a good samaritan

'hold the phone peoples, Jo has written two posts in one month!'

Alana and I have had a pretty 'blah'* week owing to the Nepali bureaucracy, or should I say, bureaucrazzzzy, involved with registering for our language course...I'm not going to go into the 'ins n outs' of the saga, cause I really don't care to relive it, but you need a little context to truly appreciate this story....

So yesterday we set out to accomplish the final task of opening a bank account...(We need proof of substantial dosh^ in a Nepali bank account in order to register blah blah blah).

My task: Get the 'moolah'** and meet Chasty at Bank of Kathmandu at 1400.

So I forgot that I had asked her to mind my wallet for me, didn't I? and only remembered when I arrived at the atm and reached into my bag to find, nothing - doh!....so I trudge back up to the bank...the sun is beating down, onlookers are looking on, my frustration is frustrating...why do I do this to myself?????!

Take 2:  Wallet in hand this time, I walk back to the atm, get out the dough^^ and split...

Meanwhile back at Bank of Kath'n'Kathmandu, someone has finally cut us some slack and Alana has opened her account...minutes later the greenbacks*** are in the account and we are walking out of the bank in jubilation!

We are moseying on down to our local haunt, Cafe Kaldi, (on the same road I was now traversing for the 5th time that day...) when all of sudden my thong (Australian for 'flip flop'...that's how we say folks, you just have to accept it!) broke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  What to do???  I am standing on the side of the road considering, 'do I just wear the one thong?  do I discard both thongs and walk barefoot?  do I stay put and let Alana go and buy me some new thongs?'...did I mention the sun beating down, and being a mere hop away from the 'promise land', a land flowing in milk and iced-coffee???

This is my predicament when I hear a voice from behind me, 'here, take my shoes!'...I turn around and this Nepali guy in the middle of the foot-path has taken off his thongs and is insisting I take them...'don't worry I'll buy new ones, don't worry just take them'...I am speechless!!!....Technically, shouldn't I just go and buy some new ones???  Who does that?  Would you do it?  I wouldn't...But they are off his feet and there is no going back!...I decide to go with it.  I slip them on, chuckle at the fact they are way too big, get a picture taken (a small price to pay...) and proceed across the road to my iced-cappuccino...

And here endeth my story...I haven't ever been given the shirt off someones back, but I can now say I have received the sole off their feet...good times!

Til my next post - 'How to treat tinea in Kathmandu' - Say hi to your mum for me...

* 'blah' - average, slightly annoying, tiring, frustrating, mediocre
^ 'dosh' - slang for money
** moolah' - slang for money
^^^ 'dough' - slang for money; also used to make pizza; not a doe, not a female deer
*** 'greenbacks' - slang for money

A normal week

It is now officially 3 months since I arrived in Kathmandu and life feels like it finally has some measure of routine (quick, somebody slap me! I just said the "R" word!).  So I thought I would give you a glimpse into a normal week* here for us.

Seeing as our life 'sans fellow English-speakers' officially commenced on a Sunday, and it is technically the first day of the week, Sunday seems like an appropriate day to begin with.

A typical Sunday:

hold onto your tights ladies!

Sunday is a witnessing day.  Happily I get an extra half hour sleep-in because our group is at 8:00 am!  Though not everyone loves it, Sunday's territory (Pepsi Cola) is a novelty for me.


Why a novelty?  Well, I love the journey.  I love the challenge of squishing inside or hanging out the back of a tempo, changing buses, haggling with drivers and arriving on time to the group...(exciting!)...I should probably also add that the witnessing is exciting too he he...


Sunday afternoons, had I written this post a month earlier, would have resembled the high-energy sessions as that below.  A month later, however, Sundy arvos^ have toned down (not for the lack of pilates - ok that was terrible!  I blame it on my father...).

And as neither of us click as well as Luc, the following scene is a more apt portrayal of a Sundy arvo's Teach Yourself Nepali study session.

where's Mully?

A typical Monday:

Though Monday is the designated 'day of rest', let me clear the air: we are NOT sitting around all day in our pjs.  Nay!...As I appear to no longer know HOW to sleep-in,  I respond to the invasive morning light by starting the day the only way I know how: slowly, with coffee in hand.

