Merry Fisticuffs!

I hope this finds you all well and enjoying the holiday season. As I have mentioned Christmas is pretty non-existent here, but I have been doing my best to make up for it! Which for those of you who saw Strack G last year know this is something I take seriously, though we don't have a tree to take up our whole front-hall way but I'm working on decorating a nice house plant. I figured I would update you a little on all that has been going on here.

What we lack in Christmas now, was made up during the festival Tihar. Tihar is the festival of lights, which is obviously why I loved it! It felt like the Christmas season. People place christmas lights (my favorite being the ones that actually played christmas music, hello globalization), candles and marigold strands all around their houses and businesses. It is a four-day festival of dancing, singing, eating and just plain joy. I was able to spend some of it with my family which was wonderful. While staying with my family, I helped my Amma and Sujhana make Sol Roti, which is round piece of fried bread. To make it you take the dough and pour it into a pot of hot oil, in a circular motion. Sounds easy enough right? And for most people it would be, but for me who can barley draw a circle (Studio Art minor anyone?) it was a challenge that ended in a pile of fried dough (still delicious), and gave a good laugh for my Amma and Sujhanna. But what I lacked in creating I made up in eating (those who thought I would come home thin and frail, don't you worry). It is by far my favorite festival so far.

I also experienced my first sports day, or actually as it should be Sports DAY!!! This is not just a day but a history changing event, or at least that is how it comes across. So what is Sports Day? It is when 8 different teams compete against each other for prizes (certificates and sometimes a medal) and the winning team gets a trophy the size of the Sears Tower that has been around since Nepal had a stable government (no? too soon to joke about that?). The teams are made up of different kids from each grade, and the teams have names like Panthers and Jaguars. I went to the one at Godavari, since my siblings go and me fellow JV's teach, so I have a connection to the school. Overall it was like a big track and field day we use to have in grade school, except we never had a biscuit eating contest (in which you run to a stick that has biscuits hanging from it eat on , no hands, and then run to the finish line). I was enjoying watching the events, (Sujhana one first twice, Pouja one best athlete, Chris was a strong contender in the tug-of-war and Dennis and Sarah helped the teachers beat the mothers in a relay [you read that right]). I even got to judge the marching and PT (again you read that right), though I don't know how good I was since the sole reason I gave first place to the bears was because it was World AIDS day and they wore red ribbons...not exactly unbiased. Overall it was a fun day and while I might not agree with all the aspects, it was still fun to watch all the kids get excited.

and finally, Baby it is cold outside! While I pride myself on being a Midwestener (ask my roommates), it is freezing here and it is only December! Though I do have a slight advantage in the sleeping bag that is prepared for -20 degrees, I just wonder if I can make that into a snowsuit for the next few months.... While it doesn't actually get colder the low 20's, there is no central heat here, so there is no relief from the cold, it just settles in you. I am instantly taken back to during my discernment weekend when I laughed after saw a picture of someone all bundled up and only there eyes peeking out, never thinking I would become that person. But before you send heaters or warm clothes, don't worry I am doing fine. It actually reminds me of our heatless apartment last Winter, so I am well prepared. That and I have given in to all vanity and proudly wear my long underwear, multiple layers, and the hardest, socks and sandals. Though I was disappointed to find out that it does not snow in the valley, so while it is cold I do not get the benefit of falling snow. Such is life.

As for other things, regarding the last post, things have been changing and everything is up in the air right now. I can't really get into too much detail because there are no definites. All I ask is that you keep the JV's here in your thoughts and prayers as we are all learning the meaning of patient. And to excuse my lack of communication while everything is happening. It just has a way of consuming all aspects of life right now as much as I try to not let it.

