Nepal 2006

The Purnah Salary Fund 03/04/2007 - Total to date £575

2006-12-22T00:14:00.000-08:00

There is little I can add to what Jill has written about our experiences in Nepal, except to say that I miss Nepal and I miss my family and friends there. And yes, I too have made a commitment to Nepal and its people and I will be going back.

You may remember that Jill has mentioned Purnah, one of the teachers at her school, in some of her blogs, and there's a photo of him somewhere too. His funding runs out at the end of this year, and we would really like to be able to fund him for as long as possible as he is a really good teacher, very conscientious, and very concerned both about the welfare of the children and that of the community. He wants to start Adult literacy classes in Nagarkot, which he won't be able to do if he has to leave Nagarkot and find work elsewhere - possibly abroad.

The pay of a teacher in Nepal is around £50 a month for a teacher in a government school, and as Purnah is still training he gets the equivalent of £25. So that's only £300 a year. He has two more years of training still to do, and then he will become a permanent teacher, at which point the government will pay for him.

So we've started a fund for Purnah's salary. And on this page, which will be updated as and when, we're going to give a running total and list the people who have donated to it. So if you'd like to contribute, please contact either Jill or myself - any contributions would be most welcome.

List of donors to the fund - with grateful thanks

Rob Hepworth
Keith Noble
Dick and Gill Moore
Sophie Moore
Edward and Laura - Dick and Gills' niece and nephew
Gary Fox
Debi Fleming
Denise Varley
Lucie Barlow
Nicola Roddy
Mrs Abrams
Patrick Hogan
Greg Freeman
Sue and Graham Bagshaw
Celena Bretton
Sarah Jane Smalley
Gavin Hubbard
Chris Bell
The Organisation Development Team at Ufi learndirect

Vivienne x

How we kept in touch with you x

2006-12-12T11:08:00.000-08:00

Internet cafes we have known. This is Viv at Tibet House which we visited nearly every day. It is run by Thupyen and Nima Sherpa who also run the Sherpa Cottage and incidentally make the greatest herb tea. Next is a picture of the internet cafe in a village called Sankhu which we walked to one weekend wading through a river to do so.

And this is the view out of the window at the Namaste internet cafe in Bhaktapur. Amazing isnt it?

xx

2006-12-12T11:05:00.000-08:00

Semanta and Bhakta overlooking the Kathmandu Valley one day in October xx

Farewell to Miss Jill x

2006-12-12T10:43:00.000-08:00

This is one of the images I shall carry with me. I took this photograph during an ordinary lesson. This is the view from my classroom doorway. My lessons attracted a lot of attention within the school. And through the window I could see the grandparents and passing goatherds and whoever else on the grassy knoll.

And this is part of my own leave taking. The children gave me all these flower bouquets and malas plus an assortment of heartfelt gifts which have all come home with me. This is a special meeting of the parents. It was always a difficult thing to arrange because they are all subsistance farmers and time is not easy for them to find. However they came together to meet the Headteacher one day and hear of his plans for the next year. You can see that some of them are holding a leaflet.. but the truth is that they cannot read. It is a situation that Purna and Uttav are tackling. Adult literacy groups will meet during the winter and the monsoon i.e. when time is easier to find. The hope is that they will be able to write at least their own names when I see them again next year.

Goodbye to Miss Vivienne x

2006-12-12T10:32:00.000-08:00

Viv's send-off from Shree Krishna school. All these rather serious looking people are... far left the College Principal. Next to Viv is the school headteacher and next to him is Mahendra the English teacher. You will have to ask Viv who the other guy is and, of course, that is Semanta in the front. Viv has just been presented with a letter of appreciation from the school governing body. The heroes whose photos are on the wall are
Nepali literary figures.
These students are the reason we came. Here is Viv saying farewell to her year 12 students. They have all promised to write. This day was the first time I met them and they seemed a lively group of eager students. !!

Farewell from the Cottage xx

2006-12-12T10:23:00.000-08:00

These are the people who run the Cottage in Nagarkot. Sem is the manager and the oldest person there. The smallest guy is Krishna the chef. Behind him is Buddha the gardener and also a near neighbour. The young man with the baseball cap is the bar manager, Narayan. Next to Sem is Aakash and at the left of the picture is Manoj. The cake we organised for the party says on it thank ytou very much in sanskrit script (or so Bhakta and Kiran told us).

2006-12-12T08:25:00.000-08:00

So that was it. We did what we set out to do. Our work in Nepal has, as the cliche goes, given us more than we have left behind. Our presence has given rise to the contact and concern of others in Nepal towards our schools. During the last week we have been working to try and save the job of the only teacher worth his position at Shree Gadgade and we may just have done that.

We have become completely at home in Nagarkot and Kathmandu. I believe I may know more people there than in Whitley Bay at the moment. The relationships we made have been sustaining and important. We are returning to Nepal as soon as circumstances allow to do more of the same. I might even work out how to do some sketchpad work unaccompanied, tho somehow I doubt it.

As soon as I can I shall be adding photos to past blog entries and some more of our leaving party at the cottage. I certainly have culture shock right now. It is so wierd to be again in a country without poverty and hunger and the least said about the purple tinsel 'tree' in my neighbours window the better.

Aakash, one of the Nagarkot Cottage family is to be married this week and we would love to have been able to go too. (He did invite us. This is not just some idea I have had) And it is impossible to avoid checking the time difference and wondering if the fire is lit yet and how they are looking after it without Viv.

There is only one way to end this section and that is to say that we have both made a commitment to the project that means we shall return to Nepal to see it through.
Photos to follow,
love Jill x

A blog from me - for a change

2006-12-04T23:03:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

Bet you thought I'd gone permanently missing, but I haven't - I've just been otherwise engaged. Anyway, Jill has kept you up to date with everything superbly, so you haven't missed anything on the school front at least.

So what have I been doing? Well, I've been on a trip round the country with Bhakta. We had a Land Rover to travel in (18 years old and still going strong) as one of the places we visited isn't on the tourist route any more, and no-one was quite sure how good (or bad) the roads were going to be.

Our first destination was Pokhara, where we viewed the Annapurnas and walked a short way up part of a hill to a viewing point at Sarangkot, which gave a good view of the bits of the Annapurnas which weren't hidden by clouds.

Next we went to Tansen, which also had good views of the Annapurnas. The scenery on the drive there was stunning - there are times when you wish you could walk the whole route with a movie camera and just show everything, but even then I doubt if you'd be able to capture the feel of the places you pass. Tansen was very un-touristy - as far as I could see we only met about 4 or 5 Westerners in the couple of days we were there. We had intended to go to the Rana Mahal, which was built in the 1920's as a memorial to (I think) a Prime Minister's wife - pretty much like the Taj Mahal really. It's deserted and dilapidated now, but from the photographs it must have been quite impressive in its heyday. Anyway, we didn't get there as it would have been a very long walk, so we went to Ridi Bazaar instead.

Ridi Bazaar is described as being the Varanasi of Nepal. For those of you who've been to Varanasi you'll remember it as being a crowded, noisy, bustling place where practically the whole of life goes on down by the Ganges. Ridi Bazaar is nothing like that; when we were there it was really quiet apart from a wedding and a few picnickers. But it was a nice place, and the drive there was again stunning, even if the narrow, windy roads did have Bhakta praying more times than usual, and even if the tarmac was actually missing in a few places. We then went into Tansen. Tansen is nice, but at this time of year it does get very cold at night. We had dinner in the hotel restaurant in the evening with a heater by our table, and the room was really cold and got quite damp too - and it's the best hotel there is there. But the staff were very good and really friendly.

