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Maggie and Carla – Australia
We
arrived on New Years Eve in Kathmandu where we met two
follow volunteers: Mark and Andreas.
After arriving in Surrabessi we spent an exhausting three hours trekking up the mountain side to Goljung, where we would spend the remaining three weeks of our volunteer placement. Initially in awe and greatly inspired by the mystique of the Langtang mountains, we had planned to complete our journey to Goljung with no assistance. Twenty minutes into the walk and with Surrabessi only an arms reach away, we accepted the limitations of our physical fitness, threw our rucksacks onto the ground and Bicky (from Info Nepal) went in search for a porter, while we thought to ourselves; "We are volunteers not mountaineers, we are volunteers not mountaineers". In Goljung we were met by Dana, Jana and Michael (the three volunteers we would replace in Goljung library), who introduced us to our friendly host family and gave us the basic run down on how to get by in the village. It seemed that the only problem we would face was having spent a week taking Nepalese language classes, only to find out that the people of Goljung spoke Tamang. Despite this initial hurdle by 8am the next morning we were in the library and for the following few weeks it was an endless stream of 'hokey pokey' dances, afternoons of colouring in, learning the alphabet, months of the year, colours, numbers and every other educational activity we could conjure up from our childhood. One of our favourite memories is the early morning bathing ritual at the tap behind the library. It was a rule that none of the children were permitted into the classroom with dirty hands. When given the opportunity to play with a bar of soap the children of Goljung could not resist almost diving under the tap for an all body cleanse. Aside from our time in the library we managed to catch up with our much missed friend Mark, from down the hill in Surrabessi . Together we trekked around the Tamang region, which included an unexpected guide from a check point soldier, as well as a rather close encounter with a herd of goats whilst relaxing at Parvatakunda. We also managed a weekend away to Tatopaani (hot springs) before saying goodbye to our host family and beginning our long journey back to Kathmandu. Our month of volunteer work was an incredible and unforgettable time, both a challenge and satisfaction. Thank you INFO NEPAL for this tremendous experience.
Lisa and Freya - Australia Where to start? The task of setting up a library in a remote village in the mountains of Nepal seemed a daunting one at best, but we decided we were up for the challenge. Heading off into the mountains armed with loads of books, stationery and library supplies we began our adventure. The ten hour bus ride was the start of our eye opening experience; crammed into our seats, dust blowing in through the open window, huge trucks passing us on the narrowest of roads next to steep cliff edges and the windiest rockiest roads imaginable – I was definitely outside of my comfort zone. But the views were remarkable, the countryside constantly changing and as the journey continued and we glimpsed the first snow capped mountains I couldn’t help but feel a shiver of excitement and awe. We stayed a night in Thulo Barkhu and a night in Sybrubensi, meeting the volunteers there and sharing ideas and tips as well as checking out their libraries. This was a great opportunity to get a feel for the INFO Nepal presence in the villages and to gain valuable insight into the workings of established libraries. We left feeling enthused and energized and really excited to get to Gatlang and start work. The walk from Sybrubensi to Gatlang took us around four hours. It starts with one of the steepest, hugest hills I have ever encountered. It definitely tested my fitness, which at that stage probably wasn’t what it should have been, but that certainly changed after five weeks. This first time we were lucky enough to hitch a ride in a truck about halfway up but we were not so lucky every time. We had two porters with us carrying the bulk of our luggage and the library supplies which was a huge help. I would definitely advise anyone walking up to start their placement to make sure some porters are organised. Once up the top of the hill (which takes two to three hours) the walk is fantastic and I really enjoyed it. The track winds around the ridge with incredible views of the mountains and overlooks a few villages situated in the valleys below. For my first time walking in Nepal it was amazing and I felt so lucky and inspired. We finally saw Gatlang village, our home for the next month, perched on the side of the hill. It was a relief to finally arrive after so many days traveling. I will never forget the reception we received when we first walked into the village. Children of all ages, dressed in the most amazing array of colourful clothing, began appearing from every direction and soon we must have had over one hundred children all following us, pointing and whispering. The sheer number of children in their colourful ragamuffin outfits against the backdrop of the traditional little wooden and stone houses and the mountains was incredible. It felt like we had been spirited back in time. Our first few days were quite a confusing and frustrating time. The communication barrier was huge; most of the villagers speak Tamang with only a little Nepali and no English. Nothing seemed to be organised and no one seemed to know where we should stay or who should decide this. We were adamant we wanted to stay with a host family