Day 3 Biratnagar
Trip Start
Aug 19, 2007
1
9
71
Trip End
Nov 20, 2007
Biratnagar,
Nepal
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
I typed a nice long entry yesterday at school and then I lost the power and so here I am again trying to replicate my thoughts.
I have found that thoughts and actions are two different things here. If I am told that I will be picked up at 8am it really means 8:30 or later. If they say my apt will be ready tomorrow it means 3-4 days from now. So I sat with my cup of coffee yesterday waiting to be picked up for my first class at the college from 8-9:30 and even called to remind them I was waiting at 8:45. My class was scheduled to begin at 8:30 and I guess someone else took it when they figured I wasnt there.
I got to Eurokids school at around 10:15 due to a few other drops in between, in time to be told that Tuesday is a holiday - Janai Purnima or Raksha Bandhan: Festival of the Sacred Thread
Eurokids School 1
. This is the day when male, females, and children regardless of station and caste tie a sacred yellow thread around their wrist. The males tie the thread around their right and the women tie it on their left. Raksha means 'protection' and Bandhan means a bond. The wearer believes that it will bring him good luck. So because it was to be a holiday tomorrow (or today for me now) that I wouldnt have any classes except one.Well that one class was my near undoing. I was nearly ready to run back to my hotel, pack my bags, flag down a taxi for the airport, jump on the first flight the hell out of there and go anywhere maybe even Doha to look for my lost bag. Here sitting in front of me was what will be my biggest challenge of my career so far. Conversational English with.... dare I say...first graders. These kids made me earn every rupee I make for this month and next. I hope I only have to see them once a week and I may call in sick on that day every week for a year. They were up and on the move the entire class, talking in Nepalese and English at the same time. I had my white flag up in minutes after arriving. By the time the 55 minutes was up (it felt like 3 hours) I was needing a sedative or just to be allowed to climb under a desk and whimper for awhile.
Fortunately by days end I was sitting in a circle of 12th graders and talking about New York City and learning some valuable Nepalese for those evil 1st graders like, "I will beat you"
Eurokids School 2
.My day then ended much like it started - late. I missed not one but two taxi's to my hotel and ended up being the last to leave the school grounds at sometime close to seven. I was worried because the only words in Nepalese I knew at that time was Namaste (a version of hello) and "I will beat you". I missed both taxi's because I was talking to the 12th graders and talking to the tech guy who is setting up Skype for me so when I talk or have a class they can talk and you can see them.
Lunches have been great and several people have asked for photos of the food which I dont have yet but I can tell you what I've had and you can look it up. Photo's of food will be coming. Sundays lunch was Aloo Parwal, Roti (bread), Arhar Dal ( a lentil soup); Monday we had Quanty, Jeera Rice and usually always some kind of rice and or breads. Plus we get an afternoon tea. Monday it was nice because along with tea we got some sweets. Whats hard to get used to, believe it or not, is because I am a guest they wait on me - bring me food and then want to keep filling bowls up as I finish something. So everyday at lunch I'm shown to a seat and minutes later someone shows up with my tray of food and then drinks. (Hey Beechwood (Claire) if you want me back you better start working on that role).
Eurokids School 3
I am planning on trying to get out of the city today but its raining again so I'm not sure what I'll be doing yet.
Who Dey? - How'd the Bengals fare last night...oh the game hasnt started yet according to the time difference...never mind because I'm a day ahead and I see they lost...again.
But how 'bout 'dem Reds 6.5 games out...is it too late to win the division?
Okay thats enough for now, take care to all and On-Out.
Comments
Thoughts & Actions are Two Different Things
Cuz,
When you wrote of 'thoughts and actions being two different things', it reminded me of two Presidents of the United States; Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter. It also, coincidentally, reminded me of two additional Old Lebanese Proverbs from my Dad. Uncle Joe would want me to pass on his wisdom to others on their path to Nirvana:
'It is permissible to smoke from the weed pipe of life, as long as one doesn't inhale.'
'In the union of husband and wife, contemplating heartfelt lust is pemissible. Engaging in it, not so good.'
Brenda
Different pace of life
Hey there! Second working day back from AK and having fun reading of your travels and travails. Watch those 1st graders - they can be wily. BTW, how do you say 'I will beat you' - think it might come in handy with the sales folk I have to deal with. Food sounds great and lots of life experiences.
So, what else is new?
'I have found that thoughts and actions are two different things here. If I am told that I will be picked up at 8am it really means 8:30 or later.'
And you weren't prepared for this? Doesn't this remind you of the 4:00 p.m. start time for Saturday hashes?
'Oh, wow! I've got to make a thirty-minute drive to get to the hash. And it's ten 'til four! Hey, no sense in being one of the early birds.'
Re: Thoughts & Actions are Two Different Things
Brenda, I wish your dad had been MY Uncle Joe! He sounds like a delightful person. Thanks for sharing his 'wisdom'. He's either got a smile or a smirk going on, watching you! Laurie
Really Nice School
Hey Uncle Mark,
I love the pictures. The school looks a lot nicer than I thought it would be. I guess I thought it would be a dirt floor from your description of the area. I love you and miss you!