Namaste, mero satiharu!
Trip Start
Aug 17, 2007
1
23
27
Trip End
Apr 2008
Pokhara,
Nepal
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Can hardly believe ten days have gone by since my last blog update; time is going quickly because my days are quite full.
Every morning I help to teach English to classes 4 and 5 of the Blind School. This normally consists of reading out a given text, asking questions about it and helping with the answers. The students write this down, either in long-hand or Braille depending on the level of their eyesight, and I ask them to read it back. The main problem for them is pronunciation - Nepali sounds are very different from English, and many of the students find it difficult to differentiate between the letters 'p' and 'f', and 'b' and 'v'. They can't look to see how I pronounce it, so it is quite difficult for them. However, they work hard and are quick to learn, so make progress nonetheless. Incidentally, the Braille users have one great advantage; they can keep studying even during the many power cuts!
During the day, I help at the English Medium school, where I have been given a timetable staggered between all the classes, so as not to interrupt their schedules too much. I concentrate on getting them to talk, and give them written homework. They will sit their exams the week after next, so I have postponed my Annapurna trek until then.
In the evenings, I help the Level 10 students at the Blind School, who are also preparing for their SLC exams.
Last Friday, Lok and I went to the British Camp, where we were given an excellent lecture by the Co of the Gurkha Welfare Scheme in Nepal. Prior to this, I hadn't realised how wide-ranging their work was - as well as helping ex-Gurkhas with their financial and health needs, they provide huge community support - water supplies and so on - that really give something very tangible back to the people who have stood by Britain for so long.
After this, Lok gave me a tour of central Pokhara, and we ate a delicious meal of Momo - something of a national dish for Nepal. It is boiled lamb (or goat) in pasta-like parcels, rather like ravioli, which are then dipped in a piquant sauce. Very good!
Saturday is the only day that is completely free from study, and last week some of the blind students took part in a sports competition at the national stadium. They ran a 50m sprint, which is conducted individually. The runner holds onto a slider attached to a rope, and by means of this keeps in a straight line. The winner was Devas Gurung, followed closely by Sondur Limbu. (Gurungs and Limbus are two of the most famous peoples from whom Gurkha soldiers are traditionally recruited).
After this, I met Hemant (Buddhiman's brother-in-law, with whom I visited the Mountain Museum last week) and his pals Ram and Soam. We went over to Lakeside and took a boat across the lake, past Barahi temple island, and on to the thickly wooded far shore, in order to climb up to the Buddhist Peace Pagoda, one of Pokhara's most famous landmarks.
Since Sunday it's been back to teaching, but I have also found time for my daily run up to the Buddhist monastery and for a bit of Nepali study. I have no particular plans for this weekend, but will no doubt do some more sailing as Fewa lake is such a great setting for it. Next Friday I plan to start my week long trek.
All best!
