picnics except we had potatoes and “beaten rice” rather than hamburgers and we sat on tarps rather than at tables. I am still unsure how the people can sit cross-legged for so long. My legs fall asleep and my hips ache after not too long. It was an hour busride to the picnic where all the women and children got seats (although we were very squished) and the men stood in the aisle.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Jan 15 & Jan 16
Jan 15 (Fri) 7:45 PM
Today was a very nice day. It is still cold and foggy in the mornings like it has been for the past two mornings. I am surprised how much my ability to handle cold has diminished since I’ve been here. T-shirt weather back home has become long-john, sweatshirt and sweatpants weather here. That may have something to do with being sick, though. I have a cough and runny nose and am tired all the time. I slept for 10 hours last night, took an hour nap today and could go to sleep right now. I hope I am better for the festival tomorrow!
Today I hand-washed my clothes. It took a very long time and they are still drying. Unfortunately, that means I will probably be wearing my dirty sweatpants to the festival tomorrow. I won’t ever complain about doing clothes at home again! I also think that the detergent they use here may have ruined a few of my shirts. The look spotted, but it is difficult to tell until they are 100% dry. Mom reminded me today that haven’t mentioned anything about money yet. The scarves I bought yesterday were 30 rupees, or not even $0.50 each. The purses were 200 rupees. Right now the American dollar is 75 rupees. Andrew and I had a wood-fired pizza at one of Raj’s favorite restaurants “Roadhouse Grill” for 500 rupees, including tax and tip. Taxis cost around 200 rupees during the day and closer to 400 at night.
Jan 16 Saturday
Happy New Year! (year 2137) Today we celebrated Lhosar, or the new year for my host family. The morning started early for the family preparing the house for company. I am not feeling well today (just a cold) so I slept in until around 9:30. My clothes still weren’t dry so everyone was in their nice clothes and I was in sweat pants and a sweater. Nobody told me it was dress-up day or I would have bought something new. Oh well, I look so different anyway, it doesn’t make much of a difference. The entire family gathers for brunch between 10 and 11 and we all eat a lot of food. Then the men (including me today) go around to everyone’s house to do a prayer and song. The first song is just singing (more chanting, really) the second song ends with roksi in the hand and then, I think after a prayer, we lick it off our hands. The third ends with throwing rice and flour into the air. Beer or wine is drank at each house so the fourth house was more of a party with throwing flour at each other and a lot more laughing in their conversations. They insist I drink roksi when I cough and it actually does help a lot, which is great. I don’t like sitting and cough and sneeze and sniffle so close to everyone. I got noodles for dinner ( much like top ramin) since I am sick. Thank you, Lisa for the NyQuil and DayQuil!
Today was a very nice day. It is still cold and foggy in the mornings like it has been for the past two mornings. I am surprised how much my ability to handle cold has diminished since I’ve been here. T-shirt weather back home has become long-john, sweatshirt and sweatpants weather here. That may have something to do with being sick, though. I have a cough and runny nose and am tired all the time. I slept for 10 hours last night, took an hour nap today and could go to sleep right now. I hope I am better for the festival tomorrow!
Today I hand-washed my clothes. It took a very long time and they are still drying. Unfortunately, that means I will probably be wearing my dirty sweatpants to the festival tomorrow. I won’t ever complain about doing clothes at home again! I also think that the detergent they use here may have ruined a few of my shirts. The look spotted, but it is difficult to tell until they are 100% dry. Mom reminded me today that haven’t mentioned anything about money yet. The scarves I bought yesterday were 30 rupees, or not even $0.50 each. The purses were 200 rupees. Right now the American dollar is 75 rupees. Andrew and I had a wood-fired pizza at one of Raj’s favorite restaurants “Roadhouse Grill” for 500 rupees, including tax and tip. Taxis cost around 200 rupees during the day and closer to 400 at night.
Jan 16 Saturday
Happy New Year! (year 2137) Today we celebrated Lhosar, or the new year for my host family. The morning started early for the family preparing the house for company. I am not feeling well today (just a cold) so I slept in until around 9:30. My clothes still weren’t dry so everyone was in their nice clothes and I was in sweat pants and a sweater. Nobody told me it was dress-up day or I would have bought something new. Oh well, I look so different anyway, it doesn’t make much of a difference. The entire family gathers for brunch between 10 and 11 and we all eat a lot of food. Then the men (including me today) go around to everyone’s house to do a prayer and song. The first song is just singing (more chanting, really) the second song ends with roksi in the hand and then, I think after a prayer, we lick it off our hands. The third ends with throwing rice and flour into the air. Beer or wine is drank at each house so the fourth house was more of a party with throwing flour at each other and a lot more laughing in their conversations. They insist I drink roksi when I cough and it actually does help a lot, which is great. I don’t like sitting and cough and sneeze and sniffle so close to everyone. I got noodles for dinner ( much like top ramin) since I am sick. Thank you, Lisa for the NyQuil and DayQuil!
