Every day my life is full of funny little things that happen and they really make me laugh. Many a time I have been sited laughing to myself as I cycle down New Road like a mad foreign English women and this is simply because people really make me laugh.
A are couple of incidents recently have really tickled me.
My hair was going a dirty blond sort of colour with roots and grey coming through, so I went to the shop to get some more die, the closest the shop assistant could find was ‘copper light brown’ which is basically red, yeah really close! So I thought bugger it I may aswell dye my hair this colour and much to my surprise it actually looks nice. As I was dying my hair and the house boy Deepak, who is 13, also wanted his hair dying so I dyed his hair too. And then I’ll be jiggered, my land lady asked me to buy her the exact same colour, so I did and then I dyed her hair too and put the remaining dye on the Deepak’s hair, who slept with the dye on overnight and it had a really cool effect.
On the very same day with my shiny new hair in tact and sporting my new dress, which I like to think was from Warehouse but was in fact from New Road priced 1200 npr (£10), I set off to the local radio station with an idea in mind. To broadcast a thought provoking talk back show in English for young people with my Nepali friend. I had previously met someone from the radio station who liked the idea and said I should meet the station manager at 10:00 on the following day. Of course with the, ‘no plan, plan’ which is followed by the majority of Nepali people, when I arrived the station manger was in Kathmandu and they didn’t know who the hell this red headed mad English woman was, welcome to my world. Then this amazinglingly handsome guy sat me down and started chatting to me and my eyeballs nearly fell out my head as he was just so unbelievably gorgeous it was almost embarrassing and I hazard a guess he was at least 10 years younger than me. Some time later after I had met my friend at the station who had turned up fashionably late as usual, we left, but it was not until I had had a really good look at the boy.
That evening I went with the same friend to an evening called ‘Idol 2’ at the local hotel and guess who was presenting, yes the amazingly attractive guy, though I have to admit I think he looked better the first time round, luckily I was looking better the second time round sporting another new dress from Warehouse of course. So to cut a long story short and this is nothing to do with the aforementioned boy, I as per usual, ended up being escorted on to the stage along with about six Nepali boys for a spot of Nepali dancing which involves an arm extended flapping kind of a jiggle.
Five days later I was returning from the local shops and there was a small teenage girl with pigtails waiting at my gate whose mother runs a little beauty shed I think is the best term, she said she had seen me dancing on the TV the other night and brought me a caramel lolly which she informed me was her favourite so she thought I would also like it, how sweet. I invited her to come to my hula hooping class on Saturday morning, I wonder if she will come.
And so the laughter continues....
Holi Festival of colour
Thursday, 28 April 2011
Monday, 25 April 2011
Article for Big News,
Nepali adventures
As I cycle across the field to my house, I can see a big whirl wind of dust heading towards me, so I brake, cover my eyes and brace myself for the encapsulation, just another magical moment in Nepal. I arrived in Nepal in November, having said farewell to the Energise and Willow Tree Centres in Salford and set out in search of new adventures and experiences, with the support of Voluntary Services Overseas. My assignment: to work as Organisational Development Advisor for an organisation which advocates for the rights of people with disabilities on a national level, for 26 months.
After 3 weeks language and cultural training in the pollution filled, yet strangely charming city of Kathmandu, I flew out to Nepalgunj in the south of the Midwestern region of Nepal. I am living 15 minutes from the Indian border and fully intend to cycle there to do my shopping (when I have my Indian visa) as apparently ‘its so much cheaper across the border’, bit like Asda maybe?
After another 3 weeks language training, I was deemed fit to be let loose on the good people of Nepalgunj and armed with 10 sentences about myself and about 30 verb flash cards, I started working in my office. My office is in a stark contrast to the luxury of the Energise and Willow Tree Centres, whilst in the UK we fight for disabled toilets, in my office there is no toiled at all, I have to scamper round to the neighbours to pee. Although we are fighting for the rights of people with disabilities, they would have to crawl up the steep steps first to enter out office as there is no wheel chair access. Things have changed around here though, now we even have a computer, phone and we are getting the internet! But despite the small difficulties, I love it here. Waking in the morning to the cool breeze coming through my window at 6:00 am, I can hear the gentle hiss of pressure cookers as people prepare their dhall baat. Dhall baat is basically rice, dhall, and curry and Nepali people eat this same dish every day twice a day and they love it, so do I actually but not every day twice a day.
