Category Archives: work

Honouring Fridays: January 1st, 2010

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Welcome to a New Year!  Last night was my farewell party with my organization.  I spent the evening surrounded by many of the people who have filled my working time in Nepal and felt so honoured and celebrated.  The evening reminded me that so much of our work here is built on relationships.  That the people I worked with expected the relationship to be built first, before much of the work could be started.  They will be the first to acknowledge that I challenged them, sometimes more than was comfortable, but that the outcomes of our work were plentiful this past year.  And I was the first to admit that I came with high expectations, short patience for inefficiencies, and perhaps an overly direct communication style (which at home is not direct at all but here translates into being quite direct and pushy!).  The fact that so many people appeared for the celebration and so much care was taken to celebrate our achievements tells me that the relationships were successful.  So, what looks on paper like an impressive list of achievements is actually much, much more significant – the capacities of people to interact and share in a genuine way and to build relationships – that is the real work and real outcome.

Our Chairperson, Mr. Baburam, thanking me. The white scarves, khata, were given by the many members in attendance to honour me and the marigold garland, malla, is also a form of honour. I was really touched and very happy :)
Our Chairperson, Mr. Baburam, thanking me. The white scarves, khata, were given by the many members in attendance to honour me and the marigold garland, malla, is also a form of honour. I was really touched and very happy 🙂
  • Opportunity.  Like many of you, the 1st day of a New Year naturally brings some moments of pause and reflection.  And what I fell most grateful for today is that the past year has given me so many new opportunities.  Many of those opportunities were incredibly uncomfortable – bathing at a public tap while wrapped loosely in a long strip of fabric, trying to achieve some basic skill in a language that was so unfamiliar, and tackling work projects that were outside both my areas of expertise and my fields of interest.  But what was common to all of them was that they were all uncomfortable learning opportunities.  The greatest opportunity we can be given is the chance to step outside our comfort zones and this past year I have done that more than any other time in my life.
  • The Soloist. A beautiful and moving film.  Reminds me of the idealism with which we approach human suffering, hoping to make change but perhaps becoming too focussed on a final “solution” or “outcome” while ignoring the wants and needs of the individual.  In many ways this has been a struggle for me in Nepal as well – wanting so much to help people but needing to keep my own desires for their life in check so that they can fulfill their own dreams, not mine.  This movie was a wonderful look into relationships, the role of “giver” and “receiver”.  The real motivation to help people is often rooted in authenticity and genuine care but can quickly become overshadowed by a belief that the right solution is only possible through
  • Gifts of talent.  I was so privileged to be the recipient of some lovely gifts last night.  Beautiful wood carvings that will take some creative thinking to get home, a lovely letter of appreciation, and a red sari for special celebrations at home.  But perhaps the most thoughtful of all was the gift from the didi who cleans our office.  Now that the weather has turned cold I have been wearing a cap to work.  We have been chatting about how cold it has been (about 5-10 degrees inside) so on my last day in the office she arrives with a cap she has knit for me!  The colours are based on the scarf I wear every day and the style looks remarkably like the cap I have been wearing.  Such a thoughtful gift and such a kind gesture.  Truly a gift of talent that will both remind me of her generosity and keep me cozy and warm.
Sari
If Nepal has taught me one thing it is to not be afraid of wearing colours and patterns! My new sari and the knit cap from our didi. The sweater, while rather unflattering, was necessary because of the cold but I can assure you that the sari looks MUCH better without it.
  • The year ahead.  There is so much anticipation about the year ahead, partiularly as our world will shift significantly in 2 weeks.  We uproot ourselves once more and begin a 6 month set of travels.  It is a thrilling prospect and I have such gratitude that so much will occur in the next year.  I eagerly await the opportunity to connect with friends and family again in various parts of the world.  It is time to begin anew and that fresh start is what I am most grateful for today.
Another shot of the cap up close as I sit outside and enjoy my salted ginger tea, a Newari specialty.
Another shot of the cap up close as I sit outside and enjoy my salted ginger tea, a Newari specialty.

