Some film shots

 

So, I got my first roll of film here developed and the good news is, that everything worked out. I am at school right now, on a break in between classes, just taught 3rd grade the difference between I and my. Thanks to Fulbright, we are getting pies to share with our host families on Thursday and then the next day after class we head into Kathmandu and on Saturday we get to celebrate Thanksgiving at a home of someone who works at the Embassy. I hope you all are staying healthy and happy, bummed I cannot see you for the holidays, but know that I am happy. Also don't worry about my appearance from the picture above, that photo was taken in my first week in Gorkha and my hair and facial hair are now more properly manicured to fit with my teaching uniform.

Some of the kids who live near my house.

Morning, looking out of my back window.

SHOPPING!

With a sign like this, how could you go wrong?

              As much as it pains me to say it, for the first time in my life, I have found myself enjoying shopping. Shopping in Nepal, like shopping at Goodwill, every crazy pattern and style can be found, and hidden in between the crest green sleeveless and the acid washed booty shorts gems can be found. But unlike Goodwill where these ‘gems’ are only is size 24 or XXL, EVERYTHING FITS YOU! That is because it is cheaper here to buy fabric and get it personally tailored then to buy something that is factory made. The best part about it is not only do you get to choose the style you want and get it custom fitted, but it all come for less than the cost of a burger and fries (or at least at an establishment that doesn’t use pink slime).


           The process is actually incredibly enjoyable. You stroll fabric shop to fabric shop, pulling out sheets of cloth from the floor to ceiling shelves which make up the walls of the shop. You then sit with the shop keeper, normally with a cup of tea, and you proceed to haggle until you both are satisfied then you take it to a tailor shop nearby and within a day or two you got your new threads.

               The sign from the tailor shop above sold it to me, but what was the icing on the cake was when I walked in, and noticed, hanging from above, a pair of pleated camo pants waiting to be picked up.

Since then I have gotten several shirts and pants made and even this traditional number:

And who doesn’t want to see a photo of me in that gear on a ping?



Diwali Festival



Yesterday was my first day off for the Diwali festival. Yesterday was based around celebrating  the goddess of wealth.   I began my day with the typical chiyaa and biscuits and appreciating the dog puja (blessing) which had been given the day before:

Then I went out with some of the men to spruce up our street for the festivities. First off, we started stringing up Tihaar lights on the houses (Tihaar lights, for those of you that do not know, are just like Christmas lights,but used by Nepali for Tihaar). Following that, we began to fix up the temples which separate our badminton court from our cricket court, changing the light bulbs for the next few evening’s festivities.

We spent the rest of the day eating and cleaning the houses and shops for the puja that was to be given that night.

I went to my host father’s office where we gave blessing and then spent the night walking up and down the streets with a band of little children, singing and dancing and blessing the businesses. I went to sleep to the sounds of the children's bands still going around house to house.

This is me with some of my father's coworkes.

The view from his office.

This morning I woke and took a walk to Julia’s house to pick up a sleeping bag because later in this week I am headed to one of my neighbor’s villages about 5 hours by bus to the north. I was told it snows there, so I am, for the first time in Nepal other than my trek and at school, bringing shoes … Truly excited for this opportunity.

I returned home to find this:

Today was cow puja day. Cows are regarded as gods here, and thus their meat is not eaten. This calf was paraded from house to house with each family blessing it, and for an extra blessing crawling under it!

As I said before, soon I will be headed out into the district where I undoubtedly will be the only Native English speaker in the village. All is well here.

``



Some Group Photos

 I just dropped off my friend from the swim team Sara Lee, her cousin McKenzie, and friend Maya, at the bus rank; they spent the past 4 nights with my family and me in Gorkha. With them staying with me, plus our election viewing party, a mini-Pitzer reunion (there were 8 of us together in Kathmandu!), and my teaching, I have had my hands tied. I will post more about everything soon. But here are some photos I want to share. 

I took this photo of Julia and her little friend when we first visited Gorkha nearly 4 months ago (sounds crazy that it has already been that long! Past halfway now for my grant!). Little did I know that this would be 5 houses down from where I now live and that this little girl would be my barber's daughter.

This was also taken on our first trip to Gorkha. Robin, who is on the far left, is our director. Also, at this time we had no idea how truly big the Himals, just behind us through the fog, actually were.

Sorcha, Rachel, Krista, and Julia, showing how we typically travel.

The best juice I have ever had.