Ending the year

At least the one I know ..... If you read the banner you’ll see that I’ve leapt a few years forward local time, that’s Gladys and Nilusha with me, not far from where we stayed in Kathmandu. Actually, the year here is 2067. The year’s divided into 12 months, but not coinciding with the calendar I’m familiar with. Pus goes to mid January in my diary, the 1^st day of each Nepali month is somewhere midmonth. Both versions are printed on the calendars for sale though so it’s no problem, and it seems that holidays of both calendars are observed.

Nepalgunj was a great introduction to the Terai region for me and gave me a sense of how life may be for a volunteer there. Loula’s hulahooping skills are getting known and our landlady really enjoyed her lessons. We made it to Bardia National Park (about 2.5 hours bus ride away) for the Christmas weekend and had a memorable 25th December on a guided walk in the park followed by an elephant ride. No big animals (tiger, rhino, elephant) walked our way during the day but we had a great time; plenty of birds, deer, monkeys, one python, different landscapes, and peaceful.

The year that’s ending has certainly been full of new experiences for me: retirement, acceptance by AVI to head to ?, motorbike learner’s permit, jumping in the deep end, swimming lessons, Nepali language and arriving in Bhairawa. I’ve had a great year! .... and in 2011? More adventures for sure.

Plastic and Pollution

Plastic bags are absolutely both useful and a problem. Managing plastic and rubbish generally is a challenge. The first time we took our rubbish downstairs here in Nepalgunj and asked where to put it we were confused, then aghast and then got on with it, after being told to fling it into the empty field opposite the house. The same field that we’ve seen animals foraging in, being used as a toilet, and is a path to town. My own rubbish disposal is definitely something to work on as I settle into life here. VSO has banned plastic bags at the office and another effort at community education about plastic waste is the display I saw in Patan Durbar Square.

On arrival, the traffic in Kathmandu seems crazy and the pollution something to remark on – masks are worn often enough to be quite usual though not at all by all. There are masks for sale here in Nepalgunj too, but not that many people wearing them and here it’s dust that is the issue. Fine, get in everywhere, dust. Every morning the air is hazy, dust, smoke, and the hills to the north are not always in view. Traffic is definitely less polluting, but the air is still clogged around the town.

It’s been 10 days in Nepalgunj

And the electricity has been no problem at all here. One evening we just got ourselves organised with torches to continue cooking dinner and then .... on it came again. Apparently one night it was off between 2 and 7am but that didn’t interfere with my snoring. As far as this blog is concerned the challenge has been internet. The corner shop hasn’t come through with the hoped for connection on most attempts. I’ve managed a bit of a look at a few www sites but that’s been the extent of it.

Nepalgunj is great to be getting to know, a rural town, with cycle rickshaws and horse carts the local transport. It’s stretched out along one main road. We’re staying in a very nice apartment on the third level of a house on the edge of town. Our landlady has been wonderful and helped us get the fridge repaired (the light was working but it wasn’t cold). He arrived about an hour and a half after she said she would call him for us and charged us about $3AUD. Rather different to the experience I’d expect at home! We’ve also had fresh vegetables from her garden, fabulous.

Nepali language classes are going well and now with only two in the class we are getting lots of attention. Each morning we’re doing our homework and study interspersed with some practice with ever-obliging shopkeepers if we head out. Class is 1-5pm and then relax, cook and eat, surf the tv channels to see if we can find the bollywood dancing lesson show again or the news channel has got a diverting program on, then, early to bed.

Can I manage a photo?

At VSO with our Nepali language teachers after 2 weeks of great classes.

Heading to Nepalgunj soon

I hoped to sort out some photos before posting again but I’m afraid circumstances have totally wrecked that plan. My timetable has just not matched the power/internet timetable. Otherwise, things have continued well during the orientation here in Kathmandu. There’s a heap more Nepali in my exercise book than in my brain, but I’m still feeling like there’s progress on that front. We’ve had a lot of laughs every day in class too – always good. This Saturday I made it to Durbar Square early in the morning which I really enjoyed, temples and shrines both Hindu and Buddhist from 12^th to 18^th centuries. The king lived here until the early 20^th century. (I know some photos would be good, will try harder!) Glad there’s been a few more opportunities to do some tourist activities before leaving Kathmandu. The training for our group has been changed from earlier groups and this week we will split up into groups based on our placements for more relevant language training. On Wednesday I’m flying with Loula and someone from the office to Nepalgunj – also in Terai near the Indian border. The two of us will have language classes there and I’ll get to know another town before I go to Bhairawa.

So, next morning, and I've managed to edit the post with a couple of photos in Durbar Square.

after 10 days in Kathmandu

What’s been happening – heaps! We’ve had introductions to Kathmandu by current volunteers and to VSO by everybody in the office. Language classes have been great – the 12 of us have learned huge amounts. I knew Nepali would a challenge for me, and it is, but I’m happy with my progress and with a teacher student ratio of 1:3, no hiding in that class. I’ve already eaten lots of momos, dahl bhat, and given there’s a dairy on the corner of the street a fair bit of yoghurt too. There’s been lots of walking and shopping expeditions and I’m starting to feel like I understand where things are in this part of town. The load shedding timetable ie no power, is one of many things that remain to be properly understood at some unknown future date ......

A busy time, my head spins with my Nepali efforts .... photos maybe next time. It’s been a great start!

.... this time next week

 .... I expect to be in Kathmandu. What will I be doing ...? During my first 8 weeks VSO has an in country training program that includes an introduction to living in Nepal, VSO’s work, Nepali language lessons, and a village stay. It'll be in and around Kathmandu. So it won’t be for a while that I find myself in Bhairawa. It’s been a flurry of activity heading towards the flight out of Melbourne, thank you so much for all your good wishes, next post – Nepal!