My biggest challenge to overcome so far was to adjust to being one of the very few (eight) white people living in Nepalgunj, this at first was very hard as wherever I went people would stare at me, so to overcome this I bought a bike, which reduces the amount of staring time per person and potential conversation. Now I feel so comfortable cycling around the place, I don’t mind people staring and usually share a joke or greeting with them. The Nepali people are so kind and welcoming it’s beautiful to experience and its real privilege to be here working and living with them. It’s hard to believe that they are capable of the previous years of conflict encountered here, but there are small reminders such as bhandas (strikes on the streets) which take place frequently and regular small bombs. The political situation is very fragile and we currently await the signing of the constitutional agreement by the two main parties.
One of my highlights has been running a hula hoop workshop at the volunteer conference in April, my group were so keen we created a hoop dance which we performed at the bollywood party and they all did really well. Nepali people love hula hooping and I have found a shop which will make hula hoops out of water pipe by melting two pieces of pipe together. I now have a small group of avid hula hoopers, so at the very least when I leave I will have left my mark by way of a hula hoop.
My next personal project is to get approval from a local radio station to present a light hearted English speaking talk show, ‘Next Generation’, for the younger generation of Nepal to talk openly and honestly about a range of thought provoking topics, whilst exploring the English language. I hope I can pull this off as I feel young people here have a lot to say but don’t have the platform to say it and are really keen to learn English.
As time rapidly marches on I wonder will 26 months be enough to bring about some small changes I hope to make during my placement, I try to cling to every moment and to live in the now.
As I cycle across the field to my house, I can see a big whirl wind of dust heading towards me, so I brake, cover my eyes and brace myself for the encapsulation, just another magical moment in Nepal. I arrived in Nepal in November, having said farewell to the Energise and Willow Tree Centres in Salford and set out in search of new adventures and experiences, with the support of Voluntary Services Overseas. My assignment: to work as Organisational Development Advisor for an organisation which advocates for the rights of people with disabilities on a national level, for 26 months.
After 3 weeks language and cultural training in the pollution filled, yet strangely charming city of Kathmandu, I flew out to Nepalgunj in the south of the Midwestern region of Nepal. I am living 15 minutes from the Indian border and fully intend to cycle there to do my shopping (when I have my Indian visa) as apparently ‘its so much cheaper across the border’, bit like Asda maybe?
After another 3 weeks language training, I was deemed fit to be let loose on the good people of Nepalgunj and armed with 10 sentences about myself and about 30 verb flash cards, I started working in my office. My office is in a stark contrast to the luxury of the Energise and Willow Tree Centres, whilst in the UK we fight for disabled toilets, in my office there is no toiled at all, I have to scamper round to the neighbours to pee. Although we are fighting for the rights of people with disabilities, they would have to crawl up the steep steps first to enter out office as there is no wheel chair access. Things have changed around here though, now we even have a computer, phone and we are getting the internet! But despite the small difficulties, I love it here. Waking in the morning to the cool breeze coming through my window at 6:00 am, I can hear the gentle hiss of pressure cookers as people prepare their dhall baat. Dhall baat is basically rice, dhall, and curry and Nepali people eat this same dish every day twice a day and they love it, so do I actually but not every day twice a day.
My biggest challenge to overcome so far was to adjust to being one of the very few (eight) white people living in Nepalgunj, this at first was very hard as wherever I went people would stare at me, so to overcome this I bought a bike, which reduces the amount of staring time per person and potential conversation. Now I feel so comfortable cycling around the place, I don’t mind people staring and usually share a joke or greeting with them. The Nepali people are so kind and welcoming it’s beautiful to experience and its real privilege to be here working and living with them. It’s hard to believe that they are capable of the previous years of conflict encountered here, but there are small reminders such as bhandas (strikes on the streets) which take place frequently and regular small bombs. The political situation is very fragile and we currently await the signing of the constitutional agreement by the two main parties.
One of my highlights has been running a hula hoop workshop at the volunteer conference in April, my group were so keen we created a hoop dance which we performed at the bollywood party and they all did really well. Nepali people love hula hooping and I have found a shop which will make hula hoops out of water pipe by melting two pieces of pipe together. I now have a small group of avid hula hoopers, so at the very least when I leave I will have left my mark by way of a hula hoop.
My next personal project is to get approval from a local radio station to present a light hearted English speaking talk show, ‘Next Generation’, for the younger generation of Nepal to talk openly and honestly about a range of thought provoking topics, whilst exploring the English language. I hope I can pull this off as I feel young people here have a lot to say but don’t have the platform to say it and are really keen to learn English.