and not just above the library where they first suggested. It took some fairly strong persuasion before they showed us a few options for host families. Nobody was home at either and we decided to stay at the nicer, cleaner house which we were told was a guest house but that a family lived there also. This turned out to be the right decision as a few days later our host father arrived and as he speaks good English we were able to sort out many issues and questions we had. But in those first couple of days our spirits dropped a bit. It seemed that the people in the village didn’t want us there or maybe it was that they didn’t understand what we were there to achieve. We couldn’t really talk to them properly and so felt at a bit of a loss and very much as outsiders. It was quite an isolating feeling. A couple of days later a delegation of young men informed us that the community would prefer the library to be located up at the school and not in the tourism building. The Headmaster took us to the school and offered us one of the tiny, dark and dirty rooms to use. This room was not even spare; there was a whole class level having their lessons outside. It took quite some effort to explain that we couldn’t have the library there at the school and after much discussion a compromise was reached, whereby we would continue with the library in the tourism building on a temporary basis and when new buildings were built at the school it would be moved up there. I was left feeling quite bewildered and disappointed at this stage. We were only here to help the community and look out for their interests and it felt like they resented our presence even though we were assured that the community had specifically requested for an INFO Nepal library. I think it didn’t help matters that all these discussions and arguments were going on around us in Nepali and Tamang and we would only have bits translated back to us. In the days and weeks that followed things improved and our spirits and motivation increased. We spent time at the school teaching classes and hanging out with the teachers. The teachers did a lot more hanging out than they did teaching and when we found out in later weeks that the academic level of Gatlang students was amongst the poorest in the region we weren’t a bit surprised. Still, they were a very friendly and funny bunch and delighted in teaching us some Nepali and practising their English. Only one teacher could really speak English and he used to try and translate jokes, the result must have been quite funny because the teachers would be in hysterics while we often sat there quite bemused. The library was a huge attraction for the children, particularly the younger ones, and the first day we held a class in our opening week we had over one hundred children pushing and shoving outside to be let in. It was quite overwhelming. We had trouble communicating with the kids and they couldn’t understand even the most basic instructions. We both became very good at mime. Luckily some older students showed up that day (as the teachers who promised they would come and help never did) and they were able to help us somewhat in controlling the kids. Over the next few weeks as the kids got more used to us and our rules they were better and we able to have some proper classes. It took a long time to discourage them from peering in through the windows when a class was on and blocking all our light. You would be inside teaching and suddenly realize it was really dark and quite hard to see and then you would notice the kids in the windows. They would be back five minutes after you had shooed them away. I think they thought it was a great game; you could only laugh. Drawing pictures, browsing through books and particularly story time were favourites of the younger kids. They didn’t understand much of what we were reading to them but would listen and look attentively and parrot what you said. The older classes enjoyed drawing and writing as well, especially using coloured pencils and textas and were really enjoying games such as UNO and memory when we left. These were my favourite library classes, we could actually teach and communicate, even if it was a struggle but you did feel the students were getting something out of it and they were so enthusiastic and thirsty for knowledge. Overall, we had a really great time in Gatlang. The kids are just gorgeous if a bit grotty, but very enthusiastic and friendly. Our host family was lovely and we had many fun evenings playing cards with the extended family and friends. When we discovered that the girls could knit we spent many hours knitting together and they loved teaching us new patterns. The Headmaster is quite a character and would insist on being our tour guide and taking us out for outings. We had several adventures with him and the local little blue truck and he loved using his broken English on us. On the day that we left it was with mixed feelings. I was starting to feel more settled and accepted and was really enjoying the time there and it was hard to contemplate leaving. At the same time I was really looking forward to the trek back to Kathmandu that our host father was taking us on. I feel that the time we had there was too short, to set up and establish a library you really need to have a lot of time up your sleeve. Still, I hope and think that we have made a good start and am confident that the next volunteers who have several months there will have great success. It is a beautiful little village with some beautiful and amazingly hard working people living there and I feel privileged to have shared in their lives and their culture.