Friday, October 15, 2010
Jan 13 & Jan 14
Jan 13 (Wed) 6:30 PM
Today I showed the students my pictures from home. They were fairly excited and were sad I didn’t have very many pictures to share. They thought my house was beautiful and my family all looked the same. The boys were especially excited to see who this David guy was who is my boyfriend. I took half of the class at a time into the library because it is so small and there are so many of them (about 40 per classroom). In the library there is a dining room sized table and benches so they could sit and look at the pictures in the middle. The other half worked on answering questions like “what do you like to learn about” and “what are your hobbies.” Many of them wanted me to teach them math and science because those are their weakest subjects. The majority of them also said they want to be social workers or health care providers for he poor and orphans. I think coming from that background themselves helps to encourage them along that path. They are all so sweet and I want to take them home with me and put them thru school in the States. The education is fairly good here but I feel w/o financial support nearly all of these students don’t have a chance for college. Samata itself is a very good school. The passing rate for students is significantly higher than the national average and it only costs them 100 Rs ($1.50) per month to attend. The founder has received many international awards and I feel lucky to have met him. He was in “Ode” magazine recenty.
Jan 14 (Thurs) 9:00 PM
There is no class tomorrow so today I started a project to have them build a tower from straws and tape. Just brainstorming today and the construction will start Sunday. There is a Hindu festival on Friday which I have only been told it means they eat a lot of food. Andrew and I went to a fair trade market today and I found a lot of cool things. I only bought a purse and some welcome scarves that I have gotten here at the house and at the school. They are the most meaningful thing to represent my trip so far.
Life is going well. The food is still fantastic although Andrew and I had wood fired pizza today for dinner. The lack of spice was welcomed by my system. Another new year treat was made while I was at school today. Basically rice flour mush deep fried. Doesn’t have much flavor to it.
Today I showed the students my pictures from home. They were fairly excited and were sad I didn’t have very many pictures to share. They thought my house was beautiful and my family all looked the same. The boys were especially excited to see who this David guy was who is my boyfriend. I took half of the class at a time into the library because it is so small and there are so many of them (about 40 per classroom). In the library there is a dining room sized table and benches so they could sit and look at the pictures in the middle. The other half worked on answering questions like “what do you like to learn about” and “what are your hobbies.” Many of them wanted me to teach them math and science because those are their weakest subjects. The majority of them also said they want to be social workers or health care providers for he poor and orphans. I think coming from that background themselves helps to encourage them along that path. They are all so sweet and I want to take them home with me and put them thru school in the States. The education is fairly good here but I feel w/o financial support nearly all of these students don’t have a chance for college. Samata itself is a very good school. The passing rate for students is significantly higher than the national average and it only costs them 100 Rs ($1.50) per month to attend. The founder has received many international awards and I feel lucky to have met him. He was in “Ode” magazine recenty.
Jan 14 (Thurs) 9:00 PM
There is no class tomorrow so today I started a project to have them build a tower from straws and tape. Just brainstorming today and the construction will start Sunday. There is a Hindu festival on Friday which I have only been told it means they eat a lot of food. Andrew and I went to a fair trade market today and I found a lot of cool things. I only bought a purse and some welcome scarves that I have gotten here at the house and at the school. They are the most meaningful thing to represent my trip so far.
Life is going well. The food is still fantastic although Andrew and I had wood fired pizza today for dinner. The lack of spice was welcomed by my system. Another new year treat was made while I was at school today. Basically rice flour mush deep fried. Doesn’t have much flavor to it.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Jan 9 and Jan 11
Jan 9 (sat) 10:45 AM
Part-way through the epic pastry-making process:
“Easy to eat – difficult to make” –Pemba
Jan 11 (mon) 10:15 PM
Yesterday was a strike. The vehicles could not drive although there were some motorcycles that risked the punishment if they got caught. Raj told me that a general strike is supposed to be where people follow the strike if they agree with the topic. However, now the Maoist party tells businesses to shut down or the strike “or else” so it looks like they had a successful strike. School was closed and Pemba and I went to a monastery. The sky yesterday and today were actually a beautiful blue for the first time. I could see the mountains and I wasn’t choking on the polluted air. We walked many miles and it was a beautiful day. I would have liked to be in shorts and tank top while walking, but everyone was in coats and pants. I did have to go down to a T-shirt because I was just too warm. How are they in coats?!
Pemba and I went out for Thomba which is a millet wine and cheese momo with Yak cheese. Yum!!
Part-way through the epic pastry-making process:
“Easy to eat – difficult to make” –Pemba
Jan 11 (mon) 10:15 PM
Yesterday was a strike. The vehicles could not drive although there were some motorcycles that risked the punishment if they got caught. Raj told me that a general strike is supposed to be where people follow the strike if they agree with the topic. However, now the Maoist party tells businesses to shut down or the strike “or else” so it looks like they had a successful strike. School was closed and Pemba and I went to a monastery. The sky yesterday and today were actually a beautiful blue for the first time. I could see the mountains and I wasn’t choking on the polluted air. We walked many miles and it was a beautiful day. I would have liked to be in shorts and tank top while walking, but everyone was in coats and pants. I did have to go down to a T-shirt because I was just too warm. How are they in coats?!
Pemba and I went out for Thomba which is a millet wine and cheese momo with Yak cheese. Yum!!
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