"In this bright future you can't forget your past..."

The words of Bob Marley seem to always fit into my life and I can't think of a better lyric than this at this point in my life. My future is bright and looking back at all I have been through in life, my past 2 years, and the incredible journey I am finishing up are the things from the past that remind me how bright my future is. My road of recovery has been a road that I hope no person has to go down. I have kept my head high and pushed through the bad, the questions, the confusion, the selfishness of others, and the negative emotions. I have found what matters and what is meaningful in life. Lessons from the past are the motivation to keep chasing the bright future. I remain simple, no matter how complicated things become because of others. There are no regrets in life, only lessons. Even with the bad things that have happened to me in the last 2 years, the lessons I have learned show me that the future is bright. I just have to chase it.


Be fearless and play. Hoppipolla. Waka Waka. Maintain internal heights. Love all, serve all, create no sorry. Blissful company goes from sea to sea, from the depths of the valley to the mountain peaks. Toast my glass to all my loved ones to let them know that the stars well they still shine...


This journey is now a part of my past and I will never forget it. It was a challenge that pushed me to my limits. It was an experience that expanded my eclectic personality. I lived in an environment totally different from the one that I come from and now have the ability to view life from a new perspective. This journey was the catalyst for recovery. It will always remind me of how bright my future is.


I guess I should explain what the title of this blog (sigh) means. I am sure it is like any other quote, song, poem, or sentence in life and can have multiple interpretations, but for me the statement reflects part of my road of recovery. I had to reassess what I was doing with my life and establish my priorities after two events (hurt by another and near-death) that occurred in the last 2 years. I learned that life without reason, without meaning, and without virtue is not life at all. It is easy to sit around and watch TV shows, but is that really living? For me, the answer is no. I needed to find purposes for my life and work to pursue them. The purposes that I have found in life become my dharma and I constantly chase them. As I chased dharma, I found out that a lot of the purposes in my life deal with other people. I don't need another person to control my life and make me feel good, I interact with others and it is this interaction that is ubuntu. "We may not have it all together, but together we can have it all"...this is how chasing some of my life purposes (dharma) led me to solidify my belief in working for the betterment of society (ubuntu). That is about as open as I will get on here...I am going to remain top secret.


I have many memories and stories from this journey. They will always be with me and they are now part of the past that will make my future bright. I have grown in many ways. I did not change Nepal, but Nepal changed me. As it comes to an end I have so much to think back on. It is too much to write about, but the travels, teaching to Tibetans, working at a local hospital, immersing myself in a different culture and lifestyle, visiting some beautiful and holy sites, and experiencing rides of a lifetime have been enlightening. I will keep these memories always and share the pictures and stories with those who are special to me.

I will miss you Nepal.

To my apple, android, and kia family/honorary family member, my fire departments, and my small group of close friends...I will be home soon...as long as the pollution stays low and I don't have to live out the indian jones scene over the Holy Himalayas : / 


Kathmandu to Delhi to Newark to Columbus


It has been great rascals...find a purpose and chase it...humans are social animals and we should work to coexist.


Om Mani Padme Hum

kelly day...

I was vague about disappearing for a few days because I really did not know all of the details about this secret mission. It would not have been such an adventure if I knew all that was going to happen or talked about the adventure that I was about to go on. As much as I tried to not bring my culture with me, kelly day followed me. I have stayed fairly busy working two jobs and dodging traffic. My time here was coming to an end and there was the chance to add more adventure to the journey. Nepal is full of natural beauty (yes, the people here do not know what a trash can is or how to use one and there is no system in place to get rid of the refuse, but the country is still impressive once you block out the garbage) and I had 2 days to see more of it. There are two options to pick from: mountains or plains. A large number of people come to this country to trek and there are a large number of paths and areas to walk. It is the roof of the world. If you like hiking in the mountains, this is the place for grown-ups. The option of trekking can get a little expensive and you need some professional-grade gear to do it. Plus, to really enjoy it, you might want to set aside a few weeks. I did not have the time and did not want to buy the equipment or rent the equipment or pay what could easily reach into the thousands to see the mountains. I saw the Holy Himalayas from the air and I see them from the level of the stairs to the world's roof that Kathmandu is on. Plus, I have done a fair amount of walking on this journey...

This left me with only the choice of heading out of the mountains to the plains: the Terai, the region at the foothills of the Himalayas. The place to go is called Chitwan and it is a national park. All I had to do was talk with a local travel company and work out a deal. The deal was pretty good I say, 100 U.S. dollars for a tourist bus ride to a lodge in Chitwan, meals, why tour the wild on foot when you can take a tour on an elephant, a guide to help navigate you, the stay at the lodge, and a culture program. Two days, one night. It fit into the schedule that my kelly day allowed and it was well worth it. What started as an idea for a mini-adventure during an incredible journey provided a total of three adventures...

I do not watch a lot of TV, but I have seen bits and pieces of IRT Deadliest Roads (India) and Amazing Race. The past few days for me were a combination of these two shows...My body became the camera and my mind became the audience...and it was a trip to remember within the trip to remember...

Pre-Adventure: The scheduling was easy, like I said, go to the travel company and pretty much let them know what I want to do in the time frame I have and let them know what I can pay. Pick up the vouchers (bus, lodge/excursion details). Done. It was inevitable that I was going to get sick on a trip like this. I figured it would be fairly early on, but no, I got it at the end. I had a few minor illnesses throughout this journey, but from Thursday night to this very moment, I have been quite ill. From fever to a GI system that I guess has grown tired of new crazy foods, I have felt bad. Stomach cramps, headaches, body aches, chills, cough, snot, and the two directions GI works with, I have been sick. It does not stop me. I still like to believe that with your mind you can control your body. This is why I am not surprised to hear that things like yoga and meditation are great ways to beat illness, physical and mental. I can be sick in america and that is the plan. I am running out of time on this journey. Press on. It is just sickness, beat it by out thinking it. So I keep my mind too busy and leave little room for it to worry about how sick the body is...

I decided to take it easy on New Year's and ended up going to bed around 2230. Lame. I know, but I felt like death. I went out with my roommates to Thamel and it was crazy as expected, but I needed to try and eat something...cheese and tomato sandwich should be ok, right? I don't know the answer to that question, but I know that I liked the sandwich and it was neat to see a different crowd of people for New Year's and share a few hours with the cool roommates that I have. Then to bed...the race starts in the morning, board the bus at 0630, which means I need to get up at 0545 : /

Start the race...

