After an exciting weekend of rafting on the Bhote Kosi, it was only fitting to ensure the next weekend be filled with new adventure as well. So, on Friday morning we ventured out at 6am to head to Khevre, a village off of the main road at Palanchok. We went with the manager of one of the other placements to her family’s home. Upon arrival, we were greeted by an entire village. Most were smiling and many intrigued. We got a tour of the village, and Cathy handed out dolls and toys to some of children, which caused a lot of excitement.

I may have misunderstood, but it sounds like that village has only ever had a handful of foreigners visit. And the children were enthralled with us, our cameras, and our inability to speak Nepalese. We all smiled and giggled a lot.

After being dressed in Saris, and fed wonderful food, we went to sleep in a beautiful and exceptionally clean, three storey mud home, where we were treated as best as any royalty would.

In the morning I woke up with a typical Nepal stomach ache (one that most foreigners cannot avoid during their travels here). Which is not that much fun with squatter toilets, and no running water. We helped carry up water from the tap to the house, which caused a little fuss, as 10 houses must share 1 tap, which only has running water until 9am (the start time I am unsure of). But, that is not a lot of water per person when there are an extra 8 guests in one house.
We waited under a Pipple tree, (a sacred tree of Nepal that cannot be cut down) for a bus that never came. Eventually a truck was leaving the village, and we were able to catch a ride with about 20 other people.

Once back at Palanchok, we again waited for a bus, and although one came, it was apparently not the best one, as I was the only one that got on it, but I managed to get off before it reached full speed, with only a little bounce off the pavement J The next bus was also full, and instead some of us had to find seats on the top, which was quite a ride, and provided us with the freshest and coolest air since our arrival. And of course, we all arrived safely home to Patan once again. And back to school….

Marie and I went to another elder care facility that opened our eyes once again to the necessities of Nepali life, and the need for shelter, food, and water. We worked out the amount of water that each person has in that facility and it is approximately 3L each / day for washing, drinking, cooking, cleaning… everything. There will be a better update on the school adventures on our next blog posting on the globalnursingnepal.blogspot.com page in a week or so.

The rains have arrived which offers both reprieve to some and issues to others. The water has no where to go in some areas, and with it dried up sewage, garbage, and mud. Contaminating more areas than the dust does in the dry season. The roads run like rivers, and some of the rivers here are no more than waste. But it means that the crops, gardens and water wells will eventually be replenished, and the thunderstorms are quite a site to someone from Vancouver Island.

Oh, and the rain keeps the dogs quiet at night……. Lovely.

The shopping here is something I cannot get enough of, and fear the need to buy another suitcase. There are so many beautiful and unique things here, that I could not begin to afford at home. Although my Nepali is not getting much better, I am able to understand more of what is being said through gestures and such, and am able to understand the English being spoke by Nepalese people better than before.

I would like to once again thank a few of the dentists in Qualicum Beach for their toothbrush and toothpaste donations. All of them have been given out between two different elder care facilities. I am quite impressed by the overall dental health in Nepal, and many people seem to have such white teeth. Everyone has been very pleased to receive the toothbrushes:) And a thanks to the soccer ball donations, all three have also been greatly appreciated by the children that have received them.

I have been trying to add pictures for a while but without any luck... So it will have to wait

till next time
-Jodi