IT RAINED!!!

We really needed it! It was so nice to ride to school this morning with no dust to choke on.
It started to rain last night as my home group was leaving. They were all hoping it held off until they got home. I think it did for the most part. There was a lot of lightening and thunder for a while and then it started to actually rain. If it had not been so late, I would have gone out to dance in it!
Praise the Lord for watering the earth!

Homemade Korean, Nepali-style

So I had a hankering from Korean food and thought... I can make it. I had some buff (water buffalo meat), lettuce from the garden (the last couple heads) and some apple/pear juice (close enough) and created my own little bulgogi. It was quite yummy, even to say so myself.. just needed some rice. Can't go wrong with Korean food.

Which reminds me of this sign I saw painted on the side of a bus the other day... it said  Travel in Gang Ham Style! I just cracked up.... wishing I had had my camera ready!

In the meantime, I have decided to invite some friends over my culinary creation and we will see how they judge on Korean cooking skills. (Of course, none of them are Korean, so how will they really know?)

Term Four

So the beginning of the end. And I am once again in the classroom. But this time... I am subbing for the Elementary Art teacher, who is out to have a baby. She will be here the first two weeks, so I can get the hang of it.  I have only three classes a week.  So it is not too bad.
The main problem or the worst thing about the whole arrangement is that the  art classroom is on the 4 floor of the academic building! So I have to climb all those stairs twice a week! I know, I know, the horror of it all.
But I am looking forward to interacting with three new grades. So far this year, I have taught 2nd and 3rd in the classroom, and now will have 4th, 5th, and 6th in art. The first grade teacher looked at me the other day and said, "You can have mine too."  "No thank you!" I told her.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2070!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 According to the Bikram Sambat, the official calendar of Nepal, today is the first day of 2070. 

There are more than 60 ethnic groups in Nepal. Each one with their own unique culture and traditions. I have heard said that Nepal  actually celebrates about nine different new years.  However, Baishakh 1st is regarded as  the national New Year, on  the country’s official calendar.  

 A lot of the restaurants around my home had big parties and you could hear them until about midnight and then it just went quiet. I was babysitting for friends and walking home about 10:30 there were people out and about. There were no fireworks which was nice and today things seems to be back to normal.

At one point during the day yesterday I stopped in at a store and wished them Happy New Year! I asked them if they had big party plan. They smiled and said, " No, we have to work tomorrow, so we will go to bed early."  Some things never change I suppose, even across cultures. 

Ten months already

the Himals

Today is April 13th. I have been here for ten months. Someone asked me the other day when we were discussing recent events,  if the past 10 months had gone by quickly and I had to stop and think about it. Finally I admitted, Yes, it has gone by fast. I can't believe all that has happen and all I have had the privilege of doing. It has been chocker-block full and I am amazed at the adventure. Glad to be a part it!

Last Day of Spring Break

I celebrated .. or it is mourned?... the last day of Spring Break by going to my favorite Korean place and having a delicious lunch with friends.  Back to work today to get something done as the final quarter starts.
Hard to believe we are through half of April already!!  Well almost. Come on June!

Made It Back to the Valley

Just to let you know that I have made it back to the valley!
I had a good trip to Tansen and the seminar went well. I enjoy teaching new ideas and concepts to people. I was doing a seminar on Worldview. It is a foreign concept here. But all the reviews were very encouraging and I am praying that they can start to think more about their own worldview and how it effects their teaching.

The trip there was about 12 hours on local bus, with the last two hours in a crowded taxi. There were five of us on the training team.  We were all glad to get to the hotel and fall out of the car.   I got to have dinner with a friend who is teaching out there and it was good to catch up with her.

Only I came back two days later. The rest of the team stayed there as the conference is actually 10 days long.  I caught the hospital bus back. It is more direct and I got home mid-afternoon and collapsed in a nap. Then last night I slept 11 hours straight. Feeling much better today, so back to work and getting ready for the last term!