A Learning Curve

The last few days have been fun - I'm now immersed in the training programme for volunteering, learning all about what not to wear, how to behave, the history and politics of Nepal and so on. The weather is gorgeous - not too hot, and I'm feeling massively better now I'm not in the thick of the city (it's SO polluted it's almost unreal).

For the first time in about eight years, I have homework - and lots of it too. This is actually great - I'm loving the language training, and I've been practicing Nepali with my host family. So far, I can say useful phrases such as "Is that a book, no it's a pen", "Pleased to meet you", "My mother's house is in England", "I like Indian food, it's spicy" and "I don't like coffee" (as useful phrase if you're me).

The biggest learning issues, however, are related to the cultural differences. There's such a big gap between here and home - and this is reinforced by staying with a local Nepali family. There are two of us volunteers sharing a room, and whereas the other two volunteers have a more modern home (with hot water, western toilets and even pizza!) I think we are having a more 'authentic' experience. The beds are really hard, the bathroom pongs and there are ants everywhere! But this is all cool.

The family members are the father (Kumar), mother (Pramila) and two grownup/teenage sons Yogesh and Rajesh. The father is quite bubbly but speaks little English and mainly watches TV downstairs, the mother doesn't speak much English and isn't motherly in the sense I'm used to (she doesn't express much affection) but I think she's warming to us - we've been helping her make roti, which has been quite amusing for all concerned....

I tried to say hi to Rajesh, the younger son - but he just grunted in typical teenage fashion (teenagers are perhaps the time across all continents)! Yogesh is really nice, but frequently looks at me as if I'm insane (yeah, yeah, I know some of you do too...) - such as when I ask if I can have two pieces of toast instead of four with two eggs (this is just for breakfast).

Honestly, they try to feed you so much here, and they eat so quickly - they literally hoover it down, even faster than any big guys I know! And they eat SO much rice - I really can't keep up with the carb consumption. Apparently, being fat is a sign of good health. But I don't need any help! At first it was really hard trying not to be rude (you shouldn't leave any food on your plate, so I was wedging it in, filling up my arms and legs with rice and dhaal) but now I think we've struck a balance. I'm remembering the whole 'right hand, left hand' rules, and managing not to make this 'Jutho' (ritually polluted). The onus is very much on me to make the experience, and try and bridge the communication gap. I'm already wondering when I will next be able to have a hot shower - and some chocolate - but I am enjoying the experience a lot - and hopefully it's good preparation for moving to the school.