As time rapidly marches on I wonder will 26 months be enough to bring about some small changes I hope to make during my placement, I try to cling to every moment and to live in the now.
Friday, 15 April 2011
Diarrhoea
Today I woke up only to discover that I really shouldn't have drank that tap water at the new years party last night, yes I have diarrhoea. What has really made me laugh though is the following text message:
"Lula i hear that u r suffering from diarrohea may i right or wrong? if it's true i pray with god for your better health.lokenndra".
Yes the word has got round about my loose bowel movements much to my entertainment.
"Lula i hear that u r suffering from diarrohea may i right or wrong? if it's true i pray with god for your better health.lokenndra".
Yes the word has got round about my loose bowel movements much to my entertainment.
Sunday, 10 April 2011
Dreaming
As I sat at Kathmandu airport waiting for my flight back to Nepalgunj, I felt a mixture of emotions; happy and sad. Happy because I had enjoyed spending time with beautiful people in Kathmandu and Nargakot and sad that I didn’t know when I would see any of them again.
I can definitely feel a change upon me, which is both a change within myself through personal thoughts and feelings and a change brought about by external factors and the boundaries between these changes are blurred. One of the external factors is the changes within VSO. As a knock on effect of the recession VSO has experienced a reduction in funding and consequently ten members of VSO Nepal staff have been made redundant. To add to this VSO on a global level is currently redefining its direction which means that VSO programmes in Nepal are coming to an end and new programmes have not yet been defined. What this means for me is that my governance programme doesn’t exist anymore and consequently there is no funding available from VSO for me to deliver activities within my placement. So I am glad I seized every opportunity there was to get involved with; the volunteer conference, governance review, leadership programme and the general assembly because now I will not even be reimbursed to travel by local bus to a meeting.
However as the eternal optimist I do not feel negative about this, as I like change and who knows what new programmes may follow. And as the programme has finished things are not as strict, so now I have the opportunity to investigate another volunteering opportunity with a youth led organisation which I am really excited about, so there are always positives to come from change.I will really be able to focus on my work now that my previous VSO commitments have ended. Over the next three months I will be travelling with my volunteering organisation to eight districts to audit services and entitlements provided for people with disabilities, which I am looking forward to.
I have decided to invest some time and money to create really nice space to relax in, in my dancing room as I will be spending more time at home from now on. At the moment I don’t really have a good space to chill in the evenings and I want to create a relaxing room which is a mass of cushions and comfyness with kind lighting, divine smells and rich materials, with a bit of a Turkish feel.
I have been thinking about the retreat centre I thought about starting whilst I was in the UK and I have decided to carry out a feasibility study to see if I can make it happen in Nepal, which of course I can. I think my life flashed before my eyes slightly when I had my cist removed and awaited the results of the biopsy, I thought it could have all been over, but it wasn’t and now I have an amazing opportunity to follow my dreams and make something really amazing happen.
Highlights of the first quater Nepal 2011:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=625466&id=605555023&l=9b8ca18d0e
I can definitely feel a change upon me, which is both a change within myself through personal thoughts and feelings and a change brought about by external factors and the boundaries between these changes are blurred. One of the external factors is the changes within VSO. As a knock on effect of the recession VSO has experienced a reduction in funding and consequently ten members of VSO Nepal staff have been made redundant. To add to this VSO on a global level is currently redefining its direction which means that VSO programmes in Nepal are coming to an end and new programmes have not yet been defined. What this means for me is that my governance programme doesn’t exist anymore and consequently there is no funding available from VSO for me to deliver activities within my placement. So I am glad I seized every opportunity there was to get involved with; the volunteer conference, governance review, leadership programme and the general assembly because now I will not even be reimbursed to travel by local bus to a meeting.
However as the eternal optimist I do not feel negative about this, as I like change and who knows what new programmes may follow. And as the programme has finished things are not as strict, so now I have the opportunity to investigate another volunteering opportunity with a youth led organisation which I am really excited about, so there are always positives to come from change.I will really be able to focus on my work now that my previous VSO commitments have ended. Over the next three months I will be travelling with my volunteering organisation to eight districts to audit services and entitlements provided for people with disabilities, which I am looking forward to.
I have decided to invest some time and money to create really nice space to relax in, in my dancing room as I will be spending more time at home from now on. At the moment I don’t really have a good space to chill in the evenings and I want to create a relaxing room which is a mass of cushions and comfyness with kind lighting, divine smells and rich materials, with a bit of a Turkish feel.
