Tag Archives: gratitude

Honouring Fridays: January 1st, 2010

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.

Honouring Fridays: December 18th, 2009

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It’s official. I am starting to feel nostalgic about leaving. I am seeing through rose coloured glasses again and remembering all the things that I love about living here. I know that I will come back again but it won’t be the same – I will be a visitor in a city that I once called home. And it is incredible how all the things that can be draining and frustrating about a place – the traffic madness, the inefficiency, the constant tea drinking – suddenly become endearing. I had a moment this week standing on the roof of our house looking out over the city and thinking how wonderful Nepal really is which I think means Nepal has officially gotten under my skin. So, while I am ready to move on, these last few weeks will be difficult. It will be a feast for the senses as I try desperately to remember the sights, smells, sounds, tastes, and feelings of this place. And, apparently, this week’s gratitude is brought to you by the letter “P” (unPlanned but precisely perfect pre-departure pondering).

Pomegranates. The season of really really good pomegranates has FINALLY arrived. They are bigger than a softball and full of hundreds of tartly sweet and juicy little seeds. Here they are available in regular red colour but also in the interesting yellow colour too! They both taste the same but the yellow ones are admittedly easier to eat as the juice doesn’t stain everything it lands on. I plan to enjoy a few pomegranates over the upcoming weeks. First, the seeds over yogurt that is full of dried fruit and nuts, topped with some toasted oats…like a granola but deconstructed. Second, in a couscous of some form. Yay for pomegranates!
Packing. On December 26th, we will carefully pack up our belongings and close the door on our cozy little apartment. Two weeks will be spent house-sitting for a friend and for the final week we will hunker down in the same guest house where we stayed when we first arrived 14 months ago. So, the house has been turned upside down as we sort through things and decide what to pack. I have always enjoyed packing – the trimming of “stuff”, the shrinking of possessions into discrete and neat boxes, the downsizing of life. This time, we are packing to fit into 2 bags, plus one carry-on bag, each. Basically, a life that we can carry on our backs (or send home with gracious friends and family from our first two stops in Hawaii and the Philippines). I look forward to the seeing a life that is bundled into a few bags – that sense of freedom that comes when one is no longer tied down by a home and furniture. That feeling will wear off, eventually, but for now, I am grateful for all the packing.
Poinsettias. Like the red saris worn during weddings by many Nepali women, to me the red poinsettia is a symbol of Nepal. They grow as large as trees here and adorn just about every house in Kathmandu. In most months of the year they are simply green shrubs but when the weather changes and the cold sinks into the Valley the poinsettias pop with colour. Below is a picture of a lovely bush I photographed at Godavari Village Resort during a workshop a couple weeks ago. Hard to believe that these tree-like plants are, back home, only table ornaments for a few weeks in December.

Principles. I know I have always had principles, in some form or another. But it has become clearer to me lately that my principles have become clearer since being in Nepal. There are some interesting conversations going around my office these days about money – how to save it and how to spend it. We have made a set of agreements with our donor on both of these issues. To my colleagues this is seen as a flexible agreement – something that can be bent, twisted, or perhaps even sneakily avoided. I disagree. Strongly. And with conviction. I understand the desire to try and save money for the future (particularly when the future is out of your control and in the hands of those donors). However, I don’t think it is wise (or even legal!) to try and squirrel away unspent funds by faking bills and twisting the truth. So, my principles, have me wading out into unfamiliar territory – not so much defending them as needing to convince others that they are valid. But I guess the gratitude comes when I realize that without my principles I would have little to keep me afloat in the argument. In the end they will do as they wish and I will still have my principles.