Next we went to Chitwan Jungle Lodge. I had three elephant rides, a canoe ride, a nature walk and a jeep safari. I saw 2 rhinos, but to save me the trouble of photographing them and getting yet more blurred pictures of rhinos, they ran off before we got near. I also saw spotted deer, samba deer, three crocodiles, a stork, and lots of wild boar. We also did an alternative jungle walk, which consisted of me, Bhakta and Hakash (one of the guides) playing Scrabble in the viewing tower whilst the other guide took photographs of a langur monkey for me. Bhakta won the scrabble every time we played I'm ashamed to say, but then he is very competitive and always maximises the points he can get (we also played Connect 4 a lot and he won most of those games too).

One of the highlights at Chitwan was seeing the new baby elephant. It was only about 3 weeks old when we were there, and really cute, so once again I have lots of photographs of elephants. I also got invited to dinner with the staff instead of having dinner in the guests' dining room. We had dhal baat (of course), and I learned how to eat it in the traditional Nepali manner - using my right hand to mix everything up and then scooping it into my mouth from my hand by using my thumb. I'm not sure the food does taste any different from using a fork (which is what I was told), but it's a fun way to eat, and not quite as messy as it sounds.

So then it was back to Kathmandu, and we have a pretty full programme until we fly back on Friday. Bhakta is taking us out to dinner tonight, then tomorrow we're having lunch and a send-off at Natraj, then we have to be at Jill's school (I think) around 4 for something or other. Then I have to be at my school next morning, then we're having a party at night, then the next day we're coming back to Kathmandu for our last hot shower in Nepal before flying home. Do I want to go home? Yes and No. I'm looking forward to seeing my friends and family again, and to central heating and constant hot showers (the extremes of temperature here - 25C during the day and then 5C at night - are a little hard to handle without these, at least for a soft Westerner like me), and to having my own transport to get around. But I don't think there's anything else that I miss even after three months. And I will miss the people I know here, the friendliness of the Nepalese people, and waking up in the morning and seeing the Himalayas. But you can't have everything, so Ke Garne? (what to do?) as they say.

Well, that's all for now. There may be another post before we leave, but if not, there will more than likely be one or two when we get back.

Until then, take care of yourselves, and I'll see some of you soon.

Vivienne x

It must be true....tthe BBC said so.

2006-12-03T21:10:00.000-08:00

For those of you who know this man (Sarah, Helen, Denise and Brian, Sue + Stu, Gilly + Dave) his picture today will come as something of a surprise. Yes he has lost his hippy hair. The magic ponytail!
This is Samanta Sunder Pokhrel and our main contact and friend here. He has been the architect of most of what we have done here. He made the initial contacts with schools he chose (well) to suit each of us. He went on to support our placements in every way. A real star.

He was an aging hippy. He told his wife and his mother, both of whom hated his hippy days, that he would have his hair cut when peace came to Nepal. And this week the United Nations returned here in greater numbers. They endorsed and co-signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Kathmandu a week ago.

Their involvement has been a confidence boost to Nepalis. The Peace does not have to depend on the goodwill of the Maoist cadres, the army and the politicians or indeed the King. the B.B.C. say the United Nations will guarantee it. So it is so.

And the ponytail was sacrificed.

Love,
Jill x

P.S. I went into town today on the bus. I usually offer to have a child or someone's shopping or a bag of rice on my knee because I am a friendly and helpful person. Today I saw a goat being crushed by the push of passengers. There was no option. It sat on my knee. All the way trying to look out of the window and trampling around on me in the process. What I shall miss about Nepal xx

More to see x

2006-12-01T23:31:00.000-08:00

And these are a couple of younger siblings who came to my sending off at school as they came to all my lessons too with an older sister. They were cute as buttons and never caused me or their sister any problems. I usually gave them some books to look at or some drawing to do during lessons. I shall miss them every bit as much as I shall miss their sister, Maya.
I did try to upload some of my other "sea-off" photos but not a single one is clear. No one here knows anything much about cameras, which is why we have so few pictures of ourselves. But Hey!! x

holiday snaps x

2006-12-01T23:12:00.001-08:00

Thought you might like to see some pictures now that I have found a card reader. This is the centre of Patan, which plays Gateshead to Kathmandu's Newcastle. Doesnt look mush like Gateshead. This is where I was painting yesterday. It became, within seconds, a highly sociable event and attracted a huge audience. I only wish I could have warranted their attention. These people are sitting on the steps of a temple at early morning prayertime.

And this is another view of the same square with pigeons. Amazing isn't it? Another world.

Water

2006-11-29T19:06:00.000-08:00

I have great news to report today.
Yesterday I went out to the village with Sem and Sikher (another director of Natraj) to introduce Natraj to Gadgade school.
Sikher was quite shocked by his visit. He couldn't believe just how little the children have and how great are the problems the teachers are dealing with. He promised to supply clean water... There... easy. The total cost is something like 80pounds (no poundsign on this qwerty). For a major problem solved. This should make a huge difference to the health of the children and also the staff.

His interest is worth a good deal too. Somketimes that is all they want here. To know that someone knows.,Love,
Jill x

Early morning in the city x

2006-11-27T20:39:00.000-08:00

I had a brain wave about my art. Why don't I try the city squares before anyone gets up?
I am on my way back now from a few hours drawing. The early morning was so busy, but only locals. I walked through the market places before the days trading began. There was a strong and evocative smell of incense and the ringing of prayer bells. Everyone has to get to the temple to begin their day with prayer and that is what they wee doing today. Amazing sights and sounds. They were actually sweeping and cleaning the roadways and alleys before laying out their wares. The vegetable market was in full swing. mariglolds and spices and herbs and tika powder. There were evn people feeding the cows and calves in the street and also the pigeons and a goat with a bell round its neck. The stray dogs didn't seem to be being fed but one or two had malas on.

The only people ready for business when they saw me were the saddhus trying to charge me for photos. Since I didn't have my camera that was a nonstarter.

And the only people missing from this scene were the Japanese and Korean tourists and their distinctive face masks. Bizarre world.
Love from Kathmandu,
Jill x

Paint and giggling xx

2006-11-27T02:48:00.000-08:00

Well Viv managed to avoid the Santa hat thing on her birthday yesterday. Hers was an altogether different day. For a start we are in Kathmandu this week. And secondly Bhakta took us both out for a special evening to a different sort of restaurant. He even organised a birthday cake for Viv and the traditional musicians sang 'Happy Birthday" which was definitely different.

The restaurant was a traditional Nepali place where one sits on the floor and is served with one dish after another all evening. All the traditional dishes of the main tribes of Nepal are included. Sounds like a banquet but it wasn't. These were only tastes. There were also traditional dances (dancers, not us) and some Kathmandu valley musicians. All rather lovely.

And this morning she left for Phokara in her weeks' exploration of some of the rest of this beautiful and extraordinary country.