Honouring Fridays: November 20th, 2009

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As I snuggled down into bed for a few more minutes of warmth and rest this morning I wished, for just a moment, that it wasn’t Friday.  This particular Friday represented the end of calm and the beginning of a rather severe work storm.  For the next seven days I will be attempting to support the organization I work with in the following ways:  1) hire a senior level Program Director, 2) hire a finance and administration officer, 3) co-host a workshop with the Association of International NGOs in Nepal and the Department of Education, and 4) plan and co-facilitate a 3-day strategic planning retreat.  It all feels rather overwhelming placing me completely out of my depth.  Somehow the work of 2 months seems to have been packed into the next week.  And like anything difficult sometimes the best way is not around, but through.  So, I will keep my eye on the sunny spot in the distance when the hard work is complete and we can celebrate our achievements.  Until then, the head is down and the ploughing through has begun.

  • High school friends. There was a time when I thought that  I would never lose touch with everyone I knew from high school.  And then we all lost touch.  Looking back it actually wasn’t that gradual – I escaped to my own adventures immediately following high school and was so absorbed in myself that I think I forgot my roots.   It was not an intentional happening but due in part to geographical distance and in part to the need to find out who I really was.  So, after many years, it has been so wonderful to see that some of those friends are slowly circling back, thanks in large part to facebook.  This week one such friend was in Nepal and so he and his fiancée joined us for a lovely dinner.  We had both changed but yet we were also absolutely the same.  The conversation was spectacular and the company comfortable, familiar, and inspiring.  Thanks to BK and L for a great time and for reminding me that those distant friends from high school are still friends, regardless of how far we may have drifted.  Hope to see you again soon.
  • A busy week ahead. A busy week ahead means that work is happening which means that somehow our work has become important once again which means that someone cares which means that we can secure time and commitment from them which means we can achieve some of our goals which means that our donors will be happy which means that we may get more money which means that our work is slightly more sustainable which means that my work here is almost done.
  • Thinking like a duck. I have found a new inspiration for a more zen-like state of mind (and I will admit that zen is not my natural state of mind, so it does take me some rather intense work to achieve anything remotely close to zen-like mind).  The inspiration is ducks, particularly duck plumage.  I need to learn to be a better duck and waterproof my “feathers”.  Let more things roll off my back without sticking.  In the end, the stressors tend to be things I cannot control anyway – so why not “duck” them!
  • Goodbyes. This weekend some of our good friends and bananagrams partners, Anil and Julie, are departing Nepal and heading back to the UK.  The poignancy of goodbyes here is influenced by the fact that often these may be people that you will never see again.  But in this case, I am thrilled to say goodbye as they are returning to a wonderful life in the UK and will get to spend Christmas with their daughters and extended family.   Plus, I know we will see them again in a few short months during our trip around the world.  Safe travels friends and look forward to seeing you in May!

Honouring Fridays: October 30th, 2009

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Happy Halloween! Nepal is not quite into the spooky, creepy crawly, bewitchiness that is Halloween.  However, that won’t stop us.  Tonight we are off to a Halloween party complete with pumpkin carving thanks to our dear Canadian friend Michelle. Costumes are hard to find so instead we opted for masks. Brilliantly feathered carnivale type masks were only 40 NPR at the local store (that is like 50 cents for anyone counting.) – we will look like owlets or birds I think.  And this weekend there will be pumpkin…oh yes.  I have my sights set of these delicious pumpkin donuts and perhaps a vat of pumpkin soup (of course kicked up a notch and flavoured with the cancer busting power of curry!).

