Strange Days

When applying to move over seas I had to take this crazy long mental test. I then had to go over the results with a counselor. One of the questions on the test was "Strange things happen to me." I answered TRUE. The counselor was concerned with this answer so he questioned me...

Counselor "Do you feel that strange things happen to you all the time?"

Me: "No, not all the time"

Counselor: "Well, what sort of strange things happen to you?"

Me: "At the moment I can't think of anything specific but I work at a nursing home and I lived in South Asia."

Counselor: "maybe if you gave me an example I could better understand."

Me: baffeled as to why he could not understand I said "today Clarence, who is 101 years old, came into my office and told me a story about how while he was walking in the forest he saw a naked woman singing to him. He was wondering if I had seen her and why she was naked." I then went on to tell him a few strange moments that happened to me while living in Bangladesh.

These stories seemed to appease him but I could tell that he was still not happy with my TRUE answer.

If I were to run into that counselor I would tell him about the past couple of days....

Day 1

I hit a frog with my bathroom door. The frog lost a leg in this mishap and then proceeded to bleed all over the floor. After some debate as to wether I should euthanize it I decided to put it outside and hope a natural predator would take it out of it's misery.

Day2

While driving my scooter a man next to me decided to spit thereby covering me in his mucus. Thankfully my visor was down but still...YUCK

Day3

while walking home in the dark I could hear someone following me. As my foot steps quickened so did the persons behind me. I turned to see who it was and let me guard  down when I saw that it was a Buddhist monk. As I turned and started walking again the monk ran to me and grabbed me. I proceeded to hit him and started yelling "thief thief"(a word used for bad people in general). This worked, he started to run away. My fear quickly turned to anger causing me to run after him. I kept yelling in hopes that someone would come out of their house. When I ran out of Nepali words I  then started yelling in english "DID BUDDHA TEACH YOU THAT....RUN COWARD". By the time I reached my house he was long gone.

There are times when I am tired of the "strange" and wish for normal and easy. That however is not my life nor do I suspect is anyones. During these times I just have to remember who it is that brought me over here to Nepal.

Mom and Dad take on Nepal

The first time I lived in South Asia was back in 2003-2004. Ever since that time I have longed for my family to experience South Asia. When my parents found out that I would be moving to Nepal again they started saving with the promise to come and visit. These past two weeks Mom and Dad made good on their promise.

This was their first time over seas and they were real troopers. They were up for just about anything. They ate everything set in front of them and followed me into new and very different places. They walked the streets I walk every day and experienced the sights, sounds, and smells that are apart of my life.

I know that there were times when their senses were overwhelmed and the newness of it all left them speechless. It would be safe to say that they will be forever changed by their two weeks here in Nepal.

I must admit that they tired me out. I so badly wanted them to experience as much as possible but at the same time I wanted to protect them. I was certain that Mom would fall in a hole and Dad would get lost but, they came through physically unscathed.

 Nepal has been apart of me from the moment I stepped off the plane. Now, that they know Nepal they in turn know my heart a little better.

They have seen and experienced the extreme lostness that surrounds me daily.

They have met the people that I love and during the hard days remind me why I am here.

They have seen the beauty of the majestic Himalayas and have witnessed the dirty streets of the city.

They have looked into the eyes of beggars and have been recipients of Sherpa generosity.

They watched as the lost walked in circles in hope of salvation and sang and clapped as believers praised the One True God.

As my parents fly back to the states I know it will take some time for them to truly process all that they have seen. Those who are friends of my parents will be hearing stories of their time here. As I write I am reminded of a song called "Albertine" by Brooke Fraser. The words of her song are my wish for my parents. (I hope Brook does not mind but I would like to use her lyrics with one small change)

"now that I have seen, I am responsible

Faith without deeds is dead

I am on a plane across a distant sea

But I carry you in me

and the dust on my feet

I will tell the world, I will tell them where I've been

I will keep my word

I will tell them Nepal"

Mom and Dad, my friends are already asking when you will be coming back again.