One thing I have noticed...

Please do not plan a trip to Kathmandu if you are the type of person that can't live without: heels, gold chains, fresh brownies, starbucks, quiet strolls at night, hot showers, shaving, washing clothes on a regular basis or high speed internet. These luxuries just don't exist here!

I have come to the conclusion that I am pretty much always going to smell a little bit here and I am okay with that. And you know what? Everyone else smells and wears the same clothes for 5 days straight, so its all good. You definitely come in better contact with your 'hippie' side, which I love. :)

I have taken a cold shower every day since I have been here. Its sort of refreshing after sweating all day long, even in my sleep. You kind of always have that 'Nepali glow': a thin layer of sweat, dust, dirt that makes your skin 'glisten'. :) Some may be reading this and go 'ewww', but it helps you fit in for sure.

This morning I had a mega shower. I washed with nepalese soap, which kind of smells a bit so then I layered my own body wash, and then topped it off with a wet wipe. I feel like a new woman! ( I hope that wasn't tmi)

I also went for a jog this morning. I could not sleep and have been up since 4 a.m., so I decided I would venture off for some exercise. I kind of felt like that Nike commercial when the little boy is running through the city... you know that one? I was decked out in Nike, only because that is all I have. (Thanks US soccer!) I ran through the muddy streets, dodging trash piles, people, rocks, holes, and oh yeah a COW. There was definitely a cow walking along the street. It was priceless and a bit scary all at the same time. People stared at me a bit, but most just kept walking, ignoring my presence. One of the most interesting runs I have had in a while.

Off to orientation. Everyone is so excited to begin our training and venture off to the training village on Sunday. That is when these posts may begin to get less frequent.

Lessons from Nepal:
1) Only come here if you are okay with a little mudd in between your toes- this is inevitable.
2) Fresh breads and baked goods are pretty much impossible to find.
3) Pashmina is a very popular item to buy here.... anyone need any?

Hugs from across the World,
J

Mike's Restaurant- American Style

This morning we all woke up a little 'sleepy' due to last night's shenanigans. We first went to Durbar Square to have dinner. Unfortunately, it was raining (duh, its monsoon season!) and dark (black out) so I don't think we got a true sense of what Durbar Square is all about. We all said we would definitely go back, but most likely during the day. (This is kathmandu durbar square, one of three durbar square's in the area). We hear the shopping is great :)
I ordered a traditional Nepali dish as my meal and split it with Latissa (fun, French girl) along with veg momo's. Dipen met us out as well and showed us around.
The best part was that we could not finish our beer in time before closing so they allowed us to leave with the bottles in a paper bag! I do love Nepal!

A little buzzed, we left the "Alina's Bakery" (funny name, it was not a bakery) and traveled north to Thamel. We passed some interesting spots- I guess they are technically Nepali strip clubs (entitled "Red Lips Dance Bar"). We joked about taking our naive friend Dipen in there, but decided against that idea, thankfully. We started to hear American music being played by a live band! Summer of 69! Brown Eyed girl! Needing to feel a sense of home, we ventured to this spot. And what a sight to be seen.... A very mixed crowd, some eating, most drinking, and all smoking the houka. Sold! We found pillows to sit (after taking our shoes off, of course) and immediately continued our party. We ordered Sam Miguel and mango houka for 'dessert'. Needless to say, our 12:30 a.m. arrival back to Hotel Tradition definitely put a damper on our chipper morning. All very well worth it.

Hungry and tired, we decided to eat breakfast at a very nearby cafe called Via Via. It sits in a 100 year old building up a few narrow wooden stairways. Very eclectic. We sat at a table near an open window where we could see the into the apartments across from us and down to the busy street. We hung out, discussed our vague memories of the night before, laughed out loud about them, and discovered some fabulous authentic sweet Nepali tea. (Not as good as Uzie's, though)

Latissa and Trent decided they needed to nap. Christie and I said we could sleep when we are dead. (Makes me think of Lisa). We had plenty of exploring to do! Kristie finally met my saathi (friend) Bigyan at his bank. He was so generous and took about 4 hours off of work to take us to the famous American restaurant Mike's. He even paid for our cab ride (because he knew a cab driver would inflate his prices for us Americans. Bigyan was so patient, answered all our questions, and offered some very useful advice over his first order of Bruschetta. He would not even let us pay for our meal, and we promised to have another to let us repay the favor. Of course, it started to rain. Typical! We moved inside and watched the sidewalk fill with water. While we waited for it to die down, we ordered tea (a typical nepali move at 3pm) Apparently, the rain water is dangerous because of all the pollution here. What would we do without Bigyan? Mike's was started by an ex-Peace Corp volunteer. All the veggies and fruits are washed in iodized water. So I actually ordered a tofu, bean salad! Light and fresh. I am glad we made it to this known tourist stop.

