Mid Way

“Travel is glamorous only in retrospect.” (Paul Theroux)

On Wednesday night I finally arrived in Swayambhu by a rush of people. It was so amazing to see everyone (especially from Sundrawatti because I have not seen them in 3 weeks)! We had a very cheerful dinner, all talking laughing, and eating at once. Again, it felt so good to be back! After dinner we had an activity: we had to draw two pictures, one of something we had and one of something we want to get. So one person went and then anyone who had something related to that person would go and so on creating a domino effect. No matter what village we are in we still have the same issues and da- to-day things. Afterwards we finally got to just hang out and talk about everything. It was a very good night.

Thursday was incredibly long. We woke up early and drove to a brick factory. I felt really awkward being there, like we were looking at these people as if they were animals in a zoo. We saw how bricks were made and the child labor involved. I was worried that it was going to be in a big building that was dark and crowded but it wasn’t. It was outside which made it better in some ways but it is still child labor. I am obviously very much against child labor but at the same time they, (their families) need the money. It’s a horrible situation. It looked like a Dicken’s novel; outside it was chilly and gray and there were mounds of black clay everywhere and shallow pools of muddy water. There was a huge chimney erected in the middle of it all which felt like a combination of the Holocaust and A Series of Unfortunate Events. I know this was something we needed to see to really get a grasp of what goes on in this country and that these things that we see as obscure phrases in the West such as “child labor” really do exist. However I was very glad to leave. After we returned to Swayambhu and had lunch we had a discussion about the brick factory (which turned into a debate about free trade), a lecture on globalization (a topic I was pretty sure we had exhausted during the orientation), and finally each area met with the TBT staff to talk about ideas for community projects (ours included a playground made out of recycled materials, a wall mosaic, and a public wall magazine). That night Sundrawatti had come up with a Hanukkah activity which ended up being a ton of fun! Then I hung out in my bed with Sh, O, M, and Sm and talked about our travel plans for after the program. It was a great way to end a very long day.

We had 3 lesson on Friday morning before lunch: a very impressive lecture on microfinance from Abigail, a group session on any ideas for projects, and a lecture on participation with B. After lunch S and I went back to Kalimati for our HCC activity. Unfortunately not a lot of kids came again and they were late. We want to give them what they want (the opportunity to do a public theater performance) but it is going to be difficult when they come late or don’t come at all. When we were finished we came back to Swayambhu and lit candles for Hanukkah and Shabbat. Although I am not religious, I like having a big meal with everyone on Friday night. There was good food and everyone seemed happy. After dinner I went out for a bit with Sm, GB, Al, and Ei, (S and N were there for a bit but left early because N did not feel well). We went to a bar and hung out and talked. Eventually everyone went home except for GB and me. We went and had dessert at Cookie Wallah! We came back after that and called it a night.

On Saturdays we don’t start until lunch at 1:00 so I got to sleep in, have breakfast, read, and relax. We did a fun activity in which we were all at a restaurant and had to order off a menu (with dishes such as family affairs and love and disappointment). We were brought food (awesome fruits and desserts) and questions we had to talk about with the people we were sitting with (kind of like the speed dating activity during orientation). I was with M and L and we had a good time. The food was good and we talked but it wasn’t too serious. After Z gave a lesson on Hanukkah and then we all got ready for the ambassador’s Hanukkah party. TBT is very friendly with the Israeli ambassador in Nepal so he invited all of us to his Hanukkah party. The food was amazing and there were free drinks! We had a great time being in such a fancy place. We took lots of pictures and ate very well. After I went to Thamel with Sm, O, M, and GB. We went to our favorite bar (Lhasa bar), which was empty at first but as M predicted got full very soon. We got O to sing with the band (we helped) and got the entire bar on it’s feet (we sang a popular Nepali song that one of the staff taught us)! It was a wonderful night.

On Sunday we had a thematic meeting with N to discuss how we were all doing in our areas (the activities, Nepali staff, projects, etc.) and then had a very long activity about democracy in the spirit of the upcoming Israeli elections. After lunch we had a second thematic meeting with the Nepali staff where we talked about our schedule for the goals we want to accomplish this machzor (basket money, migration workshop, and local guide seminar). Then the facilitators from each village had a meeting with Mi and finally we had a conclusion meeting. After I went with O, GG, and Z to the mall. O and I got food and took pictures at an old 90’s booth where you pick out really corny backgrounds! Then we met up with pretty much everyone else to see The Hobbit! It was fun seeing Life of Pi with everyone from Kalimati so it was even more fun with almost everyone on the whole program! We got back and spent the rest of the night hanging out together. I loved seeing everyone and I am sad it will be another 3 weeks before we are all together again.

Signed,

Group Love