Hello all. Sorry I have been so bad at updating my blog this week, but it has been a week fullof travel and adventure, so I forgive myself. I am now in Nepal, but let me recount my last week or so. This first entry I wrote a few days ago but haven’t gotten a chance to post it until now.
I spent my last weekend in Thailand in the Bangkok area, roming around, eating, and playing ultimate frisbee. It wasn’t too hot so it was actually quite pleasant. And the best part was that I wasn’t alone. Friday night and Saturday I was with new friends I met at the last school I visited, and Sunday evening I met up with my first friend (Angie) for frisbee.
Monday morning I was taken to the airport by the last school I visited. Though I waited in line at the checkin counter and customs, I did finally make it to Kathmandu by around 6pm. I was greeted by Muna and her father, and they both put these cloth scarves around me to welcome me. I have now come to understand that those scarves are blessed by Buddhist monks and that they are given to guests to wish them luck and a happy and long life. I have received probably 20 of them in the last 5 days (we have done lots of visiting) so I guess I should have a really really long life now eh?
Anyway I was taken to Muna’s beautiful home not too far from the airport. The home was designed by Muna’s parents and it is fairly new, with a gorgeous garden and a wonderful homely feel. I got the tour of the home, chatted with Muna’s family (or tried to at least, for Muna’s mom doesn’t speak English and her dad’s English is only decent), and ate my first taste of Nepali dalbaht (rice and lentils). Yum! I can get used to this! Muna and I are sleeping in the same room and bed so it’s quite cozy – which is actually nice because there is no heater in Muna’s home, not even a space heater or fireplace!
Tuesday morning we woke up at 8am but chatted in bed for a while. Got up, relaxed outside, and then we went to visit an old friend of Muna’s, Tommy. His wife used to be Muna’s teacher, but she has been in a coma for exactly 3 months from a stroke. It was a sad morning because she is only in her 30s and her husband and family are obviously very upset. We had lunch with Tommy and stayed with him for quite a few hours, so hopefully that felt good.
By about 5pm, we were out again, this time to meet another friend of Muna’s (Situ) in the touristy/hippie section of KTM, Thamel. We walked around, sat in a restaurant, chatted… We met up with some other friends who had recently opened up a bar, and we played music, sang, had a beer. It’s nice because all Muna’s friends speak wonderful English, so it’s a nice change from Thailand. Unfortunately, Muna’a parents called at 9:30pm and were mad that we weren’t home yet, so our evening was cut a little short.
Wednesday morning we woke up super early (like 5:30am) to go to the Buddhist monastery. It’s located on a high hill and it was a beautiful clear morning. I lit candles to pray for personal peace as well as the happiness of others. I spun prayer wheels, both big and small. I gave money to poor people. I climbed a huge hill to spin more prayer wheels, walk around the monastery, and get a red dot on my head (a blessing, I think)… It was great! Not only am I fascinated by Buddhism, but it was so nice to be able to make this trip with Buddhists, because everything was explained to me, and I actually got to go through the motions rather than just take pictures of a pretty monastery. And actually, I have no pictures…
After our mini pilgrimage, I went into town with Muna and her mom. We had some shopping to do because tomorrow we are going on a trip. We spent the afternoon walking around, bargaining, buying food, incense, spices, clothes. It was a great tour of the city, but I did come home with a little cough because there is a fair amount of pollution in downtown KTM. It didn’t smell bad and I didn’t even notice the pollution, but I definitely suffered the consequences of it.
We arrived back home at about 4pm because we had to get ready to go to a wedding reception! And I got to dress up in a turquoise sari! It was incredibly uncomfortable because you have to tie the skirt really tight so it was digging into my sides, but I did feel quite elegant. I have lots of pictures, mostly because Muna’s parents were so happy I was wearing a sari! The wedding reception itself was nothing specia, though I did sample a lot of food. The food trays just kept coming around so I was completely stuffed by the time the dinner buffet started. Ah well, that’s me – always eating! I do make Muna’s parents happy though – they love watching me eat!
As you can see, it has been a very busy last few days. Just a few notes that I didn’t include in this summary:
1) Muna’s family, as well as most people, have solar heating. It’s great and wonderfully environmentally friendly, though quite cold to take a shower in the mornings! By 4pm, though, the water is wonderfully warm.
2) We eat with our hands, sort of Senegalese style. And Muna’s parents are so proud of me, because from the first meal, I said I would eat like them. It was a bit messy first, but I think I’ve gotten the hang of it.
3) My new Nepali name is Binti, which means “please” and “promise”. Muna’s dad named me that because it’s similar to my real name.
4) I am an adopted member of the family, and have been since the first moment. I was told that I am to call Muna’s father “baba” and her mom, “ama” which mean dad and mom respectively. They are also introducing me as their “chori” or daughter. It’s nice to feel so welcome and really makes me feel like I am welcome as opposed to a burden that is living in their home.
