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Published: June 10th 2007
Woman Farmer
When I was sitting in Sundarijal drawing the prayer flags in the hills, this woman came and sat next tome for about an hour...a beautiful, hard working woman I suppose it's slightly obvious to say- at least to me- what makes a country worth visiting is the natural landscape, climate and beauty of the country in combination of the culture and vibe of the people. And to me Nepal has both criteria covered and exceeded. Although I have yet to venture out of Kathmandu Valley- or just barely outside of it- my hilltop I climb every morning on the way to school and the hikes I've taken in Sundarijal- I've gotten a glimpse of the immense beauty of this country- and i can only imagine what it will be like once I explore more. And the people- amazingly generous and hospitable- when they say in Nepal that they see their guests as Kings/Gods (I forgot which one they use) but either one- it's true- they go so far out of their way to welcome you, serve you and make you feel comfortable. My family for example would wait on me hand and foot if I allowed them to- but it's nice now that I've been here for about a month and a half- the comfort level has increased and I feel more like family than a godly guest-
obviously my preference.
So after 2 weeks of teaching english in the Monestary- I decided to switch my placement. I enjoyed teaching the little monks, but they had such a limited time during the day for english lessons- I was only teaching for an hour there- and it took me over an hour to get to the monestary....so I found my time there not to be as effective as I could be somewhere else. On one of my days off I went for a hike and met a principal of a government school located up on the hill behind my house. I started talking to him and long story short- I have now switched to teaching english in his school- grades 6-9. I started for 2 days and then there was a teacher strike for 10 days- so school was closed- frusterating! During that time I helped paint 2 classrooms- which felt nice to accomplish something concrete- but now that school has resumed I've been back into the swing of things.
Going through phases of frusteration volunteering here- I can't help but to ask myself- is my time and effort spent here really going to help anyone- is
it going to make a difference at all? - just teaching english? When I was exploring the field of speech pathology- I remember Diane Grubb sharing with me the fulfillment she got out of helping children communicate effectively, to be able to relate to other people. That comment really stuck with me- and I've been able to transfer that mindset to my work out here- teaching english. By teaching english I like to think I am helping these children have the opportunity to comunicate on an international level- with judgement aside- it's a fact that english is the international language. English for sure opens doors for people out here and allows them to communicate with foriegners and to learn what its like in other parts of the world- gain a broader perspective of the world. So although I am still a little skeptical- and know that I am going to be the one that benefits most from my experience here- I've tried to still adopt the above perspective to feel slightly fulfilled about my work here. So i've found myself entering a new stage of acceptance that I can't make a substantial change in this country and put my focus
Women carrying bundles of pine
Everyday they walk over an hour carrying these huge loads and be more content on the smaller day to day things I'm involved with.
So my typical day....waking up between 6:30- 8, depending on how motivated I am to skip rope in the AM- I have my morning chiyaa (tea) and something to eat. Before daal bhaat was served every morning- but feeling more comfortable with my family I've made the transition to either eggs or fruit. Then I walk to school- through some 'back roads' if you will- a village sense feel- children in their school uniforms, holding hands, arms around each other walking to school. (A very big cultural difference here is the affection shared between men- often you'll see grown men- even old men holding hands walking down the street or arms around each other.) I have morning conversations with the occasional few children that walk beside me to give their english a go with me. Approaching a terraced hill- instantly feeling the escape of the business and crowdedness of the city- I climb the hill- pass by a pine grove forest to the top of the hill to see great views of the hazy Kathmandu city. On the hill amongst the pine trees I stop
Nepali Farmer
This man has lived his whole life up in the hills and has never heard of America....quite amazing to talk to and sit for a morning meditation- listening to the birds chirp, cows and goats wandering around, women passing by with huge loads on their backs.
(BTW- the picture in my previous blog of the women carrying the huge loads of grass- I tried the other day- I asked one of the women if I could carry it- so for like 20 minutes i did- with about 15 people following me and laughing- and damn it's heavy!!!! my neck was sore for like 3 days afterwards! glad i tried- not that i didnt have respect for the women before- but now it's on a different level!)