  • Hearing the birds sing. I normally associate singing birds with the onset of Spring in Vancouver – that sprightly and excited bird chattering that pops up when the sun finally breaks through the clouds and rain for the first time.  But I have noticed lately in Kathmandu that the mornings and evenings are full of birds singing.  I think the rainy monsoon weather may have kept their songs hidden but the crystal clear and noiseless November days are perfect for a twitter of bird songs.  Nothing better than waking up to a beautiful blue sky day with birds singing – holds the promise of good things.
  • These. I covet these.  I only wish they had my size!  I am holding my breath and hoping that they will shortly stock my size but even if they don’t I still think they are a spectacular fashion find.  The ability to mix and match soles and tops, the recycled sari colours, and the multiple tying possibilities make them extra covet worthy.   I am clearly experiencing the “Oh my god I am leaving Nepal soon and will need to dress like normal not-so-sloppy adult…quick someone get me some cute sandals!”
  • The perfect job. Okay, so I haven’t yet found THE perfect job, but I sure have had some great jobs that came pretty darn close.  And this week, especially, I have realized how grateful I am for work that makes me feel good.  Loving my work is important to my overall life satisfaction – I am not someone who can work to live  – I live to work (and do something meaningful in the process).  So, as I consider the fact that I will be unemploymed in about 2 months (vagabonding around the world) I don’t think it is too early to send a quick reminder to those who are gainfully employed…I AM LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT JOB…STARTING AUGUST 2010…IN VANCOUVER…HIRE ME 🙂  If you know of a great job or someone who might want to hire me, just leave me a comment below.  It doesn’t have to be perfect…just close to perfect 🙂
  • Ayush. This week, my colleague Sujata brought her 2-year old, Ayush, to the office.  The plan was for him to play outside in a grassy patch out front of our office, while his nanny watched and we orked.  It sounded good, in theory but of course, Ayush had different plans!  He is a curious, precocious and active little guy who charmed me easily from my desk out to the grass to play.  I let Sujata work for a bit and we played catch with a ball for an hour or rather he kicked the ball and I chased it around the yard, much to his 2-year old delight.  So, needless to say, little work was accomplished that day – if we weren’t in the yard playing, he was jumping around our office pulling at various cables and cords, knocking things over, and investigating my laptop with his sticky fingers. There is a reason why 2-year olds and work don’t usually mix!  Fun for him, unproductive for us!  But for one day, just one, I was reminded just how fun it is to be 2, even when you are 30.

Honouring Fridays: September 11th, 2009

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Well folks, this is the beginning of the end.  The beginning of my vacation (well, almost) and the end of working like a maniac…for a whole 4 weeks! We look forward to greeting my parents at the airport on Tuesday night and embarking on a trip to Pokhara, a short mountain trek, a bunch of small day trips around Kathmandu, and then a 9 day trip around Rajasthan in India.  And with this adventure comes the great need to disconnect from my life in Kathmandu…just enough to clear the mind and rejuvenate the spirit.

So, this will be my final Friday gratitude post for the next 4 weeks.  I may post some photos of our trip or the odd note during this time but will return in earnest with my weekly musings on things I am grateful for on Friday, October 16th.  Until then enjoy the beginning of Fall – bake an apple crisp, buy a new sweater, and  crush some dry leaves underfoot.

  • XMind.  On two instances over the past month I have needed to pull together a partnership map to show the connections between various stakeholders, community groups, partners, government, donors and volunteers.  In non-development speak this is really just a  complex organizational diagram that shows how any involved is connected to anyone else involved.  After fiddling for some time with the PowerPoint org chart functions I quickly realized they were much too hierarchical for our holistic approach.  So, off to the web to find something better (and free, and open source…of course!).  Enter XMind, a great tool for mind-mapping of the complex and chaotic variety.  Here is an example of what I was able to do.
  • Dhaka topi.  I have been taking more notice lately of the tradition Nepali caps that men here wear.  Topi ithe general word for hat and dhaka is the cloth used to make traditional Nepali mens wear.  When used together they refer to the hat worn when wearing the dhaka clothes.  They are jaunty, colourful, and rather charming.  Somehow, they remind me of time passed – I imagine what Kathmandu might have looked like years ago, with bikes being the main mode of transport, when colourful dhaka topis topped the head of every man riding a bike…it must have looked something like this.
  • Sel roti.  Sel roti looks like a large skinny donut.  It is a sweetened rice flour bread that is deep fried and eaten with Nepali tea or with a snack of curried chick peas.  I ate my first sel roti last week as they are a common snack around festival time.  I have not yet had the guts  to try and make them but if you want to give it a go, here is a good recipe.  The slight crunch of the ground  rice bits gives the texture of cornmeal and the sweet dough with the slight hint of banana flavour all drenched in a crispy greasy crust…delicious!
  • The right amount of time.  Enough time to appreciate, notice, and enjoy what is around you.  Not so much time  that you feel stuck and stagnant.  Enough time to soak it all in.  Not so much time to feel you might never make it to the end.  Enough time to feel powerfully connected.  Not so much time that powerful connections turn into resentful relationships.  Just the exact right amount of time when everything makes sense.