I am taking the time to draw and paint in my favourite places around the valley. This is easier said than done. If one stands still at all here in Kathmandu one is assailed by hawkers and beggars and people trying to practice their English and act as unofficial guide. Endlessly saying "no thank you" doesn't work. Nor does getting het up. Nor does ignoring. I shall let you know if I find the answer.
Meanwhile my sketching is fun and a very sociable activity. For most of the neighbourhood.

Hoping to call in to Natraj tomorrow and meet up with Sem for a viewing of the website, which has caused us so much giggling to date....
Love and kisses,
jill x

Vigil for the dead x

2006-11-23T20:52:00.000-08:00

Well we did do our longer walk... down into a valley we have not visited before. The village, Sankhu, is not on any tourist itinery and was a lovely Newari settlement. A real delight. I especially loved losing our way slightly on the way there and having to wade through a tributary. The feel of the water was a change.

We caught a bus from there into Pashipatina which is on the outskirts of kathmandu. We found the place crowded with mourners. This is the most sacred place in Nepal to Hindus and we were there on the day of the vigil for the Dead. That was not as depressing as it sounds (to me anyway). On this day every year people who have been berieved during the past twelve months (or 13 if you folow the Nepali lunar calendar) meet there for an all night vigil. They have to fast and purify themselves to be fit to tend anoil flame for their loved one. There were people simply eerywhere, many wearing the traditional mourning white.

This week has flown by. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed here resulting in a days holiday celebrations on Wednesday. My school is also closed on Thursday and Friday. Which mans I have taught my last lesson there. The children assembled despite the public holiday on Wednesday... to give me a proper goodbye. I came away wearing 9 malas and with two bags full of flowers all arranged by the children. They also did some singing, dancing, drumming and crying for me. It was lovely but tearful. I finally arrived in Nagarkot loking and smelling like a mobile flower shop.

Viv's final teaching day was the next day. She did get a couple of birthday presents from some students but most were not ready for the full sendoff. So she has to go back in for that at the end of our trip.

So now we are in Kathmandu and it is so warm here in the valley. We have met up with Bhakta and he is helping Viv to organise an itinery for her trip further up country next week. I intend to stay here to do some arting. My sketchpad at the moment looks as if I did eerything on the balcony which is pretty much the truth..... So I have a week to paint Nepal as I see it.

More pictures to follow.....
Love,
Jill xx

B.B.C. rules O.K.

2006-11-15T23:41:00.000-08:00

I am adding my photograph of Semanata's parents from last Saturday's visit to their home in lLubhu. We didnt get much chance to talk to his mother because she only came home as we were about to leave but Phokrelji senior was a delight. He has been a teacher for more than 40years and enjoys the company of young people. He cannot speak English, just Nepali and Hindi but that did not stop him talking fully to us. He wanted to compare notes about education and life in general. He knows all about the UK and has a great respect for all things British. Apparently the BBC broadcasts in Hindi are the final word on all matters in this house.
The other picture is of the rest of his family. His wife, four children and his brother's two. They all share a house in the village of Lubhu just outside Patan.

The week continues in our routine. Back to schools and then time after that for a visit into the village or a trip to Bhaktapur. There is a tour group from England staying in the cottage too now and it is so odd to hear so many English voices all of a sudden. The evenings by the fire have become much livelier. They are staying another two nights and then are off to Chitwan and Phokara.

We plan to investigate another longer walk from here at the weekend. Suddenly aware of the fact that we have only three weeks left. Aaaargh!!!

Shopping, Visas and Gurkhas

2006-11-12T22:14:00.000-08:00

Hello all. Hope you're all well.

This is a slightly delayed post in that I started it yesterday, but the power went, so now I have to start all over again. Apologies for the delay!

We had a nice few days in Kathmandu last week, doing bits of shopping, renewing our visas, and also visiting the Gurkha base near Kathmandu. The shopping was fun (I've ordered a new winter coat for myself from a tailors, and will have the first fitting when I go back to Kathmandu next week), and the visa renewal was relatively painless. All we had to do was fill in a form, give them a photograph of ourselves, pay the required rupees (about 21 quid) and hand over our passports for half a day and collect them later. Collecting them later meant we could do yet more shopping, and we also found a shopping mall which was interesting to wander around. It wasn't in the least bit like a UK or US one; for one thing it wasn't anywhere near as big, and there wasn't the variety of shops you normally see. But it was fun.

The visit to the Gurkhas was interesting too. For those of you who don't know the connection, I work for a company called Ufi / learndirect, and to cut a long story short, the company has a connection with the Army and the Army runs hundreds of Army learndirect centres in its bases across the World. So I thought that as we were going to Nepal it would be interesting to visit the Gurkha base in Kathmandu and take them some learndirect advertising and other materials at the same time. So I arranged it with them, and we went. We had a nice afternoon talking to Captain Alan Foote, who's in charge of practically everything to do with communications at the base, Kiran Koirala, who is in charge of the learning centre, and Holly Thorpe (I hope I've got her name right), who's one of the learners in the centre and has just completed the ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence) Course. The picture on the right was taken at the centre.

On Saturday we did a bit of work for Natraj in their office, and then went off to meet Semanta's family in Lumbu (and I've probably got that wrong too), which isn't far from Patan. The area they live in is relatively rural, and they have some lovely views of the countryside and hills around. We met Semanta's father and mother, and his wife, three daughters and son. Semanta has a lovely family: his father used to be a teacher, and was really keen to talk to us; his wife is very friendly and kindlt made us lunch; his three daughters are both pretty and clever; and his son is quite mischieveous. So we had a nice few hours there, talking about the family and about education in general, and had a very nice lunch too.

Now we are back in Nagarkot, and it seems a lot colder than it was when we left on Tuesday. But the evenings by the fire are nice, and I wear two fleeces once the sun goes down. So I keep warm - plus we have hot water bottles when we go to bed!

Well, I think that's all for today. Take care of yourselves.

Vivienne

Meet the Head...

2006-11-10T19:34:00.000-08:00

I would like to introduce you to this man. I took his photo during a conversation we were having about the issues facing his school and the children in it. His name is Uttav Prasad Jawalkhel. He is the Headteacher of Shree Gadgade Lower Secondary School.
A young man called Rashid had just had an epileptic fit. I have been on the workplace health course and knew to observe the child closely for information to give a health care professional. Except, of course, that I know there is very little chance of Rashid seeing medical help. Rashid fits most days. He has seen a volunteer Dutch medical team who can offer him a stabilising course of drugs. They cost aroung 100 pounds. Rashid's father is a day labourer. Work is not constant and the days wage is around 1 pound...enough for rice for a day for a family.

Uttav and I went on to talk about other children in the school. There are three deaf and dumb sisters. The value of a female child is not high in Nepal. If she is not pretty or in any other way marrred or handicapped then marriage may be difficult. If she does not marry a girl child may be looked after by a brother in return for her labour on the farmholding. Or her fate may be much worse.

Some children can only come to school when their sibling is not using the books or uniform. A full set of excercise books costs aroung three pounds.

These stories are repeated in each classroom. Uttav amazes me by his quiet and calmness. If his own child needed medical care he might find it difficult to buy. The headteachers wage here is 50pounds a month. He has a great sense of committment to his school and the Tamang children but he has many problems to deal with daily. One of his biggest is the attitude of his teaching staff. They are untrained and largely uninterested. Teaching is a government job and carries a small pension. That is why the teachers are here. They have often procured their positions and are very often missing or very late for work.