I spent my last weekend in Thailand in the Bangkok area, roming around, eating, and playing ultimate frisbee. It wasn’t too hot so it was actually quite pleasant. And the best part was that I wasn’t alone. Friday night and Saturday I was with new friends I met at the last school I visited, and Sunday evening I met up with my first friend (Angie) for frisbee.
Monday morning I was taken to the airport by the last school I visited. Though I waited in line at the checkin counter and customs, I did finally make it to Kathmandu by around 6pm. I was greeted by Muna and her father, and they both put these cloth scarves around me to welcome me. I have now come to understand that those scarves are blessed by Buddhist monks and that they are given to guests to wish them luck and a happy and long life. I have received probably 20 of them in the last 5 days (we have done lots of visiting) so I guess I should have a really really long life now eh?
Anyway I was taken to Muna’s beautiful home not too far from the airport. The home was designed by Muna’s parents and it is fairly new, with a gorgeous garden and a wonderful homely feel. I got the tour of the home, chatted with Muna’s family (or tried to at least, for Muna’s mom doesn’t speak English and her dad’s English is only decent), and ate my first taste of Nepali dalbaht (rice and lentils). Yum! I can get used to this! Muna and I are sleeping in the same room and bed so it’s quite cozy – which is actually nice because there is no heater in Muna’s home, not even a space heater or fireplace!
Tuesday morning we woke up at 8am but chatted in bed for a while. Got up, relaxed outside, and then we went to visit an old friend of Muna’s, Tommy. His wife used to be Muna’s teacher, but she has been in a coma for exactly 3 months from a stroke. It was a sad morning because she is only in her 30s and her husband and family are obviously very upset. We had lunch with Tommy and stayed with him for quite a few hours, so hopefully that felt good.
By about 5pm, we were out again, this time to meet another friend of Muna’s (Situ) in the touristy/hippie section of KTM, Thamel. We walked around, sat in a restaurant, chatted… We met up with some other friends who had recently opened up a bar, and we played music, sang, had a beer. It’s nice because all Muna’s friends speak wonderful English, so it’s a nice change from Thailand. Unfortunately, Muna’a parents called at 9:30pm and were mad that we weren’t home yet, so our evening was cut a little short.
Wednesday morning we woke up super early (like 5:30am) to go to the Buddhist monastery. It’s located on a high hill and it was a beautiful clear morning. I lit candles to pray for personal peace as well as the happiness of others. I spun prayer wheels, both big and small. I gave money to poor people. I climbed a huge hill to spin more prayer wheels, walk around the monastery, and get a red dot on my head (a blessing, I think)… It was great! Not only am I fascinated by Buddhism, but it was so nice to be able to make this trip with Buddhists, because everything was explained to me, and I actually got to go through the motions rather than just take pictures of a pretty monastery. And actually, I have no pictures…
After our mini pilgrimage, I went into town with Muna and her mom. We had some shopping to do because tomorrow we are going on a trip. We spent the afternoon walking around, bargaining, buying food, incense, spices, clothes. It was a great tour of the city, but I did come home with a little cough because there is a fair amount of pollution in downtown KTM. It didn’t smell bad and I didn’t even notice the pollution, but I definitely suffered the consequences of it.
We arrived back home at about 4pm because we had to get ready to go to a wedding reception! And I got to dress up in a turquoise sari! It was incredibly uncomfortable because you have to tie the skirt really tight so it was digging into my sides, but I did feel quite elegant. I have lots of pictures, mostly because Muna’s parents were so happy I was wearing a sari! The wedding reception itself was nothing specia, though I did sample a lot of food. The food trays just kept coming around so I was completely stuffed by the time the dinner buffet started. Ah well, that’s me – always eating! I do make Muna’s parents happy though – they love watching me eat!
As you can see, it has been a very busy last few days. Just a few notes that I didn’t include in this summary:
1) Muna’s family, as well as most people, have solar heating. It’s great and wonderfully environmentally friendly, though quite cold to take a shower in the mornings! By 4pm, though, the water is wonderfully warm.
2) We eat with our hands, sort of Senegalese style. And Muna’s parents are so proud of me, because from the first meal, I said I would eat like them. It was a bit messy first, but I think I’ve gotten the hang of it.
3) My new Nepali name is Binti, which means “please” and “promise”. Muna’s dad named me that because it’s similar to my real name.
4) I am an adopted member of the family, and have been since the first moment. I was told that I am to call Muna’s father “baba” and her mom, “ama” which mean dad and mom respectively. They are also introducing me as their “chori” or daughter. It’s nice to feel so welcome and really makes me feel like I am welcome as opposed to a burden that is living in their home.
