Dhanyabaad Nepal

The beginning of my most recent adventure, and the reason that it occurred, was I returned to Nepal. They were holding another CHOICE expedition to Nepal, and I said that I would join if they were able to convince my mother, Josh, and Emily to go. They successfully did so, and I was lucky enough to go back so soon. This wasn't the easiest time for me to leave being that I have been gone so much recently. I was already trying to catch back up on life, but you can't pass up this great of an opportunity. Because we were already on that side of the world Josh and I decided to spend a few days in both Thailand and Japan on the way home.

The day that we were heading into the village was the Holi festival in Nepal. Many people know it as the festival of colors but it is to celebrate Holi a Hindu festival. This is traditionally celebrated by throwing colors. In Nepal, because it is a poor country, many people began throwing colored water, and then slowly began just throwing water. Some people that have enough money still throw colors. The entire time while driving into the village children were throwing water balloons at the bus. A few kids even were able to find an open window and hit us.

Usually you are received into the village with Tika on your foreheads. We received it all across us because of Holi. We were walking down the road hiking up to our village, and this old lady comes up to me and my mother and smears it all over our faces. Then runs up and does it again. It was a big surprise to my mom and pretty funny seeing her reaction. 

It was really cool experiencing Holi while actually in a Hindu community. I would love to celebrate it in a big city during one of the huge color celebrations but it was still fun in the little villages.

We started every dry morning off with a little Yoga to stretch us and get us ready for the day. Not very many people had done Yoga before so it was pretty entertaining. It was as good of a place to do a little Yoga as I'd ever seen. With the backdrop a Nepali village and beautiful valley.

We spent our time working with some great Nepali's to finish up a secondary school that is being built.

We painted many of the rooms in the school. Because they don't have ladders and have the worst paint brushes ever we began coming up with creative ways to paint the ceiling. Some much more dangers than other. This was an accident waiting to happen. The bottom wasn't being stopped by anything, and the ladder was going to slide out at any time.

We stayed in a Nepali home. It was a very interesting experience for my mother. They didn't speak any English so she was having a tough time knowing what to do when they would speak to us in Nepali and bring us tea and other treats. They also would follow us into the room, which made it really difficult when you were going in to change and they would sit down next to you on the little bed and just watch you, and try and speak to you. I'm pretty used to awkward experiences by now, but it was great seeing my mom's reactions. This is our Nepali family, minus the dad, and adding an extra couple friends and neighbors. They were super cute.

My mom, Nepali mom, and Nepali grandma. When I brought out my camera and asked to take a picture with them, the mom went and changed into her cholo so she would look good for the pictures. That is the shirt she is wearing. A lady in the village also made us cholo's. While she was measuring me she said I was the same size as her so she would make it like hers. The little lady some how couldn't tell I was a foot or so taller than her. I still like how it turned out even despite the length.

The village boys would play futbol on their field which is the only flat spot in the entire village. It seemed like an awful idea to me. They would kick the soccer ball off the side every little bit and would take awhile to go find it. Seemed like way to much work when they'd already been working all day, to go hunt for a ball.

Thakur and Kiran. Two of my favorite Nepali's. They are the two most entertaining men when alone, together they are some how even more entertaining. They work for CHOICE, and I've never seen them unhappy. They seem to have a smile on their face know matter what is happening. It was super great seeing them again. I always enjoy listening to their jokes, they can make anyone instantly like them. I'm excited to go back sometime just so I can spend time with them. They are great.

This is what happens when you get bored at night and the only light in the village is your head lamp you brought. We did this for a long time one night with my camera. Turned out to be really fun.

Josh, Bishnu, and I. Bishnu is CHOICE's In Country Director. He is one of the greatest men you'll ever meet. He instantly gains the respect of anyone.  I've learned a lot from him and hope that I am able to spend much more time learning from him in the future. I was able to stay with him and his family while I was in Nepal through out the fall. He has done a lot for me, and I'm very Thankful that I've been able to get to know him. You'll also never stop laughing when he's around.

This was the village celebration the day we left. The secondary school is in the background. Even though it was early and the villagers had a lot to do all day they found time to come and say goodbye to us.

When we hiked back out of the village many of the villagers hiked the first half an hour with us, then finally said goodbye for the 50th time, and we headed on our way. I wanted to hike with my pack, but they were doing everything they could to take it for me. I finally made it out with my pack on my back, but it did take quite the effort to do so. Almost everyone else finally gave up and let someone carry their pack for them the rest the way.

I always love being in the villages. I'm usually both happy and sad to leave. It is sad saying goodbye to the friends you met and leaving such a beautiful location. Yet, its always nice getting back and sleeping in real bed and not eating anymore rice and dal baat. I get really sick of Nepal's food, it is really good at first, just get's really bland with repetition.

My mom had never been on a CHOICE expedition so I'm glad she finally was able to join us. It was fun sharing an experience with her that has become such a large part of my life. I have been traveling and working with CHOICE now for most of adult life so it was great letting her see what I've been doing.