Trekking, or, The Last Month in Pictures

Hello, all!

I'm back from 24 days of trekking, and it exceeded every possible expectation I could have had!  Man, what an immense experience.  The only variables of the the trekking equation are weather, health, and you.  Any feelings and behaviors that happen in such a situation are, therefore, only due to...you.  It was a great opportunity to get to know myself even better, and it was such a privilege to have the chance to do so.

I can't talk about trekking without thanking my uncle, Richard, for taking me and showing me a part of Nepal - and a part of his life - that I would never have seen otherwise.

Part I:  Khotang/Miles Levin Nepal Foundation

Part II:  To Namche Bazaar!

Part III:  The Kumbu...coming soon!

Back in Kathmandu!

Ahoy!

I'm back in Kathmandu after an incredible 24 days of trekking.  I'll update with LOTS of pictures really soon!

Operation: Khotang!

Namaste!

I've gotten way busier here of late, so there hasn't been as much free time for blogging.  My activities have included, but are not limited to:

• Teaching English and computers at CAP Nepal
• Fundraising at CAP Nepal
• Celebrated Holi, the  festival of colors
• Attending Momo Mania, a food event with over a dozen kinds of Nepali dumplings
• Participating in the International Women's Day All-Women Scooty Rally

Most of the activities actually center around the arrival of my Mama (maternal uncle in Nepali), Richard.  In the past couple of years, Richard has started the Miles Levin Nepal Foundation for Health and Education, an NGO that focuses on the Khotang district.  I've gotten to tag along with Richard and his NGO partner, Namgyal, to meetings all over town.  It's been quite an education in itself, and I'm excited to see the planning come to fruition once we get to Khotang tomorrow!  

Gayle and Richard at the Courtyard Hotel, Kathmandu

We'll spend two weeks working in the field, and the total trek time is 24 days.  Considering I've never been FOR REAL for real camping, my optimistic disposition could be short-lived.  I've got all of this nervous energy, now that the trek begins in just 13 hours.  

Can't wait to talk to everyone once I get back - wish me luck!

Saying "Yes," or, Heading to the Terai!

One great piece of advice that I received before leaving was from my friend, Maggie.  She told me to say yes to things as much as possible - accept people's offers, take that side trip, etc.  So when my boss, Hera, of 4 hours invited me to visit her maternal village in the Terai tomorrow, I tried "yes" on for size (after getting permission from Volunteer Nepal, of course.)

So tomorrow at 6:30am, I will leave for the southern forests of Nepal.  The Terai is vast and beautiful, and it is home to more Nepalis than any other region.  I will be out of Internet contact through Monday, though maybe earlier if I come back before Hera.

Day one of volunteering was wonderful and worthy of note, as well.  I will be teaching computer lessons and English to the young residents of CAP Nepal.  They were very excited during their first computer lesson today, and that makes me excited to teach them.  They speak very little English, so I think they were pretty confused at my apologetic face as I explained to them that most word processors are called Microsoft Word - not openoffice.org.  Language, culture, age - and now the shareware barrier?  Ah, well.  English and computer skills will hopefully aid them in having a healthy vocational future.

I will also assist in school educational programs about son preference, merely by telling Nepali teens what it is like growing up as a girl in the United States.  Though the Western world is far from having true gender equality, there is no legacy of son preference like there is in Asia.  In Nepali culture, son preference is mostly rooted in the Hindu tradition that only a son can perform the funeral rites for his parent.  Even though it is known that women are not biologically responsible for the gender of their children, it is the mother that takes the brunt of the abuse if she does not bear a son.  CAP Nepal aims to educate and counsel about son preference, and shelter those that are enter lives of exploitation due to it.

Shivapuri Peak, or, The Hemoglobin Punisher

All last week, my volunteer coordinator, Christina, had been asking around to see if anyone wanted to join her for a hike up Shivapuri - the second highest hill surrounding the Kathmandu Valley.  I tend to be down for whatever - possibly to a fault, on occasion - and responded with an enthusiastic 'yes!'

Ah, those were such happy, blessedly ignorant times...

Look at those smiles...they don't even know what's coming.  L to R:  me, Kaela, Tam, Hari

I'll spare you a florid narrative of how hard this hike was by just saying that it was DAMN HARD.  The change in altitude was especially punishing.  I kept going through the Rolodex of places I'd spent an extended period of time in my life and realizing they were all terribly, terribly flat and close to sea level.   Damn you, Southeastern Michigan!  Damn you, New York City!  Our hike leader, Hari, even went so far as to tell me that I needed to keep walking because the area we were in was infested with tigers.  That's how bad I was at this hike.  I tried hard to focus on the beauty all around me, but all I could think about was how much I needed to breathe through my nose and keep inching forward.

At a Shiva temple near the top, known for its Tiger's head shaped water tap

I had to keep reminding myself that today, as far as ascending tall peaks go, I am a baby.  Next week I'll be a little better at it, but why would I be any good at it my first time out?  I subdued my perfectionistic tendencies somewhat for the rest of the climb, and made it to the top with the rest of my group.

Gayle and Tam climbing to a lookout 

It was physical strain of the hike felt refreshing in a way that I like, whereas dealing with the (relatively minor) change in altitude was beyond humbling.  The greatest feeling will be to climb again and feel how much my body has adapted to its new environment.  Yesterday I was an altitude baby, but there is always Day One of everything.  I find that these first days get harder and harder as I get older, and I'm trying to embrace them as the opportunities for learning that they are.  I so look forward to all of the physical and personal growth that I have yet to experience in Nepal.

The rewards of all the effort?  Simply breathtaking.

Happy Shivaratri!

Today is Lord Shiva's birthday, or Shivaratri!

I didn't make it down to the Shiva temple or parade today, but I got to watch my first puja at one of the girls' homes tonight.  I'll update more soon from about my prospective volunteer placement and new experiences in Dhapasi!  

Mero nahm Gayle ho, or, Kathmandu adventures

In Peace Corps training, they advise you not to blog when you're not having a good time.  Using that advice, I neglected to update yesterday's first emotional maelstrom - though some of you caught it via email, gchat, or facebook messages.  Big ups to all my friends and family who are supporting the shit out of me over here, and specifically to Abe (always), Maggie, Daniel, Jared, and Justine in the past 48 hours.

I'm feeling settled in more and more, and more acclimated to my surroundings.  Buddha and Geeta have made everything easy and comfortable.  Notably, I was actually extremely comforted after reading the orientation schedule for my volunteer organization, Volunteer Nepal.  The structure, the semblance of purpose - THIS is what I'm doing in Nepal!  I am here for four months to accomplish goals x, y, and z and will see results!

The internal pressure to make everything purposeful and organized is totally a main reason I decided to come to Nepal; I wanted to eliminate those urges.  From my rudimentary understanding of life in Nepal, things aren't so organized.  More often than not, you get there when you get there.  After feeling all of these neurotic instincts bubble up, I realize that I don't know what I'm going to get out of this time here and that that's okay.  Just being here is the thing.  Just being is the thing.  I'm actively pursuing becoming comfortable in a structureless situation...which might be a total Catch-22.  Let's find out!

Tonight I'm going to a party at Buddha's uncle's house!  It feels nice to have something to do in the evenings - not because of the whole structure bit, but I feel like a total dork who doesn't know what's going on or have anything to do.  I reorganized my pack and cleaned my room and did some washing today.  For anyone that knows me well, this means I really, really need to get out.

I haven't been taking many pictures yet because I don't want to be rude, but I'd recommend image searching Thamel or Maharajgunj if you want to see where I've been hanging out.

Namaste!