I will end for now with a line from my one of my favorite holiday movies:
"With as much dignity as he could muster, the Old Man gathered up the sad remains of his shattered Major Award. Later that night, alone in the backyard, he buried it next to the garage. Now I could never be sure, but I thought that I heard the sound of "Taps" being played. Gently. "

Help My Unbelief

Happy Holidays! It is hard to believe that I have been in Nepal four months, at times it feels like I just got here. Since Nepal is a Hindu society, the Christmas season is very different here. The only places that have lights or any "christmas" feeling are those that cater to the Bidashi crowd. For example, the cafe where I use the internet (and get my coffee fix) has a Christmas tree with lights (and yes I am sitting next to it listening to Christmas music while typing this). But I will walk out into the garbage filled streets, surrounded by people who will try to sell the white girl fruit and trinkets, or grab her in an attempt to see how desperate they are for food and money. Whoo a little resentment there, yes its true, Nepal is starting to wear me down. Its not so much the country itself, because I really do enjoy Nepal, as it is the situation in which I am here. My job continues to be a major desolation and frustration for me. I currently spend my days working on publications for the two projects we are associated with here, and will then create a calendar and magazine article after that. But after this month when I should be done with it all, my future is still one big question. Ideas are constantly thrown around and I am always present, telling myself, as I have learned, to not get my hopes up on the promises made by those who can not guarantee anything. Its just hard to realize that the position I accepted here is never going to be what I actually do, and that while our mission as a JV is to come to a placement that needs us, I will probably have to go out and seek my own position, therefore creating a need, not fulfilling it. It has been the topic of discussion among my community mates and I since I got here, and one that continues to be circular. Although, it has become pretty obvious that the GA will no longer need new JV's, which means that we both started and finished a placement. How many JV's can say that? Where does this all leave me? In the same limbo I have been since arriving in Nepal. I am continually trying to find the positives and see how this is a good challenge for me, but my faith is growing weak and my belief is waning fast. But at the same time, I knew this would happen, not the job issue, but the test of faith, but I am beginning to doubt just how strong my faith really is. Was I really called to this? To be stuck in a limbo of political BS and situations that I can not control? The view of us JV's is based off of past JV's who may not have been the best, but we can not control that and it is not fair to judge us because of past JV's. It seems like every time there is a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel, it is quickly lost by another wall being built up. I know I should be looking for ways to knock these walls down and to push through this time, but to be honest it is exhausting. Between, learning and using a new language, adapting to a new culture, bargaining to get the Nepali price not the Bidashi, doing the math fast enough to know how much a kilo of potato's should really cost, telling Didi that we again have no water, adjusting to nights without power and trying to stay warm, which seems to be just going home and hibernating to my sleeping bag (thank you Uncle Lou for my little oven) I just don't have the energy to look for a placement. And the thing is I could easily spend the next two years sitting in the office doing little projects, going on some clinics, continue this random life, but I can't, I just can't reconcile coming to Nepal for that. Especially when you look around and see that there are people who are dying everyday because no one cares for them, kids are openly sniffing glue as I pass them on the street, people need help. Yet, I report to an office everyday, where I sit and work on a computer all day. And while yes these brochures will be sent to donors who will hopefully send money to help our programs and thats great, but I need more, I need human interaction. I need to feel that my job is necessary. Maybe, I am being to idealistic, but I just want to walk away from this experience feeling that I didn't just have a two year immersion experience, that I didn't waste two years being a JV when there are countless other programs that I could have done either abroad or at home and gained beneficial experience. I could have been home for the holidays. I don't want this to be a resume builder, that is not what I signed up for. Fortunately, the JV office is coming in January to have a Re-O/Dis-O retreat with us all, which will be good, cause hopefully answers will come, faith will be restored, and I will understand better my role here. I don't know maybe its the fact that its the holidays, or that I am feeling more then ever the distance from here and home, but right now I just pray to help my unbelief.

