Settling into life in Nepal...

So after 10 days (now 12 as I didn’t get a chance to upload this after I wrote it!) I thought it a good time to give an update of what we have been up to before I forget anything. It has been a mind-blowing and surreal experience so far! Even having been there before,  Kathmandu still amazed me with how it bombarded your senses – so many different sights, sounds and smells. There is a constant hubbub of activity and it is quite an experience to immerse yourself within it, though always good to retreat back to the sanctuary of a rooftop bar and watch all the craziness unfold below.

We spent two nights in Kathmandu – the first evening we had a rest in our rooms before venturing out for some food. We were staying in an area called Thamel, a maze of alleyways packed with small shops selling traditional Nepali souvenirs and fabrics. On our first full day we set about our business and took a taxi out to a big bookshop / toyshop where we spent a good couple of hours looking at books and toys which we felt would be useful to our schools. We found all manner of things which we hadn’t expected – does anyone remember learning to read with the Peter and Jane books?! They had them! We bought a large selection of books mostly English, as there is a big emphasis on helping children to speak English. We did however buy some Nepali books for them to enjoy too. We also bought some percussion packs, a set of recorders and various other games and toys which will help the children to learn in a more interactive manner.

We returned to our hotel heavily laden and had a short rest before going to visit Bouddha, a Buddhist temple which Nepalis visit, particularly around sunset and they walk all the way round the monument spinning the prayer wheels and praying. We saw one particularly holy man who would shuffle forward a few steps before getting to his knees and lying flat down on the floor for a few seconds, getting up and repeating the process. It was amazing to see a show of such devotion!

On the way back we stopped up at some beautiful gardens, known as The Garden of Dreams, where we stopped and had dinner. The gardens were beautiful and it was a great way to escape from the chaotic streets of Kathmandu.

The next morning we began our long journey out of the Kathmandu valley, Westward towards Tansen. The views the entire way were spectacular as we followed the contours of the ‘hills’ (which in England would certainly be described as mountains!). There were some scary moments on the road with sheer drops into the valley below only inches away! The journey took 9 ½ hours in which we covered only 100 miles or so as the crow flies (the reality is the route is much longer but because of the landscape the roads cannot follow a straight line!). Part of the road we travelled along featured in a UK TV programme ‘The World’s most dangerous roads’ – it was easy to see why with the sheer drops and the drivers willingness to overtake on blind bends!

We were greeted by Saran, our Nepali volunteer, who presented us with a flower garland and Tikka, a red powder pushed onto the forehead with a finger to make a dot. He took us to our guesthouse and we enjoyed some dinner from a roof terrace with a magnificent view of the valley below and surrounding hills.

We spent a couple of days in Tansen getting to know the town, it is a small town perched upon a hilltop at 1420. It has a distinctly medieval feel owing to its steep cobbled streets and narrow alleyways with beautiful Newari style houses with intricately carved windows and rooftops. Our first visit was to the Lahrepipal school which sadly had shut down but we found it being used for a training programme for young men and women in electricity and dress making respectively. Given the school’s closure (it was deemed too small to be cost effective) it seemed like a good use of the facilities. We did speak to a former teacher who assured us that the children had been relocated to another school. We also visited the school of Utpal, a Rotary member who is keen to work with us and it will be very useful to have an organisation based in Nepal who can offer support and manage projects, particularly when there are no Manisha UK representatives out here.  His school seemed like an excellent one and we had a productive meeting with him and some of the staff. The children greeted us very enthusiastically and we were an object of much interest!

We also discovered that the Nepalis have decided this year to join two festivals, Doshian and Tihar into one extended break of one month!! This means that we will not be able to do any teaching in classrooms nevertheless we have plenty to keep us busy and have organised dates for a teacher training programme between the two festivals from which we have so far had a good response.

We also visited the school of Pipal Danda, located to the North of Tansen with a long and precarious dirt track leading up to it. The views from up there were spectacular but unfortunately the progress made in a building project we had undertaken was less than spectacular. We hope to get the building work back underway as soon as possible.  

On Sunday we visited Bhalebas, Saran’s home village and were greeted by children and staff of the school who had come especially on the first day of the holidays. The children lined the pathway as we approached and presented us with garlands and bouquets of flowers. It was an amazing and overwhelming welcome that surpassed all of our expectations. We looked around the school and whilst there were some very good features there are also things that need to be done!

We spent the evening being entertained by Nepalese dancing and they were very enthusiastic about us joining in. Those of you who know me will know that saying I’m not the best dancer is an understatement but I gave it a go and they were thoroughly entertained by my attempts!! The local wine, known as Roksi helped my confidence though not necessarily my ability!

The next day we were given a tour round Mr Singh’s farm. He had many ingenious ways of doing jobs that would be automated over here and we also saw his weaving shop which contained very complicated looking wooden looms which the girls from the school with worked on during holiday periods.

Later we went down to Saran’s place for breakfast before heading to Dumre, a school who had contacted us and are interested in the twinning programme. The greeting there was even more spectacular. A band accompanied us up the hill as we walked towards the school surrounded by about 50 teachers and pupils and at the top of the hill were literally hundreds of children lining the pathway and we were given garlands and flowers, there were so many that halfway along the line someone had to take the flowers as we could not carry any more! After looking at their excellent library and having a look around the school’s classrooms, some of which were in desperate need of repair, we had some lunch and then watched a show of Nepalese dancing put on by the villagers and again were encouraged to join in – it always seemed to be me who got picked out!!

In the evening we went to a wedding party of one of the villagers, a fantastic experience with yet more Roksi and dancing!! There was one woman who pulled me up onto the dance floor (just us on the dance floor surrounded by everyone watching) and every time I thought it was over I went to return to my seat and every time I felt the back of my shirt pulled as she dragged me back onto the dance floor!!!

We were given a lovely send off as we left and returned to Tansen happy but exhausted. The generosity of the people is absolutely outstanding. Some of these people have so little but they always ensure you are fed first and will keep bringing you more and more.

I am now back in Tansen having a rest day and also starting to prepare for the teacher training programme. We are now staying in a house with a charming Nepalese family. They have a 12 year old son who has greatly enjoyed our presence.

The whole Manisha team out here, Barbara, Alan, Elaine and Saran have been great and I’ve really enjoyed working with them.  

Before I left I was presented with a rugby ball by Bredon under 10’s whom I help coach so I have been taking the ball round and the children love it! I will have to set about setting up a team!!!!

If you would like to make a donation at any point, however small or big, it would be greatly appreciated. This can be done through http://www.mcwfnepal-uk.org/ . Just a small amount can go a long long way!

I hope everyone at home is well.

Andy