Honouring Fridays: December 11th, 2009

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I am the least patient person in the world…or at least in this room at the moment. I hate waiting and I catch myself, in moments where my patience has worn thin from waiting, trying to come up with good reasons why waiting is worth it. Because good things can come from waiting. Waiting for love…that is worth it. Waiting for vegetables to germinate and grow…also worth it. Waiting for bread to rise…definitely worth it. Waiting for a summer vacation…still worth it even though I am not 12 and summer vacation does NOT feel like it lasts forever. Waiting for the moment when you have enough money to buy a really wonderful piece of art…pretty sure that will be worth every penny when I get there. My point is that most waiting, while painful and irritating, is often really, really satisfying. So how can I tell if the wait is worth it? I just imagine the outcome. And if I were to arrive at the end of the waiting and find that the outcome is the opposite to what I was hoping for (i.e. no love, no vegetables, no bread, no vacation that lasts forever, and no fancy pants art hanging in my living room) and I know that I would feel sad, disappointed, and heart broken, then it is worth the wait. The investment of time…the waiting…can yield a darn good harvest sometimes…even if I do grumble about it along the way.

The return of orange season. If there is one thing I remember about when I arrived 13 months ago, it was the oranges. The piles upon piles and baskets upon baskets of fragrant oranges on every street corner. It was the first Nepali word I learned. Suntala. Similar to a mandarin oranges but full of seeds they provide a cheap and healthy snack at any time of day. Best eaten outside on a rooftop where seeds are easily spit over the edge. And, locally available which means Mandarin oranges for Christmas are not a once-a-year indulgence here. Instead they are a 4 month staple.
Hot water. The bright orange flame pops to life following a slow hiss as the gas is released. It sputters and flashes. The water dribbles out of the hand-held shower nozzle and into the blue bucket. A few degrees colder and it could be ice. Slowly, the orange flame works its magic on the frigid water, easing the chill. The digital numbers on the front of the gas heater climb slowly. 21. 22. 23. 26. When it reaches 30 I take the plunge. But there is no way it is actually 30. It is probably closer to 25…but warmer than melted ice. It takes about 5 minutes for the water to get hot – steamy hot. But then come the moments in between – when the water is off and the race to lather as quickly as possible is on. The steamy hot is all that separates you from goose bumps. It is an internal debate that I have with myself every time I shower – let the water trickle and keep me warm or turn it off and move fast, very fast. And saving water always wins – no matter how cold those 2 minutes might be – because it means there will still be water left in a couple of days which means the possibility for another blissfully hot shower.
Kathmandu at night. Now that the seasons have changed again, my evening bus rides home at about 5:00 every evening are in the dark. And lately I have found that there is something bewitching about the city in the dark. It retains it frenetic pace and chaotic snarl of traffic, people, and noise but it twinkles. The flashing red of the motocycle lights mixed with the dull sheen of candles in windows where the power is out. The darkness also hides some of the city’s flaws, concealing the gritty, dusty, and worn surroundings and replaces them with mysterious shapes, sleek and modern looking in the darkness. Hurtling across the city on a crowded bus watching Kathmandu slink and wink past my window is one of the best endings to a day.
The moment on weekends when you wake up at 6:00am and realize that you can simply close your eyes and go back to sleep…indefinitely. Roll over, snuggle down, and tumble back into a good dream, a moment of peace, or a deep slumber.

Honouring Fridays: November 27th, 2009

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The week is almost through and the relief and excitement about some serious relaxing and downtime is starting to creep into the mind. It was an 8 day work week with events, interviews, and meetings to fill the time. Somehow, the pace has reminded me of what work life must be like back home and I find I am more efficient and more satisfied with the increase in pace. Does this mean I am better suited to a faster work environment? Or have I not fully adjusted to the slower pace of life here? It might be a shock to arrive home and discover how quickly life will move but somehow I think it will suit me just fine 🙂

