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.