Having a nagging sense of a job not well done? Yep that's me - with haunting and lingering events, thoughts and feelings about my Nepal visit:
The bus from Namobuddha, the generous offer of seats that Kathy and I declined!
Namobuddha, young monks lining up for a photo shoot. The youngest could not wait to crowd in for a North American Hug!
* Flu - like symptoms (similar to what the children had at school! Perhaps will share with Jim?) the last two days in Nepal sere a little challenging, missed two classes
* Last day of school: Tswang caught me as I was leaving. A big 'good-by', with gifts of a hand made bracelete, a red string blessing 'necklace' and a beautiful hand drawn card and even more lovely - a warm hug and smile....
Restaurant: buff momo's with Tsewang!!!!
* Choruses of 'thank you SHERRIEEE, and Good Bye SHERRIEE from two classes of Grade One students followed me out the door!
* Went to the school at 5 pm to see if Shirley was around (she flew in the afternoon before I left), as I was leaving I hear above me, 3rd floor of the boarding home: It's Sherriee! Sheriee!!!! from one of the guys, and within 2 seconds two floors of balconies are loaded with 10 - 14 students each waving and screaming 'hello','come back', and 'good-bye'!! I couldn't help smiling and laughing at them, what a greeting! What a warm good-bye!
* One of those memories that stick with me: The Grade One classes write exams for admittance into Grade 2 consisting of 5 Subjects with each being 2.5 hours long. Miss Poulsbo (teacher) posts the exam schedule on the cork board 18 students crowd around it... one little girl about 7 years old is beside a larger 12 year old - they look at each other in delight. They are soooo happy! Why? I ask. The little one looks at me with round brown eyes and very seriously explains: the Nepalese exam is scheduled on the last day, that is so good because it is very very difficult...(extra study time!)
* Am very happy I visited Nepal and am so lucky I spent time at the school. In terms of the little bit of money I'm donating in support of one student's future - it could not go to a better place = Happy Heart! Their education and care is excellent.
* IPOD - 'walked' away... no longer in my possession. Perhaps a lesson in non-attachment? Oh the suffering though! Life continues but it is rather sobering to realize how much I still reach for it every day. Am I in a better position being the 'victim' of theft than the thief though? Maybe every time someone admires his/her (MY) IPOD they will get a pang of guilt? I think so.
* MY Impression of Nepal: a country surviving in helpless apathy, living with a pervasive sense of mild depression, people with hearts of kindness and warmth, so many NGO's they seem to overlap in services (how much money comes in and where does it really really go???).
The roads are apalling, public education just as bad, and air pollution in Kathmandu Valley competes with India (and a recent study states India's air is worse than China's). People talk about the overwhelming government corruption here as well. How to change it? Very difficult. No wonder people feel so helpless.
Tibet is so close here. For one week around the Boudha Stupa police presence was thick as fleas on an Indonesian street dog, due to anniversary of Tibetian political situation. They were dressed in full riot gear - and this is a Buddist spiritual centre!!!! Word on the street is they were arresting some of the monks. Go figure. People whisper, they do not speak out loud. Free Speech is not a right.
Violence against women stats are terrible and of course the real figures would be much worse. One young woman, married for 2 years with a 1 year old son told me she is so unhappy in her marriage she doesn't know what to do, she cannot do anything without her husband's permission, and he hits her frequently (he is employed in a very good position so poverty is not such an issue for this family). Her words: 'we don't have freedom here in Nepal, and I don't have freedom in my own home or my life either'.
* Newly implimented SLE (School Leaving Certificate) exams by the government, newspaper articles as follows:
- Two examinees gave birth in the examination hall, one as she recieved her English Question paper. They were provided with an extra hour to complete the exam... (generous, is it not?!!!! ugh)
- A fake examinee was arrested by police ...
- Student from a secondary school attacked and chased the Head Master - saying his form was not completed (after he 'gave' the HM 3000 R to complete it) and therefore was unable to write the exam
- 3 fake students arrested: one man writing in place of his wife, and 2 men writing for other people.
