Tag Archives: power

Honouring Monday (because Friday got the best of me): December 28th, 2009

Merry Belated Christmas! This is a late blog post in lieu of one that was half finished for last Friday, Christmas Day, when I just simply ran out of steam for writing. It was a combination of packing for our big move on Boxing Day and the preparations for a pseudo-Christmas dinner that ran into some problems (the biggest being that the chicken we bought was rotten, but we didn’t realize it until it was half cooked which then sent R on a run to the local Tandoori shop that I actually think was way tastier anyway) that has resulted in a Monday post instead if a Friday one (as if you even noticed anyway!). We have finally settled into our new house and, despite the fact that it is about 10 degrees colder than our previous top floor apartment, we are enjoying it. The lovely dog, Kiva, makes it feel a lot like an actual home (as does the real couch and chairs, dining room table, and luxurious bed with a feather duvet!). So, it is a nice way to transition out of Nepal – a little bit of luxury – before we find ourselves homeless vagabonds for 6 more months.

Warmth. There is nothing we take more for granted at home then clean water and warmth. While we have found ways to secure clean water here it is the quest for true warmth still eludes us slightly. First, and this takes some time before it clicks in, is that it is always warmer outside. The concrete buildings and lack of a heating system combine to make indoors frigid while the outdoors are sun basking and lovely. Inside we often wear toques, fleece jackets and double layers of wool socks inside slippers. And if computing anything some sort of gloves or arm warmers are a must for the chilly exposed arm and finger skin. Top all that off with a blanket for any moment when we are sitting still and a cup of tea is always on the ready. The closest comparison I can make is that it is a bit like camping in December, but only when inside. And there is always a slight feeling of chill despite the layers most often caused by any bare skin that comes in contact with the air or by any shifting one makes while in their warm cocoon that means a new spot needs to be warmed. All I can do is dream of Hawaii and the Philippines and know that in 19 days I will feel warm again.
Inverters (aka uninterruptible power supplies). The loadshedding schedule is set to increase to about 6 hours per day (3 hours in the morning and 3 hours in the evening). And usually, we adapt by lighting candles, reading for a short while, and then going to bed exceptionally early. But our new house has an inverter – a battery that stores electricty from solar panels on the roof which can then power a CFL bulb in each room, the TV, and a laptop. And let me tell you, it certainly doesn’t take long to become accustomed to this – I have all but forgotten about candles and early to bed evenings in the span of 2 days! I will look forward to the days when we don’t need to worry about whether we have power in order to shower, check email, or cook dinner. But until then, we will revel in the joys of our temporary inverter.
Being spoiled. So, we maybe wouldn’t choose to live this way, but given that it is part of the housesitting gig, we are left to just sit back and enjoy it 🙂 Despite the fact that we are meant to look after the dog and house the following arrangements were made by the folks who live here and will continue while we stay: 1) A regular cleaning lady who comes 2 days a week to do laundry, dishes, and general cleaning; 2) A gardener who looks after the property, yard and plants; 3) A dog-walker who walks the dog on weekends, 4) A dog mover who takes the dog to doggie daycare Monday-Friday, and finally 5) Doggie daycare who look after the dog on weekdays from 9-5ish. So, what are we left to do? Basically, sit back and enjoy it because this will likely be the only time in my life when I have these perks!
Broccoli. The proliferation of broccoli this season is suprising. However, when one considers where it is being sold, it actually graphs in direct relationship to the density of foreigners. It is not a vegetable that Nepalis eat but is being grown for the foreign palate. So, shops in areas where we live are selling the leafy green bundles. It is an nice change from the cauliflower which is a staple in our diet and provides some added colour and nutrients to a regular meal of rice and curried paneer. I have also taken to chopping the bunches up into giant spears (trees instead of the small shrubs) and tossing it with a oil/dijon/soy/honey/vinegar/red onion dressing before a quick toaster oven roast, which makes the spears all toasted and caramely. Can you say delicious? Unfortunately, I can’t because my mouth is full of broccoli 🙂

Honouring Fridays: November 13th, 2009

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Today is our 1-year anniversary of arriving in Nepal! I can easily recall the feelings of excitement, nervousness, and uncertainty that rumbled through me. I remember it being colder than I expected and that the sights, colours, smells, and sounds were overwhelming. I noticed the other day while riding a small tuk-tuk home from work that I was almost dozing during the ride – day-dreaming and not thinking about where to get off, what to watch out for, and what to do next. What a change from when I would have my nose pressed against the window to see every moment of the trip. I clearly have some comfort and ease with life in Kathmandu now – I live with more confidence.