Of course the race starts with me arguing with a taxi driver who wants to charge me 10 times what I have been paying for a cab throughout the duration of my journey, but it is an easy argument to win and I head to the bus. The bus out of Kathmandu is a tourist bus, but still a bus on the streets of Nepal and the beginning of adventure number one...get out of the mountains and down to the plains. It sounds simple, but the infrastructure of the country is not the greatest and riding in a vehicle in the city was an adventure on its own, so the bus ride out of a mountainous region should be interesting. This is where the connection to Deadliest Roads comes into play. I am not the driver, I am like the camera mounted on the truck. It was a spectacular 6 hour bus ride full of ups and downs, stops, swerves, and bumps. I sat on the left side of the bus and only had a brief view of what appeared to be 1000 meters to the bottom, but the road wrapped around a mountain and I spent the rest of the ride facing the mountain side and was constantly looking up at such an amazing range of mountains. There was also the opportunity to see many rural mountain villages along the way. At some point the bus reached a river and followed a path that moved against a mountain following the river to the plain. I don't know how a safe ride is possible in a society with poor infrastructure and no driving laws or no enforcement of driving laws, but I made it out of the mountains to Chitwan. The only thing I can think of is that drivers here have to stay more focused on their driving because there are no laws. Maybe americans rely on the driving laws to keep them safe instead of actually paying attention to what they are doing.

Adventure number two...

I survived the thrilling ride out of the mountains and made it to Chitwan on the Terai plain. I hopped a ride from the bus drop-off site to my lodge, the Hotel Jungle Lodge, and it was a very nice place. Quick lunch and then it was off to see some nature while riding an elephant. Note to self, look into getting an elephant driver's license, that would be awesome. I guess the elephant tour lasted about two hours and the thing walked through rivers across open land and into the jungle. Awesome, I just rode an elephant in Chitwan, Nepal.

It was a great break and a unique way to view nature. After the elephant tour, I was dropped off at a culture program and was able to have yet another exposure to a very unique culture.

CC and Kerah, I have been trying to stay vegetarian but it was hard to do so at dinner at my lodge : / I think the consensus at the table was that the meat was water buffalo, but who knows...be polite and eat the dinner the hosts prepared for you. Like I said, I was sick prior to eating this meal, so I am not really sure if it was the sickness I already had or the water buffalo that caused the terrible stomach cramps...power of the mind beats anything...sleep it off. In the morning after breakfast, a few of us went with a guide on a nature walk for about an hour. This was not as exotic as riding an elephant, but the view is exotic. Too many pictures and not enough internet...

Adventure three...

Hope you had fun on the plain, now get back to the mountains. Damn. Coming down was an adventure which only means that going back will be too : /  The package deal I had did not have a bus ride home, only a ride to meet a bus. So for 300 rupees, I got on a local bus and this proved to be a little more fast paced of a ride when compared to the tourist bus. I am pretty sure I was segregated and placed on the back of the bus away from the locals with some other guy I think from Germany, but it does not matter how big of a proponent of civil rights I am, this was not the time or place for a civil rights movement. On a positive note, I think you get a little more bounce from the bumps at the back of the bus...so sure add some more adrenaline to the ride. I sat on the left side of the bus just like I did for the ride down and for the ride home, I get to ride the edge : /  I just found the cure to any anxiety, fear, or sad feelings...take the ride from Kathmandu to Chitwan and make it round trip, 12 hours of your life and you will never have to deal with those problems again. I am a pretty fearless person and after this ride, I laugh at fear. The ride on the edge was the most exciting ride of my life...it makes KTM streets look like kiddie land. You just expect for it all to end at any second. I kept wishing my geologist friend was beside me so he could point out the geological formations of the mountains and valleys and tell me which piece of geology I had the highest probability of leaving my face print on when the bus went a few more inches to the left. It was a scary-thrilling-exciting ride and I was surrounded by remarkable views for another 6 hours. I highly doubt I will be phased by anything in life after adventure number 3.

It was me and death in a starring contest for 6 hours. After a while, death and I just got use to each other and enjoyed the ride. Power of the mind...set your mind to it and you can do it...don't live in fear and don't run from something just because you think it won't work or is difficult...put forth some effort.

It is always an amazing race on the roads here. Speed is dependent upon the grade of road and don't forget to just pass whenever you want...of course do it on a blind curve : /  What I saw on IRT deadliest roads was similar to the rides I experienced on this adventure within a journey, but experiencing it had a completely different impact in my brain. With so many impacts on my brain during this journey, I should probably have an MRI when/if I return. Tomorrow is the last day for me at the hospital :( Then I pack and then I leave.

Don't forget you have a brain between your ears, under you skull, and behind your eyes...Use it!

new year...

My career as an English teacher is now over. It was a short career and one that I can always think back on. I doubt that my effort to teach English made a difference, but the students were at least able to keep practicing. I now know that my own skills and practice of my own language need some improvement and it would not kill me to take an English class. What the F is a preposition? When do you use an adverb? Can  you mix adjectives with verbs? I do not understand all of the formalities of the English language and I have not been to school to be a teacher. Luckily, I am pretty good at improvising. It never mattered that my drawing skills were junk and my acting ability was terrible. The students were able to make some kind of connection in their minds that allowed them to understand to some degree the meaning of words and sentence structure. So am I in retirement for good or am I going to pull a Brett Favre? I am not at liberty to say. I just keep moving forward.

I am about to enter a new year. 2010 was interesting. It was my year of recovery and even with drama from others, I think I have made good progress. I do not live for the short term, I look at a total picture. 2010 was a good start to recovery and 2011 I will continue on the recovery path. It has only just begun.

"be fearless and play" I may or may not be away for a few days. The ambiguity of an adventure is what makes the adventure exciting. Happy New Year rascals.

a walk to remember...

Everyday is a walk to remember. Not only on a journey such as this, but during every second of every hour of every day. It does not matter if I am in a high stress society, like America, or an impoverished society like Nepal. Life is too short to sit and let it idly pass by. I know that I am here now and will be gone sooner than I can even think. There has got to be more to life than going to work, living life only to have a sense of being desired, becoming consumed by stress when things in life do not occur exactly the way I want them, and any other thing, idea, emotion, or event that clouds my mind and blinds the inner being to actually connecting with the world around me. I don't need a ring to feel loved, true love is the mental connection shared by two souls who can communicate. I don't need things to make me feel happy, happiness comes from the pursuit of virtue. Why sit down and look at a box constantly when they world is such a big place? Maybe it sounds crazy, but I don't care. I look for what is meaningful in life. The walk that is the journey that is life is where life's quintessential meaning is hidden. Search for it.

Here is a glimpse of a walk to remember...

*As much as I try, the videos will not load. I apologize. I am however not too mad about this because I live a life of secrecy and it pains me to open up so much. Videos can be seen if/when I return...I may or may not be working on a secret mission...no worries hooligans...me knows what I's doing :P It is all about the story...

tea time...

I had a lot of tea today, like 5 tea breaks. They just kept happening. It was pretty neat and not a bad thing, but just bear with me as I write, because I am going to be going back and forth to the bathroom. My GI system is about as close to homeostasis as possible, but I drank a lot of tea.

