The "river"

It was later in the afternoon when I decided to go to the store. As I left I noticed that the sky was gray and hoped that it would rain after I finished my shopping. I was not but a few feet from the store when the drops started to fall and I quickly stepped into the safety of the “western” store. I took my time shopping but knew that it was not possible to wait out the rain…I was going to have to journey home.

With my newly purchased umbrella in one hand and my groceries in the other I entered the down poor that is so common during monsoon season. The first 10 minutes were not so bad until I started down the road to my house. What had once been a road now looked more like a river.

At first the stores that lined the road provided steps allowing me to stay out of the "river". Not sure where to step I decided follow a local woman and her child…where she stepped I stepped that is until the steps ran out. The Woman looked at me, we both smiled through our grimace and headed out into the river.

My pant legs were rolled up but the further I walked the higher the water seemed. As I trudged through this river with the mornings garbage flowing underneath I passed others stuck in this predicament. Usually I am stared at as a foreigner or tourist but at this moment we seem to have some sense commonality. The looks that we gave eat other was that of “we are both stuck in this mess and are just trying to get home”. There was a distinct feeling of solidarity.

Although I hope to never have to dredge through this “river” again I do hope to have that feeling of commonality. This is my neighborhood and I so desperately want to have relationships and friendly greetings with the people in it.



I was not able to take a picture of the river because my hands were full but here is a picture of the path I take to get to the main road.

first thoughts on my new home

In my friend Andrea’s blog (http://andreainkc.blogspot.com) she encouraged me to take in the moment when I finally enter into Nepal. Heading her advice I tried to take it in…here are my thoughts

The first thing that hit me and penetrated my memory was the smell. In my mind I thought “yes, this is what it smelled like and nothing in the states ever rivaled it” I was not so much bad as it was distinct.

As one walks out of the gate it looks chaotic with Nepalies pushed up against the security gate waiting for their loved ones to walk out. Thankfully I could imediatly spot my friends face for he was about a foot taller and white.

As we speed along in the over priced cab it seemed so dark reminding me that there are no street lights.

I was also reminded that there are traffic jams, which I could not for the life of me make out why there is a jam and piles of garbage at the end of the street

Thanks to rainy season the streets are pure mud. This mud is thick and nasty.
After the taxi from the airport dropped me off he managed to become stuck. My new friends and I headed down to the taxi and spent 20 minutes rocking, pushing and finally lifting it out of the mud. I must say it was a great way to initate me back into Nepal.

Goodbyes

(I wrote this on 7/12/08 and am just now getting around to posting it)


“I’ve always said that you don’t have to be crazy to be apart of this family but it sure does help.” – Grandpa

I hate saying goobye…especially to my family. If you have not met them you’ve missed out. Like Grandpa said they are all a little bit crazy but truly amazing and I love them. I know I will see them all again it’s just that I’m a little bit selfish and I’m sad that I’m going to miss out on the day to day changes that time brings. Pregnancies, weddings, new jobs, new friends, new loves, and losses are just a few of the things that time viciously takes away BUT as sad as that all sounds…it’s life.

ALL of my friends and family are supportive of this new journey I’m on. They know that I can’t stay here and do the 9-5 in the burbs. I pray that they come and visit me but in the mean time we will have to stay in touch through e-mail, Skype, and…you guessed, bloggs.

i...

i am: natural blond

i think: most people have no idea what is going on inside my head
i know: how to change a tire
i want: to know God more intimately 

i have: a plethora of t-shirts
i wish: growing up did not mean so much would change

i despise: those who tell me I can’t do something

i miss: always having messages on my answering machine
i feel: that someday the rhythm is gonna get me
i hear: a Gate Called Beautiful playing on my i-tunes
i smell: coconut lime verbena 

i crave: Muchas Gracia’s Mexican food and rice crispy treats 

i search: for a bargain 

i wonder: what the future holds
i regret: not being bolder
i love: time spent with friends

i ache: for adventure
i care: about the small things that effect my friends in big ways
i usually: drive too fast

i am not: the girl you take home to momma
i believe: a good laugh can heal the soul
i dance: when no one is looking
i sing: loudest in the car 

i cry: when my guard is down
i don't always: understand what is going on 

i write: to sort out my thoughts
i win: when I try hard

i never: read lips
i listen: best when the TV is off
i can usually be found: eating
 or taking a nap
i am scared: of missing out because I was too guarded