Honouring Fridays: September 4th, 2009

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The countdown to September 15th has kicked into full gear! The excitement of 4 weeks of vacation combined with visitors from home arriving on that day is making the days fly by. Plus September and October hold the biggest Hindu festivals (akin to Christmas in Christian countries). First is Dashain which is a large, 10-day, family celebration with lots of sacrifices, meat eating, dancing, singing, and returning to home villages to give prayers and offerings to family members. Then about 2 weeks later is Tihar (like Diwali in India) the festival of light. So, lots of joy and celebration ahead has left me feeling incredibly grateful this week – the cup runneth over with goodness, prosperity, and happiness!

  • Pants with no holes. Such simple pleasures really. After toting some rather tired-looking clothes to Nepal, hoping that they would wear themselves out while here, I discovered that they listened. But only in the form of large holes in the crotch (too much information? sorry), while the rest of the fabric is like new! Ordinarily, I would just buy myself a new pairs of pants, but when your entire 4-pair pants wardrobe is in cahoots and decides to commit collective suicide and to reveal your bits to the world, it means war. So, those old pants got a new lease on life this week thanks to a neighbourhood tailor. After trying about 6 different shops and getting full belly laughs from the proprietors about my large-thigh problem, I finally found a man who was willing to help. Granted, he and his friend spent a good ten minutes exclaiming and laughing to each other about how fat I was, but finally he agreed to help. The solution, while not perfect but absolutely acceptable, was to cut about 3 inches of length from the cuffs and use those two pieces to sandwich the weak fabric in the middle. So, 4 days later and they are as good as new…we will just overlook the fact that my entire pants wardrobe is now an awkward mid-ankle crop…
  • Cinnamon rolls. I inherited a big jar of yeast from a friend who was moving back to Canada from Nepal (Hi Anne! Say hello to Vancouver for us!), along with a great big bag of walnuts and an almost full can of dark Canadian maple syrup (and many many other lovely kitchen items…I am also grateful for hand-me-downs!). Inspired to bake something that reminded me of home, I quickly decided on the comforting yeasty-ness of cinnamon rolls. When I was younger my mom would sometimes get up very early and bake us fresh cinnamon buns before school…such a treat (I also remember the homemade elviss mcmuffins…real cheddar, English muffins, egg…my absolute favourite!). The husband loved them – he ate most of them in fact – and the maple walnut crunch with cinnamon was delicious! The bun recipe was an adaptation of The Pioneer Woman’s but instead of the maple glaze on top I  slathered inside butter, maple syrup, and cinnamon.  It may not feel like Fall here but it sure did taste like it!
  • Money. The pain was all worth it. I received word this week that the National Campaign for Education, Nepal (NCE Nepal) with whom I am working, has been approved for a rather large sum of money for this year and two more years funding contingent on success this year. It amounts to about $100,000 USD, in Nepali rupees is close to 7,769,999.69 NPR. To put this into context the majority of Nepali families in villages live on 3000-4000 NPR or less per month…this is BIG money! The proposal writing process was probably one of the most painful and exhausting times I have had here in Nepal but I couldn’t be happier that at least it was all worth it. This will be enough to hire two more staff and do some really exciting work on education advocacy including research, policy advocacy, and setting up regional advocacy networks. So, it is an exciting and wealthy time for NCE Nepal. It makes me slightly sad to be leaving and unable to see the implementation of all these great ideas. But it leaves them in a good spot…all I can do now is hope they use it effectively and ethically.
  • English translation errors. Last weekend we went up to near the Tibetan border to stay at a lovely resort called Last Resort. A beautiful and peaceful place to recharge the internal battery and refocus on what is inspiring about Nepal. We enjoyed the company of good friends, good food, and adventure! But I also enjoyed this – almost more than anything…I am still chuckling about it actually. 🙂   Whoops!   Just a bit more space needed between the first 2 options and the last option, unless of course vegetarian is in fact a new gender!  And I was thinking that this would be a good submission to Engrish.

