favorite things

My favorite past time is to spend time with friends. Ideally it would be in a coffee shop or restaurant with our only agenda being to sit and talk. My trip home granted me this pleasure in abundance.  I can’t even begin to explain how this sort of thing fills me up and encourages me.

My friends and family have all gone through so many changes over the past year and a half. Being in Nepal often makes me not feel only physically far away but “spiritually” far away …I just feel a little disconnected. Thanks to my little vacation I was able to reconnect.

I was granted in abundance time and conversation with friends. I ate plenty, laughed heartily, and basked in the warm comforting sun that is friendship.

Thank you friends and family for the time you spent with me

Thank you to those friends who drove a long way to come and hang out with me

Thank you church for paying for me to come home.

My three weeks in America were AMAZING! When I came to the states I was feeling tired and a little worn out. I left the states feeling rejuvenated and ready to take on the second half of my time here in Nepal.

Here are a few of the highlights ....

Spending time with my Portland family.

Bunco at Beth's

Quality time with my FAMILY

Catching up with old college friends

Karaoke in Portland

back in America

I'm back in America for three weeks!!! My amazing church in Portland  gave me a gift that allowed me to fly home to celebrate the holidays with my family. The day that I flew home was looooong and a little bit crazy. Here are a few of my thoughts that I wrote down when hanging out in the LA airport.

*As the wheels hit the LA runway I could not help but smile. I was now on American soil.

*Stood in line with a man wearing camoflouge and a CHEVROLET camo hat.

*After being grilled on wether or not I brought yak poo or meat into the country I was then given a "welcome home"...love that

*I love that all the announcments in the airport were in english. It almost seemed too easy finding my luggage carosel.

*Although I managed to find my way to the United connection there were a few moments of confusion, getting off at the wrong stop, and trying to go in the wrong line.

*It is nice to know that a smile and a thank you still goes a long way in the states.

*So thankfull that there is a Starbucks at my terminal as I wait to go to Portland.

*When asked if I wanted whip-cream on my drink my waist line made me hessisitate for a secconed before saying YES with a big grin.

*Starbucks is playing Christmas music and has Christas decorations...I luvs it.

*While searching out a toilet I walked into the middle of a airport security trying to subdue a drunk man. Everyone around was keeping a safe distance, almost creating a sort of bubble that blocked me from getting to the bathroom. Security did not try to stop me so I kept on walking through the "safe bubble"...I mean, I just came from Nepal, one drunk and dissorderly American is nothing!

*although Portland was FREEZING the welcome home hugs were warm.

Thanksgiving 2009

I have always been a fan of the holiday season. I love the way Thanksgiving kicks off the season's festivities and brings anticipation for things to come. Thanksgiving is uniquily American. Those poor pilgrims back in the day took time to recognize that God had truly provided for them. God allowed them to survive and eventually prosper in a place that was far from "home."

With that in mind how fitting that I should celebrate Thanksgiving with American friends here in this foreing land far from home. Although I love spending the holidays with my family I truly believe that I have been given the unique opportunity to celebrate the "important days"over seas.

You see, we try our very hardest to make the holidays special. We search high and low for the one turkey in town and I won't even flinch when asked to pay a ridiculous amount for things such as turkey, ham,or cheese...but we do it because we want the day to be special.

Thanksgiving Eve was celebrated by going to the grand opening of Pizza Hut. How better to celebrate being a blessed American than with an American style pepperoni pizza. When my friends and I arrived at the new Pizza Hut (first major chain to come to Nepal) we were giddy. Seriously, you could not slap the smiles off our faces if you had tired. Money was not an issue, all that we cared about was the pizza. We ordered appatizers, sodas, and pizzas as if it was our last meal. Needless to say we went home stuffed and happy.

Thanksgiving day was orginaly supposed to be hosted at my neighbors apartment. Thanks to a case of typhoid fever my poor neighbors were in no condition to host. So, with a few last minute phone calls and e-mails it was decided that I would host Thanksgiving mostly impart to my apartment's big yard not my culinary skills.

My friend Kristin came early to help me set up and before I new it about 30 American friends decended on my house. There was food galore and an all around good time was had. We had some singing, football, and just good fun.

