Spent the afternoon on the outskirts of Kathmandu at an academy/hostel/orphanage. I can’t begin to explain how this affected us. Our friend from last year in everest, Kalani, is working here now to make a life for she and her beautiful daughter after all her family was lost in a landslide. The children live in dorm type space, have a shower schedule once. Week, have belongings that fit under a bunk bed, and love it here. They were so beautiful… I would love to come back here and stay a while….so much to be thankful for

Spent the morning at the relief trust with Babita , Chetana Lokshum and her students in psychological training. I was asked to conduct a class with the students and felt very honored to do this. Chetana and her staff and students were very wise and very charming. We sat on pillows in a small classroom and talked about basic interventions, lethality, group skills, and confidentiality. We shared similarities and differences in our cultures and training. What a joy!

Market & Mattress Making

We had the chance to make an early visit to a school that has our ENG girls so we went there immediately.The school is being rebuilt and the children are learning in the rubble. They are just so joyful to be in school. When the girls saw me they came running for hugs saying “you kept your promise mam! You came back!” Really really wonderful to see them again! Shaun also got to deliver a special letter from Sarah to one of the children. What a day! Back to Thamel for Fire and Ice Pizza and a little shopping before bed! Fire & Ice is one of the few safe places to eat out and not worry about the health conditions… Very popular for westerners.

This afternoon we went to visit beauty for ashes, an organization that provides jobs to young women who are coming out of human trafficking. They employ about 21 women and are working to expand. Try organizationis run out of a house where the women work every day 8 to 4 using their skills to make hats, purses, jewelry, and recycled sari scarves. We spent a wonderful afternoon with these ladies!!! Every room was full of sewing machines, materials, laughter, chatter, and warmth! Beautiful spirits! />.

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After a harrowing ride across town in the chaos we made a very quick run into Thamel… Local shopping district- to purchase clean clothes to wear. Run in, grab pants shirt and underwear and into a dressing room we go… SHAZAM!!!! We walk out like new women on a mission! The pickings were slim, and the underwear… Only men’s… So okie dokie! We be stylin! 😳

After breakfast we made a Tri to the airport in search of our clothes-still nothing! I think we are out of creativity with dressing and a bit of shopping is in order. But first, we make an impromptu stop at the monkey temple. Our driver pulls over and says “I wait here, you walk” so out we went!this Hindi temple is a mecca for those that worship. The monkey roam wild here as they do all of Kathmandu. We saw families from various caste preparing the bodies of loved ones lost, washing them with holy water from the river and creating them as we neared the temple… Very moving-rituals may be different but grief is universal. I watched children play in the very River below. We walked and climbed as we learned about the various Hindi gods. We climbed stairs, past holy men and vendors. This experience will stay with us for some time to come.

After a decidedly Luke warm shower and choosing between which not -so-fresh clothes to wear, we headed to the restaurant to chill out and wait for Sameer, and Nikkole to arrive. Had great fresh omelets, a ton of coffee, toast and “ooney” and a great chat John Child even decided to drop in for a morning send off. After catching up and doing some planning we were off to the airport in search

of our luggage…

NOTHING

We dropped last night into exhausted slumber.and then around 4 this am I was wide awake and heard Shaun stirring across the room..,, “you awake? Yep…. Want tea? Sure…. Oh look! I found cookies from the plane! YES!!!!”
Some great moments you just can’t plan….

Finally… 4 days later.. We have arrived in Kathmandu also known as “chaos central” the Himalayan moutains were breathtaking as we viewed peaks higher than the clouds coming in…. Ion descent we could see the chaos of the crowded city from the air. Once off the plane it was into the crowds at the airport for visas and luggage. We could see bath time in the afternoon sun at the water spouts outside the airport as we walked the hallway and old furniture in the hall in piles. Once visas we bought we heard yelling and everyone all at once was running to the right without much care for the needed space for carts they were pushing. One would have thought it was an emergency evacuation but it was only the call for the baggage claim gate. As he belt began to turn the items that rolled out included many cellophane do boxes, shrink wrapped. Suitcases damaged in transport and blankets tied with rope holding all of someone’s travel belongings. After hours… No northface duffels to be sent. And they would have stood out. Imagine… No bags for us… At least one more day in our clothes…yay!!?!???