Honouring Fridays: August 29th, 2009

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Call me crazy, but I think I feel a chill in the air.  The temperature dipped below 20 degrees and as we scrambled to get the blankets back on the bed I realized just how much my internal thermometer has shifted.  Since when did 20 degrees become cold?  And how much will I shiver when I get home and an hour of rain isn’t followed by blazing hot sunshine?  But perhaps it isn’t temperature at all, but rather old habits driving this need to cozy up – with September around the corner it somehow just feels like the right thing to do.

  • Work days that allow for a quick venue research trip up a mountain to resort-ish type location where one can see the Himalayan vistas. Need I say more?  In comparison it would be like being asked to visit Whistler (albeit much less fancy) for a day and report back on the quality of the hotel rooms, meeting halls, and menus of possible workshop venues.   And our selection was…Hotel Country Villa.  Beautiful rooms, fantastic food and excellent (read inspiring) views.  Sigh…work is tough some days!  The only piece of this day that I was not as grateful for was the screeching and precariously speedy trip up the mountain side to get to said location.  Thankfully, I was not riding on the roof of a public bus…it was scary enough from the backseat of a car.
  • Pothole warnings.  due to some very heavy rainstorms lately, some of the paved roadways are developing rather large, almost crater like, holes.  On my regular walking route to the tuk-tuk stop I had noticed some sinking spots in the pavement.  But literally overnight, these sink holes had sunk to new lows…giant hollow spaces beneath the pavement, much like cracking the head of a chocolate Easter bunny – the hole may look small from the top but is cavernous underneath.  So, to warn drivers who are speeding through the streets the neighbourhood solution is to prop a tall tree-like branch into the hole.  No bright tape, coloured ribbons, massive orange cones, or heavily roped off areas.  Just a bamboo branch waving lazily in the breeze and blending very wall into the surroundings.  I admit the holes were fixed within a week, an excellent turnaround time for Nepal, but Iam still left marveling at the simplicity of it all.
  • Being able to get work done in a cyber. Cyber is Nepali speak for an internet cafe – minus the cafe.  A bunch of old computers crammed into a small shop along with phone booths, a copy machine, and some dusty office supplies.  Speeds vary, monitors are often discoloured and flickering, and keyboards have notoriously sticky keys.  But right now, we have no internet in our office and have not had for the past 3 months.  So, this means regular trips to the local cyber to check and answer email.  And I am still somewhat shocked (and grateful!) for the amount of work we manage to do in these little cybers.  The noise level is ridiculous, with locals calling family gone to work in the Middle East and yelling over a poor reception, the ergonomics would make any office rep cringe, and there are always a gaggle of folks reading email over your shoulder.  However, with a bit of focus and preseverance we have managed to operate this way for 3 months.  Not ideal, but somehow satisfying.  And a tribute to a culture like Nepal where people simply are not bothered by these small inconveniences.
  • Peanut butter cookies.  It was a moment of madness and I was blinded by a recollection of smell and taste.  I had been dreaming about this particular version of peanuttyness for a few weeks but thought that the feeling would wear off.  It didn’t.  It got worse.  So, after trying desperately to ignore it, I caved and sent R on a scrambling race to the corner store for some peanut butter and baked out my craving with only moments to spare before the power cut started for the evening.  They were delicious and I think worth the madness.  My only excuse is that it was a back-to-school treat (without the back to school part)!