Peppermint. It might be the impending Christmas season that has driven this obsession with peppermint but I just can’t seem to get enough of the peppermint tingle. I have a peppermint chapstick, soap, lotion, and now drink a steaming cup of peppermint tea every night. I have dreams of brewing hot chocolate and then steeping a peppermint teabag in the sweet mixture – who needs a Starbucks’ peppermint mocha when you can have that instead!
Letting someone else take control. It is far too easy for me fall into the routine of trying to control and plan everything…I am an organizer…a list maker. I claim those titles proudly, usually, but every once in awhile (and forgive me those of you who are free spirits who would not think for a moment that any of this was truly giving up control…indulge me while I stretch my own boundaries and next time you attempt to make plans I will not scoff in your direction) I enjoy the thrill of letting someone else into my kitchen :). So, this week…I let R make dinner! We had buffalo-mushroom-tomato pasta and it was delicious! I relinquished control in the kitchen and now I am having visions of simply never going back in – that’s how tasty it was!
Being invited into “real life” in Nepal. My colleague Sujata’s son, Ayush, celebrated his 2nd birthday this week. And to my surprise she invited R and I over for dinner and celebration. This was a sign of both comfort and true friendship as the only others who were invited were family. It was a very special evening for us. Her small family of husband, son, and a young girl who looks after her son live in a very tiny 2-room apartment. One small bedroom where everyone sleeps and a small kitchen area for cooking. She admitted earlier this week to being a bit shy about inviting us over, feeling as though her small apartment would be too small and uncomfortable for us. She had need not worried as we felt absolutely comfortable and at home in her place. But I also cannot help but feel somewhat shameful that my presence would cause her such worry – as if somehow I required more or expected something fancy – that what she could offer would not be good enough. It was more than good enough – it was real, true, and everyday life in Nepal – so much richer than anything we have experienced in our work or travels here. We absolutely loved being part of the fun and enjoyed much food, laughter, and playing with the kids. I will remember that night with such fondness and know that I have truly made a friend (and family) for life.
Irony. Dear man who caught the same tuk-tuk as me on Tuesday afternoon. I saw you lounging around outside the vehicle sucking in a final cigarette before we departed. You seemed to really enjoy the smoking – the hot smoke easily filling your lungs and slowly being exhaled in a bluish-white haze around your head. But I am a little confused. Was the face mask you donned following the cigarette meant to shield your lungs from air pollution?

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: October 23rd, 2009

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As many people may have heard, my grandmother died last week. She was in her late 90’s and still managed to go for a swim everyday in Lake Okanagan, knit woolly booties for the new babies at the hospital, and spend as much time as possible with her family. Back in the day she was a talented figure skater, a baker of the most delicious fudge, and a practical joker of the highest degree. She took pleasure in stuffing home knitted socks with jaw-breaker candies as big as my head (at least they felt that big when my 10 year old eyes watched my Dad pull them out of his new socks on Christmas morning) and she could always be counted on for warm hugs, a great game of rummy (she cheated, but we all let her), and some laughs – she was always laughing.

Grandma Frances. So, this week I am the most grateful for my grandmother and the wonderful life that she was able to live. I can only hope that I have inherited an ounce of your kindness, a funny bone or two and perhaps a drop or two of your delicious fudge-making talents too 🙂 We love you and will miss you Grandma.

Ginger tea. During our 5-day trek in the hills and mountains, after climbing for 4-5 hours, we would reach the guest house exhausted and hungry. Dinner would usually be some warm and filling potato or egg dish but what we all looked forward to more than dinner was the steaming pot of ginger tea at the end of the meal. It was quite simple – black tea with fresh, chopped ginger and a splash of honey dumped into the pot. No infusion of ginger essence or synthetic ginger flavouring, just real fresh gingery hot tea. It was a warm hug before bed, a muscle rejuvinator before the next day of hiking, a chance to reconnect with family about how the day went, and a moment of calm, full-belly, peacefulness. I plan on making this concoction throughout the cold months here in Nepal to ward off H1N1, common colds, chest infections, and stomach irritations – even if it doesn’t work it will still bring me back to the cool crisp evenings in Nepal’s mountains sitting with family and sharing a wonderful pot of tea.
Rotisserie chicken. While my parents were visiting earlier this month we made a wonderful discovery. The small and unassuming toaster oven that graces my counter is also a rotisserie! In preparations for a small Thanksgiving dinner we had planned to roast a chicken in the toaster oven. I found some odd spear and dagger like instruments in the cupboard and starting putting the pieces together. On inspection of the oven, we discovered that lo and behold, the large spear-like apparatus rotates! AHA! Spear the bird, slap it on the rotating device and voila – rotisserie chicken – a zillion times better than any Swiss Chalet affair and truly Thanksgiving worthy. You can rest assured that we will be re-enacting this magical moment for Christmas dinner as well 🙂