Uttav's biggest asset is his own belief that these students will get the best he can give and the personality of his newest and cheapest teacher, Purna Tamang.

If anyone feels they may be able to do anything, from sending a set of excercise books or three pounds for a childs uniform, to some little more for Purna's exam fees... To coming out here and teaching. You definitely do not need to be a teacher to do this..

Just let me know,
Love,
Jill xx

It would have been nice thats all....

2006-11-05T02:24:00.000-08:00

I have been ill for a few days. Whimperingly so at the beginning (you really don't need the details). I am absolutely fine now. I was well looked after with exactly the right degrees of care and distance by Viv and also the N.C. staff. I have even enjoyed the recovery mostly spent on the balcony in the sun or by the fire in the evenings. It is a fine place to be ill, assuming you have to.

But when I was well enough to notice I could not help recalling that there is no kid (goat) with the colours of life carried on its back....
And there was no all night drumming vigil....

I merely noticed thats all,
Love Jill x

Bell Blessing Ceremony

2006-11-03T00:09:00.000-08:00

Today was the blessing ceremony for a bell that Semanta and his family and friends are providing for a temple near the viewing point at Nagarkot. So Naryan picked me up from school on the motorbike and drove me all the way up the windy roads to the viewing tower, from where we walked to the temple. The ceremony took about an hour, and involved the priest and Semanta doing all the Hindu rituals and prayers to bless the bell. It hasn't actually been hung yet, as the renovation of the temple needs to be completed first, so that will probably happen in a few days time. After that we all got given tika by the priest, and had thread wound around our wrists.

After that we all had lunch - rice pudding and cauliflower curry, which was a bit of a strange mixture but very nice nonetheless. All the people who work around the viewing tower were invited to eat as well, which was nice.

Next week I promise there will be photos of my class and school. I did start taking some today (see below), but then the camera got taken over by the students and I have to sort out the good ones and the rest. But anyway, here are some to be going on with - the views from my windows, and the classroom itself, albeit empty of students. As you can see, the students have to sit in rows, and there is absolutely no chance of rearranging the furniture - all those benches and desks are made of iron, bolted to each other, and extremely heavy.

Well, that's all for today. Take care of yourselves,

Vivienne

Bhaktapur and Christmas thoughts

2006-11-02T00:42:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,

Just to prove I'm not dead and that I'm not leaving all the hard work to Jill, here I am again.

I don't actually have a great deal to add to what Jill's posted about anything; the only things I could add are things about my school, but I haven't yet had the opportunity to take photographs of the students so that you can see my classes. I promise I will, and that you'll be able to see the Shree Krishna Higher Secondary School students in more studious mode. In fact, I haven't done as much teaching as usual this week as the Year 12s have exams all week, and so I've been finishing work at 10:15. The school was also closed yesterday as it was yet another festival day, and next week we won't be there much either as we will be mainly in Kathmandu as we have to renew our visa, and also visit the Gurkha learning centre in Lazimpat - should be interesting.

Yesterday we went to Bhaktapur for the day. The bus down was even more crowded than usual, and was making most alarming noises every time it went over a bump. It was really a large minibus, seating about 18 people, but I reckon there were at least 50 people inside it, and probably another 10-20 on top. So it was a little overcrowded. We had a nice time wandering round Bhaktapur and going to the woodwork shops. Bhaktapur is the home of woodcarving in Nepal as the photo on the left will illustrate.

Knowing it was the beginning of November yesterday also brought thoughts of home and Christmas that much nearer, so here's a picture of me sitting in a cafe in Bhaktapur writing my home-coming and Christmas present list - which is very organised for me as I don't usually start thinking about Christmas until the beginning of December. I guess I will have other things on my mind then.

Today we were going to a puja ceremony for a bell that Semanta is donating to a temple in the local community, but the priest has consulted the lunar calendar and it's now going to be tomorrow. I'm sure there will be pictures from that too.

So that's all for today.

Take care of yourselves,

Vivienne

P.S.

2006-10-29T23:45:00.000-08:00

Now that I am adding pictures I am adding to previous posts too so, if you have nothing better to do, please take a look into the past..... And here is one of this mornings school assembly taken by Pampha and myself. She did the drill in Nepali and I did it in English. And look what a place it is to assemble. Himalayas in the background.! Somebody's grandfather attended too and kept order, not that these children ever need that.

Monday Thoughts.

2006-10-29T23:27:00.001-08:00

This is the view of some of the students houses behind my classroom at Gadgade school. Every time I try to add pictures to this blog something goes wrong. Today I have the card and we seem to have both power and a line so here goes.

The young man is Purna Tamang. He is the newest and youngest teacher and the most enthusiastic. He is the only member of staff who can speak to the students in their own language. He feels strongly that these children in government schools are at a disadvantage and intends to be the best he can be to do something about it. Today he left a little early to go for an interview at the Education Offices in Bhaktapur. Together with the Head he is trying to get literacy levels lifted in the village. One of the students many disadvantages is uneducated parents. Purna and Uttav (the Head) are starting basic skills lessons and expect that the main attenders may well be the grandparents. Parents are always (especially mothers) way too busy from sunup to sunset to give this the attendance they might care to, but grandparents would like to be able to work alongside the children.

There was drumming at our neigbour's house all night. This means that someone is ill. It turns out to be Viv's student friend, Suntali. It sounds like she may have flu. This morning a group of young women called to perform some service with incense and the Shaman was doing something with a kid (goat). If all that fails she may consult a doctor.

Tika, brothers and the rice harvest

2006-10-25T23:32:00.000-07:00

Among the special days during Tihar is a day for honouring brothers. We went to this festival at the invitation of Dr. Upritti (director of Natraj and something to do with the UN in Afghanistan). Viv, an Australian woman called Shannon and I watched the good Doctor receive the blessings of his sisters and then, with a little direction we three performed the same rituals. We had to create a safe circle with oil, water and marigold petals and then give him the Tika. A circle of white paste on the forehead has to contain all the colours of life. There are seven. And we gave him the mala too (the necklace of mariglods). Then he returned the compliment and we exchanged gifts. Now we are all adopted sisters of Dr. Upritti and of each other. This could be useful. You never know.

When we got back to the Cottage there was a school trip there from the UK. What a shock to hear so many English voices and young ones at that. They were invited to Bhai Tika (brothers day) at the neighbouring houses. They were surprised at the ritual but seemed to know to take it seriously and participate with thought.

They have left now for a rafting trip and then a hike. And so to school. Except that no one told me my school was to be closed today for the rice harvest (maybe no one knew). I taught the students who did show up today and I had a long conversation with the Head. He told me some of his frustrations with the system and his hopes that I am only the first volunteer from the UK (come on people. Lets not disappoint!!) It has been a really useful experience for him and for the school. These government schools are not the most prized in the system or the most supported. Its a delight to be able to make some differences however small.

I have forgotten to bring my photocard so pictures will have to wait til tomorrow.
Namaste,
Jill xx

Embarrassed dogs, Diwali, a first for me and school

2006-10-21T22:03:00.000-07:00

Happy Diwali to everyone!