DAVE BONNICI - Australia Well what an amazing couple of weeks! I am about to leave Kathmandu to leave for my six week placement in a village known as Sanga, 25km northeast from Kathmandu. Before I leave I need to describe the amazing time I have had in Nepal leading up to now. After arriving and settling in at Kathmandu Peace Guesthouse courtesy of Raj, the owner, I wandered across the street to meet the I.N.F.O. Nepal gang. Within hours I found myself facing my first of many Nepali language classes. Since I came to teach English, it is only fair that I suffer the same fate and try to learn a language too! After spending some time at Happy Home getting to know the children and eating Asim’s Dal Bhaat, I went off to do some sightseeing before my placement to try and beat the monsoonal rains. After a few days in the Chitwan Province with Elaine, Mimi, Molly and Jay (other INFO Volunteers) to visit to Royal Chitwan National Park, a local orphanage and experience local culture in local villages we headed northwest to Pokhara at the base of the Annapurna Himalayan Range. A couple of days hiking to get the heart started and the lungs full of clean mountain air before finding out about a local festival known as Ashar Festival. I was exited to unexpectedly learn about a festival because I think it adds to the excitement of it, or so I’ve found on other travels. The Ashar Festival is celebrated every year in aid of rice planting throughout the country at a time when heavy rains are expected. The locals explain that villagers set a timetable and help each other to plant the rice fields so that everyone can prosper together. Attending the festival itself unveiled a series of comical events that helped to ensure everyone enjoyed themselves thoroughly while learning about one of Nepal’s critical and timeless agricultural events. I started the day completely clean and comfortable. On arrival and without much ado I found myself trying to steer two harnessed oxen around a rice paddy field while locals chased me kicking mud all over me! This degenerated into an all out mud fight where I felt compelled to use my size and height to topple a few people into the foray. The whole affair remained lighthearted and jovial and became larger by the moment. After a short time, an announcer proclaimed that the major sponsor, Mt Everest Beer, was donating a box of large bottles of their product to the winner of a foreigner only race up and down the rice field. That was all the incentive I needed to run fast and after a good start from the blocks, I was unable to hold on, taking third place. Happily, the winner provided me with one of his beers and another sponsor gave dinner to 2nd & 3rd place-getters. A free lunch and more mud fights ensued before I retired for the day, heading up to Lake Phewa (not before being giggled at by several pedestrians) with some other foreigners and some local children to clean off in the river. An amazing day; plenty of laughs, great people, learning and experiencing the local culture. what more could you ask for?
Sue Driscoll -
Australia Hi, My name is Sue and I am from Australia. I arrived in Kathmandu at the end of January, along with another volunteer, Barry, from London, I received a very warm welcome from Asim and Dinesh from INFO and Raj and his staff at the Kathmandu Peace Guest House. It was a great way to begin my time here. We started Language Classes each morning. These classes provided lots of laughs as I made mistake after mistake ( like saying "the children go to school to get hit" rather than" the children go to school to learn"!!) Dinesh showed endless patience with me!. What has surprised me is how much I did actually learn when I didn't think I was taking it in at all ! The content of the language classes was excellent in terms of the things we needed to be able to say and understand to have good basic communication with our host families and the children in our classes. It was a very well thought out course taught well by Dinesh. I am now with my host family in the village of Patihani in Chitwan. Their hospitality has been overwhelming and I feel very much at home with them and have learnt lots from them. I can now eat Dal Baat with the best of them while sitting cross legged on the floor and today I finally succeeded in having a "shower" at the outdoor pump without my clothes blowing into the fields, without my sarong falling down and without drawing any interested onlookers!! And I can chase chickens out of the house with wonderful Nepali words - they ignore my English words!! I have four classes of children - all different. In Patihani itself, I have a class of 10 boys ( aged 11-13 yrs) at 7.00am - they are a great "wake up" group. This is followed at 8.00am by a mixed group of 12 children - boys and girls, mixed ages and very mixed abilities. In the afternoon I walk 20 minutes to a small village on the bank of the Rapti River which borders the Chitwan National Park. We have our classes sitting in the open on the bank of the river - it is absolutely beautiful. There hasn't been any volunteers in this village before now and the children are so keen to be involved that I have ended up with 65 children in the 4-9yr old group, and 35 in the 9-12yr old group - and it is great!! The children are enthusiastic and totally focused and not at all distracted by the crocodiles and elephants that appear in the river during class - which is more than I can say for me!! I am finding volunteering with INFO to be a wonderful experience and very safe experience. They are very aware of the political situation, monitor it carefully and the safety of the volunteers is always carefully considered and put first. Despite all the political upheavals of the past few weeks I have felt totally safe and extremely supported by INFO. 22 year old, Buddhi Mahato, from the Bote village, is assisting Sue with the riverside classes, along with having English language tuition from Sue for 2 hours each day. Buddhi is very keen to both help the children of the village, and improve his own standard of education.
