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Blocking the sun...
a monk makes his rounds around the Stupa I apologize that it has taken me so long to write a blog since I've arrived in Nepal, but between a fairly busy schedule and the painfully slow internet pace I've had a hard time to find time to sit and write- until now. And I have yet to find a computer to upload pictures at any kind of decent pace- unfortunate because I already have so many amazing pictures I would love to share...but it will have to wait.
I've been in Nepal for almost 3 weeks now- man it's gone by so fast already! The organization that I'm volunteering with, Voluneer Society Nepal (VSN), is an amazing organization that is really committed to doing a lot of tangible good for the Nepalese people- they just opened up a free health clinic in a squatter community.
The first two weeks I recieved Nepali language classes, I was able to get through some initial frusterations, and am now able to communicate on a fairly basic level, but still very exciting to learn and use a new language. I was also taken around to a lot of sight seeing areas around Kathmandu, to monestaries, temples and small villages around
Daily evening market
Every day around 4:00 people fill the streets to buy anything from veggies and fruits to sunglasses, t-shirts, little trinkets- an awesome time of the day to observe true nepali culture the city. It was nice to have 2 weeks to adjust to being in the country, by far the poorest country that I've been in so far- even in the capital city of Kathmandu, basic infastructure and necessities are lacking.
....as i often do when i sit down to write one of these blogs I find a loss of words, an inability to articulate what I want to share- so I'm going to share a little bit of what I've written in my journal- which may give you guys a better idea of what I'm experiencing here...
As I come into more aware consciousness, ending my meditation- and the late afternoon sun shines on me- one of my drifting thoughts is centered on my love for this time of day. When the day is winding down and the last rays of sunlight shines- a soft warmth and light results- twinkle time as my mom would call it. People seem to unwind as they wrap up their day and around the 5:00 time the main priority for people is relaxation- release from the days activities- it's a nice time for the transition from business of the day to the
Holy Man
One of the holy men that often spend their times around hindu temples, giving up all personal professions, living in a mountain- and ask for money when you take their picture... tranquility of the night- and the sun shines on us so lovingly, so warm and safe. It's the time of day I feel the most relazed- it's the time of day I appreciate the sun and it's energy the most- isn't that when we appreciate everything the most- when we can see it's end or after it has already departed- hopefully this is not always the case.
Sitting on top of the Stupa at this time of day (a busshist temple) is becoming one of my favorite daily rituals. Watching monks dressed in their robes with prayer beads in hand, little kids running around- some coming up curagiously for an attempted conversation- others watching from a distance with a curious eye- the colorful prayer flags blowing in the wind, and the eyes of the Buddha watching over it all (painted on top of the Stupa)- an extremely calming and peaceful energy that the Stupa elluminates.
My hair is red now- or a coppertone color as one of the other volunteers has put it- one of my indulgences into the Nepali culture. A natural altertication to the color of my hair with henna die. Unsure of my fondness of
Women carrying weeds for their cows
Women and men- mostly women actually- walk around carrying enormous loads of ramdom things on their backs- bricks, these huge baskets of grass, HUGE dressers- and almost anything else you can imagine...amazing! the tone on me- but then again nothing is permanent.
The sounds of Nepal: the business of the city- honking, sound of traffic, people talking, kids playing and laughing, the occasional bell or musical tones vibrating in the distance. And once you venture down the roads out of the city into the villages a truly quiet and peaceful absence of sound. The dog orchestra that begins around 10:00 each night and resurfaces throughout the day. They seem to all know when to begin- right when you lay your head down and begin to doze off about 20-30 dogs being their night time howling as if they have some urgent news to share. Somehow after 3 weeks of being here the consistency of this orchestra becomes comforting and easily fades into the background of the night's noises.
The smells of Nepal: a little dirty, the invasive smell of dirt kicked up by feet or wheels, the occaisonal smell of urine- reminding you of the inadequate sewage systems, and the pollution- not the most welcoming smells in the city but surprisingly easy to get used to.
The tastes of Nepal: daal bhaat (rice and lentils) with curry spices and
Classic Nepali Man
I was taking a picture of the Stupa behind this man and when i took my eye away from the camera this little man was about a two feet away from me asking me to take his picture...he really wanted his picture taken...cute other seasonings mixed in with vegetables. Daal bhaat is served twice a day for our meals, but luckily my mother here is an amazing cook and is able to spice it up each night. And the taste of chiyaa (Nepali tea) a sweet treat that is served several times a day.
The sights of Nepal: beautiful colors draped over women in the forms of saris, prayer flags holding the red, green, blue, yellow and white of the elements interpretted by Buddhism. Brick homes, old houses, old cars and trucks, motorbikes, a smoggy view of the mountains in the distance, trash forever living in the streets- and the stares. People here are very interested in the bideshi (foriegner-white person)- a smile their way however quickly changes their blank stares into a warm smile.
The feel of Nepal: an interesting combination of the polarity of business, crowdedness and hustle and bustle felt from a city equalized by an overriding sense of peace and tranqulity of a slower pace of life. A village feeling in the middle of the city. The land where the Buddha was born, there must be a rooted spirituality that radiates from this special land. The feel
Me and the Stupa
This is a Buddhist Temple that I often spend my afternoons at- meditating and watching all the people walk around of daal bhaat between my fingers- eating with my hands here, as is the custom, gathering rice and lentils with my fingers and shoving it in my mouth- to me still a playful way to eat. The feel of a hard bed that my body lies on each night- with a matress that is more like a blanket on top of a flat board- the feel of sore shoulders in the AM if i happen to turn on my side during the night- the trick is to stay on your back. The feel of a cold, tempermental, drizziling shower- and with everything combined results in the feeling of a simple life, void of westernized and industrialized distractions. With the absence of material poseessions and technology, you're left with your thoughts, books and surrounding company- the intense feeling of slowing down- being more in the moment- a feeling I'm learning to love to embrace.
Nepal- my home for the nezt five months!!! I plan to spend 2 months in Kathmandu- travel to India for a month, then spend 3 months in the Solukumbu region, up by the Himilayas- 2 months volunteering and one month trekking.
I have begun my
work in a monestary, teaching english to little monks, ranging from ages 8-15, loving, peaceful kids that I'm having a blast teaching. Although they really just throw you into teaching with no training- they assume because you are a westerner with an education you know everything- so it's been more that challenging to figure out how to teach a language so that it makes sense to these children- but i'm up for the challenge. I'm also starting to get involved in other projects but will describe more about those once I am more involved in the projects.
Today there were 8 children being initiated into the monestary as monks- and I was able to attend the ceremony. One of the children's parents were unable to attend, so I stood in as his spiritual relative and was able to hold the bowl that the shaven hair falls into as one of the monks strips the children of their hair. Chanting, meditating and the robe dressing- an amazing thing to observe.
So as each day comes and goes I find myself falling more and more in love with Nepal. I have been having waves of homesickness though- not so much
Robing Ceremony
At the monestary i taught in, I was able to participate in one of the boy's head shaving rituals since his parents were unable to attend- so i stood in as his spiritual relative- holding the pan for the fallen hair homesickness but more just missing the many loved ones I've left behind- but I know you guys will be there when I get back- so I'm not holding back embracing in the moment while I'm here- but still hold all of you close to my heart.
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Said Dnoub
non-member comment
Hello dear, Nice to hear something from you. I read your blog and it seems to me very interesting. I think you have a wonderful expirience at the moment. Just enjoy and help were you can help. The children you're teaching English probably find you a very nice teacher. See or hear from you soon, Very big hug, big kiss en bye bye, Love Sahib xxx