Well, here it's the Tihar festival, also known as Diwali and Deepawali. This festival lasts for several days, and each day is associated with some activity or another. Friday was the day on which dogs are decorated with garlands of Marigolds, have tika placed on their foreheads (if they can stay still for long enough) and are fed well and are generally a lot better treated than they are the rest of the year. So you do get a lot of embarrassed looking dogs wandering around. One I saw had obviously been far too traumatised by the whole process and consequently had managed to get its Marigold garland tangled round its nether regions instead, which I would imagine would be far more embarrassing to any self-respecting canine than having it around its neck.

Yesterday was Laxmi Puja day when signs are painted outside each shop and house and hotel and Marigold garlands and lights hung or placed outside to welcome the goddess Laxmi who will bring wealth for the coming year. We went into Thamel yesterday evening (the tourist part of Kathmandu) and spent ages wandering around. Another tradition is that children go to different houses and shops and sing and dance traditionally, and for this they receive money. So there were lots of children standing in shop doorways singing, lots of activity everywhere, and it was a fun evening altogether. Later on in the week it will be the day for brothers and sisters where sisters place Tika on their brothers' foreheads, and receive money and other gifts. We will be back in Nagarkot by then, but there will also be a group of students staying at the cottage so there will be some festivities arranged for them.

To get to the "first" part of this post, I have been on a motorbike for the first time ever in my life. We had to go across Kathmandu to buy some desserts for Diwali, so our friend Bhakta offered to take us to the best place in town. So off he and I went on his bike. It was absolutely great. The traffic in Kathmandu is crazy at the best of time, but the day before the start of Diwali was particularly busy and we had to weave in and out of the traffic. It was so nice being on the back of a bike and staring at the people in cars and motor buses just as much as they were staring at me. Do they have crash helmets? Yes, of course they do, but only the driver of the motorbike has one - everyone else on the bike (and it may well be more than one person) has to take their chance. It was fun anyway - one of those things I must do again some time.

Before I go any further I must just write a little about the driving system in Nepal. The rules seem to be as follows:

1) All traffic drives on the left hand side of the road, unless there's a perfectly good reason for not doing so (which is most of the time). So you might well find yourself facing something coming towards you in your lane, even though there's no obvious reason why - potholes in the road seem to be a good enough excuse though.
2) Traffic lights are mainly only found in Kathmandu. Red means stop of course, but unless there's a traffic policeman there, it doesn't automatically follow that everyone will. I have yet to work out what the flashing amber light means, but then I think most of the drivers are still working that one out too.
3) Roundabouts are generally for going the wrong way round - I think we have only been round one roundabout where we actually went the right way.
4) Pedestrian crossings give you a slightly better chance of not being run over than otherwise - but it is only slight as most of the time if you're driving you can't see them anyway, and in general people cross the road wherever they feel like it.
5) Modes of transport are there to get as much use as possible. Three people on a bike or motorbike is not unusual, I'm sure the Nepalis would be world firsts at getting as many people into a car as possible, and I think I've already mentioned the buses.

Now to go back a bit. School last week was fine - more grammar for the year 9s, but not so much for the year 12s as it's harvest time and the students have to help with the harvest. So I spent quite a bit of time talking to one of the students - Sokhul - who is of one of the lower castes and whose family don't have any land, therefore no harvest. He's a very bright lad, and his English is very good. The pity is that he won't be able to go on to do any further education as his family can't afford it. If he did, he would have to go to Kathmandu and live there, and so would have to pay for accommodation and food as well as for his studies and books etc. In fact, the only reason he has been able to stay on at school is because a) one of his brothers has encouraged him to do so and supports him in doing it and b) he has some sponsorship from a family in Holland. He also contributes to the family income by doing some private tutoring for about 8 younger children. It seems such a waste that someone who is obviously bright and enthusiastic about education can't pursue their dream because of lack of money and also, because he's lower caste, because he doesn't have any contacts who could help him. Anyway, I've had a chat to Semanta at Nagarkot Cottage, and he's going to invite him for lunch one Saturday and talk to him. Something may come of it - you never know. I do hope so.

Well, that's my contribution to blogging for now. I did actually write something yesterday, but then couldn't post it. Ke Garni? (as they say in Nepal).

Take care of yourselves.

Love, Vivienne

2006-10-19T01:21:00.000-07:00

During the course of a 40 minute art lesson this morning we had 5 visitors, not counting the 7 goats. Pictures included. Our guests did not leave until the students did. Even the old man came along too today. The artists are a delight. They will try anything new with enthusiasm but are still drawing what they know rather than what they can see. Today they even got as far as a little perspective. they asked if they could take the sketchpads home during Tihar so I shall let you know what happens.

The other photo is also from this morning. It is of my younger class who were looking at books in English today.

Tomorrow we are going into Kathmandu to meet a webdesigner at Natraj. Viv, (bless) has been designing a web in word so far and the time has come to summon the cavalry. Staying in town for a few days and coming back for the village's version of the festival of lights. Will let you know soon how that all goes,
love,
Jill x

The grassy knoll....

2006-10-16T22:12:00.000-07:00

Outside my classroom window (I use the term window loosely. There is no glass in it) there is a sort of grassy bank. Some of the villagers gather there when I am teaching. There is one old man in particular. He follows me down to school and then back up to the village street again afterwards. He seems to prefer it if we dont overly acknowledge each other. He places himself on the knoll and hums along' keeping time when my class do "Wheels on the bus" (which, incidentally has some little known verses here about goats and chickens, though I couldnt think of a sound for sacks of rice....)

The other windows face into the central courtyard through which children seem to pass according to a system unknown to me. So I usually have an audience at those windows too. Ho Hum and wheels on the bus........

Love,
Jill x

P.S. A couple of pictures. Above left is just part of my walk to school. OK Eh? And on the right my hugely successful attempt at a fewminutes filler which has become a villagewide phenomenon... Colouring in.

" A man as big as a goat will talk as big as a basket."

2006-10-16T00:49:00.000-07:00

Each class I teach has a few students in it who are not supposed to be there. In fact they are not students at all, but younger siblings in the care of older children. Without bringing them too some of our girls wouldn't be able to come to school at all. Usually they are no problem. At least not to me. I started giving these young ones some colouring and drawing to do and the excitement it generated was great. I don't think they have had the chance to do anything like this before.

I love my art class and I would say that it is going well. Again there is no tradition here of individual creative expression so they have never done anything like this before. Of course, it also means they have no history of failure so their willingness to have a go at whatever I offer is apparently boundless. Some of the results are surprising and fun.

Today was the social audit of the school which seemed to mean a long meeting with many speeches in Nepali which many of the villagers speak and understand only with difficulty. All in all their enthusiasm for the school is commendable given that when one is a subsistance farmer any time off is difficult to take.

Viv and I went to Kathmandu at the weekend to meet with the managers of Natraj and show them our ideas about future advertising, as we had been asked to do. It was a really interesting few hours and we came away with an invitation to Laxmipuja next Saturday at the start of Tihar. Laxmi is the Goddess of light and also wealth. The more light one can welcome into one's home the more blessings Laxmi is likely to bestow. This sounds like a great opportunity to see and hear some of the loveliest candle lit singing and traditional dancing too. We can hear the village people practicing already for this. Sounds of singing in the evenings..!!

Every Buffalo deserves a wash. The buffalo in the byre below our window gets a thorough wash every morning around first light. It seems to like it. And the children are often called to the tap next. I think they have come to accept the cold wash treatment and rarely complain. Next the women have to go searching for fodder for the animals. The first meal follows for the family. And all this before school.