Family

Right after returning from Jhapa I headed to Godavari for my home-stay. To be honest it was something that I was not looking forward too, I was really nervous about staying with a family I did not know for a week, especially since my Nepali is still weak. But after about an hour with my family, I knew it was going to be wonderful! My family has three children all who go to St. Xaviers Godavari, where the three JV’s teach. The oldest is Sujhana who is in level 9, Pouja who is in level 6, and Shrimat who is in level 3. They are absolutely fantastic children and enjoyed all the time I got to spend with them. My bua (father) is a chief inspector for the police and spends most of the week at work. My aama (mother) is a beautiful woman. She works at home and like most women that means she does everything. She speaks little English, but I still felt very connected to her. Their house is about a half hour away from school on top of a hill that overlooks a valley of rice fields. For the first few days I hung out with the kids, playing cards, games, and the girls even got me to dance. Though I now know why Nepali women are such good dancers, the girls have choreographed dances for all the songs. It is what they do for fun, and even the little ones can shake their hips. It was a lot of fun, and taught me a lot about not being self-conscious and to just have fun! Then on Friday I was able to help harvest one of the rice fields that the family owns. It was a great experience. To harvest rice you use a machete like knife to cut the stalks at the roots, then the piles of cut stalks are beating over a drum, causing the rice to fall of f onto tarps. The rice is then bagged, carried up the hill to rooftops where it is laid out. Once laid out it is re-bagged, stored or sold. This is all done by the women. I think that is why I enjoyed it so much, because I was able to bond with my aama, aunties, and Sujhana. One thing that fascinates me here, especially in the villages is the bond between women, it is more then just this idea of being in it together, it is their life. Many of their husbands work outside the valley or even home like my bua, so it is the women who run everything, and they do it together. It is such a beautiful connection that they all have, mothers to daughters, sisters to sisters, everyone. I really enjoyed being able to laugh and talk with them. Though I was fired from banging the rice, though my Nepali was not good enough to know why…. Something about a head covering or not hitting hard enough? The rest of the week was filled with good memories and experiences. It also gave me insight to how Nepali’s live. For example, Pouja, gives Pouja (the offering to gods) twice a day, for the family. They have a room that is meant just for offerings, in which they have a small alter under pictures of various gods and goddess. Within the offerings there is Ahrwati, which is the ringing of bells and lighting of incense. It is also the Nepali name my aama gave me. She also blessed me with Thika, recognizing me as her Thulo Churi, or eldest daughter. It is just nice to have a family connection here. Though, there are definite differences in lifestyles to state the obvious, but I think one of the funniest ones I experienced was the use of oil. After washing my hair at the tap, I came home, and the girls asked if I wanted to put oil in my hair. I asked what that does, and was told it is what makes their hair black. They believe that by putting oil in their hair it makes it black, so I was like sure why not, thinking maybe it’s special oil, but nope it is the same oil that we use for cooking. So there I was in the kitchen, with freshly cleaned hair, rubbing sunflower oil in my hair. I laughed to myself and stayed away from the fire. Though that night as I went to bed, I just reeked of the oil, so I open my trusty purrell poured a little in my hand and ended up with a fresh rubbing alcohol smell to my hair. It is experiences like this that remind me how far from home I am. But oil aside, it was one of the most wonderful things I have done since being in Nepal, and I am incredibly grateful to have a family like them here in Nepal.