Honouring Fridays: August 7th, 2009

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I hear it is hot in Vancouver. Hotter than what would be considered usual for this time of year. And while I can sympathize with those West Coasters who are just not genetically engineered for this heat (and I feel absolutely terrible about the forest fires that are raging…they were actually featured in photo on the cover of a national Nepali newspaper this week…I could hardly believe my eyes)…but I digress. I just wanted to toss out a quick reminder that your version of hot is mild. Yesterday, I walked to work and by the time I arrived my shirt was actually soaking with sweat…and I mean SOAKING..dripping…could be wrung out with enough sweat to brew a cup of tea…gross. And there is no cool refereshing lakes, rivers or oceans…just large seas of rice paddies. In some of the southern areas of Nepal near the Indian border the temperature is regularly in the 40’s for weeks. So, it is hot on the West Coast but my sympathy extends only so far…until your brewing tea with your t-shirt sweat it’s not that hot 🙂

  • Cold marble floors. On those days when the temperature is insanely hot one of the most cooling things I can find to do is stand (or admittedly sometimes lay)  in my kitchen. Usually associated with hot, steamy, splattering foods, the kitchen in my house is actually the coolest spot around thanks to the floor to counter slabs of marble. I find that I channel almost all my excess body heat through my feet so there is nothing more comforting than soaking up the cool through one sole…which inevitably cools the other soul.
  • Nimbleness. One of the things that I have learned since being here is just how much I appreciate nimble organizations.  The type of organization that can be quickly responsive, adaptable, flexible, and strategic – that doesn’t get bogged down by adhering to excessive, circular, and semantic conversations.  I truly believe that nimbleness is possible for an organization of any size, degree of hierarchy, or type of work.  It is often thought that being smaller means being more nimble, but really it is more about the implementation of organizational structure not the actual structure itself.  In a dictatorship, nimble is easy – boss makes decision and can change the decision based on new information at any time.  In the same way, a more participatory organization could empower those most impacted to make the decision on behalf of the group.  I believe that very few organizations recognize nimbleness as a high priority but I think this will become increasingly important – to stay ahead they will need to be nimble to remain competitive.
  • Good communication. Good things happen when communication is good.  I was reminded this week that communication takes practice, patience, and listening.  Listening.  Listening.  Maybe speaking.  Listening.  And no matter how experienced or capable you are in communication there will be tests of this skill – moments when your abilities fail you and you need to find some new strategies.  But as soon as you stop allowing your communication strategies to evolve, the less able you will be to communicate.
  • Garlic and cheese rolls. Near our house there is a wonderful Italian bakery of which we only recently started taking full advantage.  They make breads, cookies, pastries and other delicious goodies.  But my indulgence there is singular.  In fact, I don’t think my eyes even drift further than the large tray of warm garlic and cheese rolls.  They always have my full attention, the garlic winking, the cheese seductively draping itself over the wholesome multigrain goodness.  For those who know me well, they could tell you just how much I love savoury breakfast.  So, for breakfast, we sometimes walk over for a breakfast treat and delicious latte (next door is a little coffee roasting shop that hand grinds beans and steams milk individually for each latte…divine and the best to be found in Kathmandu I think).  Below is a photo tribute to this new Saturday morning ritual.
The source of deliciousness
A little piece of heaven in the form of a roll.
The equally delicious latte.
Sheer joy and contentment!

Honouring Fridays: July 24th, 2009

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Last weekend we took a fantastic day-trip hiking along the edge of the hills that surround the Kathmandu Valley.  Spectacular views, excellent company, incredible Buddhist monasteries, and some much needed peace were the highlights.  The single low-light:  the most crowded and painful microbus ride through almost knee deep monsoon puddles after waiting for 45 minutes.  It was totally worth the pain but clearly I need some practice on the whole Buddhist zen…the following conversation occurred between me and my brain during said painful micro ride:

Breathe in deeply  (except while my nose is crammed into the armpit of the guy in front of me).

Breathe out deeply (and hope that guy in front of me doesn’t mistake my excellent belly-breathing as a sexual advance).

Let all the muscles from the top of your head to the bottom of your toes just relax and release (except for the muscles that are hanging on for dear life to the roof of the 10-person microbus that is currently carrying me and 50 other people through torrential rains).

Close your eyes (but occasionally scan the rain streaked windows for any landmark that looks familiar where I can make a fast exit).

Imagine you are floating (actually, I am floating, there are so many people on this bus that they have squished me upwards for lack of space and your feet  are no longer connected with the ground).

Your weight is fully supported by a gentle breeze (actually it is not a breeze but the heavy breathing of the 50 people crammed inside this small space).