I am going to try and attatch some pictures so watch this space,
Love,
jill x

"Happy Birthday to Jill" and other things

2006-10-13T00:14:00.000-07:00

You'll all be happy to hear that Jill's birthday was celebrated in style yesterday - the traditional birthday cake, plus presents, a marigold garland, a tinsel garland, and a santa hat with plaits hanging from it (not all that traditional or seasonal, but still..). This is the way that birthdays are celebrated at Nagarkot Cottage, and a good time was had by all. We had photos of Jill taken, photos of the staff taken (with and without santa hat), and photos of us all taken, so it was a bit of a photo fest all in all.

The other thing we did yesterday was wander down to Bhaktapur after school, where I spent a frustrating hour on a computer which was really slow, and Jill went shopping crazy in a pottery shop. But I won't tell you what she bought in case it spoils a surprise for anyone. I, more modestly, bought a Ganesh incense holder.

Last day at school for a couple of days today. I spent this morning trying to teach the 'sh' sound to the year 9s and the year 12s. I think about tw0-thirds of the classes got the hang of it, but it was amazing to me (at least) that they then started pronouncing words beginning with just 's' with the 'sh' sound, so we did a lot of ship and sip practice and things like that until they could distinguish the difference. So, if you ever hear any Nepalis who say 'sh' instead of 's' it will probably be my fault....

Anyway, it's the weekend now for us both, and we're planning on going to Kathmandu. The week after next it will be Tihar (otherwise known as Divali), so we get three days off school. And I think that's all for now.

Love Vivienne x

Nandumaya Self-Sustaining Orphan Home

2006-10-10T00:16:00.000-07:00

One of the things we did whilst we were in Kathmandu was visit the Nandumaya Self-Sustaining Orphan Home. This is an orphanage supported by our friend Bhakta, and Jill stayed there in April for a few days when she was last in Nepal.

There were two volunteers there when we went, which was good, as they have 21 orphans to look after. The children are mainly found by the police on the streets of Kathmandu and taken to the orphanage to be looked after. The home grows a lot of its own food, selling any surplus they have, and also selling mushrooms which they grow. They also keep hens and have a water buffalo which provides milk.

The place is fairly basic and not very big, but the children seem very happy and obviously care a lot about each other. They sang and danced for us whilst we were there, and we were made to feel very welcome. They are lovely children. Jill took some of the photographs she'd taken in April with her, which caused a lot of excitement.

Since then we have returned to Nagarkot, done a bit of walking and preparation for school, got very wet in a thunderstorm, and started work again after the holidays. This wasn't something we'd been particularly looking forward to, but now it's arrived it's OK. the buses haven't improved a great deal, though I didn't expect them to. This morning's bus was crammed full even before I got on it, and was even more crammed by the time I got off, and the bus coming back contained two goats who kept wandering up and down the aisle and shoving their heads in the crotches of the male passengers - curious phenomenon and one which wasn't particularly welcome.

More anon.

Love, Vivienne x

Home again, Home again, Trippity-trot.

2006-10-08T02:40:00.000-07:00

O.K. so it was HOT. Very. And HUMID. Equally very. And surprisingly good to get back to Nagarkot again as if it were home or something.!!

We went to Lumbini Peace Park which is an amazingly good idea and, as far as it is finished, it is great. Each Buddhist country is given a plot of land to use as a Buddhist Temple and/or monastery according to their own national traditions. The Park is full of small ponds and gardens. Somehow the whole thing works and will do more so when it is finished. I loved the Burmese Temple in gold and the Korean with its characteristic architectural outline. Photos encd.

The river was running too high for the jeeps when we were on our way to the Jungle Camp so the elephants were sent to meet us. (not on their own you understand). Our first experience was riding the elephant into water that came up to its ears. Thats deep.

Wild rhino do a smart trick with their molecules when Viv points a camera at them. (Credits for that concept to David with thanks). The result is fuzzy, black lines among fuzzy green which we KNOW is rhino but which doesnt much look like it.!!
The most important day of the Deshain Holiday is day 10 when family members turn to the oldest in the family for a special blessing. On that day we were quite close to Bhakta's family home. So he took us along while he went for the Tikka. His father gave us the blessing too which was an honour. The gifts are a date, some fresh fruit, some red thread (something to do with either tribe or caste) and some especially grown barley. Apparently this is the time of year when one's spirit needs to rise free of the earth. Every village, and many homes, provide a swing for the children and the young. We saw a few kites too doing much the same thing (rising above the earth). On the whole though Deshain is a festival of rethinking and paying homage to the ancestoral line, including and remembering those family members who have died. The next festival in a few weeks time is a much more light hearted affair of joy. So we are looking forward to that one now. Here it is called Tihar but it is also known as Divali.

So. Although it is Sunday here the schools went back this morning. Viv and I go back tomorrow upholding the British weekend as a national tradition we are quite fond of. So today we have done our lesson planning in a place where it is very difficult to keep one's focus from wandering. Our office has the most lovely view down the Kathmandu valley which looks just special at any time of day.
Somehow we have scrambled together some lessons and I am starting to do Art with one of my classes this week. Viv is still working on how to teach conversation lessons to a class of 80..

Love, And more to follow,
jill x

Here comes the sun....

2006-09-26T22:56:00.000-07:00

The sun comes out very suddenly and thoroughly here as if it were being switched on. Every time the mist moves away from the mountain tops we can see a little more snow there and a more stunning view. We have two balconies to our rooms. From the front one can see across the whole Kathmandu Valley and to the mountain regions beyond. There are some great sunsets from the stoop. And at the back ... the Himalayan mountains overlooking views of the village houses.

A little about my school. It is the local government school. The village people are from the Tamang tribe. Tamang is also the name of the language they speak. The official teaching medium is Napali (detecting a problem already?) and, just to confuse matters, English is compulsory. The level of operation of the teaching staff, even with the best of intention, is about grade 9-10.
Girls marry young here. Some leave school from grade 9 to do so. From then on the weight of responsibility for home and children is theirs alone. They feed the animals as well as the household from small plots of land. They earn ruppees where they can and I can hear and see them working all day, every day as long as there is light.

I am adding a couple of photos of some of the students in my classes. These two young girls are Ulima and Krisnala Tamang. The older child is one of my students. Their mother is in the sky along with their younger sister and their father is away with the army. Quite a few of the menfolk seem to be away in the Gulf or earning somewhere else.

I also enclose a photo of Bhaktapur, our local town. I really did manage to find the Nepali equivalent of black sugar paper here. PVA is proving a little more difficult tho'. The student books are made up of paper which is more like Izal. But we are doing our best.

The buses here are quite something. Viv uses them for work and, I am sure, could say more. She has travelled closely packed, along with goats and rice sacks (including one which burst in transit and caused a slight incident) as well as great numbers of people. It is every bit as crowded as the underground except that the crowding continues on the roof of the bus too. On our way back from Bhaktapur Viv did sterling work holding the bus' backdoor closed with a piece of string. Mysteriously someone managed to make the door stay closed with the use of a toothbrush.!!

Bhakta arrived back from Tibet last evening and is arranging a few days away for us. We have a week until the schools open after their holiday break. We are going to Lumbini (birthplace of Buddha) and thence to Chitwan for some jungle stuff.
Love Jill xx

Shree Krishna Higher Secondary School and other things

2006-09-23T23:29:00.000-07:00

Well, now that I've spent 4 days teaching at Shree Krishna Higher Secondary School, it's time to tell you something about what it's been like.