And arriving today are 16 new volunteers – tonight we will welcome them with a party – and I can only hope that the same feelings I had one year ago will be slightly eased through conversations with those of us who have learned to live here with confidence.

For myself, I have learned that it takes courage, patience, persistence, flexibility, and a good sense of humour to enjoy life here – may I carry these abilities into the next year full of adventures!

The beginning of the fresh produce season! Like any food growing endeavour, there are certain seasons in which certain vegetables grow the best. As we move into the cool months, Fall if you will, we join many countries around the world that are engaged in harvesting. The vegetables coming into our local shops these days are incredibly delicious and almost cartoonish in their bold and vibrant colours. The cool weather has brought back the orange glow to the carrots, the deep purple sheen to the onions, the creamy whiteness of the cauliflower, and the ruffled and dewy leaves of bright green spinach and mustard. There is no question that the vegetables we are eating are the freshest we have seen in a long time. It is a wonderful time to cook in Nepal and to reap the flavours, colours, and tastes of a wonderful harvest…not to mention the beautiful bundles of golden yellow ripe rice stalks draped across in the paddies.
Functioning governments. Granted that there it is something of an oxymoron to place the words “functioning” and “governments” in the same sentence. But I sometimes think that the Canadian government is possibly the most efficient, well-oiled, and proactive bureaucracy around…in comparison that is. As Nepal struggles to overcome poverty, lack of infrastructure, impossible geographic terrain, drought, poor health care, human rights issues, and education development what holds them back nine times out of ten is a government that simply doesn’t function. And by “doesn’t function” I mean a government that actually doesn’t meet regularly and when they try to meet the whole process is derailed due to a agitating groups blocking the parliament from meeting. And not just for a day or two, but for months going on years! Not to mention the corruption, deceit, lies, targeted killings, and oppression perpetrated by many government officials. So, despite the petty and often ridiculous antics of politicians back home I am actually pretty grateful for how much our government does for us…regardless of who is in power.
Christmas carols. So, normally in my books November is WAYYYY too early to bust out the jingle bells and sing along to deck the halls. But, being away from my regular traditions and seasonal cheer I allow myself to break the rules. So, on a powerless night last week I did the unthinkable and turned on my Christmas playlist. And it was excellent! Something so simple that immediately feels familiar and happy. I think what makes Christmas carols so good is that they really do bring an atmosphere of cheer and suddenly I am remembering all that is so wonderful about this time of year. So, on your next “silent night”, bust out a carol and feel grateful for everything you love about Christmas.
Finding the right words. There is nothing more satisfying than being able to take a feeling that has stuck with you for a time and put that feeling into words. When the words can tumble from your mouth and sound like a perfect description for something previously indescribable, it is magic. I believe that these kinds of words are the sweetest to hear. They rumble and resonate with the heart and the brain, satisfying both the heart’s need for expression and the brain’s need for explanation.

Honoring Fridays: April 17th, 2009

Honouring Fridays: March 6th, 2009

Load Shedding

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Ackk! We have been experiencing regular efforts to decrease power consumption in Nepal which means peak hours without power…which means few entries to my blog 🙁 So, consider this a chance for you to load shed yourself…read only once a week instead of once a day 🙂 And, sadly, with an overwhelming number of spam comments, I have changed the settings to require approval from me…not ideal but will prevent all of us from having to read about the latest casino offerings!

We are currently in a moderately-sized town called Banepa taking intensive language classes during the day and then climbing into cold sparse rooms to catch some sleep at night. Much like camping but with the added smells of pit toilets in your room…quaint 🙂 However, the people have made it so much more pleasant than it sounds. We have a fantastic teacher, Krishna-ji who is incredibly patient as our mouths struggle with complex reflexive and palative sounds. And the other volunteers are just so interesting. We are a true complex patchwork of experiences, cultures, and personalities. Tossed together into a fairly intense experience has meant that everyone connected fairly quickly. We have 3 folks from India (Varanasi, Delhi, and Bangalore), 2 Dutch, 1 American, 1 Brit, 2 Filipinos, one other Canadian and 1 Ugandan.

So while I am here in what feels like volunteer residence mixed with a pretty rough summer camp, I send everyone lots of love and good wishes.

Namaste!