Spent the end of the day searching for supplies to organize relay races in the village during our stay. Hula hoops, cones, crackers, balls, etc. it will be a blast! We actually had to go to a tailor, explain what a bean bag is and talk him into making them with mustard seeds inside!!!! His face was hIlarious as we describe these small “pillows” we needed to play a game. Toys and games are a luxury few kids have here. They are an unnecessary item for survival and most live on the edge. The end of the day was spent determining needs for a volunteer orientation we are conducting tomorrow for the for ENG university level scholarship girls that will travel with us to Borang as interpireters.  I love working through the barriers with Babi. 

We went to the tailor shop that we use for ENG. Those of you that donate a scholarship provide two school uniforms and a coat in addition to tuition for a child. The uniforms for Little Moon School are in progress. These photos are of the shop, the skirts, and the machine they are sewn on. 

Back on the back of a motorcycle with this chick all over Nepal! The pollution is probably the worst it’s ever been, a mask is an absolute must and when it comes off you have a really neat outline of your mask and glasses from the layer of dirt on exposed skin. If you sweat, and its hot, you make mud-magic!

Today we went to order the water tanks, make a supply list, and negotiate the transportation of  them for as far as the road goes to Borang. The team arrives one week from today and we leave on the 26th to deliver. It is not to late to sponsor a tank for a family for just $75. 

I made it to the expatriate farmer’s market. I scored some food that is a real treat. We are encouraged to only eat fruits with thick skins like bananas and oranges because even if washed the water it is washed with can make us sick. I was brace and bought a few apples as well, I boil water, let it cool, wash and peel them.  One of the people had salad ready to use. This is a big deal. Salad must be soaked then washed three times in water that has been purified so salad is a major chore. “Clean” water is distributed throughout the city in these refillable containers. It is much cleaner than what comes out of the faucet but still must be boiled before using to be on the safe side (note the cleanliness of the container). Daily life in Nepal is so hard, and this is life for me, having tremendous resources. Real daily life for most people here would consider these “inconveniences” pure luxuries that are unimaginable. We have SO much to be thankful for. 

MY ROOM LEAKS! I was woken up about an hour ago , 1:00 am, by a huge storm with strong winds that made my doors slam closed from the pressure inside my rooms. Hello! Scared the begeezus out of me. Wind howling like a train! I jumped up, put on clothes, ran for the door thinking everyone would be gathering for safety. NOT A SINGLE SOUL. It had calmed but I sat on my stairs with my door opened just in case any other scardy cats wanted to share this experience. Maybe it’s because we basically live in the clouds here, compared to home but the storms are FIERCE, at least that is the opinion of this little southern girl. I cant wait to hear the local opinion tomorrow…

Stopped by the neighborhood grocery tonight as I walked back from Asan. Your looking at the entire place front to back./side to side! 

Thank God for a coffee press! Just for reference coffee and tea are a process here, like a work of art. It is Nepali New Year today so I don’t want to miss any festivities so I’m heading out and about in Thamel today. Happy New Year to all my Nepali friends and family! 

After arriving safely in Nepal I have been settling in. It really does take some time to get unpacked, grocery shop, find SIM cards, and exchange funds all while seriously jet lagged. The airport baggage claim was it’s usual crazy, chaotic welcome to Nepal with people basically crawling over and running carts into you to get their luggage. Grocery shopping is like a surprise game because I shop as if I’m illiterate, which I am in Nepali, so I look at photos and hope for the best! I also pick up so many items and put them back realizing I have no way to prepare them. Getting a SIM card is like an act of congress involving security and lots of forms and visa info. The bank was the highlight! I thought it would be more efficient, an hour later , not so much. I had to literally document the numbers off of each bill it was exchanging. They still use carbon paper and hard copy documentation, see photo of bank records, who knew? Obviously not me. I got back to my apartment and spent the rest of the day working on team preparation with Babita. Not a bad start at all! 

First leg of this adventure had a bit more excitement than I wanted but all is good and on to Nepal. Made it to Doha and had to go through immigration. There is a security area like a shoot that blocks you in between the immigration officer and the security check area. You must clear immigration first. I waited my turn patiently and there was a problem with the man in front of me not having a visa and security arriving with lots of loud interactions to take the guy out of the area. My turn next.

I had no problem with my paperwork or his questions. He told me I could proceed. I said thank you, walked to the electronic gate. It blinked RED and sirens went off! Security came running and a young guard was in my face. Here is the great part…a man dressed in traditional Arab attire came to stand next to me and say, calm down, this woman has done nothing and you are scaring her. If you are concerned check her and her bags. That happened, but he never left my side. They were brisk but polite with me. He walked me out to catch my bus to a hotel and asked me if I needed anything. I told him no and thanked him. As he walked back to meet his family I recognized his wife and children. I had assisted his wife while waiting to board in Houston. 

Reminder: there are such kind people in the world everywhere! Angels apparently sometimes wear  “disdasha and abaya”