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6 May
Hi guys
I'm writing from the mountains, Syrabrubensi, Langtang - a small dusty little village at the bottom edge of a valley, nestled amongst enormous terraced, rocky and tree covered (all in one) mountains.
There has been ups and downs - the downs - nothing much really but at the time I did kinda get p!ssed off - mostly to do with our host mother who turned out to be a bit of a character - will leave it at that! It all adds to the experience I suppose- oh and one thing I was over the moon about when I arrived here was the bathroom! Being brought up by my Mum, a cleanliness freak, haha, I found the toilet thing in Nepal a little difficult to adjust (understatement!) so when I arrived here, expecting a soiled smelly squat hole, and an outdoor public tap for shower (what the organisation had trained us to expect), imagine my happiness and joy when I saw our western private toilet and shower, 2 weeks newly fitted and clean!
We arrived here on the premise of teaching at the village library, funded by our organisation, and possibly at the
local village Nepali school but we ended up teaching at the Tibetan school from 7.30am - 9.30 am and 4.30pm - 6.pm. It’s actually a hostel, 44 Tibetan children of refugee status, right next to the Nepali school. They have their own lessons in the morning and evening and in the day they join the Nepali students’ classes.
They have a shortage of teachers, so in principle they have lessons from 7.30am - 9.30am but the children just sit there in the classrooms, books in front of them. The first lesson I took my heart just melted! The kids, mostly aged 12 were so exciteable and enthusiastic, a little rowdy but only because they were overjoyed at having some stimulus and attention. We are the first volunteers to teach just the Tibetan students for a long long time. And I felt so sad seeing the classrooms - it’s like bombs have hit them - litter everywhere, walls soiled, tables and chairs decrepit. So after that first day Rachel and I both decided that ordering paint and doing as many rooms as we could in our free days would make a much needed change - Maybe seeing us foreigners giving
such attention to the state of the classrooms would make the Nepali teachers want to enforce some sort of classroom cleanliness and respect order. We hope.
At first I even felt a little sad seeing the children - some of them are so young, aged 6 and they have this heavily burdened routine from 6am till 9pm everyday, no individual love and attention but still so adoreably behaved. Rachel and I have also ordered some school shirts for them as they are so tatty, and some handkerchiefs - never seen so many snotty noses in all of my life, and the snot, yellow and thick (sorry, but needed to add that bit!), they really should all take a course of antibiotics.
I’m learning so much about Tibetan culture - they are the lovliest, warmest and most gentle people I have ever met. Made friends with the sweetest guy Tashy, the school pharmacist who takes us on walks around the area. Most of the kids are sponsored by a Free Tibet association in France, without which these kids would have no access to education - the Exile Government of Tibet is funded soley on donations. What’s really sad is
that because they are refugees they have little rights and can only be employed by the Government in Exile or in the private sector. A lot of my students want to be doctors or nurses, but it is impossible, without citizenship. How is that fair? I know survival of the fittest and all, the Chinese overpowered the Tibetan army in 1951, but what fault is it of the children that they are born as refugees - so unfair, and seeing it really makes you feel it - especially when you see the conditions that the people in the camps live and the children - it’s heart wrenching - but shouldn’t get sad and I am learning from them - they are almost always smiling - even the kids, my class IV has me in stitches they’re so funny and full of life. Tashy as a pharmacist gets paid 5000 Rs (less than 50 pounds) per month by the Government in Exile- as a solicitor I will be billing clients more than quadruple that in an hour. I felt horrible when I thought of this.
So that is my new cause! Free Tibet, or at least help the Tibetans in
exile live a more fulfilling life, supporting education and preserving their beautiful culture.
Oh and the mountains! Maaaan it’s so beautiful! It is so surreal sometimes going on walks it feels like I’m in a film set. Pictures and words don’t do justice, the mountains, the forests which cut into the valleys and the views of neighbouring Langtang I and II, snowcapped and timeless in their beauty, it’s amazing - I know I’ll be thinking of these things when I’m slogging away at my computer back in London in a few months time. And I had a bit of a frightening experience - no not the Maoists - we walked past a training camp last week and the commander in chief of the area (allegedly of course) was very pleasant. Tourists aren’t, thankfully a target any more. Yes the frightening experience was slipping off a ridge whilst walking down the mountain - they’re so steep, don’t know how the locals can wear just sandals, luckily the trees and bushes saved me from injuring myself. The only upsetting thing is seeing rubbish having been tipped over the edges, and it’s a common site here- there is no waste disposal system.
Enjoy the pics ;---)
Shelly and Leila arrive tomorrow and we start the 4 day Gosaikunda trek. So excited to see them!!!
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Laura
non-member comment
Hello! 1 week ago I was walking arround those mountains! and i write you because i would like to know how can i go to teach english in this area? Thank you very much! Laura