DAVID BONNICI – Australia Since the commencement of a three day village training and orientation program in the village of Sanga, 25km North East of Katmandu, the area has become somewhat of a focal point for INFO volunteers. It is often the first real taste of Nepali rural village life a volunteer gets and can be sometimes nerve wracking and confronting. But any anxiety is offset by the beautiful surroundings and welcoming village people who are becoming more familiar with the sight of foreigners in their town. Waking up to (weather permitting) views of snow capped mountains, surrounded by greenery in all directions from the hilltop training facility is a sight to be reckoned with. On Monday 12 September 2005, shortly after I returned from a 6 week trip to China, I was pleased to participate in a dinner arranged by INFO for several volunteers with staff and friends of INFO to get to know each other better and share their experiences in Nepal. The dinner came at the right time too, after an unfortunate circumstance of dishonesty within Happy Home which led to a Nepali helper resigning from her position. All tension and negative feeling caused by this was stripped away as everyone enjoyed each others company on the hilltop. The children of Happy Home ran around with the local kids, the adults chatted between picking at the delicious pre dinner foods and the weather even held out! The main dinner was amazingly catered considering the location and everyone raved about this traditional feast. We all had our fill and as night settled in it was time to return to our various homes, some locally and some in the valley.
Ying and KC Tang Ying and I were fortunate enough to be the first volunteers setting up the library at Maidan, a village about 1 1/2 hours bus ride from Pokhara. We lived with a host family whose house was a 5 minute walk from the library. During our stay, we were very lucky to experience the two great Nepali festivals of Dashain and Tihar. We met our extended family who were wonderful and treated us like their own. There was a lot of dancing, singing and eating, we both had a fantastic time. Besides teaching at the library we also taught at the nearby secondary school. At first, the students were shy and it was daunting to walk into a classroom and expected to teach English with 30+ faces just staring at you. However, gradually the students got to know us better and became more participative and enthusiastic about speaking English in class. We really enjoyed teaching at the school, especially during lunchtime when the students would come up to talk to us and we would have lunch together. We both really loved our time in the village, although it was hard at first to converse with the little Nepali that we knew, but the people at the village were very friendly and eager to help us. We miss all the children, friends and family, they really made our stay unforgettable. We would like to thank INFO Nepal for the wonderful experience and for organizing the Nepali lessons and time spent at the training village prior to our placement, it really prepared us for living a village life. |
The four of us spent
the following week together, completing our training between
the restless excitement of the Happy Home Orphanage and the
peaceful village of Sanga. Training involved a combination
of language classes (together with our patient and wickedly
funny guru Krishna), sightseeing in Kathmandu, as well as
gaining insight to Nepali culture through our time in Sanga -
where we became immediately attached to our beautiful host
sister Deepa. Unfortunately by the end of this rather
chaotic, action-packed week, we both found ourselves with
miserable head colds, whilst our Chilean comrade Andreas,
spent the evening in the room next door throwing up from a
nasty belly bug. As always, however, our lovable Irish
larrikin Mark, was there to lighten the mood, lift our
spirits and somehow fill us with excitement about the 10
hour bus journey that would get us all the way to the Langtang region.