- 3 students fainted during exams. They were provided with 1.5 hours extra to complete the exams.
Gee guess the two moms should have fainted after giving birth?
- Stones pelted: Guardians at a Secondary School were pelted when they failed to assist the examinees to cheat in the exam (with 20 minutes remaining of exam time)
- 3 invigilators and 50 examinees expelled from exam centres (no mention why)
- 2 Invigilators from exam centres arrested while copying the answer to distribuate to examinees
* Power 'Load Shedding': power outages - as dictated by water supplies = power supplies. Celebration time now as there is about 12 hours hydro a day. Local newspaper interview with people on the street asked what they are doing with the extra power supply, answers include: taking advantage of it by downloading music, studying, and reading at night....
It's too bad, but I was ready to leave Nepal. The nights were so long - think about it: It's dark by 6 pm, the 'action' in town stops by 7 - 8 pm. There is no heat in the rooms, no TV, the lights are off most of the time (the generator supplied one dim light in the bedroom yes I am grateful for that!), frequently not able to shower at night because of no warm water (depends on solar power and how much laundry was done at the hotel), and it is SO cold at night ..... It was terribly lonely as well. My days were fun at the school, but anyone I met at the hotel were very transient, leaving within 2 - 3 days.
Like Emma, I love the kids and they are so worth every effort towards their education, shelter, and general well being.
'my morning' Grade One Class
Their Favorite Song taught by Canadian Sherry
You Are My Sunshine (Happy Version)
You are my sunshinte, my only sunshine
you make me happy when skies are grey
You'll never know dear
How much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away
The other day dear as I was walking
I knew I had you in the sky
When I looked up dear I saw you shining
and I touched my heart, and I smiled
(replaced THIS verse!!!:
The other night dear as I was sleeping
I dreamed I had you in my arms
When I awoke dear, I was mistaken
and I hung my head and I cried...) deemed WAY too sad! Hopefully they will never sing my version to another North American!
March 22, 2012: EAST MEETS WEST.. LOOK WHO I FOUND IN BANGKOK ???
The bus from Namobuddha, the generous offer of seats that Kathy and I declined!
Namobuddha, young monks lining up for a photo shoot. The youngest could not wait to crowd in for a North American Hug!* Flu - like symptoms (similar to what the children had at school! Perhaps will share with Jim?) the last two days in Nepal sere a little challenging, missed two classes
* Last day of school: Tswang caught me as I was leaving. A big 'good-by', with gifts of a hand made bracelete, a red string blessing 'necklace' and a beautiful hand drawn card and even more lovely - a warm hug and smile....
Restaurant: buff momo's with Tsewang!!!!
* Choruses of 'thank you SHERRIEEE, and Good Bye SHERRIEE from two classes of Grade One students followed me out the door!
* Went to the school at 5 pm to see if Shirley was around (she flew in the afternoon before I left), as I was leaving I hear above me, 3rd floor of the boarding home: It's Sherriee! Sheriee!!!! from one of the guys, and within 2 seconds two floors of balconies are loaded with 10 - 14 students each waving and screaming 'hello','come back', and 'good-bye'!! I couldn't help smiling and laughing at them, what a greeting! What a warm good-bye!
* One of those memories that stick with me: The Grade One classes write exams for admittance into Grade 2 consisting of 5 Subjects with each being 2.5 hours long. Miss Poulsbo (teacher) posts the exam schedule on the cork board 18 students crowd around it... one little girl about 7 years old is beside a larger 12 year old - they look at each other in delight. They are soooo happy! Why? I ask. The little one looks at me with round brown eyes and very seriously explains: the Nepalese exam is scheduled on the last day, that is so good because it is very very difficult...(extra study time!)
* Am very happy I visited Nepal and am so lucky I spent time at the school. In terms of the little bit of money I'm donating in support of one student's future - it could not go to a better place = Happy Heart! Their education and care is excellent.