Fields I helped harvest

Lets Go Trekking

For Dashain break this year, which is the big festival here, the JV’s headed out to Jhapa which is the southeastern district of Nepal. I was excited to finally get outside the valley for a little bit! We took a 17 hour bus ride, which was insane. With in the first hour of the bus ride, a window had fallen out and shattered and the driver didn’t even blink let alone stop. It usually is only a 15 hour bus ride but because of an accident we got stuck at 2am for 2 hours. So I took advantage of this break to stretch out and sleep on the road for a little bit, in which the charming Nepali men around us referred to us as dogs, even though they were doing the same thing. Though alas we arrived at 7am in Jhapa. After spending a night at the Jes Res there, Fr. Bill and the six of us headed out for our trekking adventure. We began at 90m and by the end of day one were at 3000m, it was absolutely exhausting, and my asthma became an issue for me, one that frustratingly slowed me down. The second day was hard because the morning was filled with going downhill which was nice, but then in the afternoon, we made a went straight up. Though we did have fun at the India border. The trek we took was along the Nepal India border so we weaved in and out of Nepal and India, fortunately we only hit one check-post, which is where we discovered my visa was about 2.5 weeks expired. Fr. Bill was not concerned, and once we discovered that the guards were smoking up, I realized technicalities were not an issue. So on we went. We made it about half way up Sandakphu, which was our goal. But we were able to stay at a beautiful lodge, where we were lost among the mountains and fog. The next morning we headed out early and in 3 hours we had reached the top, which was ahead of the 5 hours, Fr. Bill thought. On the way up the views were beautiful, we were literally among the clouds. It also was the first time that it smelled like autumn since being in Nepal. It was wonderful! Though it did make me miss home and the changing colors. Once at the top it was too cloudy to see the Himalayas (which mean snow capped mountains) views. But the lodge was so cozy, though it was honestly the coldest I have been since being here! That night it rained, which was good because it cleared away the clouds and we had absolutely breathtaking views of the Himalayas. We woke up at 5 am and watched the sun come up around us, that with the mountain views was fantastic! I even saw Everest for the first time, and after this trek, I have realized I will leave it to the real trekkers and just enjoy the sight of it. After about 1.5 of watching the range we had a good breakfast and headed down the mountain, which was the desolation of the trip for me. Since, it had rained the night before the dirt path had turned into a slippery clay or brown death as I think of it. I spent most of the way down on the ground; it was incredibly frustrating. So needless to say it was quite a relief when then next day we were finally down the mountain and in Illam our final destination. From there we rode a bus back to Jhapa, spent the night and next day touring around the Jesuits projects, and then at 4 am we took a bus back to the Valley. It was a good trip, regardless of how challenging, and it was nice to be able to take the time and reflect and be away from “normal” life. It was also good for me to see what life is like outside the valley. It is easy to think that all of Nepal is like Kathmandu, because of how massive the city is, but in reality things are very different. We were able to have chiyaa with a tea-worker’s family whose children go to St. Xaviers school in the valley. How the tea gardens work is that you work in the fields and then you are provided housing and a salary. The housing is multiple houses placed together on a small compound. For example, the family that we visited had three houses (and by houses I mean concrete one-two bedroom shanties) with 10 people living there, which Fr. Bill said was small. It was remarkable. I am often amazed at the different levels of poverty that are found in Nepal. Overall the trip was wonderful and a perfect way to spend my first Dashain.










Katie and I


Prayer Flags













The JV's and Fr. Bill


Himalyas

Festivals

So there has been a lot going on in the past couple of weeks, but instead of writing about it all I thought I would share some pictures. I was able to attend two festivals this past week on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday was Janai Purninia when the Brahmin, switch the strings they wear. They must switch them after funeral rights and during this time. It is also when the medicine men and women, re-take their vows. The Brahmin also tie string on the right wrist of others, for protection. You also receive Tikha which is a red powder placed on your forehead, a blessing and the Brahmin also tie strings on those who wish protection (whether you are Brahmin or not). It all takes place in temples through out the country. We were in Patan Dubar Square which has a large Temple. It was a wonderful experience and the first time that I really felt a connection with Nepal. On Wednesday, it was Gha Jhatra, which is a combination of All Souls Day/Halloween and April Fools. We went to Bhaktapor which is about an hour away. Gha Jhatra is only fully celebrated in three different areas of the valley and Bhaktapor is the largest. It is also the most well preserved kingdom, since you have to pay to get into the town. But it is by far the closest to what I imagine medieval times were like. The festival itself is a way of honoring any family members who may have died in the past year. The belief is that when someone dies they must grasp the tail of a cow to ensure a good passage to the next life. However today most people don’t have cows, so they create “cows” either through the tall monuments, replica’s, and children dressed as cows. Though some families did have real cows. You then parade throughout the city the monument, while the family follows behind with incense. I think it is a beautiful way to honor those who have died. It really is a celebration of their life. Enjoy the pics!

The view from our rooftop

Ironic that mine is the most red