I've been teaching two classes of year 9s who are 14-15 years old. There have been approximately 60 - 80 students in one class and about 40-60 in the second and they all sit in rows of benches which are attached to desks. We started off with some general dictation and pronunciation so that they could get a bit more used to my accent, then we moved on to questions and answers so that they would each have a chance to speak. Most of them were fine about it, but some of the girls were just shy and giggled a lot, whilst some of the boys looked down at their shoes. I guess it's just not what they're used to doing, and it isn't comfortable for them to be taught in that way. So then we moved on to doing some grammar work, which they were far more comfortable with, and also got the hang of quite quickly. So I guess most of my work after the holidays will be grammar, interspersed with pronunciation. I've been trying to fathom out how to teach the 'sh' and 'v' sounds which don't occur in the Nepali language. I think I've worked out how to do it, but I have yet to try it out. I have to say, though, that they are all friendly and a lot of them will talk to me individually, even though they're too shy to do it in front of their classmates.

The other class I'm teaching, the year 12s, are completely different. They range in age from 16 - 20, and on the whole are very talkative and lively. One always greets me as 'grandma' because I am so old ! So far I've spent most of the time just talking with them, but they also need some help with grammar and pronunciation, so I'll be planning that in after the Dasain holiday.

Friday was somewhat different. I did teach the two class 9s, but after that there was a cultural programme put on by the students to celebrate Dasain. They did really well, staging it all themselves, sorting out the programme, and there were some really good performances. Suntali Tamang, who lives opposite where we are staying and takes me to school every morning, was the first act on (see right), and was very good. There were other dances in more traditional Nepali dress too (see photo on the left), and singers, and sketches and jokes (none of which I understood of course, but seemed to go down very well with a large audience of students, teachers, parents and other officials). The whole programme took about 6 hours, and was really good.

Yesterday we went to Kathmandu for the day, to have a massage (1 hour for less than a tenner), and to do some shopping. I think we have enough books now to last us for a few days at least (we'll need them if it doesn't stop raining soon!). At night the owner of the place we're staying in was there with his wife and baby daughter as he had invited his friends and relations to lunch to celebrate Dasain. We had a very nice talk to them - he runs the tourism business, and she works for ActionAid in Nepal, which we found very interesting. Today they are having another lunch for more friends and family, and we have been invited.

So that's it for now. There will be more later (of course).

Vivienne

Happy Deshain 2063

2006-09-21T23:46:00.000-07:00

Today is friday (I think) and the last day before the Deshain holiday. When I arrived at school the children were busily decorating the rooms with flowers and insence and red powder. There was a general air of exitement just like Xmas Eve. A few hours later, after they sang some more Nepali folksongs here I am in the village at the internet point. But you should see me. So many of the students wanted to honour the school and more particularly the teachers and most particularly me... (apparently thats what today is about) that I have a great many flower garlands and so many rice tikka marks (approximately) on my forehead that I look somewhat garish and scary. I made some Deshain cards with the children too thereby confusing a perfectly Nepali festival with English custom.

Yesterday my school took part in a valley singing festival. Many of the mothers had walked quite a distance to support their children. The sight of some will stay with me for a long time. One poor soul was shoeless and had twins strapped onto her chest and a small toddler strapped onto her back. She told me that to be the mother of twins is lucky.
Anyway much to my surprise I was asked to give out the prizes. (I was also invited to sing an English folksong to the assembly, which I would have done if I had been able to think of one..... Not a single "Hey-Nonny-Nonny" suggested itself. !!

We now have some time off timetable as the schools are closed for the holiday period. Viv's school have invited her/us to do some extra conversation classes during this time. We also have invitations to staff homes. Parbitre has decided what I most need is a red Salwaar + Kurta so she volunteers to take me to a tailor next week. This is, however, our best chance to get to some other part of the country for a few days. We are awaiting the arrival of Bhakta....tour guide and friend.... at the cottage when he gets back from Tibet this weekend. We are hoping he may be able to sort us out with a trip to Lumbini (birthplace of Buddha) and/or to Chitwan Reserve for more canoeing and elephant safari etc.

With Love and a happy Deshain,
Jill xxx

Brief Update

2006-09-20T05:30:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update to let you know we're both alright. Internet connectivity can be a bit hit and miss in Nagarkot either because the electricity is off, or the 'phone line to Kathmandu has gone haywire, or sometimes both. So we couldn't post yesterday and today there is no time because I haev to get the car back before it gets dark as I can't find the lights.

More tomorrow all being well.

Vivienne

First Day at School.

2006-09-18T01:32:00.000-07:00

Monday 18th September.

So off we set on foot with our tiffin box and our new friend Parbitra. Parbitra is one of the teachers at my school and keen to talk in English as we walked. Viv's school was closed today so we both went to the village school. It is a truly lovely walk to work and the view from the playground is quite stunning....right down the Kathmandu Valley.

We have now observed and joined in with four lessons of English between us. The teachers are really keen for us to improve the childrens pronunciation in particular and hope to learn what they can from us as well. There is much to be done. I am looking forward to being able to go a little further with some of the lessons but for today all I did was a little talk and chalk while the children are still learning to trust me. They are really shy. The timetable is somewhat of a mystery to me as yet, but no doubt it will all become clear or not. Its all rather laidback.
Viv has two first days at school because she starts at her own school tomorrow. They are putting on extra classes before school for interested year 9's (which is actually age 15 and not YEAR 9 as we know it). It looks as if the whole year group will turn up. She has a new friend to take her to school too. One of her pupils has taken the job and it seems to be an honour.

Afternoon and we have walked uphill to the Tibet House internet cafe. Heavenly views from here too. And lemongrass tea.....
Love,
Jill x

Bhaktapur by bus

2006-09-16T22:29:00.000-07:00

We could actually see the Himalayas from our room this morning when we got up - great jagged peaks with snow on the top. One day I'll get a proper photograph of them, but normally they're hidden by mist or cloud.

Today we got the bus to Bhaktapur which was an experience in itself and also very cheap - 20p for an hour's journey and people climbing out of the door at the back and clambering onto the roof whilst it was still moving. I guess they're used to it. We also timed the bus trip to my school, which takes about 45 minutes, so I know I have to set off by 8am at the latest if I go by bus, and probably 7am at the latest if I walk, and 8:30 if I drive (Semanta has kindly allowed us to use his car from time to time).

Bhaktapur is a lovely old town which I took many photos of last year when I was here. We're doing a bit of shopping (I've managed to find whiteboard pens) and a bit of emailing, and a bit of just wandering around looking at whatever we feel like. Then it will be back to Nagarkot Cottage to prepare for tomorrow's teaching.

So that's all for today.

Vivienne

Teachers

2006-09-16T02:37:00.000-07:00

Well, it's Saturday here, and we've had a great time today meeting some of the teachers from the schools we will be working in, a meeting which Semanta kindly set up for us and for which he provided lunch for everyone.

It was so nice to be able to talk to the teachers and get more of an idea about what they expected from us, and what they hoped we would be able to do for the students. I think Jill is a little more happy about the school she is working in now, as she didn't have much opportunity to talk to the teachers when we were there. I think we will all get along very well. Here's a photo anyway.

