World On Fire

A little place called home (we live upstairs)


Our rooftop


My favorite animals here; baby goats


The little surprises we'd find during monsoon


Swimming Competition
(Courtesy of Pat)


Class 7 Irish Dancing


The whole Irish Dancing crew


Welcome to 3C


My classroom


The gentleman of 3C


The Ladies of 3C


3C continued


Resham, she's the strength in 3C


Pratik & Rachit they find ways to make me laugh, usually to get themselves out of trouble


Class 3C Mendi


And LEAP!


Utav, my Sports day buddy



Abhib, our little linebacker


Rohan, my class 2 friend.


Where I find my smiles


Steph and Me


Everest


Protein


Our friend on the trail


Dad and Me


We climed this


Sheila


Our rowboats in Pokhara


Sarah and Michael on the flight


Dad and Mom

Just Because I am Hurting, Doesn't mean I'm hurt....

The kites are put away, the new clothes are now old, and the moon will be in its fullest tonight, which means that Dashain has ended. This Dashain, brought my family, which was amazing. My surprise visitors were my mom and cousin Stephanie, which was more wonderful then I could imagine. Having both my parents, Sheila and Steph here was a much needed refresher. I didn’t realize how much I had missed them until I saw them walking towards me, it was just a release of emotion.
Our time together was just what I needed. We saw all of “my” Nepal with highlights of Lonely Planet’s Nepal. They were able to meet my kiddos in 3C, which was nice for not only them but my students, because I think they both hear as much about each other so it was good for the worlds to bond. We met my family here, which was a beautiful connecting of my life here and at home…family. Then we traveled outside the valley, went on a Mountain flight, ate good food, talked, and of course shopped. It was just unbelievable to finally share this with them. Their leaving was nothing I could anticipate and am still handling. It was just hard to say goodbye to not only them but the comfort they bring. But it made going home something I am excited about, and not so scary. This little blurb is not doing their visit enough justice, but I would never be able to explain just how much having them here has meant to me.
Not only was their presence nice, it was necessary. It showed me so much that I had forgotten or not believed. In the past couple of months, different experiences had made me a little hard towards my “JV” experience here. From a new form of “sometimes you need a good beating” corporal punishment at the school, to bad encounters with staff, to valuing Parent’s day practices over classes, and in general just an exhaustion of everything, I had grown a little resentful towards life as a JV here. Enter family and a whole new perspective. Seeing Nepal through their new eyes, reminded me, I like Nepal. It is an unbelievably beautiful place, with amazingly hospitable people. It is common for someone to go out of their way to help you, or to get you something. People here enjoy people. And the simplicity of interacting with one another, whether it’s at a restaurant, on the street, or during a bargaining deal, it is the simple human interaction that people thrive on. I also for the first time was the only person who could speak Nepali, so I had too, and guess what? I can. It is something that is easily forgotten when Nepali becomes a contest of smarts, and not a language to use. I am comfortable and happy here, which was something that I was forgetting more and more. It seems that as I continue my time here, it doesn’t necessary get easier. Yes, I can communicate, I know my students, lesson plans come quicker, all that, but I am challenged as much today as when I first got off the plane. I am challenged in my thinking, my actions, my “western” views, my beliefs, and it is because of these challenges that I have cried,laughed, hated and loved Nepal with the same passion. This passion is what makes my time here what it is; a continual journey of the heart.

"You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have really lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love.”
Henry Drummond