Archive for February, 2010

From Ari

Monday 22nd February 2010

Namaste to everyone back home.

Well where do I start..

Wow, what an eventful, exciting time we have had over the past few days. Let me start from the beginning.

Flying into Nepal, looking out the aeroplane window and the first thing i see is the Himalayas. Beautifully breathtaking to say the least. Coming into Kathmandu we fly over the top of mountains.. ARRRGHGHH!!! but absolutely stunning.
Over the loudspeaker we hear.. ‘Temperature in Kathmandu 16 degrees.’ I quickly sit up in horror, wearing but knee length tights and a thin cardigan. Lars walks past and i eyeball him.. yes, very similar to the balmy 23-25 degrees he was telling us about prior to the trip. Despite all that, the weather is lovely. Refeshingly cool actually.

After sorting out passports we are met by Prem, and we board quite a luxurious mini van and drive through Kathmandu to the orphanage to meet the girls. We meet all the house mothers but unfortunately Lars (according to Prem) did not read the email fully and we are told that they are at ‘police club’. A dance and singing performance- parents welcome (much like our PCYC). So we decide to surprise them! The first face we see is Barme and she is met with many hugs by us all. We met Sneha and Dikshya, but no one else as they were all dancing and singing and we had time constraints. It was beautiful to see all the parents proud of their children. Very similar to our school concerts back home. After we say goodbye we leave to go the hotel to unpack, wander the streets of Thamel and then have some ‘Deri mito cha’ (very tasty) food. Needless to say we all fell asleep very quickly that night!

It feels like i have been here for a lot longer than 2 days, i am struggling to remember everything that has happened!
Yesterday we caught a taxi to the orphanage. Needless to say that was an experience in itself. Carla marching out in front, straight up to a driver, ‘how much to Apex College’? 300? No, i have been here before, i know how much it costs.’ Barta, barta, barta. Ok, next driver, ‘how much to Apex College? You know where it is? How many? There is 5 of us. Ok, ok 180. And thats where the fun began. Carla in the passengers seat. Me in first, followed by Louise, followed by dad, followed by mum. Then i hear, ‘Ari, sit on Louise’s lap, otherwise we wont all fit’. Mum is laughing, and then says, ‘lucky you are small’. On the way to the orphanage i do lots of pilates bum squeezes, which makes Louise laugh and me nearly hit my head on the roof several times.

Arriving at the orphanage was exciting and wonderfully overwhelming. Most of the younger girls are waiting at the gate and when Carla says, ‘are you going to let us in’? They all run away excitedly squealing, ‘Aunties and Uncles are here’! It was very sweet! Straight away we are all bombarded by beautiful, happy, smiling faces and hugs, and ‘hello Aunty’. I have been practicing my Nepali and have learnt how to say, ‘my name is Ari’. As soon as we get in the gate Mum is saying, ‘tell them your name’, but in my excited state i completely forgot! Then the older girls come down and straight away they take my hand and show me their all the rooms in their house! We spend a bit of time getting to know them all and everything was going smoothly until Anita bounds up to Mum (Anita is our sponsor child) and then she started bawling. Tears flowing like rivers! After we all talked and took photos we went downstairs and the girls got dancing! They are very talented.. me, ehh, not so much. I heard many giggles when my limbs and body went the opposite way to my talented teachers Goma and Rabina. The house mothers thought it was hilarious aswell. Lucky Louise and everyone else was made to get up and dance too! Following our dancing we went upstairs and did my planned activity- making windmills! (Thanks g’ma) Well, didnt that go down a treat. For the next hour all i heard was, ‘Aunty can i have this, i need more of this, Aunty, Aunty, Aunty!’ haha We then spent the remaining afternoon talking and playing sport. Carla, Mum and Dad took the younger girls out to be measured so a special outfit can be made for their collective birthday. While they were gone we played soccer with the well looked after Alsatian dog from next door and then Louise and i shelled broad beans (yum!!). Louise has shortened her name while she is here, telling everyone to call her Lou for short. Of course, as you can all imagine, Lars had enough ammunition with that alone to keep the girls laughing all afternoon with the comparison Lou- to Loo. A particularly funny bit was having one of the girls run over and say ‘there’s a redback in your loo!’ and G’day mate, hows it goin? haha it was a fantastic day!

Today there is a strike, so all public transport, schools and most shops are closed. They are striking to get better facilities at schools. Some children turn up at school with no food, so by striking they are hoping (teachers) to at least be able to feed the children who turn up with nothing one meal. We are supposed to be visiting the girls at lunch, but without the transport, its touch and go. We decided at breakfast that the strike was for a good change, and we dont mind walking the 1hour their and back.

Carla, Lars and i also did yoga this morning! Wow, that was awesome. Vim, the man who did it, was a freak. He was able to do literally everything!

We are leaving in 30mins or so to walk to the orphanage, so this will be all until next time.

Namaste, Ari.

From Louise

After 2 nights now in Nepal i am feeling more settled and comfortable with what this trip will be all about. i will admit i came on this venture with a completely open mind, no preconceptions and no expectations. the only thing i knew was that i was about to experience things that were absolutely so far from the world that i exist in back in Hervey Bay. Flying into Kathmandu was mindblowing, seeing the Himalayas bought tears to my eyes as they were pure magic. Walking the streets was an assult on the senses and only now have i got my bearings and can manage to find my way from our accomodation to a few of the landmarks here.

Yesterday our group spent most of the day up at the orphanage with the girls and i think i could say that all of us including the girls would have slept so well last night as it was such an energetic day. we spent the morning watching them dance and i once again confirmed to myself that i am a terrible dancer as they loved to get us up and teach us some of their moves. after we did craft with them we were invited to have lunch and then it was outside for more playtime – cricket, ball games, skipping with even the next door neighbour’s dog joining in! back up onto the balcony for a bit of quiet time, shelling beans with the woman who cooks for the girls and just very happy bantering between all. When the younger girls had returned from getting fitted for their birthday outfits it was time for us to make our way back to the Annupurna Guest House and then some free time before heading out to dinner.

have just had a lovely breakfast, with some free time before we make our way back to spend some time with the girls. we will be walking there today as there is a strike on today and no transport will be available, it will take an hour to get there which i am looking forward to, it will give another perspective on things here in Nepal. although i must say i have loved the taxi rides, jammed into a tiny little suzuki with no such road rules and lots of horns beeping is stuff that puts the biggest grin on my face. i don’t know why but it hasn’t scared me one iota! i have complete faith in the driver. 5 of us squeezing into a taxi reminds me of that joke about how many people can be fitted into a mini!

our accomodation is safe and secure, we have approx 10 hours of power a day here, so when its on its time to get phones, torches and cameras charged up. the temperature is chilly in the mornings and evening and through the day is quite warm.
i am seeing certainly a different side of life here and that said i see open, quite peaceful faces on people who by our standard have very little in the way of material possessions.
Everything has been overwhelming yet by coming here with an open mind is allowing me to soak up each minute for what it is, this is about savouring the experience, sitting back and observing what is happening around me. there is something to be said about just letting things happen and going along with it and enjoying the ride.

Namaste

Louise