Why so much tea? It is just the culture here. The first one was because I had a cup at brunch. I have been walking over to Boudhanath in between the morning knox county american classes. It is a pretty peaceful place and it is neat to find a quiet restaurant and take in the sights, watch the mix of people, and sit in peace for a bit.

Of course when I get back to the HSYWE for the second class the nice kitchen guy is going to bring me tea. So I play charades, draw pictures, and try to get the class involved by having them write words on the board while sipping tea. The tea is good (yeah I am different physically, but I like it and that is what matters to me). The traditional tea here is made with hot milk, tea (not sure exactly what species of tea yet, but it is tea), and sugar. Don't be offended or hateful when I am making Nepali tea in America.

I am such a fan of my mid-day break, the walk between the Himalayan Society and the Hospital. Everyday I see something new and everyday I get to observe a different way of living from a very close perspective (it may make one realize how good they have it...and consider all of the reasons why they have the lifestyle they do...and stop complaining...sorry that all slipped out).

I wish I could load a video of a walk on the street, but I can't. I can barely load these pictures.

Don't get jealous Lexus. It was taking a nap and I didn't talk to or pet it.

I told you I would find a card on the street ;)

Back to the story. Maybe I should have been vaccinated for attention deficit disorder...it must be in the water or air or food here. Nice walk to the hospital. Tea was ready upon arrival to the emergency department. Drank more tea. Worked for an hour helping out when possible in the emergency department and then...

Another class : / Ok, I am being dramatic. It really went well. There were about 20 people in the cardiac class and the scenery would make most of the other AHA instructors I know jealous (ha! Don't be jealous, find a way to outdo me...ready, set, go). The staff who attended were very interested, asked sound relevant questions, took notes, and I am pretty sure understood the basic concepts of the 2010 guidelines. I did not have a written test or anything to give, but I was constantly questioning them at the end and they were able to answer them correctly. My poor attempt at drawing the ACLS Algorithm Circle must have worked (picture saved for comical reference in the states). I was able to copy all of the 2010 documents I had to a disc so that the hospital could have them for reference. I think their plan is to print out the new ACLS guidelines and circle and post them in each department. All in all, a good class for the hospital, I tried my best to pass on what little knowledge I have. Oh, and of course there was tea in class.

The rest of the afternoon was spent back in the emergency department. It was slower than usual today, so we had some (more) tea and talked about everything (i.e. America, languages {apparently the best way to learn Nepali is to learn from a Nepali girlfriend...maybe I will give it a shot, ha!}, healthcare, my job, their job, weather, clothes, my hair : / and when/if I am coming back to Nepal). The most interesting topic was the question about coming back to Nepal. It is also interesting to me how one idea, one conversation can open the door to many more ideas and questions. The idea is set up a AHA group to do a cardiac class tour around the area visiting the hospitals. The ED staff really likes this idea. I think it is very interesting and I know the hospital I am at is very interested and open to any help they can receive. The other side of the story is I think I may have set myself up for a second job...like if anyone or any group wants to go to Kathmandu (hint), I could be the guide. It is an idea and a good one I think. Could it happen? Maybe. But life is a maybe, so I do not know what the outcome of this idea will, would, or could be. What I do know is the crew at the ED assigned me homework and I really need to go complete it before I fall asleep. I am tasked with writing my name, correctly of course, in Nepali : / I always try my best so I will go and and give it my best attempt.

don't blink and don't live in fear, you may miss your life changing opportunity and end up with something that is second best

i can't wait to get home, but i don't want to leave...

I find myself in this perplexing situation. The end is fast approaching, but this has only just begun. There is more to do, but I have done everything I can. I look like a local walking the streets, but I give about 30 points a day to the taxi drivers for the "clip a tourist with your mirror" game. I have adapted to the food, but hang on I am going to excuse myself for a minute. I grew a beard, but I really can't grow a beard. The two jobs I am working are pretty routine now, but I see new things everyday. I fit in, but stick out. I am helpful, but confusing. I have learned so much, but have not learned enough. I can't wait to get home, but I don't want to leave.

The journey continues...

Three more days of teaching, some kind of BLS/ACLS/PALS class, and same same in the emergency department. Walking the streets, riding the bus, and observing the world in a way I do not comprehend. It is just me and I. We are cool. Together we blog (sigh), it helps keep us sane.

Everyday I see something new. At times these things are awkward, other times they are confusing, and still a lot of the time they are interesting: nighttime bus rides (60 people in a 25 passenger bus), down a dark alley behind a wall through a gate lives a karaoke bar building/hut thing, and medical techniques that are different yet work. Tomorrow it all starts again. The routines of life. I do not stay blinded by the routine, I push on, work harder, learn more, and chase a purpose. My eyes are open and my mind is open in a way that the concept of gyananakashu may actually be working.

Don't live in fear. Don't run to what is easy. Push on. Work hard. Take the risk. Pursue the challenge. You can reach a higher level if you put your mind to it. Running from the "maybe" can only hold you back.  

save the date...

Think different. The title does not carry the meaning in this post that a lot of people revolve their life around...how a small event becomes a life purpose instead of ascribing action to living a life of purpose. This is a note to myself to remember 29 December 2010 (or 14-09-2067, I think that would be the date according to the Nepali calendar). This is a day when I will work towards completing one of my purposes in life. This purpose is to be helpful in any situation that I am in. The hospital is in need of a cardiac care class, something to update the staff to the current scientific guidelines for management of cardiac issues. Excuse me? You want me to do what? I am just a paramedic, like the lowest of the low in american healthcare. I mean we are expected to know how to and to fix any medical problem, but we are constantly abused, used, and paid like, pardon my north korean, shit. Shhh...breathe...avoid the anxiety attack...remember purpose. Right. One purpose I have in life is to be helpful in any situation. Be as helpful as possible. Ok. I am a BLS instructor, ACLS provider, and a PALS provider. I should be able to pass on some kind of information. Do it.

When it comes to teaching, I guess I feel more comfortable with medical stuff (what little I know). There is at least a higher number of people at the hospital who know or know some english. I think class would go better. I will try my best. Come on it can't be that hard because, luck in my favor for once shows that AHA seems a little more realistic and rational in the 21st century compared to when Jake rode the medic and caught the wind. Wednesday at 1300, attempt something that can give purpose to your life...chasing these life purposes is the beauty that is the journey that is life.

Teaching english (or knox county as I now refer to it) is another event that pushes me to chase this same purpose in life. It is just a little more complicated, like facebook official. There is beauty in the challenge. I don't mind a challenge, it invigorates my mind. I am really doing my best to create a learning environment, but it is difficult. It is really hard to get a class involved when it seems like all of their previous classes did not involve them. I am trying to get them to write, think, and interact. Such a challenge, but the teachable moment for me is to be sure that if I ever teach again, make sure the class is not a bunch of parrots.

So a dog, a cow, and some monkeys walk into a bar...

what a journey creepers..."there's enough war and strife, let's give thanks for the good things in life"

something beautiful...

