Monday, March 24, 2008
More pictures
KC and I are experimenting with new ways t0 share photos. Please check out the photos at http://picasaweb.google.com/gordonjfriedrich/March14Highlights02. I tried this method with several people and they were all successful. I understand the photos from previous blogs are not showing up. We will be making a trip to internet land (Lakeside) soon and will make changes.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
KC's Parents with the Kids
Amrit and Maya keep KC and her dad company over a cup of chiyaa.
KC's mom and Dhiraj share a laugh.
Babit, Binita, Pooja and Bishal all gather around KC's Dad to see their pictures on his digital camera.
Getting Ready for School
Here are several shots of the kids as they get ready for school. They just started their final exams for the year. The Nepalese calendar year is over on April 14, so the kids are gettting ready for one of their vacation periods. It will last about two weeks then its right back to school. Kopila House will be down to one child at home during the day starting April 15. Rina will be joining the others at Gorkha English Boarding School. We remind her but life without naps and all the didis' attention may come as a surprise. 
Binita is all smiles as usual. She is one of the happiest kids I have ever met. As you enter the house gate, she is the first to greet you with a smile and a hug.
The boys all love the camera. From left to right, Bishal, Suraj, Santosh, Sharan, Babit, Amrit and Dhiraj behind them. They can't wait to come home to play a little football but its off to learn.
Maya smiles after Asuna helped her get ready for school.
Sarita is one of Kopila's brightest. She was number one in her class for the first two trimesters of the school. She has been working hard, so we hope she will retain her position for the third trimester.
Binita is all smiles as usual. She is one of the happiest kids I have ever met. As you enter the house gate, she is the first to greet you with a smile and a hug.
The boys all love the camera. From left to right, Bishal, Suraj, Santosh, Sharan, Babit, Amrit and Dhiraj behind them. They can't wait to come home to play a little football but its off to learn.
Maya smiles after Asuna helped her get ready for school.
Sarita is one of Kopila's brightest. She was number one in her class for the first two trimesters of the school. She has been working hard, so we hope she will retain her position for the third trimester.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Sam's House Happenings
We recently celebrated Santosh's birthday. Santosh's token line is "malai dinus" or "please give me". The birthday child distributes sweets to all the other children on their birthday, it was great to see the excitement on his face as he gave instead of receiving.
We all spent the morning cleaning up the outside of the house. The kids enjoyed slipping and sliding on cut up rice bags as they polished the marble floor.
Kiran takes a quick break from scrubbing to smile for the camera.
Our Days
Many people have asked KC and I how we spend our days in Nepal because 18 of the 20 kids attend school. Well, two days a week we join the children at school teaching conversational english and we spend one day a week at a local center for children who have not had a formal education.
The children of Sam's House attend a private school called Gorkha English Boarding School (GEBS). It is located about 2 km from the house. The school is nursey to grade 10 and has an enrollment of 350 children. KC teaches upper kindergarten through grade 2, I teach grade 3 through 7. We try to find challenging ways for the children to exercise their english speaking skills in the classroom and encourage them to practice outside of school as much as possible. We teach 5 classes a day on Mondays and Wednesdays. I also help the football team in the mornings. There has not been a formal practice schedule so we instituted practice from 7:00 am t0 9:00 am. The kids love getting out on the pitch. They are eager to learn offside traps, new formations and set plays. The team participates in a tournament once a year with the other schools in the area. We are expecting big results in the next tournament.
The center for local kids has been extremely rewarding for KC and I. The children who attend come from a variety of situations; children from agriculture families, children whose family could not afford education and girls who come from rural areas and work as live in nannies in Pokhara. The children enjoy our presence as much as we enjoy their eagerness to learn. We are always greeted at the doorstep with huge smiles and treats. Their favorite questions are about our families but I love to talk about the size of buildings and subways to blow their minds. They think I'm crazy, I wish I could bring a couple to the States so they could come back and tell the tales.
The pictures below are from both schools.
GEBS welcomed us with a full school reception. The grade 10 students played the keyboard, guitar and drums while others sang. We were deeply touched by the heart felt performance. The students and faculty truly appreciate our team and efforts. It has been an absolute pleasure for KC and I to be part of their school. This is a picture of KC and I enjoying the performance on stage with the students behind us.
We received flower garlands and mallas. Both gifts are a traditional way of welcoming or wishing friends and family safe travels.
KC and her students at the local center. You can see one of the students holding KC's hand, a sign of their affection and gratitude for our short time as their teachers. The center is two rooms. The first room is open to the street, the second is enclosed and the walls are filled with the alphabet, days of the week and colors.
I review the letter "I" for the class. We spend extra time on pronunciation. I must say I never thought I would be explaining the difference between the long 'i' and short 'i' to a group of Nepalese children but I can't think of a better way to spend my afternoons.
