At the moment I am staying at a training centre outside of Kathmandu in a village called Budol (just outside Banepa). There are 12 volunteers here (all new) and 4 teachers. We spend our days eating - lots and lots of Dahl Bhaat, studying and occasionally we venture out to explore the village and wander into town to see whether there is any electricity for the internet.
The Nepali language is coming along - some days better than others - we learn using the romanised script mostly, but we are also learning a little Nepali script. It is hard going and learning the Nepali script I feel I know what it was like when I first started reading. You have to first recognise each letter then try to remember the sound it makes and then try and sound out the whole word. It really feels great though when you can sound out a whole word!!
Have made friends with a family in the village and Rickie and I have been a couple of times for tea with them - the grandmother keeps asking if I will take her back to England with me but I told her I think her family will miss her too much! They have just started taking down the house - brick by brick - and then they will rebuild it on the same spot. We haven't figured out if they will make it bigger or they just fancied a new look. Meanwhile, the parents are staying in what I can only describe as a pile of bricks building and the children have moved in with relatives next door.
We all have rooms at the training centre and I am sharing with the crazy Dutch woman (Rickie) - actually we get on really well and I am very happy that we are sharing. After spending a month in the group there are times I am pleased to find a little space and Rickie and I keep each other sane! We have had a little problem with rats in our bedroom - well the rats were not such a problem it was more Rickie's screaming when she saw one! The people came over and sealed some of the holes in the ceiling and so now it is better. It might also have been helped by the fact that 2 of the guys here have agreed to sleep naked - it was one of their mother's stories, when they were little, that if they slept naked the rats would be attracted to the room so we asked them to try it out for us.
We are coming to terms with the lack of electricity but there is always excitement when the lights come on. The water is a little more difficult to contend with as you can't be certain if there will be any, if it will be hot or if it will last long enough to be able to wash the shampoo out again (been caught out a couple of times now by that one!).
Most people here now have experienced a bad stomach, some worse than others, I ended up taken one of the ladies to hospital earlier in the week as she had been ill and then passed out. The hospital was great though and she had extensive tests, x-ray and ECG done and results back within 2 hours - she was fine! Touch wood I have been OK so far.
Last week was a week for celebrations. It was New Year and more importantly my birthday. Decided to have a party on the Monday, as we did not have to go to school on Tuesday. We organised music, food and drink then, the man who owns the training centre surprised me. He had organised for two girls to come and dance for me. The dances were traditional Nepali dances and I was presented with a scarf as the special guest. They then presented me with a present of a photo frame and then a birthday cake with my name on it. Very special. The party was great with lots of dancing and singing and the big melon soaked in vodka was a hit. They came to turn the music off at 11pm - unfortunately Nepali night life finishes early so that you can be up by 5 or 6 am. Not one to give up though, we carried on in one of the bedrooms and got to bed about 3.30am. Not the same as being at home with family and friends but it was a great time and the people I am with made it special. They even clubbed together to give me a bucket of water to wash in! It was cold water and a few people had donated a few cups - better than nothing but I had been looking forward to treating myself to a shower with shower gel.
On my actual birthday, I got up early and had a few cards and presents. Anne brought me a red umbrella and had written a great poem about me and my umbrella. I also got a baseball cap and mask (to help with the dust and pollution) from Rickie and a packet of kit-kats (all in red). I was very happy until I had to spend the day in class on my own. My other class mates and a couple of others had to go into Kathmandu to get their tourist visa renewed. Luckily, I am told, my work visa has already been processed. We spent the evening with the last of the vodka and a couple of beers and I was very happy to get some birthday cards from home that my friends collected when they went into Kathmandu.
Yesterday 4 of us went for a day out to Panauti - it is a fairly large town with an historic area with lots of temples. It is claimed to have the oldest temple in Nepal - dating back to the 13th century. It is also where people bring their elderly and sick to die. They lay the people with their feet in the river as part of a cleansing and purifying process. After they die they then cremate the bodies by the river. We had a good day exploring and were lucky to be allowed into the temple as there was a party from Kathmandu University doing a field trip and the head priest had opened the temple especially. We also were invited into a government school on the way back, to have a look at the classrooms and chat with the teachers. Everyone is very friendly and welcoming.
Today we are preparing for a trip to Kathmandu tomorrow to meet people from the organisations we will be working with (strikes allowing). There are strikes here just about every other day it seems and for any reason (more of this and politics another time). They have warned us that not everyone turns up so I will find out when I get there if anyone comes from Birgunj.
On Tuesday we are heading off for a village stay. We will all go to stay with different families and take part in village life for a week. We have already had some cultural sessions on such topics as eating with the left hand only, not sharing food off a plate, sitting with your legs crossed (as it is extremely rude to show anyone the soles of your feet), using squat toilets and toilet etiquette and also how to shower outside under your lungi (and boys near to keep on their over-underpants!). I am told by others that we can expect an audience when we go to shower and that the village likes to come and watch at the communal taps................ Will let you know how that goes and if I have more than half an hours worth of Nepali to communicate with!
The Nepali language is coming along - some days better than others - we learn using the romanised script mostly, but we are also learning a little Nepali script. It is hard going and learning the Nepali script I feel I know what it was like when I first started reading. You have to first recognise each letter then try to remember the sound it makes and then try and sound out the whole word. It really feels great though when you can sound out a whole word!!