Let any thoughts you have surround themselves in bubbles and float away (how do I surround every curse word I have ever known in a bubble?).

Allow yourself to drift away, slowly, gently into the state of peace (or how about I just get the heck off and find a damn taxi!).

So despite my inability to release my ego and be zen, I do have many things to be grateful for.

  • Bacon. Greasy and salty, crunchy and chewy, deeply savoury goodness in the form of a fried strip of pig meat.  Bacon is something I rarely eat here in Nepal.  But the breakfast buffet at the hotel I stayed at for a workshop this week served bacon.  And I ate it.  All of it.   I couldn’t stop myself – I actually went for a second helping of just bacon…who does that??!!!  I think it reminded me of home and filled some sort of hole in my soul.  It felt almost spiritual – like some inner food-god connection had been unleashed. Perhaps if I had carried some bacon on the micro with me the conversation above would be different. Don’t you worry bacon…we will have a rendezvous again soon, although this time I might just arm myself with some  lettuce and tomato.  Until then, I will keep you in my thoughts here.
  • I am grateful for realizing that it’s no longer my problem. We had a proposal due for funding today.  It isn’t yet finished.   I don’t know when it will be.  We might get an extension but we might not.  I poured heart and soul into helping to write this thing but couldn’t do it alone.  I asked for help and nobody heard my call.  I was seriously saddened and frustrated until I spoke with a good colleague, Jeevan, and he reminded me that it wasn’t my problem.  I was propping up a crumbling building alone – even if I managed to stabilize one corner, it was still doomed to crumble.  I did everything I could but if the building crumbles…I will be sad but it’s just no longer my problem.
  • Being in the right place at the right time. During our hike and monastery visits last week, just as we arrived at the final monastery, the thunder began to clap and a light rain began to fall.  Almost at the exact same time a large drum began to sound inside the monastery.  The Buddhist monks were being called to prayer.  It was a practice of one of the traditional Tibetan chants.  We were able to sneak inside and sit near the back and observe the ritual chanting.  It was a beautiful combination of sounds – the booming of large drums marking a return to mindfulness, the gentle snap of fingers when a particular state of consciousness or being had been achieved and the gentle murmur of about 100 voices repeating the soft and rounded Tibetan words.  With the rains outside it was the perfect place to be, without a plan and finding ourselves sitting on the edges of daily life in a monastery.
  • Rex.  He has been trying to make it onto my blog for weeks.  But I always tell him that I am ALWAYS grateful for him so don’t need to blog about it every week.  But this week, I am more grateful for him than usual.  He has been away in Hetauda and I am always reminded, when he is gone, just how much support, love, kindness, patience, laughter, and joy he brings to my life.  You made the blog sweetie – now get on that crowded smelly microbus and come home soon!

Honouring Fridays: June 19th, 2009

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The monsoon is a week late.  The temperature has soared into the high 30’s and can only be set to rest with the advance of the monsoon.  Apparently it is predictable – every year there is a date that all Nepali’s anticipate when the monsoon rains rush in and quench the thirst of farmers who need to rains for their rice crops.  Being late is a big deal.  Without the rains their rice crops will not produce the food that they require for their families.  And it means that water in the capital city is also limited – less coming through the pipes means less stored in the large tanks atop many of the buildings in Kathmandu.  The recent prediction is that it will arrive in 10-15 days…we hold our breath that the rice crops will still be viable and get comfortable with our sweat and dirt…the rains will come.

