Yesterday it was my brother’s 2nd wedding anniversary with his wife and I decided to do something nice for them. After school I went to the big market in Pokhara and bought food for a party. I ordered a cake and had it personalized, I bought a liter of Coke and a liter of Mountain Dew (and these are not cheap because they’re imported), and I got some mandarin oranges and grapes. When I got home, we got everything organized, and then we waited for the 2 lovebirds to come home from the office. When they did, we surprised them with out party! I think they were very happy and felt very honored that I did this for them, especially since it’s not like I’ve known them for very long. We fed each other cake (a Nepali tradition which was also followed for Muna’s birthday), we had a nice dinner (ate a TON!), and we all had wine (all the other girls mixed it with coke, which I think sounds disgusting but apparently is what women in Nepal do, both so that they don’t get drunk and also because they’re used to having to hide the fact that they’re drinking from their elders). After dinner, we all got very silly – the girls likely because they were feeling the effects of the alcohol which they so seldom drink, and me simply because this family makes me feel silly. They’re so innocent and they like to laugh so much that I think it rubs off on me and I feel like a kid again.
Ama (mom) hasn’t been home since Wednesday because she left to go to her village to visit her husband, who still lives there so that he can take care of the family farm. She’ll be home in a few days, and I know that Jyoti and Aartee can’t wait to see her. Two days ago, they both started getting teary-eyed over dinner because they missed her so much. Though on the surface I acted concerned and sad with them, in my mind I was thinking, “Are you girls 4 years old??”. Mom, if you’re reading this, it’s not that I don’t love you or miss you (cuz I do!), but I don’t think I would start crying if I didn’t see you for 2 days! I guess this little story is just a reflection of how incredibly tight-knit this family is.