I have been thinking about the retreat centre I thought about starting whilst I was in the UK and I have decided to carry out a feasibility study to see if I can make it happen in Nepal, which of course I can. I think my life flashed before my eyes slightly when I had my cist removed and awaited the results of the biopsy, I thought it could have all been over, but it wasn’t and now I have an amazing opportunity to follow my dreams and make something really amazing happen.
Highlights of the first quater Nepal 2011:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=625466&id=605555023&l=9b8ca18d0e
Wednesday, 30 March 2011
Call the fashion police
As I sit at the airport
in Kathmandu
I gaze at the foreigners
and wonder what to do
I almost feel embarrassed
for the foreign race
as they sport all manner
of trekking wear
like their trekking off to space
Oversized lenses
draping round their neck
new polished trekking boots
ready for the trek
Socks and rubber sandals
call the fashion police
because no-one should walk around
in that monotone fleece.
in Kathmandu
I gaze at the foreigners
and wonder what to do
I almost feel embarrassed
for the foreign race
as they sport all manner
of trekking wear
like their trekking off to space
Oversized lenses
draping round their neck
new polished trekking boots
ready for the trek
Socks and rubber sandals
call the fashion police
because no-one should walk around
in that monotone fleece.
Tuesday, 29 March 2011
What is good behaviour?
As I walked up the long dusty driveway towards Tribuwan University Kathmandu, I was delighted by the sight of around 500 Nepali people with disabilities making their way using all manner of methods. It was impressive to see people not letting their disabilities get in their way of attending the NFDN General Assembly, though the disability friendly access left something to be desired. The two day assembly itself was absolute chaos to say the least and in many ways not very engaging, but I did meet loads of interesting people, practised my Nepali and met a very interesting Nepali photographer who kept me amused for a good few hours and has since become a new friend (in fact I have already convinced him that dressing up in bollywood clothing and cycling to India singing and dancing is a good idea).
It has felt like I have spent a ridiculous amount of time in Kathmandu or there abouts over the last month or so I have only spent one week in Nepalgunj. My visit to Kathmandu this time was lengthened because of an unexpected minor operation. I know, I can’t believe it either, I went to the clinic complaining of a small lump on the back of my head and half an hour later I was lying face down on the operating table with a needle and scalpel in my head having a cyst removed. The doctor showed me the cyst afterwards, there were two small grizzly balls which he popped into a testube for biopsy. So I had to stay a few extra days to get it checked out and then I will return in a week for the stitches to be removed and the results of the biopsy, which fits conveniently with my next jaunt to Nargakot for the volunteer conference-will I ever get any real work done?
I celebrated my 34th Birthday in Kathmandu early and missed all my good old friends back home, its great making new friends but they might not get the....on behalf ut committee, I’d just like to say....thing! When I returned to Nepalgunj I had a lovely birthday wearing a sari, eating dhall baat and momos and I bought a new bike which was better that the last one but the same price as I got my Nepali friend to negotiate the price for me.
It was on my birthday whilst I was perusing the local hardware store waiting for my new bike to be fixed that I bumped into Peggy-another foreigner! In turned out that Peggy is an Australian nurse in her 60’s volunteering in the ‘gunj. I took her number and she later invited me to a birthday party the following Saturday. Saturday came around and I cycled down to meet Peggy, she led me on her scooter to her friends house. It turns out there are seven foreigners living in the ‘gunj and me of course; three Australian, two American, one English and another yet to be identified. It was a joint celebration for five of those foreigners whose birthdays it had been recently, how convenient that it had been my birthday less than a week ago and I was welcomed into the celebration and even had my name iced onto the cake. I had a great evening and was happy to join a new network of friends who were so nice.
The following day I set off with a Nepali friend to visit Chiisopaani Kalali a bridge set in a stunning landscape about 2-3 hours away by motorbike. It was Holi which is a festival celebrated by putting bright chalky colour on peoples face and anywhere else accessible. So I set off thinking, I will definitely get got. We stopped off at my friend’s house to pick up his jumper, but I think it was just an excuse to show off to his family that he had a foreign female friend. We had a great trip and stopped off for dhall baat when we reached the bridge. It was during this time that we got chatting about age and marriage. He asked me why aren’t I married, I thought shit why aren’t I married, I quickly recovered and told him that it’s normal in my culture not to get married in the UK. He told me that he would like to marry a foreigner with ‘good behaviour’. Ok so now this was getting interesting-I am foreign and not married, what a coincidence. But what prey tell is good behaviour? And do I have it?