After doing meeting prep and finishing our domestic duties (insert Nacho Libre accent here), we then set out on our weekly pilgrimage to Thamal for a taste of Westernfication.  Thamal houses among other things such as, great bookstores and kebabs, our favourite cafe, the Roadhouse Cafe.  Roadhouse is our favourite for the following reasons:

oh la la

• The aroma of Illy coffee beans greeting you at the door
• The crema leaf (or heart, depending on the barista) 
• The complimentary cookie
• Enjoying the caffeine quicken your talking speed and topics for conversation
• The low light perfect for D&Ms and several cap sittings
• The inviting couches
• Being on 'didi/bai'-terms with the staff

Each Monday I also like try to see something new in Kathmandu.  The sites vary week to week.  The Monday before last, for instance, we sauntered up and down 'Freak Street'** for the afternoon.  Last Monday, owing to a bad encounter I had had involving tap water...I only managed to get out of bed for an afternoon-dahi (Nepali for 'yoghurt') with some lovely sisters in Putalisadak.  I really enjoyed having some time to get to know them all a little better, and will definitely visit again soon.  They are Nepal's answer to Sister Ubelia...

Rupa, Indira, Misa H, Monita e moi

stolen

This Monday, the new sites included the Australian Embassy (I feel some Peter Allen coming on...), Tribhuvan Uni (where we will shortly begin our Nepali course) and a short-cut from New Road to Thamal...

Next week, I hope to squeeze in something more exciting...The Boudhanath Stupa.  Boudhanath is an ancient Tibetan Buddhist shrine, and is one of the largest stupas in the world.  It is also rumoured to house a piece of Buddha's bone.   So yeah...here's hoping I don't drink anymore tap water...

A typical Tuesday:  

Tuesday in Nepal can be likened to Monday for the rest of the world.  Manic.  If I set my alarm like a good girl, I wake at 6:00 am so I can once again ease myself into the day.  If I do not set my alarm, I may be wakened (as happened one week) by a sister, 15 minutes early for the field service group, knocking on our front door.  Nothing like starting the day with whiplash!

The group starts in theory at 7:15 am but we generally don't hit the streets much before 8:00 am. We usually just do an hour or so of first call and then go on rvs/bible studies.  This month I am again attempting to special pioneer so I am aiming to stay out until 1:00/1:30 pm. ('aiming' being the operative word...'say a little prayer for me')

We have our midweek meeting on Tuesday at 5:00 pm, so I take it easy in the afternoon.  Sometimes, if I'm feeling inspired, I may even prepare an answer...

I am not yet used to having an early meeting, I feel like it is much later than it is when we get home and consequently don't want to do anything but watch dvds...so that is what I usually do Tuesday nights...Ahhh who am I kidding, that is what I do every night...got any good dvds suggestions?

[Side point:  In two weeks I am going to be a house-holder for the first time...shivers!!!!!  I crack a sweat just typing about it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

A typical Wednesday:

Wednesday morning is Tuesday morning, in different digs.  Same same but different.

Wednesday evening is our Family Worship (FW).  Before all the expatriates repatriated, our 'English-speaking family' consisted of about 10 of us, including Tiffany and Tania from Rome/Australia, and Lynn from South Africa.  The boys would alternate conducting the study, and everybody took turns cooking (anything from Buff tongue to chili con carne).  I really enjoyed this part of our week, and found it buoying hearing (and, understanding) everyone's heartfelt expressions...

Alas, now Alana and I are left to our humble devices to keep each other interested...We still get embarrassed just praying for each other...But, I can for the record say that Alana's culinary adventures continue to keep me interested!  We take turns cooking for each other and I am always excited when her night comes along...what shall she be inspired by tonight????

coffee-mate: a worthy substitute
 for salt as it turns out...

A typical Thursday:

Thursday is Wednesday sans FW.

A typical Friday:
  

Friday is the Nepali Saturday, at least for those who have a two-day weekend it is.  The bethelites are all out witnessing with us and we have a combined group which is exciting as we have an opportunity to work with publishers in the other group.  We recently had a new couple move in from Japan, Michi-Hiro (or Michi as I like to call him) and Hiromi.  They are both trying so hard with the language, it is really inspiring.  Hiromi is super-cute.  One Friday she was wearing 3/4 length, fingerless, black gloves to protect her arms from the sun (sorry, I managed to delete the photo evidence!)...I thought a long-sleeve kurta would have been the easier option, but admittedly she did look cool!

