Snapshot

Since I haven't had Internet access and haven't written for a while, I thought I'd give a snapshot of some things for the last few weeks: -

 

Thoughts I've had: -

• Please, no more rice!
• I need to find a bathroom. Now.
• Hurray, finally I can see the Himalayas!
• Thank goodness for 'Danny and The Dinosaur' - or Dinosaurus as the kids call him (a book Mum sent that has proved very popular!)
• Why is the Bride crying? (at a traditional Nepali wedding - an arranged marriage)
• I'm so glad I brought 'the duck book' (The Usbourne First Thousand Words in English)
• I love kids...I hate kids...I love kids...I hate kids
• Nepali people are so lovely but so frustrating
• How can I best bridge this particular communication gap?
• My God, it's a miracle, a soft bed (in Thamel!)
• How do I walk upstairs in a sari?!
• Nepal is so beautiful (driving out of Kathmandu Valley)
• Why can't I get the damn phones to work?!
• Please, stop asking me questions and give me some space (of course, I don't say this)
• Why oh why can't they put the rubbish in the bin? Don't they care about their gorgeous environment?
• I wish the little boy wouldn't pee in the river outside my window
• Is Dev psychic? (such as when I'm thinking I'm so tired of eating Dhaal Bhaat, and he says "Amrita, you are wondering why always Dhaal Bhaat?!")

White lies I have told: -

• I'm vegetarian (well, I used to be...and believe me, if you saw the meat shops where I'm staying you'd understand)
• I went to meet my friend (I didn't, I went by myself, because I wanted to!)
• I'm going to get married (well, possibly, I'd like to - but it's not just up to me is it?!)
• Yes, the food is all very nice (actually, I really don't particularly like curried jack fruit.Or eating bowls full of weird brown chick pea things. Or buffalo milk)
• I ate pasta (when I went to meet Julie in Thamel for some Western chitchat and food - actually, I ate steak, probably the best steak of my entire life - even better than at the Scotsman's Pack. But I'm clearly not going to say that in front of the Hindus!)
• I don't know how much is cost (when they ask me about money - I feel awkward)

Experiences I've had: -

• Conducting classes of 45 kids singing London Bridge is Falling Down after my (successful if I may say so) lesson on London using the postcards I brought with me
• Introducing 'the talking elephant' to younger students - I made up a game where the person with the elephant is the one speaking, and low and behold they all suddenly wanted to speak English!
• Attending a traditional Nepali wedding in Pokhara - dancing in front of 300 Nepalis, embarrassing!
• Finally seeing the Himalayas properly from Pokhara - the photos don't show the mountains that clearly but at least l got to take a picture with my mind, as they say
• Taking the kids on a trip to Dakshinkali, a temple dedicated to Kali, the fearful form of Lord Shiva's consort, Parvati. Playing Frisbee and dancing with the children among the trees
• Getting a fever and being given ginger tea by the kitchen staff to make it go away
• Singing Celine Dion's 'My Heart Will Go On with the kids (before you ask, it wasn't my choice!)


• Seeing the biggest spider of my entire life at Mahendra Cave
• Experiencing a so-called typhoon that blew my window off (perhaps I attract the winds - but it wasn't as bad as the Hurricane in Grenada, though some people lost their roofs etc)
• Going boating in a sari on Phewa Lake - an interesting experience!
• Being stared at. Everywhere.
• Staying in a rural house in the countryside, sleeping above the buffalos, eating millet cake and drinking buffalo milk

Questions I've been asked: -

• Miss, what is your caste? (frequently by the kids, who think it's odd that we don't divide society in this way)
• Are you married? (by almost everybody!)
• Why are you so white?! How do you make your skin so white?
• What's that in your ear (I'm so tired of this question)
• Which country do you like best, England or Nepal (requires a sitting on the fence and diplomatic answer!)
• What is your favourite colour, food etc?
• Do you like David Beckham, Avril Lavigne, cricket?!
• What cars do you like? What motorbikes do you like? (I am not the best person to answer these questions, but I muddle through!)

School comparisons for Amrita and Jamuna (Julie)

• My school is a little more forward thinking, encouraging the kids to converse. Whereas hers has a very backward way of teaching - learning by rote and just using the course book. One point to me!
• Julie's school is smaller and easier to manage. One point to her!
• Julie teaches class of minimum size 3 or 4 - maximum size 15. I teach classes of around 45. One point to her!
• Julie's sari and blouse are orange. Mine sounds nicer. One point to me!
• Julie gets to eat bread for breakfast. I get dhaal bhaat. One point to her!
• Neither of us have hot water. No points!
• We both have access to Western toilets. One point each!
• Julie has to share a bathroom with 3 families. I only share with a few teachers. One point to me!
• Julie gets to eat Tandori chicken and naan once a week. One point to her!
• Julie has a fridge and my school doesn't. One point to her!
• Julie gets to stay out late whereas I have a curfew and get bugged about where I'm going. Double points to her!
• I get to teach what I want and to encourage the kids to be creative. Julie is using rubbish coursebooks. One point to me!