This is what I want. This is what I chased today and will chase tomorrow. It is an incredible journey. Life is beautiful. I push myself to keep waiting for all of the beauty it has to offer. For some things I do not wait long. On this journey, I wake up and quickly become part of the beauty. There are other things that I will keep waiting for. I do not sit idle, I constantly pursue my desires, where my heart leads me, and look for what captivates my mind. It is a beautiful cycle and an enlightening journey.

Today I experienced a colorful world of everything from art and spirituality to food and friends. Doors in my mind have been opened as I am in a constant state of learning. All this is doing is setting me up to keep taking steps forward and keep growing to higher internal heights. Connecting the natural world to the spiritual world to the social world was an amazing experience and more beautiful that words can describe. Pictures do no justice. I hold all of the beauty in my mind and will someday give all of these secrets away. Something beautiful, someday...

Here is a picture of me and some monkeys like you requested mother. The little rascals are sneaky so I had to keep my eyes open constantly. The travel today to the Pashupati was a blessing. It is an experience that I will always remember and hold dear to my heart. Beautiful.

Dz, AGW, CC: Remember Bourbon Street? Ok it is a little blurry in my mind and maybe yours too, but a great time. Being in Thamel last night, during a holiday and the weekend, reminded me of Bourbon Street. It was just one half the width, plus taxis and rickshaws and dogs and asian techno music. Good times. All of that after an amazing Christmas Eve dinner with my roommates. It is great to talk with a group of very cool girls and hear their response to my past recent experiences. They have helped to clear my mind and reiterate the fact that I have grown leaps and bounds in the past few months. Beautiful.

I hope your holiday was the best. May God bless all and to all a good night.

just another day...

Apparently there was a bus strike this morning. I did not see it on the morning news because there is none that I know of. I am sure there is, there is just no TV at my house. I don't think strikes are too uncommon here, but I was not on strike. I needed to get to HSYWE to teach! The taxis were still in operation and I hopped in one. This cost me quite a bit more...I will break it down for you: bus ride 10 rupees, taxi ride 200 rupees : /  Guess what? It is not that bad. It ends up being about 2.50 U.S. dollars. What I was not a fan of: the roads being not as hectic. I needed my morning fix of KTM street chaos, but without the buses, it was pretty chill. Teaching is such a challenge. There are times when I think they are learning and then there are times when we hit a brick wall. I am sure this is true for any teacher, but it is really difficult when there is no way to explain anything. I think my art and charades skills are getting worse. I know that a native speaker of english is of great benefit to the students, but a native speaker of Knox County American English is probably confusing the crap out of them. Oh Knox County...always going to be a part of me.

I think I have had enough kid experience in these past few visits to Orchid Garden to last me a decade. Man these things have a ton of energy. Almost too much. It was great to see them have a good time. It will be great for me to have quiet. Here are the kids sending a holiday wish.

So tonight I am kind of breaking my rule to not be so westernized. The house is headed to Thamel and we have dinner reservations at Fire and Ice...like an Italian pizza kitchen. I need pizza. Tomorrow is a weekend day...so who knows what I will get involved in. There are a few ideas floating around. I really need to watch the the Indian Jones Clip if one idea becomes reality : /

Happy Holidays

2067

It is so confusing. The title is the year here. I thought it was all supposed to be over 21 December 2012?? Tricks in my head. Lots of tricks in my brain. It seems like most people in the emergency department still think I am a doctor...haha...I keep telling them I am not and never will be. I get asked to do a lot of things. Luckily the emergency department does not play the ice cream game because if they did, I would be buying a lot of ice cream. The only person who plays the ice cream game over here is me, so I bought myself some. Luckily I have morals. Thank you parents, education, mentors, life-experience, work, and maturity. If I wasn't such a moral person, I could be doing a lot of medical procedures I am not trained to do. I know people without morals...someone who cheated, people who lie, thieves, people who hate, manipulators (especially Lexus)...and these people get nowhere in life. I am not going above my scope of practice here, I think I could without any trouble, but this is not an experiment. I am morally obligated to assist in the emergency department according to my scope of practice. There are just different tools and ways to this here. These differences in the health care system are the reason I owe ice cream, not because of me bending my morals. Below is a picture of the trauma room. Don't freak out, it is all good!

The time I spend in the afternoon at the emergency department places me with two shifts. They change shifts about two hours after I show up. This is cool. We are all kind of getting to know each other and I end up getting to have tea with both shifts. I wish america would chill out and have a tea break. Maybe I should try this on 3s. I am really trying to not count down the days until I leave, but the reality is, it is fast approaching. There is a lot to do still. Damn. I keep pushing on. I am trying to get all of my AHA stuff together because there are a lot of interested people in the E.D. who want to see some new cardiac information. Why do I have something in my brain that keeps me active? Maybe now that I am back to the world of communication I will find out why.

Above is the HSYWE where I am teaching. It is a nice place and the people are very hospitable. Today they took me to Boudhanath. It was a great short trek...it did not seem like the typical tourist route. I have always enjoyed staying on a more local path when I am in a new place...like agw, cc, me walking to some cool food joint in NOLA. This place is pretty holy to these people and to all Buddhists. For me, it ranks high on the list for most impressive things seen in life.

Oh, speaking of teaching. Today was just another day at the office. I show up, play charades, and the students get their recommended dose of laughter for the day. I think they have devised a plan for translating my poor art and poor acting of an english word to their native language. I guess this is working, but I am not sure if the translation is accurate. What else can I do? They are at least interested in the class and seem to be learning something. I am trying to remain optimistic and think that I am being helpful in someway. I am also pretty sure that if my career choice was that of a teacher, I would have been quickly fired.

Back to the grind tomorrow. It is 2067, life is crazy beautiful. It is an afternoon break from the hospital and most of us from the house are heading to Orchid Garden to do a Christmas party for these things...

Happy Holidays creepers. Everyday is a holiday here...

No walk in America...

Yeah, I know. We drive everywhere. I like to walk from the Himalayan Society to the hospital. It gives me about a half-hour to observe an environment that is completely different from what I am use to. I am pretty sure the lady that I walked with was a student in one of my classes (not 100% sure, I don't take attendance...that would require me to take a class) and she was very polite. I think most of the local people I am around try their best to or at least act like they can be my guide. It may be part of the culture, I am not sure. She kept explaining how to hop on a tuk-tuk, then a bus, or if neither, just take a taxi. It was pretty funny. It took a minute for me to explain to her that I just wanted to walk (language difference), but she mentioned something about her being in Colorado (?) at some point in life and how people "no walk in America". I got such a kick out of this. I mean I guess she is right, we do pretty much drive everywhere...even in town. She said something to the effect of nice cars and nice roads, but did mention how walking is good for you. It was neat to walk and talk with her...another reason to not catch a ride somewhere, get involved and interact with society. Speaking of interacting with society, I am glad that my reputation of being a walking carnival followed me around the world (or across Kerah, I am still researching if the world is flat or round). So I am walking down this road after the lady turned and headed home, it is pretty dusty and busy (cars, people, dogs, tuk-tuks, trucks, bicycles, motorcycles, cows, chickens, you know the usual) and I have to quickly change to ninja-cat mode to avoid a car, a dog, a guy, and a street-fruit-vendor-cart. The movement worked out well, I did not get erased, but the finish was not the greatest, I landed in something squishy and slightly greenish-brown in a rut along the road. Damn. I am not entirely sure what it was, but I have an idea since I have spent a lot of time in the Knox area. I think I was probably about to swear or something, you know instantly after I felt the squish, but I looked up and there was an awkward pause between me and two ladies who were sitting on a little hill against a fence. And then...the laughter. I guess they thought it was funny and when I saw them laughing, I replayed what just happened in my head and it ended up being pretty funny. Comedy, shared round the world...I am happy I can be of assistance even when it means I have to step in yak or cow s#!t, whatever it was.