* IPOD - 'walked' away... no longer in my possession. Perhaps a lesson in non-attachment? Oh the suffering though! Life continues but it is rather sobering to realize how much I still reach for it every day. Am I in a better position being the 'victim' of theft than the thief though? Maybe every time someone admires his/her (MY) IPOD they will get a pang of guilt? I think so.
* MY Impression of Nepal: a country surviving in helpless apathy, living with a pervasive sense of mild depression, people with hearts of kindness and warmth, so many NGO's they seem to overlap in services (how much money comes in and where does it really really go???).
The roads are apalling, public education just as bad, and air pollution in Kathmandu Valley competes with India (and a recent study states India's air is worse than China's). People talk about the overwhelming government corruption here as well. How to change it? Very difficult. No wonder people feel so helpless.
Tibet is so close here. For one week around the Boudha Stupa police presence was thick as fleas on an Indonesian street dog, due to anniversary of Tibetian political situation. They were dressed in full riot gear - and this is a Buddist spiritual centre!!!! Word on the street is they were arresting some of the monks. Go figure. People whisper, they do not speak out loud. Free Speech is not a right.
Violence against women stats are terrible and of course the real figures would be much worse. One young woman, married for 2 years with a 1 year old son told me she is so unhappy in her marriage she doesn't know what to do, she cannot do anything without her husband's permission, and he hits her frequently (he is employed in a very good position so poverty is not such an issue for this family). Her words: 'we don't have freedom here in Nepal, and I don't have freedom in my own home or my life either'.
* Newly implimented SLE (School Leaving Certificate) exams by the government, newspaper articles as follows:
- Two examinees gave birth in the examination hall, one as she recieved her English Question paper. They were provided with an extra hour to complete the exam... (generous, is it not?!!!! ugh)
- A fake examinee was arrested by police ...
- Student from a secondary school attacked and chased the Head Master - saying his form was not completed (after he 'gave' the HM 3000 R to complete it) and therefore was unable to write the exam
- 3 fake students arrested: one man writing in place of his wife, and 2 men writing for other people.
- 3 students fainted during exams. They were provided with 1.5 hours extra to complete the exams.
Gee guess the two moms should have fainted after giving birth?
- Stones pelted: Guardians at a Secondary School were pelted when they failed to assist the examinees to cheat in the exam (with 20 minutes remaining of exam time)
- 3 invigilators and 50 examinees expelled from exam centres (no mention why)
- 2 Invigilators from exam centres arrested while copying the answer to distribuate to examinees
* Power 'Load Shedding': power outages - as dictated by water supplies = power supplies. Celebration time now as there is about 12 hours hydro a day. Local newspaper interview with people on the street asked what they are doing with the extra power supply, answers include: taking advantage of it by downloading music, studying, and reading at night....
It's too bad, but I was ready to leave Nepal. The nights were so long - think about it: It's dark by 6 pm, the 'action' in town stops by 7 - 8 pm. There is no heat in the rooms, no TV, the lights are off most of the time (the generator supplied one dim light in the bedroom yes I am grateful for that!), frequently not able to shower at night because of no warm water (depends on solar power and how much laundry was done at the hotel), and it is SO cold at night ..... It was terribly lonely as well. My days were fun at the school, but anyone I met at the hotel were very transient, leaving within 2 - 3 days.
Like Emma, I love the kids and they are so worth every effort towards their education, shelter, and general well being.
'my morning' Grade One ClassYou Are My Sunshine (Happy Version)
You are my sunshinte, my only sunshine
you make me happy when skies are grey
You'll never know dear
How much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away
The other day dear as I was walking
I knew I had you in the sky
When I looked up dear I saw you shining
and I touched my heart, and I smiled
(replaced THIS verse!!!:
The other night dear as I was sleeping
I dreamed I had you in my arms
When I awoke dear, I was mistaken
and I hung my head and I cried...) deemed WAY too sad! Hopefully they will never sing my version to another North American!
March 22, 2012: EAST MEETS WEST.. LOOK WHO I FOUND IN BANGKOK ???
Sherry you two look great and mellow. Belle and Ellen
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