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.

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.

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.

KC

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 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.

Pictures Pictures Pictures-KC today

Gordon's Valentine's Day present to me. The didis were very impressed!































Sweet Sabita


















Amrit, Pooja, Maya and Sarita enjoying a Saturday afternoon.









Suraj, all smiles even though he's missing a few teeth.



















We now teach English 2 days a week at the children's school. I teach UKG through 3 and Gordon teaches 4 through 7. Every morning, the children warm up with songs and stretches...adorable.







Maya is 3rd back in the 3rd row from the right and Mina is the last one in the 2nd row from the right. Most of the children were not going to school before coming to Sam's house last year so they are older than most kids in their classes. They have made such great progress in just one school year. Everyone is so proud of them. Mina is skipping from kindergarten to 2nd grade. Not once has she complained about being 10 years old in class with 5 year olds.





Gordon rocks Bishal to sleep. Bishal is all action, all the time so this was an unusual sight.















Left to right, Kiran, Pooja, Santosh, and little Rina.












A rare moment, Sandeep sleeps in my arms.












Mamanta and Manju are having a great day off from school.












I couldn't resist...Sandeep falls asleep on the toilet. He hates to miss the action when the kids are home so he takes this opportunity for a quick cat nap.















Pratima and Saran, both 5 and sweet as can be.

Miss Laxmi's Wedding

When KC and I returned from Katmundu, we heard the great news about the house's tutor, Laxmi. She was getting married in two days!!! The wedding was taking place at Badhrakli Temple in Pokhara on Monday and the reception was on Tuesday.

KC and I were invited to both. We were very excited to take part in the celebration and see a Nepalese wedding. It required that we have the proper attire. Laxmi requested that KC wear a sari, so Sunday it was off to one of the many fabric stores. The store owner pulled down several long pieces of red silk with various sequence designs. KC selected a fire truck red silk sari with red sequences. . . watch out!! The tailor promised it would be done on Tuesday afternoon in time for the reception.

Badhrakli Temple sits on top of a hill looking out to Fishtail Mountain. The setting was majestic and the weather was fantastic. Laxmi looked gorgeous in her red sari with gold detail. A red veil covered her face until later in the cermony. Several other weddings were taking place around us as it was a popular day for weddings. After the ceremony, KC and I were invited to the groom's house for a smaller party. We enjoyed conversations with many of the children and a meal of daal bhat and sel roti (fried bread).

The reception took place a restuarant. It was quickly filled by 200 people. We said hello to our friends from the ceremony and groom's house and it was soon time to go home. All the didis attended with much joy. It was a big social event and required much fanfare. KC and I could hear the didis talking about who was there and what people were wearing until late in the evening. The same as any good American party.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the number of accidents KC almost caused on the way to both events. KC, in her traditional Nepalese attire, is stunning. Both men and women do not hesitate to stop in their tracks and stare.

Enjoy the pictures below.

Laxmi and Dil during the wedding ceremony. Dil has the traditional wedding garlund and red tika, made of vermillion and rice.

Laxmi and Dil enter the temple with a cloth tied with two knots to symbolize their unity.

Dil, Laxmi, KC and I after the ceremony's completion.

The views of Fishtail Mountain for the temple are incredible.

Dinesh, Bin Bin, Rekha, Ritesh, Laxmi, Dil, Dil's mother, me and KC at the reception.

Both ladies looking good!

Keeping the Kids busy

KC and I have been doing our best to come up with activities for the kids. Two weeks ago, we thought we would give watercolors a shot. Many of the children are great artists. Amrit and Babit lead the crew when it comes to drawing but I think they have some stiff competition when it comes to watercolors.

Its interesting to watch the children. Bishal is almost as prolific as Picasso when it comes to number of works. I can bearly give him a piece of paper and his is coming back for another. Sarita enjoys making sure the entire piece of paper has color on it. Bishal will do 50 in the time it takes Sarita to finish one. Momata and Pratima are meticulous about the cleanliness of their water. Amrit often turns to the wildlife books to find inspiration while Suraj already has an appreication for abstract art.

We took a collection of painings, one from each child, and made a quilt. Its now hanging in the main entry room. The children like to point out their masterpieces to the other children. It was only two days later and they were begging to paint again. They are improving quickly.

I have recieived a c0uple requests for more painting tomorrow, Saturday, because there is no school. Its the best opprotunity for them to paint because like all kids they tend to make a mess plus it keeps them occupied. Its great to see them enjoy another form of art although I don't think we will be moving onto oils anytime soon.