I observed a few things things today...things I will not comment on. They aren't necessarily bad, just different. I am in no position here to really do anything. I am not here to change the world and I highly doubt I am even making a difference. If any world is being changed, it is my own and a journey such as this is making a difference inside my own head.

English class is pretty much a game of Charades. I suck at charades. This game is probably another example of the comedy that follows me wherever I go. I think there are some Queen's English words that have been snuck into the book. It is pretty clear to me that I don't even know the proper workings of american english let alone the Queen's, so again, I am a walking carnival.

Tomorrow should be fun, I think I am being taken to Boudhanath...like a holy Buddhist site, it is special to the Tibetan people I am hanging out with. I live for adventure. I also need to search all of my files for the 2010 AHA guidelines, a doctor at the hospital wanted me to do some kind of a class : / The journey just keeps getting more interesting...

Here is some color. This was probably taken looking out the back of a tuk-tuk. I also need to talk to my good friend, who is a geologist, about having some Himalayan style mountains installed as the backdrop for the view from my front yard...it is the most aesthetically awesome view ever. 

"chaos and commotion wherever I go"

I wonder if all of the laws and regulations, things to quell the fears in american society, went away, would society work? Probably not. America, from a historical perspective, is young and I think fear is ingrained in our society. It is going to stay and to kill the fear of anything that is different rules are set in place and we end up with so many rules because there are so many different people, different schools of thought, different beliefs, and different ways of living. These differences lead to a very structured society where there is regulation to make one person happy and in turn pisses off another because they don't share a similar view about the topic. Ok, off the soapbox. The point is, there are not a lot of regulations here and yet, society seems to work. I don't know if one could even start to regulate such an old culture. I am a huge believer in human rights and freedoms and blah blah blah and I think there is work to be done over here, but a way to make it happen, I have not a clue. Marisa and I had a discussion with Scott (the program coordinator here) a few days ago and we talked a lot about these topics. An interesting part of the conversation was the question do you believe that people are inherently good or inherently bad. It seems a majority of the time in america we follow the thought that people are inherently bad, they are out to get us, take my money, not love jesus the way I want them to...very fearful. Fear and hatred are like best friends. Example: Terrorist attack, now all muslims are evil and out to kill me, no you can't build a house of worship unless it is my religion (aka jesus). Terrible. Over here, there must be the belief that people are inherently good. The few regulations, the ability to just walk into whatever you want, people are brothers and sisters, and countless other examples. I know here you are kind of just born into a certain class and you just go about life that way. I have not seen anyone afraid, hateful, scared, violent, or even angry. It does not seem like these people are fearful. For me, a stupid american, it is constant chaos and commotion, but by stepping back, observing the surroundings, forming these ideas I am talking about in my head, and making myself operate as a part of society I begin to realize that things are not so chaotic. For these people it is normal. I just have to work hard at fitting in with the population I am surrounded by. The video is just a couple of minutes long and it is of me walking from the Himalayan Society to the hospital in Chabahil (a neighborhood) today. Nothing too crazy. I have seen more crazy around here, but it is pretty neat. I guess I figured why take a tuk-tuk and get bounced around when I could walk and see more. Ok so the video will not load so I will try to load it while I sleep.

I need to spend this evening refreshing my memory on the workings of the english language. Wow. For some reason a part of the lesson for the intermediate class included rhyming. That was interesting...haha...I think they eventually came to understand what rhyming is, they just did not know all of the words. Oh and then there are those situations where there are words like ten and tin, pen and pin...total confusion. In the other class, there was about an hour of presenting the use of a and an. Why am I teaching again? I do not know all of the rules for my own language. I will keep trying my best. Lunch with Tibetan people is pretty cool...you should try it. Here is a picture of my failed attempt at being a teacher...oh yeah...keep trying my best.

Nothing crazy at the hospital. I have to come to realize that emergency departments around the world see the same patients (abdominal pain, back pain, kid with a cool cut in his head needs stitches, ill). The difference is how these problems are treated. Not that treatment is bad here, there are different treatment options. America has whatever it wants and needs. Not the case here. It seems like training and schooling are maybe not as in-depth for healthcare professionals here, but people still receive the care that they need. It is all good. Do what you can, when you can Trevor.

I am for the most part use to hanging out with myself, but I usually don't really talk to me as much as I have been recently and I'm kind of getting annoyed by myself. Seriously. I am sitting in my room writing to myself. I need a hobby. It is hard to skype because I am like 13 hours in the future from home, but at least I got lucky this morning ;)

Time for dinner and then hopefully I have enough computer battery to take an english refresher course : /
I'm on a journey, whatever your journeys are hooligans, give it your all...
damn I miss rhinos and tigers

under attack...

Ok, calm down. I am not in any danger or harm. I am safe. Honestly, I have not seen any violence here at all. Since I am from America, the infrastructure of Kathmandu is constantly attacking me, that is very clear by now. Let's see, for example, today I was probably almost erased by 23432 cars/taxis, 9874 buses, 324 rickshaws, 83382 tuk-tuks, 2341234234 people, 1312434 bicycles, 838243 dogs, 2 goats, and a cow...just a little below average, it was a little extra dusty today. It is so amazing to watch this conglomeration of "stuff" move about with what seems to be little difficulty. Now add me and my western mind to the flow of things and my ninja-cat skills are really tested. I hope they are improving. I need to be sure to suppress my anxiety so that the streets of KTM do not notice my weakness. I have a small belief filed away in the back of my head that says a large majority of Ohio drivers, um, suck and watching the drivers over here definitely shows that their skills will beat out Ohio drivers any day. Yeah, so I am constantly under attack by the streets. The picture does not really convey the craziness. But it can maybe play with your imagination. The city life here is so interesting. It is very laid back, everyone is on Nepal time. The days really go slower and are less stressful. Yeah, yeah I know, it is because the country is poor and not really developed...I just like life a little chill, ya know? What is difficult to comprehend is how such a mellow way of day to day life turns into a train-wreck of a disaster once you hit the streets. Whatever the case, it works for them and is out to get me, but I keep trying my best to blend in.

