This dear little owl has been around the lodge most days and at around noon.  He must be very confused - or an insomniac?  Twenty species of owl have been counted in Nepal and this could be a spotted owlet. (My camera is old and small, and wildlife photography is a specialist skill!)

 

 

 

Two delightfully happy villagers next to the school gates fry a mixture of wheat flour, milk and sugar over an open fire  to make donuts  each day to sell for five rupees each (3 pence)  They insisted on me having one and would not take payment.

 

 

This afternoon I was asked  to take tea after school with teacher Tara. Her husband sells shoes in a small shop in Pokhara, and he rides a motor bike to the town each day.. When they married Tara came to live with her husband's family. 








There are 8 people living in this affluent village house including Tara's parents-in-law and grandfather, and great, great grandmother, who is 92, pictured below.



  

 

All the cooking is done here

 

 Not many of the houses here have a separate kitchen like this. We had sweet black tea which was delicious, and very small oranges to eat.  

 

 

Tara, her husband and the two children live in this room and this is where we had tea.

The family have five goats, two cows and grow many vegetables on their small plot of land in front of the house. 

 

My good friend.   We communicate well most mornings in spite of the language difference

 

 

 

 

Today at school I found a bottle of disinfectant that I had bought last year. The cleaning cloth was on top of the cupboard and was in a pretty awful state with a strong smell of rat, but I soaked it in the disinfectant and set about cleaning the tables.   Some children from Year 1 helped me clean up the classroom and fetched the brooms to sweep the floor.


They thought it was great fun and enjoyed the look of  the room when we had finished. If we work together like this a few more times it might just be possible that they will continue to keep it clean.






On my walk to school I came across at least 50 adults and children  listening to a village elder standing just above the road. It was a sombre occasion  as a youth of about 20 had taken his life and the elder had called the police. It is a very close knit community and so there was great sadness in school today.  It was touching to see the two boys below supporting each other after they had heard the news.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Three teachers were absent as they were related to the family  and so I entertained some of the children in the playground. We played clapping and counting games and made pictures with pebbles. It was great  fun and we had a good time.  The advantages of learning through play have yet to be fully understood but much was achieved in the session this afternoon, with lots of English spoken, as well as an opportunity for the children to use their number knowledge in a practical way.


 

 

 On Saturday I went to a new large supermarket a little way from the   centre of Pokhara.  The taxi that took me on to Lakeside  was very old and battered but the very friendly  driver had bangles hanging everywhere which made a change from the usual Hindu God/Goddess 

  

 

My companions on the way home from school this afternoon. Granny is leading the way with her goat. The girls are carrying very heavy containers of water in their baskets. They are 16 and understand a little English.

  

 

 

 

 

 
 

Some of you may be interested in a link I came across on the HELP (Himalayan Education Lifeline Programme)

Please click on this link to view a youtube clip district of southern Nepal. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cp0pqtF_8t0   

What it says about the state of primary education in Nepal is  depressing. 

Almost four million people can still not read or write.

The Nepalese government plans to launch a campaign in December that aims to eradicate illiteracy within three years.  An ambitious goal for a country where more than 25 per cent of children still do not go to school.

　

　

 

 Today I took in some packets of playing cards to school (thank you, Nicky Jack)  and taught the children how to play snap.   They all crowded around me  in the playground and were so excited that at first it was very difficult to get them to understand that they had to wait their turn for some cards. Next week I will try and  introduce some new  games.

  

 

 

 

 

 

This is my faithful companion Boss showing me how to climb over the wall on the way home. 

 

                                                                                         

 

 

 

 

                                                                                      

 

                                     

 

 

  

This evening's beautiful sunset

Below is a photo of  some of the youngest children running to school at 10am in time for drill.  I was waiting for them at the school gate.

 

 

 Still dosed up with ibuprofen and paracetemol and have a blue bandaged wrist.  It is a half day at school tomorrow so if the wrist is not better I may get it looked at somewhere

Another Mis-hap

Unfortunately slipped and landed on my hand yesterday.   I have probably sprained my wrist but want to avoid going to the doctor.    Last year's posts will reveal why!   I will take care and advice and keep you posted.   It is difficult to type  so no emails today
 

So lovely to be back at Amar Jyoti today, and wonderful to see a dustbin and small tables in the Nursery and Kg classrooms. A few flash cards were also being used so there are definite signs of moving forward.

