ready... set... KATHMANDU!

Happy September from the Monsoon season in Kathmandu! After 4 days of SIT orientation in a small village called Pharping (gaauko naam Pharping ho), I am now sitting in the study lounge of the World Learning Inc. program house in Naxal, Bhagwati Bahal, Kathmandu Nepal. It is a beautiful house (ghar) about a 20 minute walk from my homestay. Yesterday was my first afternoon (diuso), evening (belukaa), and night (raati) with my Nepali family in Bishal Nagar. I have a mother, sister, brother, brother-in-law, 2 cousins, and 2 younger sisters. My mother (mero aamaa) is 60 years old and owns a beauty parlour on the way to school . I have been told to bring all of my friends (mero saanthiharu). My cousin (Priti) is in training to become a beautician also. As for my younger sisters, Annapurna is 5 years old and Munaslo is 13 months. Annapurna speaks both Nepali and English, but tried to convince me that she didn’t speak much Nepali just so that she could talk to me in English. When I was trying to practice my Nepali and do my language class homework, she would come flying into my room (koThaa) and insist on colouring (I gave her crayons) or taking me to show-and-tell around the neighborhood. She is an energetic one to say the least. A bit of a comfort, since my aamaa told me flat out that she didn’t understand the majority of what I say. With 2 ½ hours of language class everyday hopefully I will improve. And hopefully my knee muscles will gain strength seeing as everyday we sit crosslegged for class. It is considered extremely disrespectful to point the soles of your feet at anyone (esp. those older than you).

I forgot my camera at home, so I can’t post anything at the moment… so hopefully tomorrow I will post some pictures from my adventures in Pharping this past week. Some from “Flag Mountain” – not the official name – and some of kids who came across me sitting on a “soccer field” (really just mud, some grass, no lines, and no nets) doing some field research for my Field Studies Seminar. They loved the camera!

Namaste.
Muna (my Nepali name giving by my language gurus. It means flower bud… hmm)

"The past is history. The future is a mystery. And the present is a gift." - unknown