How else was I attacked today? Oh yeah add pollution to the city life section about KTM. I should go have a chest x-ray if/when I return home, surely would be interesting. Back to the story...focus...I guess the next attack comes from within me. I should have probably paid a little more attention in primary school english and language classes. I taught today and at times I felt like I was a student again (haha). I am at the Himalayan Society for Youth and Women Empowerment (HSYWE) and it is a really neat place. This group is really committed to preserving the Tibetan culture and language. If you don't know, the Tibet saga is very intriguing yet depressing. I wish things would change for them. I know His Holiness the Dalai Lama has really given the Tibetan Buddhist message and the story of Chinese oppression to the west and hopefully one day things will change. As for now, I can do what I can to help. It is not a lot in the big picture of this Tibetan story, but I guess it is meaningful. I am teaching two morning classes (in yet another neighborhood, Mahankal...damn...I am all over the place) Monday through Friday. The first class is intermediate english and is pretty much reading comprehension-also known as my failure at art: trying to draw pictures on the board to paint a mental picture of the word being questioned (i.e. the word is tiny, so I draw Mt. Everest and a little stick figure...I think they got it...they laughed...probably just at me). I guess this is the other attack from within...Trevor you should have worked on your drawing skills, you suck at art. The next class is a beginner course, so I am stuck teaching the alphabet, pronunciation, vowels, consonants, and again more failed pictures being drawn on the board. All in good fun. It is great to see the people smile.

These people have it figured out. The world needs to help them!

Attack number three...yeah they just kept coming...Justyna (roommate) was heading to a daycare to meet up with Karin (another roommate who is placed there) and we decided to skip the hospital and go hang with some kids. The trek through the city was again very interesting. Upon arrival, the kids are finishing lunch (do you even have to guess? dal bhat, duh!). Of course after lunch it is play time and of course kids 1 trevor 0. Jeeze, it was like a blitzkrieg assault on me...the chained up playground puppy even got me. These kids were pretty cool. They are lucky to have this daycare center. I am lucky to have survived the onslaught of rug-rats...it is pretty obvious that I am not the worlds best with kids, but it was fun. It was great to see the happiness in their eyes.

Lots of attacks today. A close friend from here left today, so that was a bummer. I think I had a little GI attack this morning, but all seems to be back to normal. Add nighttime to moving through the streets and you really need to up your game. But even with all the attacks, life goes on. Keep moving, keep pushing myself to the extreme. Maybe try and go to sleep earlier tonight and opt out of girls movie night...

Liberty and justice for all hooligans...thank you Senate for making the move to give liberty to all of the American men and women who serve the country in our military.

stick out like a sore thumb...

The story of my life here. I don't think it is a bad thing necessarily, I think it can be turned into something good. I wish there was a secret camera crew that could capture the reaction of the local people around me. I have a feeling it is extremely comical. I mean I stick out in America, I definitely stick out here. It is not that bad in the "tourist" areas, but I am kind of in a position where I am not a tourist. Of course I stick out more. My goal, to stick out even more by helping, caring, giving, respecting...my time here in KTM is short, use it wisely. This isn't so hard. Pair my upbringing with public service and it is easy to adapt to become efficient and effective in all that I do. Respect is the big lesson here. This is a completely different culture. Everything is different and it is easy to become closed-minded, especially in healthcare. I am constantly around healthcare at home and it is very different. Instead of being hateful to the healthcare here, I should keep helping in every way possible. There are things going on in the emergency department that I can help with. I will never do some of these things in America, but respect for the situation of healthcare in KTM means it is ok, this is how it is done here. So by helping out with an open mind and respect of the culture that I am in I can stick out even more. Life is too short to not stick out...

FYI...MTV or Gambier needs a Buddha Bar...sweet place, so chill...our house went there last night and I am sure we will go again. I may look into becoming a business owner in KC ha.

Tomorrow is the day I start my english teaching career :/ Wish me luck rascals...

vegetarian paradise...

I am not technically a vegetarian in American, but over here I guess I am. It is not a bad thing and all of the food I had today was pretty cool. I like how you can use dal bhat as the foundation for such a cool mixture of veggies and stuff...note to self, and it shouldn't be a new note, I should know this: red=spicy/hot/ouch :(
I think my favorite today was the veggie momo (about a buck ;) with a cool sauce...I am going back tomorrow!

I have met some very cool people and today was no different. I did a lunch thing with some community activist and there is nothing more interesting than their story. Life is all about the story! You better start writing and make it legendary. That is what I am learning from a lot of people around here. They work so hard...Americans should step up their game. I think another thing I learned was...Why take a vacation to a place where you have all the comforts of home? Get involved...you will see more, experience more, and overall be more happy.

Today was the only weekend day in Nepal. I am also getting used to Nepal time...pretty much like do one thing a day, whenever...scheduling is not really necessary here...very chill...I love it. It will be something that I miss when I am gone. So now, I have to add teaching English to my Nepali time schedule. I talked with that group leader today and will start Monday. I think my plan is to teach in the morning and then head to the emergency department in the afternoon. Get involved!

Today was good. It has been nice talking and sharing ideas, I never really did that over the last two years. I think part of this whole journey is to search my self and communication is a way to explore my own mind. Tomorrow I am going to be at the hospital. Tonight the house hits Thamel....crazy! Oh, speaking of crazy, I have on video the view from the front passenger seat a taxi ride...if time allows I may or may not give you a sneak peak at the thrilling and deadly ride...fml, I am about to do one in the dark. So today was like hangout and talk about everything possible as I walked the streets with a friend from the house...good times...eye opening. We are off to KTM.

and so it begins...

Today is the day that I began life as a member of the Kathmandu community. Get up, eat breakfast, head to the hospital, almost time for dinner, and then who knows with the crew here. There is a minor change about to happen, not so much a change I guess but an addition. I have a type of personality that goes after everything that means something to me with my whole heart. A local group asked our group leaders if anyone could teach some English. I want to see all that I can in Nepal, plus somebody's got to work around here, and beings that me is a speaking english for the hole life and knows what gets spoke about when people needs a talking to, I jumped all over it. I have to go make the call here in a minute. So it looks like I am doing hospital work and English teaching...

