The bus ride to Chitwan was of indeterminate length but it left early Nepali time which means we were up at 6 a.m to leave the hostel by 7 a.m. for a 10 min. walk (luggage by car) to the bus stop. As luck would have it there was a strike and the car for the luggage could not get through.  The police were afraid of a riot - we don't know what prompted the strike - no cars got through.  That left me with my roller bag, 50 lb bag of books and my knapsack.  We enlisted the co-ordinator and the cook to carry some of the bags- we looked like Sherpas heading for Everest.  We made it to the bus stop where we waited and waited and waited and finally the bus arrived about 8:30 with only 3 seats left for the three of us.

The drive was a contrast between exhilirating and harrowing. The scenery was breathtaking and the drive took our breath away.  How we arrived alive is a mystery.  The driver must have mistaken his normal route for a Formula One race.  The bus stopped at a very convenient roadside buffet of Nepali food which we had 20 mins. to order, eat, go to the toilet and get back on the bus....Valium would have helped.  We arrived shaken and stirred about 4 and half hours later.  We were met by the local coordinator and driven to our host family's homes.  The we is myself, and two other volunteers, a mother and son from Minnesota.  Theresa is a lawyer and Luke is a Sr. at Middlebury.

I am in a beautiful home with an indoor shower and typical toilet (hole in the floor).  My bed is a wood slat platform with a one inch pad and sheet.  I'm surprised I can walk today. Needless to say, it was a long night.  We have a ceiling fan which has one speed - hurricane force.  The host's parents and family live next door, so lots of company all the time.  Her son Sohan is in Grade 6 and a good English speaker and our built in translator.  He has already finished some of the worksheets I brought. Her husband is in the Indian army and won't be back until October.  The host's parents have a  Buffalo, a cow, two goats, and 3 chickens all of whom live in a shed adjacent to the window of my room.....fragrant depending on which way the wind is blowing.  The Nepali tradition, like the Thai, is to rise when the rooster crows - about 5-5:30 a.m....early start to the day.  The family prepare two Nepali meals for us a day and two snacks with tea. 

Breakfast this morning was in the snack category - cookies and tea with milk - what we would call Chai, they call Chia. Their habit is to sweeten it until your teeth ache; I have managed to communicate no sugar.  The milk is Buffalo.  We went to the monastery - Sherpa Ling to teach this morning from 9:30 - 11:00.  There are 12 young monks all in robes, aged 6-14, with bright happy faces eager to learn. The Senior monk sits in on the lessons and learns along with them and helps explain some concepts.  They have had some instruction already and will be apt students.  I assessed their comprehension with some easy exercises which they seemed to enjoy while instructing the others how to teach the topics and correct pronunciation.  Everyone had a great time and the monks were very eager to work on their alphabet printing sheets.

Next lunch - rice, dahl, curried chicken, and curried potato.  After that Luke, Anita from Italy who was already here and I road bicycles for 30 mins. in 90+ heat to Rampur to use the internet before we go back and teach again at 3:30 -5:00.  While in the village I purchased some fabric to have two Kirtas made.  A kirta is the traditional dress for Nepali women; it's a short or long sleeved tunic, pants, and a scarf.  So comfortable and practical.  The fabric was $17.00 and the tailor (they are custom made) was $5.00 for each outfit.  We attract quite a bit of attention and the other ladies in the village were curious about my fabric selections and eager to give advice on sleeves, neckline, length of the tunic, loose or tight.  It was lots of fun.

Enjoy the photos of the bus ride and the rice patties.