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.
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.
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.