Rekindling a love affair. Despite the fact that I sometimes take you for granted, I am reminded just how appreciative I am to have you. The sweetness of reconnecting feels good. It is also especially good when the object of affection is so steady, familiar, and altogether unchanging. When it can feel like you were never apart. And so I have rekindled my love affair. You keep me connected, give me entertainment, and suffer as pound out my weekly installments of gratitude and yet never have I once shown any appreciation for you…the tool. You may have lost the ability to hold any charge in your battery due to random power surges but you will always have my undying affection.

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 14th, 2009

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Last night I awoke to the most spectacular rainstorm we have had yet. It sounded like rivers streaming from the sky and drowned out any other sounds. I laid still for about half and hour and just listened to the sound, carefully looking for a change in pace, water volume, or drop intensity. Straining to hear, you could make out the sounds of the rain falling on different objects – the banana trees in the yard were lashed and submissive, the leaves being torn by the heavy drops, the rhythmic thudding of the balcony downspout on the pavement 3 stories down, and the metallic spring of drops bouncing vigorously off the tin roof over the carport. All these rains sounds wove together to create a cocoon inside our mosquito net – at that moment there was nowhere more secure, cozy or peaceful to be.

The countdown. It is literally one month until we embark on a 4-week vacation that feels like it just can’t come at a better time. The 4 weeks will be blissfully free from work and allow me to remember just how amazing Nepal has been. So, forgive me, while I not so silently jump for joy each morning when I look at my countdown clock on my Google homepage and see the numbers ticking down…such power those little numbers hold…I may not be living as directly in the moment as I may like, but I sure as heck have lots to look forward to!

Finding the lesson, despite how deeply it might be buried. With enough distance from my stressful and rather confidence defeating past weeks, I have had enough time to gather my wits and regain perspective. And buried near the centre of all the junk is what I like to call the kernel of wisdom. My kernel from the last weeks has been: don’t assume that lack of interest is equivalent to lack of caring.

The smell of fresh guava. Not the prettiest of fruit but certainly the most intriguing. Walking down a muddy alley in Kathmandu I could smell what seemed like a some rich and luxurious Parisian perfume – heady top notes of super sweet and fragrant fruit – like a strawberry married a pineapple. Much to my suprise the smell was wafting from a precarious looking basket of rumpled yellow-green fruit. The guava season had arrived by smell alone. They are not the most delicious of fruits – in fact I would discourage you from going out of your way to find them for their taste value. Oh, but the smell…the smell alone is reason to seek them out. They permeate our entire apartment with their fruity, flowery, and steamy scent. They smell like seduction, passion, and intrigue. I think small animals, insects, and birds must be seduced by them too – it is a bewitching fruit. I have since used them to make a rather perfumed sauce with honey and a raspberry tea bag which I hope to serve this weekend with a chocolate cake. And true to Nepal, the fruit seasons just keeping bringing the most delightful surprises – wistful goodbyes to mangoes – flared nostril hellos to guavas! And it probably wouldn’t surprise you to know that guava essence is a central ingredient in many perfumes too!

Cooking my way to good mental health. There is a term in our house that R and I use, particularly on weekends, when I emerge from a state of intense cookery…we call it the food coma. Sometimes it is induced by eating all the fruits of my kitchen labours, but other times it it simply the coma from channeling every last drop of creativity and soul into making something tasty. But I actually do believe that cooking has become an important mode of expression for me. An outlet from some frustration, a chance to capture feelings on a plate. Nothing better than expressing myself and ending up with a delicious plate of food at the end of it.