Everyone was just plain happy. Happy to be with friends, happy to eat good food, and happy to acknowledge how God has provided for us in this foreign land.

Have I said yet that it was a great Thanksgiving?

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.

good byes

God has blessed me with some amazing friendships here in Nepal. It sort of feels like I have two sets of friends. I have Nepali friends and "foreigner" friends. My Nepali friends live in my neighborhood. I see them on a regular basis and I usually I get to know their friends and family.

My foreigner friends are in the same boat as I am...i.e.. a foreigner trying to make Nepal home.  Some of them are here for a limited time only and some are in it for the long haul. For me, this past year in Nepal has truly been blessed by these "foreign" friends. We have church together and eat beef at each others homes. We can let our guard down and share our struggles of being a foreigner in this land. We encourage each other and help one another navigate through this journey. It is a sure bet that we will be together for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Birthdays and other major events.

Although this past year has brought me some amazing friends, unfortunately I have had to say goodbye to four of them.

I knew the goodbyes were coming. There were no surprises but I was sad to see them go. What their future holds is a mystery but I do know that God is going to do some great things in their lives.

Amanda was my roommate for six months. We weathered the dark/ cold winter together. We sang, danced and laughed a lot. God truly brought her into my life at just the right time. I miss working with her.

Jenn was a kindred spirit from the beginning. The minute I met her I knew we would be friends. God's call on her life is amazing and I know that He has big plans for her in the states. I miss her stories and laugh

Matt was the little brother I had always wished for. There were plenty of moments  when Matt got me out of a jam or two. I loved watching God work in his life and watching him grow.

Betsy is a young woman to be admired. Although she makes a quite first impression she is far from shy. Her drive blows me away. I can't imagine that she will be away form this side of the world for very long.

It is tradition with our group to see one another off at the airport providing one last hug and goodbye before going through the Kathmandu security.

God continues to bring people in and out of my life. I am always changed and bettered by the friendships that He blesses me with.

Although this blog may sound a little sad I don't write with a sad heart but rather I write with a heart of gratefulness.

I could go on and on about these friends...but I will spare you. Who knows, maybe one day they will come across your path.

Kathmandu 5k

The last time I ran a 5k was in college. The night before the 5k I busted my nose playing ultimate Frisbee in the middle of the night. The morning of the 5k I dawned a baseball cap in hopes of covering up my swollen nose and black eyes...fast forward 7yrs...

We were all surprised to hear that Kathmandu actually had a an "annual" 5k. A few of my friends decided it would be a fun experience and I agreed. The day before the 5k I wrecked my scooter providing some nice road rash on the left side of my body. I was however still determined to run the 5k so the morning of the race I bandaged up my wounds, took 2 extra strength tylenol and headed out.

The race started at the national stadium. The participants were an interesting mix of Nepalese and foreigners. For the 5k event my friends and I were the only foreign women running. Everyone was excited thus making the 5am wake up call much more bearable.

Kristin was a 5k virgin and had surfed the web the night before to get running tips and make a runners play list for her i-Pod.

Summer had run a 5k before but came a little over prepared. We all had a good laugh as she pinned a map of the race to her shirt just incase she, the one white woman amongst 500 Nepali runners, got lost.

Carol was there for the same reason I was...the experience and because everyone else was doing it.

When the race started it was crazy to be running down the blocked off streets that were usually packed with busses, cars, motorcycles, and bikes. At times you had to run around cows, mysterious puddles, and garbage piles. My goal was to just keep running. I did not care so much about speed I just knew I did not want to walk as I always end up doing on the tred mill.

As I neared the end of the race there were locals applauding and encouraging us to finish strong. They yelled out your time in Nepali so I think I know how fast I was.

Once all my friends arrived at the finish line we headed over the the water station. There were no cups, just communal pitchers. So we Nepali styled it and drank it by pouring the water into our mouths never letting it touch our lips.

The event as a whole was fun yet a little bazar. Nepal's pollution and congested streets do not lend itself to the ideal location for a race. If anything it was fun getting to experience it all with some good friends.

I hope to run it again next year...maybe even improve on my time.