Words

Nepal....majestic mountain range...often hidden from view and you'd never even imagine they could be there....and then...just a brief break in the clouds and there they are in all their glory. Wheat fields of different shades of maturity. Women drying the ripened grains in the sun. Wrinkled old woman asking about my bracelets and if they signify marriage as theirs do. A Nepali woman giving me a seat out of the hail storm while demonstrating the traditional Gorung bag she is in the process of weaving. Watching storm after storm roll across the mountains as they disappear under dark clouds and re-emerge. Listening to stories of life as a Bhutan refugee, whose family was kicked out of Bhutan for being Nepalese, yet not given rights in Nepal, and still longing to go home after 16 years, turning down opportunities for an American visa. Resting at a Nepali farm house and being told I look and laugh like the younger sister. In my travels I have met many wonderful people, but never so many who made me feel so welcome and who gave me such an authentic view of their lives in an area that sees many passing by. And why may I never be able to reintegrate into the US.... $6 for a nights accommodation, 2 meals, 4 cups of milky tea, and I think that's a bit pricey!

Himalaya's

Our MCC retreat, for MCC ex pat staff from Sri Lanka, India, Nepal and Bangladesh, with some guests from different places joining us as well, was held in Phokara. Phokara is a town nestles by a lake surrounded by the Himalaya's Annapurna range. During our 4 day retreat, however, you would not know this was the case. They were almost completely hidden until most people had returned to Kathmandu, and only those of us who stayed on a bit were able to truly see their glory! (you've got a few photos that aren't so great because it's not uploading the right ones....TECHNOLOGY....sometimes NOT my friend!)

A picture's worth...

I have 364 photos, which will probably convey the idea that I LOVE NEPAL!!! I had a really wonderful time visiting MCC's HIV partners, touring Kathmandu, hanging out in Phokara, and doing a 2 day trek (all I could fit in). O, yeah, and with the MCC retreat, my real reason for being there, as well. I definitely want to go back for more, and for those of you planning your holidays, put Nepal on the list. Rather than waffling on, look at what I saw!

NEPAL!!!

Working with MCC in Bangladesh doesn't have a lot of the extravagent perks you'd get with a lot of international organizations (that darn adherence to MCC value of simplicity of lifestyle) but a staff retreat in Nepal is certainly a treat! I arrived on Tuesday afternoon with a few extra days to visit HIV projects of MCC Nepal. My schedule had to be changed due to some political disruption and fuel crisis, but I was still able to visit a few sites...one with an interesting van ride up a steep mountain (hill in these parts, but to me, a mountain!) to see a very well organized peer educator program in what I would consider the middle of nowhere! Kids climb mountains for 2 or 3 hours to get to school, and how they bring in food and such is a mystery to me. It gave me good inspiration for MCC Bangladesh's newly emerging peer education program! Thursday night I had dinner with a colleague I'd worked with in Zambia and his wife which was really a nice treat (ate a massive, juicy steak...num!). With the change in program I ended up with a day to explore Kathmandu yesterday, which was interesting. I went to an ancient square of religious monuments, hit the local shops, ate organic veggie full lunch, and then visited Boudha...a place of Tibetan pilgrimage....all very interesting. Now I'm in Phokara and our retreat will begin shortly. I'm hoping to arrange a day or two of trekking before leave but won't have much time. Photos and more tales shortly!