The children of Sam's House attend a private school called Gorkha English Boarding School (GEBS). It is located about 2 km from the house. The school is nursey to grade 10 and has an enrollment of 350 children. KC teaches upper kindergarten through grade 2, I teach grade 3 through 7. We try to find challenging ways for the children to exercise their english speaking skills in the classroom and encourage them to practice outside of school as much as possible. We teach 5 classes a day on Mondays and Wednesdays. I also help the football team in the mornings. There has not been a formal practice schedule so we instituted practice from 7:00 am t0 9:00 am. The kids love getting out on the pitch. They are eager to learn offside traps, new formations and set plays. The team participates in a tournament once a year with the other schools in the area. We are expecting big results in the next tournament.
The center for local kids has been extremely rewarding for KC and I. The children who attend come from a variety of situations; children from agriculture families, children whose family could not afford education and girls who come from rural areas and work as live in nannies in Pokhara. The children enjoy our presence as much as we enjoy their eagerness to learn. We are always greeted at the doorstep with huge smiles and treats. Their favorite questions are about our families but I love to talk about the size of buildings and subways to blow their minds. They think I'm crazy, I wish I could bring a couple to the States so they could come back and tell the tales.
The pictures below are from both schools.
GEBS welcomed us with a full school reception. The grade 10 students played the keyboard, guitar and drums while others sang. We were deeply touched by the heart felt performance. The students and faculty truly appreciate our team and efforts. It has been an absolute pleasure for KC and I to be part of their school. This is a picture of KC and I enjoying the performance on stage with the students behind us.
We received flower garlands and mallas. Both gifts are a traditional way of welcoming or wishing friends and family safe travels.
KC and her students at the local center. You can see one of the students holding KC's hand, a sign of their affection and gratitude for our short time as their teachers. The center is two rooms. The first room is open to the street, the second is enclosed and the walls are filled with the alphabet, days of the week and colors.
I review the letter "I" for the class. We spend extra time on pronunciation. I must say I never thought I would be explaining the difference between the long 'i' and short 'i' to a group of Nepalese children but I can't think of a better way to spend my afternoons.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
KC's Parents in Nepal
KC and I's second visitors were her parents. We picked them up from the airport then it was off to the house. The children and didis anticipated this moment for over a month so there was no delay.
They were greeted at the house by an onslaught of hugs and kisses from the children. The message was clear, "KC's family is our family." After a short tour of the house, it was time for gifts. KC's parents brought the children T-shirts from Paris with different monuments. The boys immediately proclaimed that they had new football uniforms. The didis received new sweaters to their delight.
After Dan and my trek to the Himalayas, it was decided that the views were too good for KC's parents to pass up. We ventured out in the Nepalese Himalayas for several days. The trail was difficult and the weather did not completely cooperate but we all pressed on. The signs of spring surrounded us as the wildflowers bloomed, birds sang and baby animals hung close to parents in all the villages. It was a great trip.
Before we knew it, it was almost time for their departure. They could not leave without the boys giving their football uniforms a try. It was onto the pitch so the boys could show off their stuff. KC's father and I teamed up with the girls to give the boys a match. It was close but I think the uniforms gave the boys a little extra as they prevailed.
KC's mom gives Pushpa a shirt. You can see the excitement on both their faces.
Pooja(center) and Sarita (right) compare shirts.
The whole crew shows off their new digs. They couldn't look cuter in their shirts.
Me, KC, Amit (guide) and KC's parents on top of Poon Hill enjoying the sunrise over the Annapurna Range and Fishtail Mountain.
Millet growing in a terrace in front of Annapurna South. Saturday, March 8, 2008
Visitors
No matter where you are, a friendly face from home always brightens your day. My good friend, Dan recently came and visited KC and I in Pokhara for two weeks. He came from London looking to relax and found the days to be filled with children of Sam's House. While in Pokhara, Dan assisted KC and I in the classroom, on the football pitch and in the orphanage. We spent one day at a center for children who have not received a formal education (many come from agro-families or the street). Another day was spent at Gorkha English Boarding School with the football team in the morning (7am) and the classroom in the afternoon. Several other days were spent playing with the children around the house, not exactly a relaxing getaway from work.
Dan and I enjoying the sunrise over Dhaulagri Mountain range in Western Nepal. The most prominent peak behind us is Dhaulagri I, one of the tallest peaks in the world. 
Annnapurna South in the early morning lit by a full moon.
Dan and I did take a few days to trek in the Himalayas. The villages, views and stories made for an incredible trip into a place I have often dreamed of visiting. It was a great trip.
Dan playing with the kids on swing set. Everyone wanted a little of the new guy's attention.
Dan working on the alphabet with the children. F is an especially tough letter for the kids but he was up for the challenge.
Dan and I enjoying the sunrise over Dhaulagri Mountain range in Western Nepal. The most prominent peak behind us is Dhaulagri I, one of the tallest peaks in the world. 
Annnapurna South in the early morning lit by a full moon.
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