We walked back to his work and on the way I bought my first Kutra. I hope I spell that right. Its a traditional Nepali shirt that woman wear over jeans or pants. Very pretty. Bigyan took me to an ATM and showed Kristie where she can find chocolate! It was a very nice afternoon.

Tonight, we have our volunteer reunion dinner where the old and new volunteers meet. Our first day of orientation starts tomorrow and we will have the afternoon to perhaps go to Durbar Square of Patan- south of the city.

Lessons from Nepal:
1) When crossing the street, walk with a good purpose- the drivers respond better to persistence from pedestrians. They don't get as confused!
2) The rain is polluted! Stay out of it as much as possible.
3) Don't take cabs! They will rip you off if you are not with a Nepali.

Shuva Din! (have a good day!)
Jessi

Swayambhunath = Spirit

The 40 minute trek to this special Buddist Temple (Gumbha) was more than worth it. Uzie was generous enough to walk us up the mountain to the top where this spiritual place sits. Uzie and her family take this walk twice a week, which is quite amazing due to its intensity. The view was magnificent and words cannot describe it. We walked through a small town much quieter and quaint than what we are used to in Thamel. It was a nice breath of fresh air to visualize a different aspect of Kathmandu. At the beginning of our climb, for a split second I thought I was walking up the Great Wall of China because of the steepness and amount of steps. We were very sweaty when we reached the top, but no one cared. From the viewing area, we could see well into the Kathmandu Valley and the pictures will prove its beauty. We walked through the gumbha, clockwise of course, and saw the Tibetan original writings and even a group of monks completing their prayers. Breathtaking. I have a deep respect for the Buddhists and what they believe. I will leave you with this, one of the most beautiful statements I have ever read.

"The way to happiness is to keep you heart free from hate, your mind from worry. Live simply, give much. Fill your life with love. Do as you would be done by."
Buddha speaks brillantly.

PS- we are beginning to learn more Nepali! I can say Thank you, good morning, please, and little phrases here and there. I can't wait to practice and learn more!
More to come. Today we are a little sleepy after a long, fun night. We began to explore KTM night life, including the houka!

Lessons from Nepal:
1) The roads are muddy! Be prepared to have dirty feet and shoes 24/7.
2) Nepali people love teaching you- so be interested when you are here! You will be suprised on how much you can learn from the natives.
3) When you speak the language (even if you know only a little) the chances of you getting 'scammed' are far less- so use your cheat sheet!

We learn more and more each day so I will keep you posted!
Much Love,
Jessi

Thamel- The Tourist Mecca

First let me apologize for the lack of visual aides up to this point. I have tried numerous times, with two different cables, to upload pictures onto my blog. I will need to make a friend in order to get these up and running. Try to be patient with me!
Thamel is a beautiful place. Although a bit polluted, I haven't really noticed. And yes, I am definitely 'that tourist' with my camera in hand at all times, taking pictures of the seemingly meaningless things. The sign of our breakfast place, a building I have no idea what it is, but thinks is cool, my computer station, random shops along the streets, etc. I just don't want to forget ANYTHING about this amazing land.

My yesterday was filled with a day for Jessi. After two benadryls to help me fall asleep due to the Nepali 'Club' blasting music outside my window till 2 a.m., I slept for 11 hours. What a wonderful way to help recover from a crappy nap on the plane. :)

