Namaste, Sanchai chha?
Ok my Nepali is a little better than that but not much –it means hello and how are you?
It already seems like I have been here for a long time and ages since I left London but in reality it is just over a week. What a great week it has been. VSO has kept us busy with social, training and language events so no time to be bored or worry about what is coming next – I am just enjoying each day and will start thinking about my placement when the time comes.
Last weekend the old volunteers – yeah we are the newbies – took us out as teams to do a treasure hunt. It was a good way to learn about the areas close to the hostel. The main one is Thamel – which is a real tourist spot with lots of shops and bars, etc. We had a list of things to do and find along the way and the oldies pointed out good restaurants and the bookshop to send post home, etc. The good thing was our team one so I now have a Nepal baseball cap.
Monday, our teacher came to collect us and take us to class. He went easy on us the first day and we had basic introductions and an idea of what the course will include. My teacher was very excited when he heard my name – it means ‘goddess’ here. After class we had an appointment at the travel clinic and a talk by the doctor. Good to get another, local, view on health issues – basically he told us it would not be if we will get ill but when (Nepali belly). Also took advantage of my insurance and had my leg looked at – came away with an abscess (stress related) and it had gotten really bad. The doctor wanted to cut my leg – his words not mine- my words were no thanks I’ll have some antibiotics. All good now so much happier!
Tuesday and Wednesday we had language classes again (from 9 to 3). We were split into groups of 5 and I am really enjoying it. At the moment we are learning using their Romanised script but we were given a children’s book with Devaanagari script in it – it basically has the letters (well squiggles) written in broken writing and then we can draw over it! We will be learning that later.
My learning on Kathmandu this week is: roads have names but no one uses them – all directions are given via landmarks. Roads are very difficult to cross because of the amount of traffic and no one will stop for you. They have zebra crossings marked out but everyone keeps driving even if you are in their path! Pollution here is awful, even though there has been a bit of rain on a few days. A lot of people wear masks and chest and breathing problems are very common here.
People here work 6 days a week – Sunday to Friday – but VSO only work Monday to Friday (phew!!). Am adjusting to the power cuts and everyone makes a dash to recharge things when the electricity comes on. It is a little harder with water as that is unpredictable; the electricity runs to a timetable.
Am adjusting to the local currency already and am looking for good deals. I went out with Ricki for dinner one night and went to a nice restaurant but the meals were expensive, about 350 Nepali Rupees (around £3.00) so we went to another place and got a big curry dinner for NR150. I know it might not sound a lot to you but we were given our first allowance when we arrived and it works out at NR470 a day (that’s just under £4.20) for food, drink, transport, etc...
Had trouble sleeping a couple of nights – people go to bed early and get up early. So we are usually in our rooms by 10pm. However, as soon as it is bed time the dogs (which are everywhere) start barking and howling and barking, then, just as it seems like you have fallen asleep the traffic starts up and people are out and about making a lot of noise. Just outside the hostel there is a badminton court in the middle of the street and there is always someone playing when I wake up – the earliest I have seen is 6.00am. VSO gave us each a whistle when we arrived – for emergencies (there is a risk of earthquakes here) but I think I will start taking mine out in the day and use it to wake up the dogs that are curled up in little balls sleeping peacefully – maybe if they are awake during the day, I can get some sleep at night!!
Thursday and Friday we were at VSO offices. Everyone else decided to walk but, having a bad leg, I headed off to get the bus. I think the other volunteers thought I was very brave but I found my way asking several people along the way and practicing a bit of Nepali. We had some presentations on the areas that VSO work in Nepal. My work comes under the Participation and Governance stream but they also work in education and HIV and AIDS.
Had some good news that the person I am taking over from will still be in Birgunj when I get there so I will get a chance to get a handover from him. Well that’s if I get there. The town is very political and is known to be an area of unrest. The last few weeks things have become unsettled again and this week there has been a couple of stories of shootings and bombs and strikes in the town. VSO are doing a security risk assessment again this weekend so I will see whether they feel it is safe enough to go to or not.