Sitting in the AM I feel refreshed, calm and grounded to officially start my day. Reaching the winding road that takes me along the backside of the hill- I gaze out to breathtaking views of mountians, terraced hills, and mud houses scattered through the hills. I stop at one of the water sources- surprisingly clean flowing water to wash my face, amonst the women doing their daily laundry. I turn the corner to see my school- I teach 4 classes- challenging but gets easier every day. One of the teachers has asked me to
Cute Kid
The people I've met in Sundarijal
help him research his opportunities of studying physics in the States- so we often talk about that. other teachers are friendly and with limitd english i find myself speaking more Nepali with them. The children, whose families are mostly farmers, have such a basic understanding of English- often I try to explain my instructions in broken Nepali so they understand- always fosters a few laughs- but I think the point gets across. At 1:30 I'm done with classes and go to eat the snack that's prepared at the school- bitten rice (basically dried flat rice) yogurt and potatoes. Leaving the school some days I go for a hike further on- in the Sundarijal region- where a feeling of escape really takes over. One family I've met there- I sit with and have tea until I move on to a secret spot i was shown by one of the farmers. Walking on a little path in between the terraced land- to a spot overlooking hundreds of long poles decorated with white flags which play in the wind on the hillside. Oh how I love the prayer flags. The colored flags seem to decorate the sky, brings our attention to the wind-
Terraced Hills and fields
This is the hill that i walk up to my school every morning- beautiful to start my day with when you watch a prayer flag blowing in the wind, your attention can not be held back from wandering into thinking about the wind. Brings us to the present moment while at the same time sending out a positive message through the wind to all beings- a beautiful thing!
Most days I take the same route home- it's become a daily occurance to sit with 2 women I've met- have some tea with them and attempt to talk in Nepali with them- since they dont speak any english- enough is communicated to feel a closeness- a connection. Such simple, easy lives they seem to live- always taking things slow and always eager and available to sit with me and chat and enjoy each other's presence. I either find the women outside washing clothes, picking through rice, making necklaces, doing some other of the hundred ramdom chores they do, or just sitting outside enjoying the day- greeting the passerbys which are more like family to them than anything else. I have forgotten my friend's names- of course- but everyone you meet here is a 'didi' or 'daai'- sister/brother- that it's a perfect way to excuse my terrible fault of not
being able to remember names- and instantly makes you feel closer to someone once you call them sister/brother.
The boys that I've met- in their late 20s- proud to be living off the wealth of their parents- they seem to spend their days riding with their motorbikes from place to place to just chill- hanging out with them here and there provides a glimpse into a more modern Nepal- the new generation- you can see a little of the culutre lost in them- their desire to become more westernized- but of course they still have their roots in Nepal- and that underlying culture is still there- they still have an eagerness to share whatever it is that they have with me- coca cola, some grass, chiyaa, a ride on their bikes....
The friends I play the Nepali game with- usually a boy game it seems, but my one didi who holds her own amongst them, always invites me to play when she sees me passing. a game inbetween shuffle board and pool- a great way to waste time I suppose.
Once I get home I usually spend time with Devika- our 'domestic helper' which is nice cause we'll be the only ones home. Sometimes we visit the Hindu temple across the street- or just sit outside to listen to the Hindi music that's played from the temple. errands, a visit to the Stupa, or going to the internet takes up my afternoons. In the evenings, visiting with the family, helping my aamaa cook dinner, reading, playing my guitar, drawing, writing- a lot of free time on my hands. Nice to feel that- but at times has made me feel anxious- like I should always be doing something- a westernized ingrained mantality- but finding each day easier to accept more and more the simple, less busy life.
Oh, how I'm loving it here more here with each passing day.
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Saïd
non-member comment
Hello Kee, Nice to hear again something from you. I think you're doing a great job teaching english. I'm jaleous about your typical day. Especially the meditation. Did you know that my two sons Omar and Dries know the capital of Nepal. They say Kathmandu with a very nice accent. Ok love keep up the good work and hear from you soon. Big kiss, Sahibxxx