Friday mornings I have two studies both named Hari.  The first Hari I met my first week in KTM in a shop called 'H2O - Thirst For Fashion'...and although the sister I was with did all the talking, I inherited him.  Sadly, the last couple of studies Hari has started getting a little close for comfort (literally! he's practically sitting on me), and gives me dreamy eyes when I ask him a question....what to do???  I am trying to find a way not to stop the study, but to surreptitiously slip a stunt double in my place...All suggestions are welcome.

The second Hari I really like.  Tania (an Australian sister living in Rome) handed me this RV with a man she had met in a little hole-in-the-wall shop supplying religious paraphernalia.  Instead of finding the original guy, however, I met his bai, Hari, who is also very interested to learn what the Bible teaches.  I get a kick out of the irony at times when we are interrupted mid-Psalm by his customers seeking incense, tikkas, holy sesame seeds (NB these are NOT for cooking folks) and the like...only in Nepal ay!

Since Friday here is our Saturday, Friday night we endeavour to create a social life....

We recently sought to bring the youngins of Baneshwor mandali (Nepali for 'congregation')  together for a 'getting to knooooow you' session.  We did it 'momo style'...

After enlisting the invaluable guidance and support of Ratna, Sayara, Chulman and Misa, Alana and I let our guests do the work...

Sayara - 'squeezin the
ju-uice' (or tofu)

Chu-the-man

Misa H

Ratna

creating new momo styles

After witnessing some intimidatingly speedy momo making, we decided to put our guests to the test:  Who is Baneshwor's fastest momo maker?

The contenders:

• Anjana
• Chulman
• Santa
• Yugil

The winner having thus been declared, it was time to taste the momos...

Toru says:  'mito!'

The second half of the evening we tried a little experiment:  'Pass the Parcel'

'is this a good idea?'

Yugil breaks it down...the rules that is...

'we call it: "the parcel"'

'and the winner is:

Simon'

  Take 2:  'and the winner is:

Si-Si-Simon'

cut the music, someone get a new DJ!

Jo takes the heart...

Sanu takes home the Snickers

A typical Saturday:

Saturday is the national sabbath, which translates into a very busy day for us as many of our studies are only available then.  We have our meeting at 10:00 am, but I have a lovely study beforehand with a girl called Solinar. We met not long after I first came, when she patiently listened as I stumbled out my presentation.  She is doing her SLC (School Leaving Certificate, equivalent to yr. 10 in Australia), so she is pretty busy but she is great.  She has got a really good grasp of English (insert sigh of relief here) and so she reads in Nepali, and we discuss it in English.  We study in her parents' shop, so are occasionally interrupted by someone wanting bangles or bindis, but are making good progress.

Anu and Tiffany

After Solinar's study one day, I was walking with two Japanese sisters along the street and two beautiful little girls approached us, 'Anu' and 'Priya' (Nepali for 'dear').  Like many local kids, they wanted to know our names, where we were from, where we were going, what we were doing, why we were doing it...but I appear to have made a friend for life in Anu.  Each week I look for her little face after Solinar's study, and am happy when she surprises me as I am turning the corner to leave.  A couple of weeks ago I gave her a copy of My Book of Bible Stories.  It was one of those special/rare moments seeing how her eyes smiled when I said that the book was her's.  I hope I can study with her too one day soon.

Sandhiya, me and um?

After the meeting I am studying My Book of Bible Stories (which, by the way, I am absolutely loving) with a young girl called Sandhiya.  She and her little sisters (some, really her sisters; others, who knows?) live close to where we had our memorial this year and after somehow receiving an invitation, they came by themselves to see what was going on.  We met afterwards, made friends immediately and organised for me to visit the following Friday.  As we were walking home from the memorial she kept reminding me, 'don't forget, ok, Friday, 1:00 pm, don't forget, ok!' - very cute!

 * NB: subject to weekly changes
 ^ 'Sunday afternoons' - for the benefit of those who do not speak fluent Australian
** Freak Street - A popular haunt for hippies in the 70s...nothing too freaky nowadays, just a lot of ganja merchandise