Ok my Nepali is a little better than that but not much –it means hello and how are you?
It already seems like I have been here for a long time and ages since I left London but in reality it is just over a week. What a great week it has been. VSO has kept us busy with social, training and language events so no time to be bored or worry about what is coming next – I am just enjoying each day and will start thinking about my placement when the time comes.
Last weekend the old volunteers – yeah we are the newbies – took us out as teams to do a treasure hunt. It was a good way to learn about the areas close to the hostel. The main one is Thamel – which is a real tourist spot with lots of shops and bars, etc. We had a list of things to do and find along the way and the oldies pointed out good restaurants and the bookshop to send post home, etc. The good thing was our team one so I now have a Nepal baseball cap.
Monday, our teacher came to collect us and take us to class. He went easy on us the first day and we had basic introductions and an idea of what the course will include. My teacher was very excited when he heard my name – it means ‘goddess’ here. After class we had an appointment at the travel clinic and a talk by the doctor. Good to get another, local, view on health issues – basically he told us it would not be if we will get ill but when (Nepali belly). Also took advantage of my insurance and had my leg looked at – came away with an abscess (stress related) and it had gotten really bad. The doctor wanted to cut my leg – his words not mine- my words were no thanks I’ll have some antibiotics. All good now so much happier!
Tuesday and Wednesday we had language classes again (from 9 to 3). We were split into groups of 5 and I am really enjoying it. At the moment we are learning using their Romanised script but we were given a children’s book with Devaanagari script in it – it basically has the letters (well squiggles) written in broken writing and then we can draw over it! We will be learning that later.
My learning on Kathmandu this week is: roads have names but no one uses them – all directions are given via landmarks. Roads are very difficult to cross because of the amount of traffic and no one will stop for you. They have zebra crossings marked out but everyone keeps driving even if you are in their path! Pollution here is awful, even though there has been a bit of rain on a few days. A lot of people wear masks and chest and breathing problems are very common here.
People here work 6 days a week – Sunday to Friday – but VSO only work Monday to Friday (phew!!). Am adjusting to the power cuts and everyone makes a dash to recharge things when the electricity comes on. It is a little harder with water as that is unpredictable; the electricity runs to a timetable.
Am adjusting to the local currency already and am looking for good deals. I went out with Ricki for dinner one night and went to a nice restaurant but the meals were expensive, about 350 Nepali Rupees (around £3.00) so we went to another place and got a big curry dinner for NR150. I know it might not sound a lot to you but we were given our first allowance when we arrived and it works out at NR470 a day (that’s just under £4.20) for food, drink, transport, etc...
Had trouble sleeping a couple of nights – people go to bed early and get up early. So we are usually in our rooms by 10pm. However, as soon as it is bed time the dogs (which are everywhere) start barking and howling and barking, then, just as it seems like you have fallen asleep the traffic starts up and people are out and about making a lot of noise. Just outside the hostel there is a badminton court in the middle of the street and there is always someone playing when I wake up – the earliest I have seen is 6.00am. VSO gave us each a whistle when we arrived – for emergencies (there is a risk of earthquakes here) but I think I will start taking mine out in the day and use it to wake up the dogs that are curled up in little balls sleeping peacefully – maybe if they are awake during the day, I can get some sleep at night!!
Thursday and Friday we were at VSO offices. Everyone else decided to walk but, having a bad leg, I headed off to get the bus. I think the other volunteers thought I was very brave but I found my way asking several people along the way and practicing a bit of Nepali. We had some presentations on the areas that VSO work in Nepal. My work comes under the Participation and Governance stream but they also work in education and HIV and AIDS.
Had some good news that the person I am taking over from will still be in Birgunj when I get there so I will get a chance to get a handover from him. Well that’s if I get there. The town is very political and is known to be an area of unrest. The last few weeks things have become unsettled again and this week there has been a couple of stories of shootings and bombs and strikes in the town. VSO are doing a security risk assessment again this weekend so I will see whether they feel it is safe enough to go to or not.
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