Pictures below:

Starting in the left corner; Kiran, Pratima, Suraj, Sarita, Maya, Meena, Binita and Pooja don't even notice the camera as I steal this photo. Its rare that I see them with a camera before they see me.

Here is a quick sampling of some of their work. Looking good kids!!

Back in Pokhara

Hello All,

KC and I are back in Pokhara after a week of visiting several of Nepal's finest sites. The trip started last Sunday with a flight to Katmandu. Upon arrival, we were off to see the sites. The Katmandu Valley is famous for its religious and cultural sites. The majority of the sites are located in the once powerful and wealthy city states of Katmandu, Patan and Bhaktupar. They are located within a 40km radius and are all known for different crafts. Each city has a town center called Durbar Square. This area is filled with Hindu Temples devoted to one of the 33 gods. We spent a lot of time learning about the different gods and the symbolism associated with these animals and plants that decorate the pagodas. We also visited two important Budhist Stupas, Bodhnath and Swayimbunath. We soaked up the Budhist culture while visiting these sacred sites and a monastery.

After four days in the big city, it was time to relax. The next stop was Royal Chitwan National Park about 180km south of Katmandu. This park borders India in the plains below the Himalayas. The park is famous for Royal Benegal Tigers, One-Horned Rhinos, Gangetic Dolphins and Gharials. The other main attraction to the park (932 sq km in size) is elephant back safaris. The jungle is extremely dense and vehicles can not be taken into the majority of the large park, so elephants are used to give tours and transport materials. Animals also tend not to be scared of the animals because they are used to having the massive beasts in the environment, unlike trucks.

After three three days of elephant safaris, nature walks, canoe trips and village visits, we had not seen our rhino. The resort manager asked how we would like to spend our final afternoon. KC and I looked at each, the pool sparkled in the midday heat but I could not pass up a chance to see our rhino. Within moments, we were back on the 46-year old female elephant with two guides and a Nepalese couple. I was sitting directly behind the elephant driver and KC behind me. It was 15 minutes into the safari that our guide jumped off the elephant to inspect a pile of dung, he yelled to the driver, the hunt for a rhino was on. The guide disappeared into the brush and as the elephant driver yelled commands to the elephant, it uprooted a small tree from the groud to create a new path in the jungle for us to pass. This continued for 30 minutes, the elephant ripped through the jungle as the guide attempted to track the rhino. As branches, vines and nettles ripped across our open carriage, my watch strap was broken off, the cameras lense cap dissappeared and the Nepalese woman shed tears. If this was not entertaining enough, we emerged in a small opening to see a living dinosaur. The one-horned animal was massive with thick folds of skin and a large horn. It looked back at the elephant grunted and tore off through the jungle. We attempted to chase but the whimpers from behind me became louder than the rhino's grunts and footsteps. Our rhino hunt was over but an incredible success.

The culinary treats were a delight. Several of our favorites were:

• Tibetian Tea, made with yak butter and salt
• Tibetian MoMos, flour dumplings filled with chicken, vegetables or buff
• Newari Pancakes, made with lentil flour served with tarkari
• Bhaktapur yogurt, especially sweet becasuse of the local milk

Other highlights included:

• washing the elephants
• attempting to get Chinese and Indian visas
• friends we made along the way
• watching the different trades (pottery, paper making, wood carving)

Pictures below:

KC and I give a three year old elephant a good scrubbing in the Rapti River near the resort. We thought we were just watching birds when the elephants showed up for a bath. We had to help. It was truly a memorable experience.

The baby elephant and I check each other out. He was trying to stick his trunk in my pocket. I was not prepared, I did not have any treats.

KC took the helm for a short while and led the elephant safari. . . not to bad for her first time.

Our lone rhino sighting. I did my best to get a better picture but between the branches, leaves and bugs flying, this was about the best I could do. These are huge beasts, bigger than the 1975 Toyota Corolla taxis that fill the streets of Katmandu.

There are peacocks thr0ughout the jungle. This one jumped up a branch and posed for a few photos.

KC and I at Bodhnath, the largest stupa in Nepal. This is a center of Tibetian culture in the Katmandu Valley. There are several Budhist Monastaries surrounding the stupa dating back tlo the 13th century. This picture is taken from a small monastery's roof.

KC and I in Bhakatpur about 35km outside of Katmandu. The once powerful city state does not allow cars to enter the town to perserve the architecture and allow for a peaceful walk. We were able to observes local crafts throughout the town. We are standing in front of the tallest pagoda in the Katmandu Valley.

KC and I in Patan about 10km outside of Katmandu. Langang (one of the eight hightest mountains in the world) looms in the distance over KC's left shoulder. The Gorkha Himalayas are to my right.