I spent most of the day alone, because my fellow American volunteer, Kristie, got delayed in Qatar. So, our morning date got pushed back to a dinner date. Probably a blessing in disguise because I could do what I wanted for most of the day. I ate a cheese sandwich for 50 rupees (no veggies- we cannot eat fresh veggies if we do not know were 100% washed in safe water) from a hole in the wall shop called 'Pik Wik'. That is also where I bought my first cup of coffee for 15 rupees (about 5 cents) Don't worry, I have a picture of the store and the boy working the counter. Then, I walked through Thamel continuing to soak it in and not really having a plan. Sometimes, that is the best way to do things. I did come across a child beggar. Those who know me well, know that I am a bit naive and trustworthy- almost to a fault. I had heard warnings about this happening in KTM. He looked pitiful and anything but sweet. He kept grabbing my hand, would not let go, and followed me for literally 5 minutes. Finally, frustrated, heart broken, confused, I went to a nearby restaurant and bought him a loaf of bread. The right thing to do? I have no idea. He seemed anything but satisfyed, probably because a loaf of fresh bread is harder to resell than a package of biscuits. Good lesson learned- do not even make eye contact and maybe I need to be a little more forceful.

For any little negative thing that ocurrs here, there are 10 positives. I passed the girl who works at our hotel, not more than 20 years old, named "Uzie". Her real name has a lot more letters, but I like to shorten names to one or two syllabals. They like my American nicknames. (Razam is 'Raz", Dipen is "D".) Uzie invited me to her house. Her father, a business man living in Singapore, was in town for a short time. That meant her whole family was there at the house hanging out. I followed Uzie to a HUGE house that looked antique. She explained her uncle lived on the first floor, she lived on the second, and her brother lived next door. Pretty amazing. Uzie brought me tea and we sat in her bedroom with her brother and brother in law. They were all so welcoming. I took pictures of the family and they were impressed with digital cameras. I did not understand what they were saying but Uzie explained they kept repeating 'Bring her every day- we will cook for her and show her Nepali way of life'. Could I have asked for anything more? Uzie has impressed me so. She is taking me to a nearby Temple on a hill this afternoon. I can hardly wait to visit.

There is much more, but time is running out. I apologize in advance for all you grammar people out there. Don't judge too much. :)

Lessons from Nepal today:

1) Blackouts ocurr on a scheduled basis in certain parts of the town- make sure you know where the candles are.
2) Be weary of child beggars- a nice gesture may not be enough.
3) Bargaining can actually be fun, not intimidating- always start with at least half of the initial price.
4) Kathmandu also has a park! I just thought that was neat.

More to come. I plan on taking Max's advice and venture outside the city a little bit. Hopefully Uzie can help me with that.
Hugs from Nepal!
Jessi

Kathmandu- Initial Thoughts

Namaste! Greetings from Nepal! I arrived safe and sound after a marathon flight (13.5 hours) to Abu Dhabi and then another 6 hr (I think, I was sleeping the whole time) to Kathmandu. Once I arrived in the airport, accessing a visa was a bit of a challenge, unexpectedly. The visa price went up an astounishing $70 USD (from $30). So I did not plan for that and had to purchase a 30 day visa instead of a 60 day and will have to renew my visa at some point. Then, the airport is so crowded when you exit- Nepali taxi drivers are bombarding you with requests to carry your luggage. I knew I was waiting for a VSN (my volunteer group) driver and he would have a sign with my name on it and sure enough he did. He called me "Jeshni Prahl" and I thought that was cute.

The drive to my hotel: OMG, I saw my life flash before my eyes a few times. The roads in Kathmandu are crazy! Maybe not as crazy as some would say Bangkok is, but definitely more so than what I am used to. First of all, everyone seems to walk or ride their bikes in Kathmandu. They use leaded (not unleaded) gas here, so pollution is a bit of a problem. It is not uncommon to see pedestrians with their sari's or a napkin over their mouth while walking. My driver honked 10 times more than my Boston-native boyfriend Max does, and quite frankly that was shocking :) (No offense honey) I mean, the roads are so small and crowded and the few drivers around are definitely on a mission!

I am staying at Hotel Tradition, a hotel right next to Thamel, the touristy part of Kathmandu. Its an adequate place to call home for now.
Other things I have learned about Nepal:
1) AC does not exist! (I think the volunteers have seen one restaurant with AC, only in a small area of the place.)
2) Leaded gas fuels them.
3) Its common to see Nepali men hold hands while walking down the street- I think its cute.
4) The people are generally nice. A college student I bought a skirt from yesterday taught me a few words in Nepali.
5) People in Nepal know who my fave Colbie Calliat is and play her music on the street at night!

