Sometimes the best moments happen when you are least expecting them if you just stay open.  At the end of a lovely but long day, as it neared dark I stopped into Himilayan coffeehouse for a cup of coffee before heading home. I found a quiet corner and placed my order. As I waited a lovely Asian woman came and sat across from me and as I curled my legs under me to get comfortable she smiled and did the same-the beginnings of a friendship. Soon her friend came and joined us and began to chat and translate. They are from China, here in Nepal working with a school. We were also joined by their friend and guide who is a Buddist monk. We found many things to talk about and mutual connections, decided to go to dinner together and  share a very unexpected lovely evening! Meet my new friends Guo ping, Lekshay, & Caroline. Thank you for such a fun and interesting night! p.s,. I shared my first and hopefully only car accident with these guys coming home tonight, very minor and no one hurt! 

I LOVE this market – the bustle, the crowd, the colors, the sites & the noise! 

spicy chili peppers are a favorite here

spices /local pink salts

beans/grains/pasta

dried sea foods

local florists

kids minding the family meat market

sugar cane juicer

Nepali fast food

I walked to the Saturday farmers market  today, new location, then caught a ride tad far as Thamel. This is notable because it was my first “sidesaddle” motorcycle ride in a dress. Memorable experience.  I met the owner of a favorite spot , Fire & Ice and shared a cup of tea. My mission was to order Kukuri knives for ENG event and it was a successful mission. After looking and negotiating, and tea drinking in a back alley we are set!   
    
 

This morning got off to a hilarious start! Since I had earlier created fire with my trusty hairdryer had asked for a new one to be delivered this morning. My words were. My blow dryer is broken could you please leave one at my door and gave my room number. I’m in the shower and hear banging, jump out, grab clothes, open my door and there stands a guy with a toolbox and he says ” I’m here to fix your door mam!” Language barrier-i guess broken and door were the key words of the day! I standing there dripping, trying to explain so others are called ( this is the norm, every conversation is a community event) to interpret. One woman takes my hand and says “come with me”. Note I am barefoot and dripping. She walks me to another building, opens the door, says “come” and proceeds to walk through multiple family’s living spaces where they are just rising for the day, into a room with a crazy electrical outlet with a blowdryer plugged in. She put it in my hand and says “pretty hair mam!” So what is one to do? I stood there and blowdryer my hair with about 10 pairs of eyes on my every move. When finished they offered me morning tea with them. I felt like one of the family so of course my answer was yes! It wasn’t even 8:00a.m. yet-Great start! 

So excited to find handmade items produced by women in Nepal at the Dukuti shop for our Safe a Learning Space Pre-k rooms!  

These beautiful women spend months hand tying every knot in these gorgeous Tibetan rugs. Every rug takes months to complete, true works of art.    
    
    
    
 

Today was a long one full of designing proofs for safe learning space plaques, meeting with welder for school desk and chairs, working on college responses with Chhusang and finished with a great talk with Mike… I REALLY miss my guy and love him so much for his constant support and encouragement.    
    
   

I spent Nepali New Year’s Day out exploring. I took the day on my own and explored every back alley, temple, and shop I could find between Oson Markets and Thamel. A world unto itself…wish I had more time to wander and get lost in this place but back to work tomorrow.    
    
    
    
    
 

This is a mild moment standing on the street in Kathmandu.