One of the boys wanted to take a photograph with my camera so here I am before climbing the hill home. By the time I get to the top of the ridge it is beginning to cool, and as I write this I have a hot water bottle tucked into my waistband to keep me warm.

 

Year l and Year 2 teachers,

Saradha and Tara gave me such a welcome and loved the pictures I brought over.











This is 6 year old Sophiya writing a message for Martha. Perhaps one day they will be able to email each other

Nepalese Government Text Books

Well, I suppose washing does oscillate in the wind....

 

 

This is a page from the government science text book for Year 1.

Walk to School

It was suggested to me that my time here might not be as fulfilling the second time around. If possible this trip is proving to be an even more joyful experience, in spite of the mis-haps so far. Bliss.



Yesterday I decided to walk to school and visit some of the people I got to know last year. I gave some photographs that had been printed in England (thank you, Mary)



Ganesh, with his friend, laughing at last year's photographs

I remembered the way past the bus stop

and the local public convenience,
















over the trough of spider's webs,




and finally the local laundry.

 There are 2 more little shops next to the school now. I haven't discovered what they sell yet - apart from sweets. I met some of the children who were in Year 1 last year and they joined me on my walk. They were on their way to collect water.   Susmita said she no longer goes to school. At least I think that's what she was saying. Let's hope I misunderstood and she will be in the classroom tomorrow.

　

Hari

Hari has now moved up with his two sons from Chitwan after a tragic accident earlier in the year. His wife was fatally wounded by a tiger whilst she was out in the fields collecting grass for her animals.

Hari told me how arranged marriages work over here and how he has had many proposals since the tragedy, but he is not looking for another partner. Hari's mother was betrothed at nine years old and had her first daughter when she was only fourteen. I hope we get many more opportunities to chat. He is such an interesting man who has been touched by great sadness. Hari's son Ganesh will be walking to school with me most mornings and I look forward to helping him with English conversation.

Pokhara

In a not very salubrious 'hotel' in Pokhara this evening. No hot water or electricity, grubby sheets and light from a tiny candle that is just about to burn out.

The view of Pokhara rooftops from my window.

  I do have about an hour of battery power on my netbook however, so am writing this and downloading photos so that I can send tomorrow when I charge everything up. 



Cows being moved on from the fruit stall

 Back up to the ridge tomorrow, thank goodness.

Bubita

 

Today I went  to see  Bubita. She makes beautiful necklaces and sells them to the tourists from a table at the side of the road. Thanks to Clang www.clang@deedes.com I had lovely tweezers to give her from England

 On the way back to the lodge I heard children shouting from the fields, and around every corner, 'Hello, Nicki Maam'.  I can't believe they have recognised me from last year so the word must be out  that I am back.  So heart-warming - everyone has made me feel so welcome again.











 

Where is Cyril?

No photos to download yet as one of the many disasters that have happened so far on this trip was  the power cut last night as I was downloading some shots of  the wonderfully vibrant and colourful wedding I went to on Tuesday.   I have also lost shots of  the celebrations and lights at Lucy's house.  The pictures are all in my memory bank, but I cannot find them on my camera and am sad not to be able to share them.

Tuesday in Kathmandu with Lucy was amazing.  The wedding in the morning and then an evening enjoying the delights of Patan at Festival time.

 I hope my stolen  money  has gone to a good cause, and after a brief moment of panic trying to contact the UK last night,  no-one will be able to access my account with the stolen bank card.

No mishaps today and all is well.  I can hear drums and music coming up from the valley as the villagers celebrate Diwali.   School is closed until Sunday I think, so have a little time to look at the local textbooks and prepare for next week.

No sighting of Cyril yet, by the way!


 

Wednesday 14th November

Oh dear!   Major problem.  My purse and credit card has 'disappeared' at the bus station....   Luckily it was not all my cash. It is great to be back but what an eventful few days.   The next post will tell all.

Back in Kathmandu

Tuesday 13th November

So wonderful to be back in Kathmandu again.  Landed safely last night after an eventful journey from Dubai.  Will write more and put up photographs when I get to Pokhara tomorrow evening where I hope it will be a little warmer!

Have had a fascinating and colourful morning going to a Nepali wedding.

Thanks for all the kind messages