First update from GapBreak Nepal!

The famous "Momos" of Kathmandu

COUNTRY: Nepal
PROGRAM: GapBreak
PROJECT: Teaching
WRITTEN BY: Nathan Pauletto

Arrival into Kathmandu was unbelievable, like stepping into another era. We landed, departed the plane and sat in the customs desperately trying to gather our wits! Little did we anticipate the madness would only continue. The airport itself can only be described as some sort of Slovenian Community Hall. Things moved slowly inside, but outside was chaos! We collected our bags and were promptly grabbed and hassled by loads of taxi drivers. Fortunately Kabita and her Australian friend Kate quickly came to our rescue and after much bargaining with different drivers we were whisked away to the beautiful Hotel Encounter, our home, for the first four days of Nepal life.

The city itself can only be described as pure life. Sounds, sights and smells erupted from every shop, and didn't end with the night. Thamel seemed like an adventure in just crossing the road! But after a few days we quickly became accustomed to this life and soon found our favourite hang outs and places to eat. The momo's (a type of steamed dumpling) along with fried mushrooms quickly became our staple diet, washed down with heavy jugs of Nepal tea.

The KEEP offices greeted with warm welcomes, many smiles and plenty of laughs. The last day in Kathmandu we toured the city, visiting stoupas and temples alike in grandeur and culture. We were a little daunted though when we walked in on a mass death ceremony at the temple of Kali (god of the dead). All too soon it was time to the leave the peaceful gardens of the Hotel, a sanctuary a midst the bustling streets of Thamel, to so hello to Kankre, our village.

Riding the bus, fortunately, was not on the agenda was we took a private Jeep with Kabita and another KEEP worker to our new home. Children seemed to appear out of the very woodwork of the village, dozens of small hands fighting to grab hold of ours. We live with two great parents with three children. First days in the village were overwhelming, we had no privacy...everyone wanted to know us! The food here, (always a priority when I travel) is simple but tasty. (Here, we say 'mito!') We eat dall bhaat twice a day with pickled vegetables and curry. This is occasionally mixed up a bit with roti bread, the odd chicken once a fortnight, and popcorn. We drink boiled water, curd, milk and of course Nepali tea! The tea is made of milk, tea, cinnamon, cloves and sugar all boiled. Easily the best food.

School presented its own problems with Kindies and Year Ones being night impossible to teach. More success is felt with the older classes, grades two, three and four, so we aren't too crazy yet. The days are long and hard, we find ourselves often thinking and talking of home. But every day is easier than the next and soon the days will become weeks and the weeks to months.

Anywho my guide is stressing, so I have to go now. I'll try and right more often, the internet is an hour's walk away! Planning to spend the weekend in Thamel, will send some pictures to you then!

Nathan.