  • Airtreks.  With tickets finally “in-hand” for our ridiculous round the world adventure (airport codes in order are: KTM-DEL-HKG-NRT-HNL-OGG-NRT-MNL-AUH-CDG-LHR-KEF-YYZ-YVR) that begins in January, I couldn’t be more grateful to the good folks at Airtreks for all their help.  They helped us navigate our complicated route, found the best deals, and offered some great customer service.  And although it looks expensive on the surface, when one considers the various flights and connections we are making it was pretty darn reasonable.  While many of the legs will be just quick airport stops, some will be the beginning of incredible new experiences – who could resist a 3-day, no extra charge stop-over in Iceland!
  • New colleagues and new offices.  Much to my great excitement, and what may go down as my single biggest accomplishment here in Nepal, my organization, National Campaign for Education, Nepal (NCEN…used to be GCE Nepal but they changed their name…long story) has a new office!  And with that office comes a newly hired full-time Program Coordinator.  I now work 3 days a week with my new colleague Sujata in a small house in Thapathali.  We rent two small rooms on the cool and shady ground floor.  She is keen, talented, and really fun to work with.  Plus, she loves financial management and that is where we need to most help.  I hope these final six months are full of good progress and am so grateful for some new energy at work.  Plus, our office has an avocado tree in the yard…this will probably be the only time in my life I can say that 🙂
  • Didi.  Didi is a Nepali word which means older sister.  It is a term used for your actual older sister, but also used for a woman who is older than you, but not old enough to be your mom, whom you want to address somewhat respectfully (otherwise you would use bahini (sounds like tahini) which means little sister but is disrespectful if you use this term for someone older than you). In our house we have a lovely didi who washes our laundry for a small monthly fee of 500 NPR (about $8 CAD).  She is the sweetest Nepali woman and we are so grateful to have her service.  While I sometimes feel guilty for not washing my own clothes, the reality is that for many Didi’s who clean houses and do laundry, this is the only income they have.  I will happily pay a fair and ethical wage to employee a local woman to earn some money.
  • Barfi.  Alright now…stop giggling about the name.  This is one of my favourite sweet treats in Nepal – an Indian treat that is actually widely available around the world.  I prefer a pistachio or cashew barfi, but it can also be made with coconut, almonds, chick pea flour, chocolate, mango, or carrot!  This weekend, I hope to try my hand at some barfi-making for a dinner party this weekend – I will try to post some results of that effort and let you know how the carrot barfi turns out!

Honouring Fridays: May 8th, 2009

This week contained an incredible amount of change for Nepal, with the resignation of the Prime Minister, amidst some of the most complicated accusations and juicy political scandal imaginable.  Videos circulating of lies the previous PM told the UN, unconstitutional moves by various individuals that have been called `illegal`, and a `constitutional coup`.  And while the rumour mills and gossip chains are on fire with chatter, the rest of life rolls along, as it must.  The regular folks (and that includes me) got up and went to work, drank their tea, made dinner, and tried with all their might to hope that stability and peace would succeed.

  • Packages. R`s mom sent us a lovely package that arrived early this week.  The anticipation of opening them, the secret treats that are hidden inside, the carefully wrapped and addressed box…packages are a treat (cards and letters are just as wonderful!) that we dearly look forward to.  It is true that we can get just about anything we need here, but there is still something lovely about knowing that someone somewhere thought enough about you to drop something in the mail.
  • uTorrent. The source for my regular fix of bad yet totally addictive TV.  Until now, our power situation was too dire to even consider downloading anything remotely large.  But lately, we have been the recipients of magical power that stays on for…gasp…DAYS…at a time!!!  Which has meant some quality utorrent downloading. I am slowly finding my way back to the centre of pop culture.
  • Courage. I am currently wading through some rather intense and unfortunate group politics in my work that has had me questioning not only myself, but the worth, value, and possibility that the work we do can actually change education for children.  I was reminded yesterday that there are so many Nepalis who have been fighting this same fight for their entire lives – demanding that Dalit members of their society have the same rights, opportunities, and access to quality of life that caste based discrimination has prevented them from having.  While I struggle to keep faith in humanity, my Dalit colleagues can look at this and see it simply, as one more challenge to be overcome. My emotions still get the better of me, my hope and faith slowly drains, and I know that my courage is only a sliver compared to the courageous folks who live with this every single day of their lives.  I am grateful that they feel the courage to keep on fighting the good fight.
  • Tuna. We have once again discovered the joys of canned tuna.  I know, not much of a discovery, but I had somehow forgotten how delicious a tuna sandwich, rich with mayonnaise and studded with sour little pickle bites could be.  How much it reminded me of home.  Part of this discovery was also the holy grail of a good tuna sandwich…good bread.  A local hotel makes fresh french bread – toasted and smothered with tuna and cheese brought us right back to home.  Mitho thiyo!  (It was tasty!).