Tomorrow we're off to Bhaktapur on the bus for a bit of a wander round and some mental preparation before starting work on Monday. After tomorrow either Jill or I will keep the diary updated depending on who has the most time to do so.

Take care everyone.

Vivienne

News and Photos

2006-09-14T22:28:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we had a trip to Kathmandu to do some shopping and have a wander around. It took about 1.5 hours to drive there and the same back, and I don't think we did more than 30kms an hour all the way there. There is just so much traffic on the roads, which aren't wide enough to cope with it all, and the pollution is fairly bad too. Still, we got there and back safely and that's the main thing. We did intend to visit the British Embassy to register our presence in the country, but it closes for lunch between 12 and 2, and of course we didn't get there until after 12.

The rest of the day was shopping for work clothes and books and things like that, and lunch in Kilroy's which is a popular tourist eating place, then back to Nagarkot for dinner.

This morning we have been setting up our office and then it has taken me a couple of hours to actually get the photos loaded onto this blog - very time consuming. Anyway, there is a photo of our office at the right hand side, and the view from it on the left (all being well). Photos have also been added to an earlier posting so you can see where we are living.

This afternoon there is an art competition in Nagarkot so we are going to that. Apparently well-known artists are coming from Kathmandu and the local children are also taking part, so that should be interesting. Tomorrow we are meeting the teachers from our respective schools, so that should be interesting.

I think that's all for now. We are both fine.

Love Vivienne

2006-09-13T02:45:00.000-07:00

Namaste to all our friends-and- relations from Jill. Look I can blog!! No hands or stabilisers.!!

We did so much visiting and talking and meeting and smiling yesterday that today simply had to be a quieter day for us to collect our thoughts, which Viv gives every appearance of having done most successfully. She has already got up to next Wednesday with her lesson planning. My schoolwork is at the moment less clear but I am glad to have had the chance to see Viv's and read through some of the texts too.

There is absolutely no possibility of my asking my school for resource help. Poverty and need are real. There were some women from a working party in Patan there on the openday yesterday. They brought clothes for distribution and a few bags of pencils and exercise books to be given as prizes and attendance encouragement....

I am impressed by the journey on foot that I get to make to work too. Its stunningly beautiful and rural. Viv has a bus journey to school and yesterday we were invited to try driving the car from the Cottage. Viv drove with confidence and the horn.I was less impressive and Sem kept pushing his foot deeper into the carpet. He flinched every time I moved out of second gear and still does so whenever he thinks of it. It was fun.!!

This morning I watched the women returning with brimming baskets of Buffalo fodder. So laden you could not see much of them. (The women not the buffalo). The women later came home with the same baskets this time laden to the brim with maize. Some of their menfolk are abroad in the gulf. This is not an easy life. Yet we have still been welcomed with smiles and offers of tea everywhere.

We do have photographs to post and also a card reader. We need to get on and do that, don't we?

More to follow,
Jill x

Schools and stuff

2006-09-12T04:01:00.000-07:00

Jill and I visited the two schools we will be working in this morning. I have 3 classes each morning of possibly about 80 students each, which should be a challenge, and we're not sure about Jill's classes yet as the parents in the school were visiting to elect a management committee when we were there so we didn't actually get all that much chance to talk about what she would be doing.

Anyway, we will hopefully be meeting the teachers again on Saturday, so things may become a little clearer then. In the meantime, we need to get ourselves organised with work permits and sort out some ideas about teaching. I have a copy of the students book for the year 9s from the school, which compose two of the classes I'll be teaching, with the other class being the year 11s. I think I'll mainly be doing listening and speaking with them as they will definitely find my accent a challenge, and the challenge for me will be ensuring that everyone in a class of 80 gets a chance to speak.

There are so many schools just in Nagarkot which would appreciate having someone to go and teach English to their students. But they're not on the list of schools that most of the voluntary teaching organisations use (which are mainly in Kathmandu) and they can't afford to pay. So if there are any teachers out there who fancy a sabbatical and don't mind paying all your own expenses you can be assured of a very warm welcome - we have certainly been warmly welcomed everywhere we have been.

More anon - Jill is going to say something about her school rsn. We are both fine and it's sunny and relatively warm though there were thunderstorms (some of them happening at the same time in different places) and torrential rain last night - quite unnerving when you're not used to it. But then this is the tail end of the monsoon season.

Also photos to follow rsn.

Vivienne

Now in Nepal

2006-09-11T03:32:00.000-07:00

Well, just a brief entry to say that we arrived here safely, the accommodation is great (photos above), the view from my room is stunning, we are being well looked after by Semanta, and there are monsoon showers so everything is a little wet and misty.
We are at the Tibet House Internet Cafe in Nagarkot at the moment drinking ginger tea. Both the cafe and the ginger tea are lovely. The cafe is about an hour's walk up the hill from where we're staying, but I'm sure we'll cut the time down as we get fitter ! The school I'll be teaching in is way at the bottom of the hill about 8 miles away so it will be fine walking there, but I don't think I'll manage to walk it back very often if at all. Still you never know. If I get really fit I might enter myself in one of those Peak Races next year, but somehow I think it's highly unlikely. I'll need to keep doing a lot of walking anyway, as if lunch is anything to go by we are going to be very well fed.
Well, that's all for today. We're hopefully going to visit our respective schools tomorrow, so we'll keep you posted.

Vivienne

Only 10 days to go

2006-09-01T09:59:00.000-07:00

Well, it's 1st September and we leave on the 10th, so only 10 days to go. The last few weeks have been very busy, and I'm still nowhere near prepared for going away for 3 months. So the weekend will be a mixture of writing lists, shopping, cleaning the house and tidying the garden, with the odd bit of work in-between. And probably emailing Jill, who is far more prepared than I am and seems to have practically packed already. Fortunately I am fairly laid-back so I probably won't start panicking about packing until next Friday night, at which point I'll probably remember there was something vital I should have done which I now don't have time to do.

Anyway, we will jointly tell you more about what we'll be doing in Nagarkot (which is where we're going) when we get there and have had more chance to discuss it with the people there. All I can say at the moment is that we will be working in two schools, but doing what exactly remains to be seen.

What I did want to do in this post, however, is to say a few thanks to those who've helped me along the way so far:

Jill - for having the idea and seeing it through
Semanta and Bhakta - for their ideas and enthusiasm
My family - for their love and support
My friends - ditto - and for nudging me along
Rob Hepworth - for invaluable coaching and support
My friends on the TESOL course at SHU and the staff - I'd do it again with you all any day
The MI and Decision Support Team at Ufi for taking over the reins whilst I'm away
Ufi learndirect - for letting me take a leave of absence for 3 months
Tricia for looking after the house
The distribution team at Ufi learndirect - for giving me some goodies to take with me

And if I've forgotten anyone then I apologise profusely and thank you.

More soon.

Viv

Intro

2006-08-17T00:52:00.000-07:00

Got into your blog

2006-07-11T00:17:00.000-07:00

11/07/2006

Well, this is my first post to a blog. Preparations are under way for Jill and my trip to Nepal in September to do some voluntary teaching in Nagarkot. The flights are booked, the accommodation organised, and 101 other things done, so just the remaining 899 things to do.

There will be more anon when we have further news, but for now, don't watch this space as we probably won't put much more on here until we get there in September.