As a member of the Kathmandu community, you don't get excited about the bus ride, or show the excitement...it is so hard not to, it is just fantastic and it is hard to hide the fact that I am on the edge of my seat or grabbing on to something. I went to the hospital today, got introduced to people and started helping out in the emergency department. Let's just say that health care is present in Nepal, it is just a little...ok...a lot different than America's good, yet greedy (we can't even make sure that our entire country, the greatest on earth, is insured) system. There are ten beds in the emergency department. It is staffed by a Doctor, a CMA (which I think is a certified medical assistant-kind of like physician assistant in U.S.), a nurse, and some kind of tech. I am able to kind of just fit in where I am useful, things like helping with removing stitches, cleaning and dressing wounds, vitals, ECGs, IV, medications, pretty much what a paramedic does in U.S. only minus a lot of tools. I just hope that tomorrow I do not hear "you know jugular"again from a CMA while I am looking for an IV...wow...caught me off guard, I found no vein, CMA EJed the patient...haha what? Patient needed IV...no worries. Why is it that I get stuck holding hands a lot with psych patients? I really just hope my historical past of being a S#!t magnet for KCH does not follow me to Helping Hands (that is my hospital-Helping Hands Community Hospital Chabahil, Kathmandu). Good work today. I was able to kind of see how the hospital operates and now have to fix my brain to not get scared about how different it is...just help where I can. So the Kathmandu life is pretty settled in my head now. Improvise and adapt. I stick out like a democrat does in Knox County here in Kathmandu. But it is not a bad thing...I just have to go with it...I have to become a functioning member of it. So I am saying things that are very different to my native language now, dodging cars and buses and motorcycles and people (note to self, in America, you go to your right when you are walking towards another person...U.S. drives on the right side of the road...Nepal...go to the left next time you are walking towards someone, they drive on the left), I don't know how I haven't been drilled yet...must be my keen situational awareness. Tomorrow (Saturday) is the one weekend day over here, but I think I am going to go to the hospital for a while...weekends + emergency departments=crazy

I still need to research the actual city a little more...it is just weird to see the "locals" wearing surgical masks and the cops in riot gear (but I have not seen any violence...Buddha+Vishnu=peace, for the most part) I know what the mask is for...it is very dusty and pretty much pollution central here...whatever...experience all that you can in life.

It may be hard to see on here, but those are the Holy Himalayas in the background of the city. People everywhere in this valley and I am just one of them...

I must go. I need to call about the English teaching stuff (me a teacher? wtf?). Kritan wants to play. I will try to get some pictures up in the next few days, but its looking like if you want to see them, there will have to be a par-um-get together when/if I return : P

Oh I did find out that Nepalese beer for me is just like American beer Nick, so if you were looking for a more detailed review, I will contract in a roommate haha.

Create No Sorrow hooligans...

you want listen?

It is late here and like lunch at home. Acclimation to my current environment must not be complete. Acclimation to the world...always a game...


Today was a good day, like yesterday and tomorrow. I played tourist-not like typical tourist, but tourist like tour the city, get a better feel of the culture, and develop a better understanding of the people...like who may be at the hospital in need of help.

So the picture...this is Kathmandu from a higher view, the street level to come. Today we headed out to see the city with Santi (she is like the guide for those who live at the house). It was great to get out and see some of the city. There is something awesome about hitting the streets and seeing everyday life. Another thing that is becoming more and more awesome is travel by automobile. Holy S#!t. All I can say is IRT Deadliest roads seems crazy, but will not give you any insight to how the infrastructure works. I am honest when I say think of the craziest amusement park ride you have ever been on, you know one that gets your adrenaline pumping, and then multiply it by 2344534564364345. Seriously, it is the ride of a lifetime. We rode a bus and we rode a cab. Both were similar but yet different, like big crazy ride and smaller crazy ride. I may be slowly becoming a junkie for the Kathmandu Street Ride. One cool thing about the bus ride, was the chance to get packed in beside some kid who wanted to share his MP3 player (hey...you want listen?)...sure something to help calm the nerves that are present about me being ready to die when this bus hits the motorcycle, slides into the rickshaw, takes out the people, runs into the telephone pole, and then lands in the ditch...I love music...so me and dude rocked (note: each sharing one earbud) some 3 Doors Down I'm here without you baby and some Flo Rida...haha good times...probably for everyone on the bus who got to see a Nepali kid and an American dude failing at signing the songs out loud...

We made our way to Swayambhunath and it is so beautiful. It is really neat to see how people pursue their inner spiritual being. When you realize that all religions are the same and one or some are not better than another, you can really see the true spirituality of life...

This is Marisa (she is also a volunteer) and me at the beginning of Swayambhunath. It is such an awesome complex of Buddhist architecture, spirituality, colors, mantras, monkeys (it is known as the monkey temple), dogs, people, prayer wheels, nature, and peace. It is also a trek to remember. You pretty much climb a mountain as you start at the bottom (where the Chinese Buddha, Nepali Buddha, and Hindi Buddha are and and work your way to the top...

The trek is physically demanding, but all of the beauty you see along the way makes it worthwhile. Once you reach the top you realize why Buddha's eyes are at the top...

The above pictures are at the top of the trek and below is the Kathmandu Valley. (I can't upload anymore pictures right now, the internet is slow and it is late) From the top the only place to go is the bottom so we went back down and at the bottom, we walked through some neighborhoods, saw a lot of people,  and dodged a lot of things with motors and wheels. Everyone has to go to Thamel...it is like Time Square, but Katmandu. All of the hopping around through a very unique and beautiful (unfortunately poor) city was a such a unique experience. There are a ton of pictures....if you want to see them all there will have to be a date set when I get back....

All of the sight seeing was great. Eating momo and drinking banana lasi, can't beat it. But the best thing about today was connecting with people and having conversation. After our journey, we met up with some NPO directors and talked about current needs and current plans about the projects that they are involved in. One of the most important things that I took from this is that humanitarian aid is a game. Are we ever going to fix the need for aid? Highly doubtful, if not impossible. What seems to be happening is the dependency for aid. People get aid and then live off of the aid. The game is not going to change. What can really help out is teaching people how to play the game. Educate people in need of how to obtain aid (English, Computers, Word/Excel, Phones, Social Networks, Email, Communication). People need to seek help and know how to turn their ideas for solutions to social problems into reality. There is a lot of pain in the world and there is the need for people (um like Westerners) to become part of the pain...give up your "perfect" life, become part of the pain (give up a holiday, spend some money, go out of your comfort zone) and help empower people to plan and properly manage the help the community needs. It is a difficult step for people who were born with everything (you think you are poor in America...haha...no you would be pretty well off in Kathmandu), but the step is well worth it. Humans are social. Part of this is working to make society better...and this includes everyone!

Great discussion. Great food (again). It turned into movie night, haha, I am severely out-numbered 5 girls 1 Trevor (ha, every guys dream...relax) I just join in and hang as part of the girls...I am house dad I guess...there is house mom (girl who has been in the house the longest and becomes pretty much a senior firefighter) and a house dad (the guy who has been in the house the longest) who kind of lock up and stuff...we are like Real World Kathmandu...minus drama

Tomorrow I am off to the hospital. I am going to rest...I have already lived the 12 and a half hours you are about to have creeps...guess what, they are great...you have to make it happen, things don't happen for a reason, you are the reason....Shuva raatri rascals

Lifestyle change...