When I think of good behaviour there are several associations that spring to mind; prisoners being let out early and dogs. I am pretty sure that doing a naked bike ride round Manchester City Centre wouldn’t fit into his idea of a wife with good behaviour.Later whilst at the NFDN General Assembly I met a relative of his from Nepalgunj (it’s a small world) and showed her the photos of our trip and she asked why there weren’t any photos of his wife!
Saturday, 5 March 2011
Are you feeling difficult?...no!
The last month has been a bit of a whirl wind really.
Ke bhayo? (what happened)
Dave and I broke up. We journeyed a long way together and decided that it was time for us to take our own individual paths. Most important to me is that I am not losing a very good friend who means a lot to me and I hope that our friendship will last a life time.
I had my bike stolen. That’s not good, but not unexpected. I will buy a new one.
I went to Kathmandu and carried out our governance programme analysis. Which basically involved looking at the work that volunteers have carried out over the last four years and analysing the results. Then I helped plan a one day review for volunteers and partners (the organisations we work with). I really enjoyed this as it gave me the opportunity to realise what can be achieved during a placement and gave me some really good ideas and motivations. For the review we went to Chitwan National Park, I didn’t really get much chance to see the park, but I really enjoyed the evening when the event finished and we all had an impromptu dance to Nepali music and I brought my hula hoop out, which is always a big curiosity.
Now I am just preparing to go to Nargakot, which is about an hour out of Kathmandu to assist with the delivery of a four day leadership course. I am really looking forward to working with the team of volunteer and the partners, I will learn a lot and hopefully contribute my experience and knowledge to the course.
Also quite unexpectedly my article which was my last blog, got published in the Kathmandu Post, I am really very pleased about this.
I have also had my first experience of load shedding. Basically there is not enough electricity in Nepal to go round at this time of year, so there is a schedule when electricity is and isn’t available. In Kathmandu there is no electricity for 14 hours a day, interesting. But when it is the rainy season there will be more power generated by the hydro power plants. Luckily though in Nepalgunj we get our power from India, so we don’t have load shedding, ekdham raamro.
It has been really nice catching up with other volunteers in Kathmandu and in particular I have enjoyed the hash, which is the running round the countryside outside out Kathmandu for about 15 km. Its great!
The other thing I have been thinking about, is staying in Nepal after my placement finishes as there is so much I love about this country, its early days yet though so lets see how I feel in a years time.
Ke bhayo? (what happened)
Dave and I broke up. We journeyed a long way together and decided that it was time for us to take our own individual paths. Most important to me is that I am not losing a very good friend who means a lot to me and I hope that our friendship will last a life time.
I had my bike stolen. That’s not good, but not unexpected. I will buy a new one.
I went to Kathmandu and carried out our governance programme analysis. Which basically involved looking at the work that volunteers have carried out over the last four years and analysing the results. Then I helped plan a one day review for volunteers and partners (the organisations we work with). I really enjoyed this as it gave me the opportunity to realise what can be achieved during a placement and gave me some really good ideas and motivations. For the review we went to Chitwan National Park, I didn’t really get much chance to see the park, but I really enjoyed the evening when the event finished and we all had an impromptu dance to Nepali music and I brought my hula hoop out, which is always a big curiosity.
Now I am just preparing to go to Nargakot, which is about an hour out of Kathmandu to assist with the delivery of a four day leadership course. I am really looking forward to working with the team of volunteer and the partners, I will learn a lot and hopefully contribute my experience and knowledge to the course.
Also quite unexpectedly my article which was my last blog, got published in the Kathmandu Post, I am really very pleased about this.
I have also had my first experience of load shedding. Basically there is not enough electricity in Nepal to go round at this time of year, so there is a schedule when electricity is and isn’t available. In Kathmandu there is no electricity for 14 hours a day, interesting. But when it is the rainy season there will be more power generated by the hydro power plants. Luckily though in Nepalgunj we get our power from India, so we don’t have load shedding, ekdham raamro.
It has been really nice catching up with other volunteers in Kathmandu and in particular I have enjoyed the hash, which is the running round the countryside outside out Kathmandu for about 15 km. Its great!
The other thing I have been thinking about, is staying in Nepal after my placement finishes as there is so much I love about this country, its early days yet though so lets see how I feel in a years time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)