I know I will learn more- like where to find my first cup of coffee! (Mom, I need you here! lol).
PS- if you read this with no pictures, stay tuned. I have to figure out my computer situation and why I cant upload pics...
Until my next opportunity to access the internet for 15 rupees (about 20 cents or less)/hour....

First Stop- New York

I flew to New York (specifically, Islip and Bohemia) first to visit my Aunt Barbara (dad's sister) and my Mema (Dad's Mom). My Mema brightens my life with her genuine sense of the world and somewhat innocent perception of it all. She shows her age by repeating her statements and questions and by making us repeat ours because she is losing her hearing slowly but surely. Other than that, she does not at all seem like the almost 89 year old woman that she is. My Mema is cool because she sports Nike sneakers that are bright white. I love it. How awesome is that? (See picture above). She has so much love to give and I love that quality about her!

My Aunt Barbara has been amazing and is treating me like a Queen. I feel a connection with her like no other and that is always a neat thing.

Off to the airport bright and early tomorrow. I fly on Eithad Airways and if their website paints an accurate picture of the type of plane I will be on for 15 hours, then I will be a happy girl. How do you say 'posh' in Nepalese? I just pray I make my connecting flight and that my baggage meets me in Kathmandu on 7/28/08.

Hugs!

Almost there...

In less than one week, I will be in a foreign country for the first time in my life. I grew up in Peachtree City, a.k.a. the 'bubble'. We never locked our car doors, or our front house door at night. I could ride my bike throughout the entire town and my Mom would never worry, as long as was home by the time the street lights came on. This lifestyle caused me to grow up somewhat naive and inexperienced about life. Nothing 'bad' ever happened in my hometown that had a profound or negative affect on me. My life in general was fabulous. I come from a family who never made me feel incapable and always made me feel completely adequate. We were rich. Not in material things necessarily, but in those intangible things that some may call 'love, spirit, laughter, compassion, connection, unconditional support, hugs'. I consider myself more than lucky.

In the next few days, I will be throwing myself into an environment that will challenge me and my perception. It will cause me to think. This land called Nepal is not going to be all that 'peachy'. I may see things that cause me to feel sick inside and I understand that. I may not be as mentally prepared as I need to be, yet I cannot wait to see the opportunity for change. I cannot wait for the opportunity to put my passion into action and try to make a difference, big or small. This is my chance of a lifetime, and I could not feel more magical.

I have found out a little more detail.... I will arrive in Kathmandu after only one stop in Abu Dhabi on July 28th at 4 pm. There will be a GVN staff member there to pick me up- thank God! I will have until August 1 to travel around the city and do the 'tourist' thing, hopefully with other volunteers. I will be staying in a Hotel that costs 400 rupees per night (That is only about $8!!) during my entire time in Kathmandu. I start my orientation and training on August 1 and that will last for 5 days. Then, the other volunteers and I will take a bus to our designated villages to begin our life there. I am staying with a host family that will provide me with more than authentic cultural experience. I will have one day off per week, where I will travel back to the city for a hot shower and the internet :). My work will be teaching health education to children living in an orphanage (Although in Nepal, orphanages are referred to as Children's Homes). I will be teaching them proper sanitation methods and providing health checks in order to help prevent disease and sickness. Children and health? Could not be a more perfect option for me! Please stay tuned for more and more updates. :)

World Clock!

Hello! Use this link to see what time it is in Nepal (Kathmandu) and Tokyo.

Very useful link!

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/

Life Before Nepal

My Fellowship has ended, I currently have no job, and I still find myself as busy as ever. Most of this time consists of organizing my room in bits and pieces (getting ready to move out soon), going down my extensive to-do list pre-Nepal, taking noon spin classes and playing with the most beautiful kids I know. This picture is of me and Naomi. She is 3 years old and belongs to Katie and Adam- two of the nicest people ever and two of my greatest friends. Naomi (Dee-Dee) is one of 4 children ranging in age 4 months to 4.5 years. They make me happy and always help remind me of what is important in life: the simple things! They take me to a place that grounds me- a place that caters to playing dress-up, doing 'cannonballs' in the pool, kissing baby brother, and pretending to be astronauts under a tent in the living room. Can't you tell why I am thankful for these children??

These next few weeks will fly by, I know. I am currently in the process of developing and implementing some fundraising ideas for the trip and going down my list for packing. I also have little trips here and there that I am sure will be posted. :)