So Tokyo..

I am currently sitting in Tokyo's airport, after 16 hours of flying, and I still have 6 hours to Bangkok and then a 11 hour lay-over, followed by a 2 hour flight to Kathmandu. This is alot of flying for someone who hates it, especially since I didn't find out until I was in the airport that I wasnt taking a direct flight to Bangkok like I thought. Oh well, they have free sake samples, which once stomach settles I will partake.

Oreintation went really well, I was suprised a little bit by that. I was definitly dreading the two week delay before leaving, but I it was good to have, plus I really got to know the other JV's plus a group of people going to Equador and Hati for a year. As cheesy as it sounds, its nice to have a network of people who understand what you are going through even if its all over the world. I am the only one flying to my country solo, which was initmidating, but I am half-through with only minor issues of baggage weight. I did get to meet Pat, my fellow Nepalease volunteer, who will be coming in Januaray, which was nice. He, fourtunatley made the trip with me to Dulles, where I flew from, so we were able to bond over spreading the weight out in my luggage. He will be speading the next four months or so Hiking the Pacific Coast Trail which goes from Canada to Mexico, so I know who I will be trekking with in Nepal! It was also nice to reconnect with others, and the Program Coordinators....it went by way too fast, and I already miss them.

However, I am ready to be in Nepal. Especially since alot of Orientation is pro-active, so we really don't know how things will play out until we get there. For the most part, it was useful, but obvioulsy there are the sessions where your like, what the hell? For me it was Theology and mission, which was the longest Bible reading ever, which is obvioulsy right up my alley. And the health one. The Nurse who came in, in order to get us to understand how fast disease spreads, because at 21+ years old we still dont know, had people spread Nutella on us, but with out saying anything which led to a one of the girls having an allergic reaction, and our clothes being stained. Then she went into an STD talk from hell, and to finish split up the men and women, and attempted to answer questions. It was sad, but funny. Otherwise most of what we talked about was good. I especially liked how the emphasis was placed on the fact the JVI is not a missionary group, that we are not there to change people, simply to walk with and empower those that we work with. Simply to be not do. However it was a bit discouraging that when we talked about roles of women and men, the role of women was to be submissive in many ways, and the role of men was to protect and set an example by their relationship with JVI women. I understand that I am going into a Patriarchal society and that I can not be as independent as I am in the states, that doesnt frustrate me as much as the tips for men, talked only about supporting women in being an example, but it didnt give any active encouragment for them or dangers of a man who stands up against the objectification of women. We talked alot about it in my country group Tanzpelati (since it was the combination of 2 JV's going to Tanzania, one going to Haiti, and Pat and me) it was very hard to reconcile the part of me that has for the past few years worked against the objectification of women and men's response to this, and the reality of what this will mean where I am going. In Nepal I can't touch a man with out it raising eyebrows, so what would it say about our relationship if a housemate defended me? I am fourtunate enough that most people recognize that were Americans and things are different, but that only goes so far. Its going to be interesting to see how this will actually play out in country.

So, there was alot of the deep thinking and intense conversations like this, but it was good, because I would rather have an idea about these issues then in country. Oh and one final thing about Orientation, we had a Talent show on the second to last night (which when I first read i was like really? but after two weeks of being couped up it was a good break) in which Tanzipelati did the entire dance from Little Miss Sunshine, I figured some of you especially me fellow BSO mates would be proud. But thats about it, I dont want to bore you all with the details, but I thought a little reacap of the Big-O might be nice.

It still is hitting me that this is it, that I am not on vacation, that I am not heading home anytime soon...although I do have a ticket to India in a month, in order for me to get a visa, so I always have that option I guess. Alright I have dragged on too long, and I think its time to try some of that sake!

oh, and please excuse the typos, everything is coming up in Japanese on my computer so I really dont know how its typing out, or if this will post.....