Have made friends with a family in the village and Rickie and I have been a couple of times for tea with them - the grandmother keeps asking if I will take her back to England with me but I told her I think her family will miss her too much! They have just started taking down the house - brick by brick - and then they will rebuild it on the same spot. We haven't figured out if they will make it bigger or they just fancied a new look. Meanwhile, the parents are staying in what I can only describe as a pile of bricks building and the children have moved in with relatives next door.
We all have rooms at the training centre and I am sharing with the crazy Dutch woman (Rickie) - actually we get on really well and I am very happy that we are sharing. After spending a month in the group there are times I am pleased to find a little space and Rickie and I keep each other sane! We have had a little problem with rats in our bedroom - well the rats were not such a problem it was more Rickie's screaming when she saw one! The people came over and sealed some of the holes in the ceiling and so now it is better. It might also have been helped by the fact that 2 of the guys here have agreed to sleep naked - it was one of their mother's stories, when they were little, that if they slept naked the rats would be attracted to the room so we asked them to try it out for us.
We are coming to terms with the lack of electricity but there is always excitement when the lights come on. The water is a little more difficult to contend with as you can't be certain if there will be any, if it will be hot or if it will last long enough to be able to wash the shampoo out again (been caught out a couple of times now by that one!).
Most people here now have experienced a bad stomach, some worse than others, I ended up taken one of the ladies to hospital earlier in the week as she had been ill and then passed out. The hospital was great though and she had extensive tests, x-ray and ECG done and results back within 2 hours - she was fine! Touch wood I have been OK so far.
Last week was a week for celebrations. It was New Year and more importantly my birthday. Decided to have a party on the Monday, as we did not have to go to school on Tuesday. We organised music, food and drink then, the man who owns the training centre surprised me. He had organised for two girls to come and dance for me. The dances were traditional Nepali dances and I was presented with a scarf as the special guest. They then presented me with a present of a photo frame and then a birthday cake with my name on it. Very special. The party was great with lots of dancing and singing and the big melon soaked in vodka was a hit. They came to turn the music off at 11pm - unfortunately Nepali night life finishes early so that you can be up by 5 or 6 am. Not one to give up though, we carried on in one of the bedrooms and got to bed about 3.30am. Not the same as being at home with family and friends but it was a great time and the people I am with made it special. They even clubbed together to give me a bucket of water to wash in! It was cold water and a few people had donated a few cups - better than nothing but I had been looking forward to treating myself to a shower with shower gel.
On my actual birthday, I got up early and had a few cards and presents. Anne brought me a red umbrella and had written a great poem about me and my umbrella. I also got a baseball cap and mask (to help with the dust and pollution) from Rickie and a packet of kit-kats (all in red). I was very happy until I had to spend the day in class on my own. My other class mates and a couple of others had to go into Kathmandu to get their tourist visa renewed. Luckily, I am told, my work visa has already been processed. We spent the evening with the last of the vodka and a couple of beers and I was very happy to get some birthday cards from home that my friends collected when they went into Kathmandu.
Yesterday 4 of us went for a day out to Panauti - it is a fairly large town with an historic area with lots of temples. It is claimed to have the oldest temple in Nepal - dating back to the 13th century. It is also where people bring their elderly and sick to die. They lay the people with their feet in the river as part of a cleansing and purifying process. After they die they then cremate the bodies by the river. We had a good day exploring and were lucky to be allowed into the temple as there was a party from Kathmandu University doing a field trip and the head priest had opened the temple especially. We also were invited into a government school on the way back, to have a look at the classrooms and chat with the teachers. Everyone is very friendly and welcoming.
Today we are preparing for a trip to Kathmandu tomorrow to meet people from the organisations we will be working with (strikes allowing). There are strikes here just about every other day it seems and for any reason (more of this and politics another time). They have warned us that not everyone turns up so I will find out when I get there if anyone comes from Birgunj.
On Tuesday we are heading off for a village stay. We will all go to stay with different families and take part in village life for a week. We have already had some cultural sessions on such topics as eating with the left hand only, not sharing food off a plate, sitting with your legs crossed (as it is extremely rude to show anyone the soles of your feet), using squat toilets and toilet etiquette and also how to shower outside under your lungi (and boys near to keep on their over-underpants!). I am told by others that we can expect an audience when we go to shower and that the village likes to come and watch at the communal taps................ Will let you know how that goes and if I have more than half an hours worth of Nepali to communicate with!
Showering with your clothes on? Good luck! (Sounds a bit like having a Brazilian with your knickers on... a male VSO thought that's how you did it - and he's a nurse too!) lol.
ReplyDeleteLike the way you casually mention the two men sleeping naked "to fend off the rats" you didn't say whether they were in your room? ...and I wonder if that custom holds true in Kampala? Must find out :)
TTFN - hope you enjoyed the village experience, sounds fab.
Tulabagane olulala! (See you later in Luganda) x x
Hello Debby , it,s nice to read your stories. When I am reading your storries I am thinking about the trip I made with Neeltje to Nepal. I can understand that you will see a lot more of this special country, I was impresed by the people of Nepal, the people doing their things in temples or in the street. The colours, the smellings and the animals. We wish you a very good time and we, marianne and I we are looking forward for your next storry. Next weekend I am very bussy to run my first firts marathon in Enschede, Neeltje will visit us to see this marathon, next weekend, the first of may we are going tot take Maartje from the airplain she is coming back from a period of 6 months working in Bonaire, one of the dutch Ilands in the Antilles.
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