boardnsurf00

12-18-FEB-2008 MONTHLY HEALTH CHECKS, FUN DAYS, AND VACCINATIONS As a result of the diesel shortage, the jeep is unavailable for health activities. M.B. (VSN's transportation officer) takes matters into his own hands and borrows a friend's taxi to facilitiate the fourth round of vaccinations and the Shining Stars health check and fun day. We pile the vaccination, health check/fun day supplies into the undersized boot and head off on our way. We pick up the nurse with a random white girl (her apparent assistant) and head to four of the six VSN sponsored homes to inject meningitis vaccines and follow ups from the previous months. There is a definite shortage of follow up vaccs at Charity because the vaccination reports and spreadsheets I used to plan the number were completely out-of-date and inaccurate, though they are ... read more

27-JAN -- 05-FEB-2008 WORK We postpone the remaining January health fun days because unfortunately Daniel (the other health team member) is sick, and I surely cannot handle all these kids on my own. I manage the Charity health files in the office so that they're all in one place and attempt to type up the health check and last two monthly reports every night for about a week, but the power is consistently off in the evenings. Makes running the organization very difficult. My patience with the kids is dropping exponentially by the day. Because of the number of them at the home, they have absolutely no discipline so some are extremely disrespectful to any type of authority. I attempt to take care of Pawanraj's chronic ear infection that just won't quit. But after an extensive ... read more

11-18-JAN-2008 I planned out Round Three of the vaccinations and managed health fun day preparations. Our first health fun day of the month went well with the children coloring in their renditions of healthy and unhealthy people. There was also a hygene and layering talk, and duck duck goose and pin the tail on the goat (regardless of the relatively insignificant goat tails). The difference between the kids in VSN vs. non-VSN homes is astounding in terms of their personal contact, discipline and overall personalities. At Charity, a case of lip impetigo completely cleared in response to oral antibiotics and large leg burn evaded infection a la moi! It seems very strange when electricity is on in Thamel in the evenings. Power cuts are now up to 36hr/wk, 30% of the time including most evenings when ... read more

01-03-JAN-2008 On New Year's Day I first woke up at exactly the time corresponing to midnight at home- I must have subconsciously realized what I was missing. Because everyone at reception knows me by now, I was granted the permission to sleep well past check out time to when I felt comfortable enough to function. I head to my new host family for absolutely AMAZING daal bhaat- no lie. They asked me my preference on spiciness and the baa (father) even brought home pizza for the New Year, making me eat a couple slices. PIZZA! The baa is eager to advance his English, and has offered to have their 10yr old daughter teach me more Nepali. He also offers to treat me to beer the following night, but I try to let him down softly as ... read more

24-25-DEC-2007 It is Christmas Eve but it certainly does not feel like it. I opt to push the shower back another day because it will make it even more special being on Christmas. And besides, the water is not hot. I speak with Emma (the founder of VSN) about the prospect of switching families. After seeing how welcoming and sweet other families are, I will do whatever it takes- I am ready for a change. It will make my experience that much more meaningful. Paul is dressed up as Santa in the office- I about have a heart attack due to shock upon seeing him. A bit unexpected. As such, he heaves a huge green sack of coats and winter hats for the Charity children down into the jeep. Many of the people do double takes ... read more