I’ve
now been in Nepal almost exactly a month and I feel I’ve finally started
getting into a routine. This week is my second actual week of work and although
it started pretty slowly, I’ve now got work to do now keeping me busy. I’m
currently working on updating our organization’s website content because it has
not been updated since Nafisa (an Indev student from last year) was here. The
organization is getting a completely new website made and it’s my job to update
and prepare the content for the new site. During the week, I work from 10-5,
Monday to Friday. Typically, the Nepali workweek is Sunday to Friday, but we
are able to take Sunday off as well, which allows us to see more of the area.
I’m luckier than most of my peers here because my commute to work is only a 5
minute walk. This means I have a lot more free time that I can use to get
things done or explore the neighbourhood (or lay in bed and sleep longer!). I can
leave the house at 9:55am and still make it to work on time.
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Thanksgiving Dinner |
Last
weekend, we celebrated Thanksgiving here early. I was surprised at how easy it
was to get most of the supplies for our dinner and we spent the day cooking a huge
Western feast with chicken, mashed potatoes, salad, two kinds of beans, honey
glazed carrots, stuffing, cauliflower, fresh bread and Nutella cheesecake
brownies and apple crisp for dessert. We ate by candlelight on the roof of the
CECI Passage House. It was really nice to have that taste of home. On Sunday we
also went shopping, which I’ve been looking forward to, and I bought 2 kurtas
(typical Nepali dress). I’m also looking forward to going sari shopping soon.
In
Nepal, it’s currently Dashain, the biggest holiday of the year. It started on
Saturday but most people still work during this week. It’s a Hindu festival but
is celebrated by everybody in Nepal, regardless of religion. Most people here
compare it to our Christmas and lots of people leave Kathmandu to go back to
their villages to be with their family. On the 8th day of Dashain,
there are lots of animal sacrifices to the goddesses across the country and
after rituals are performed at the temples, the meat from the sacrifices are
cooked and eaten. Even many people who are normally vegetarian partake in
eating the meat sacrifice during this feast. There are other aspects of Dashain
that I have already seen. Buying and wearing new clothing is part of the
festival, and while shopping last weekend, the streets were packed and many
shops had “Dashain discounts”. As well, across the country, large swings are
set up for the children to use. There is one large bamboo swing just down the
street from me. Dashain is a large festival here and it’s amazing that we are
able to be here during this holiday.
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Bamboo Swing in our Neighbourhood |
For
our Dashain holidays, Peter, Sumbal and I are headed to Pokhara on Friday.
Peter and I are heading on a 5-day trek starting on the Sunday with three other
Canadian volunteers, Juliana, Lisa, and Luzianne (Sumbal opted not to do the
trek). We may also try to fit in some other fun activities like rafting or
paragliding. Pokhara is a city just south of the Annapurna mountain range in
Mid-Nepal. It’s supposed to be beautiful and there are tons of adventure
activities to do there. I’m sure when I get back from our adventure I’ll have a
lot more to tell about it.