Can't do anything about it now. It just comes with the territory. Give me a few days to get acclimated. I really have no words to describe what is going on. It is hard to paint a picture of all that is happening. Don't get me wrong, this is a fantastic environment. The best example of a family environment that is not really a family (if that makes sense). I mean I am used to the fire service comparison of "brotherhood" and "family", but no offense, this is way more unique. All we have done is hangout together being people. People from different countries with different languages, but we are people, you know the same. I even made friends with Jimmy, the house dog, she is cool, everyone loves a chill dog. In this house we are brothers and sisters. Some of us are volunteering in specific areas while others are here to support the volunteers, they are from Nepal.


I pretty much took it easy here at home tonight. I am not really tired from the traveling, but it was just more fun getting to know the people in the house. I unpacked (yes my stuff made it here with me, don't ask me how)and went over some minor details about the stay, like the phone digits, locations, and schedules (aka nepali time). So this home is in Maharajgunj (the hospital is in Chabahil) and it is so cool. Plenty of room, and a sweet garden area. What I have to get use to is there being no heat in the house. It is quite chilly in here this evening (I think Kathmandu temperature averages right now are 70 highs 40 lows). Imagine a two-story brick home with doors and windows open...pretty cool inside at night huh? I think so. Our electricity is scheduled to go away at some point everyday and that is how it is in this city. *I will reference this in a minute
There is internet, but it is slow, so all this writing takes a little time. There is a way to wash your clothes and there is hot water (kind of), it is just different than in America. 
After getting settled in and meeting 15 or so people who are in and out during the day (there are 6 of us who actually "live" here) I headed outside and...get ready for it....ready...its a shocker (not really)


Bibu 1 Trevor 0 : /
I got beat by this kid like Real got beat by Barca. He is 12, and moves like a tiger. I know Kotiba would have been disappointed. But Bibu said he is going to work on some moves with me. After football, it was dinner time and it was a spectacular traditional Nepali dinner. After dinner the power went out. So, oh no what do you do? No internet, no TV, no life! Whatever, go do something. Let's see I got beat by Bibu's sister Kritan in rock, paper, scissors. I suck at life...well not really...here is another shocker, it was kind of fun hanging out with these kids, maybe I am just in open-minded mode, but they are just from a different culture where playing is how you interact. People being people. They taught games and we taught games, plus they quickly learned that I am like a ninja cat (again) in hide and go seek. Good times.


Well I am going to quit writing for now. I may see if I and get some pictures on here. I should probably rest. Tomorrow I am really getting acclimated to the city, moving about and checking out some places like Swayambhunath. Should be even more eye opening. The eyes can't get any wider, but the brain can...Have a good one knuckleheads

k k k k kathmandu...

Good morning ladies and gentlemen may I have your kind attention please...I heard the voice from the loudspeaker for countless hours in Delhi and it is ingrained in my mind...it was so polite though, I kind of like it...and about the title of this post, got to love the Bob Seger song, it is stuck in my head too...

So I am now officially at my home it Kathmandu. It is spectacular. The whole city is amazing. The flight over, fantastic. I saw first hand why the Himalayas are holy, I definitely believe it now and the pictures from the air will do no justice. There were a few delays because of visibility : / I thought the Indian Jones Scene was going to happen once. I mean we were kind of above the fog, then in the fog beside a mountain, and then in Kathmandu. I guess it is a flight like this that reduce my anxiety for flights back home.

Nothing too crazy at the airport, picked up some rupees, got a visa, walked through customs, and met up with a roommate who landed today. What happened next was intense. Have your ever watched IRT Deadliest roads? Well it just happened. Just picture roommate, me, our group contact, a driver, and our bags strapped to the roof and on our laps crammed into a Prius from 1988 rushing through the packed (motorcycles, buses, trucks, people, dogs, a cow, cars) dirt streets. We were flying and it was the most intense ride of my life...it made a Cedar Point ride look like kiddy land, Ha! 

Alright, there is a lot to do. I need to get unpacked. I have to meet everyone in the house (it is full!). Start looking around the neighborhood. The good news is I feel pretty good, jet lag can't touch me (thank you MVFD with the 12 hour game, it may be working in my favor). The bad news, I do not have a chance to post a picture yet, but I may try to this evening.

One good thing about music, when it hits you feel no pain...

That gift from last week is keeping me sane ;)

Got to finish my Nepali Tea...Look it up, it is sweet! Namaste hooligans 

The Other Side...

Namaste from Delhi. After a 15-hour flight, I am still living in an airport. No worries, I am on the other side now. Kerah, I say other side, but it is still up for debate in my brain that the world is flat. So India, what’s up? You have intrigued me for a long time. It took a long time to get here, but I made it. Three movies, three meals, and three naps helped pass the time during the flight and I am sorry I can only stay until this morning-side note: I do not have a clue what day it is, it is like a new day, but still night, so I think it is the day I left...confusion :/ -but my plane to Kathmandu is where I have to go. Don’t worry I will be back, please have internet next time :’/

Yeah, so no internet here in Delhi. Well there is but there isn’t? Conflicting reports and wireless stuff all over my computer, but no connection. Apparently you have to have a India mobile number to get on since your public one is broken? It is ok, I will blog still :/ I can post them later.

Hey guess what? They have full body pat-downs here and guess what? It is not an invasion of “privacy”. It is an insurance policy. Feel me up like you felt the guy ahead of me up and like you will feel the dude behind me up. Safety first. Oh, props for having the private cubicle for women. Be realistic America :-P

Indria Gandhi International Aiport is the name for the curious rascals. I read the green initiative and much respect. Plus the free little cart thing, also cool. The food court almost got me, I almost got Dominos Pizza, but then I remembered I am on an adventure so I ate something different-some chicken tikka something. Mountain Dew is sneaky over here, cool black can.

There is almost too much to describe. This place is beautiful. It is new and very modern, but yet still holds that colorful heritage that is India. America I wish you were more beautiful! I think that a lot of our effort is to build cheap to Save Our Money! This is like plain boring architecture, design, and decorating. You can really tell the difference and see the love of a beautiful past that keeps moving forward with India here. The art, the murals, carpet, and plants really give off a good vibe, plus fire protection looks pretty aggressive, there are fire extinguishers every 25 feet. All this paired with the people make for a rich cultural experience. People are nice and it is neat to sit back and watch them interact. Plus these ladies that keep chatting over the loud speaker are so polite it is hard to get annoyed. You can easily forget the language barrier when talking with people because of their body language, it is not so self-centered. Kushal, I haven’t seen your wife, but I am confident she will be beautiful. All of these women are in some unique way. While I am thinking about it, the kids (yes I said kids : / ) are all cute and these Sheikh men rock awesome headdress, I want one. Well this is my life right now, just sitting and watching, I have already walked all around. It is time to rest a little before the next flight. Peace.

P.S. Email is free, everything else is not :/ So email me, I am saving up for the calls and SMS that need to be made ;)