Jim's life in Nepal - Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving (24 November 2002)
How I wish that Nepal had a two day weekend. This past weekend went by so fast. Monica and I were busy packing our friend-who-left-Nepal's things. I really hate moving myself and I think moving someone else is almost as bad. One day we sorted and packed. The Peace Corps jeep took that stuff back to Kathmandu to mail to the US. Then on Saturday we packed the rest, split is between us, hired movers, and moved it. We actually found some fairly decent movers with a really nice moving van. For 1500 rupees I think we got our money's worth. I am hoping to rent the apartment to a new PCV next month. It is a really nice place for 3000 rupees a month.
Today I was emotionally and physically spent, but I went to school anyway. I wish the headsir had not chosen this day to beat two of my students during my class, because it was a little more than I could take. After he left my classroom, I walked out of class and came home. A while later some of my students came to my apartment and asked why I had left. I said that I had a stomach ache. They asked if I would be back for fourth period, for the next fourth grade class, and I said yes. I did come back and students were especially eager to please. They are such good kids. I truly wish that corporal punishment was not so common here. I hate seeing these kids getting hit by teachers who are too lazy to punish the students any other way. Another PCV is making a book about alternatives to corporal punishment. I hope that maybe this can be integrated into the teacher trainings next year.
Three new PCVs are coming to Pokhara in about a week. It will be interesting to get to know them. None of them are teachers, they are all working in soil conservation or Non-Government Organizations (NGOs).
My kitchen is now well stocked with pots and pans, a fridge, a table, and silverware. I am borrowing my friend-who-left-Nepal's things. There is a chance that she will come back to Nepal. I don't know how big this chance is. It would be great if she came back, but I am not counting on it.
Jaya Ram is coming to Pokhara in a week and a half. I think I will use this visit as an excuse to do some cooking. I don't enjoy cooking for one, but I very much enjoy cooking for someone else. I have been wanting to practice my daal bhaat and tarkari (lentils with rice and vegetables), which is THE meal here in Nepal. There are several in-season vegetables to cook with, and there are always several kinds of beans to choose from. It should be fun.
On Friday, Monica, Sian, Julie, and I, the four Pokhara volunteers (volunteers who reside in or near Pokhara), are having a Thanksgiving dinner. Sian's boyfriend sent a lot of canned and dried foods, and we will have fresh vegetables as well. I might make my chocolate oatmeal cookies if I can find everything at the stores.
It rarely rains any more, and as a result the water in the taps comes less frequently. There is no real running water in this village, or really in most villages in Nepal. The water comes out of public taps for 2-3 hours in the morning and 2-3 hours in the evening. Hauling water is something just about everybody does. My landlord's family hauls water and dumps it in a tank behind the house. The tap is only about 100 feet away from the house. Then, every few days, they use an electric pump to fill the 1000 liter tank on top of the house. All the taps in the house come from that tank. This year, another tap has been installed in the village, and this one has a hose fitted onto it. So now the close neighbors share this hose while water is coming. It makes for less hauling. But it seems that lately water is coming less and less in all the taps. I hope I don't have to start skipping bucket baths. It's only 2 gallons, but as an every day thing, it adds up. If necessary, I will haul river water, boil it, then let it cool and bathe with that. I hope it does not come to that. What a pain that would be.
Feeling sleepy. Better get to bed.
All my love,
Jim
