PC staff is getting ready for the next PST. One of the drivers who helped us during a language simulation told me my Nepali was so much better than when it was in PST. It made me feel so much better about myself, especially when I realized the conversation we had was all in Nepali. Granted, it was not a complicated conversation - but the fact that he noticed my improvement and mentioned it is something I greatly appreciated.
On my way back to where I began my journey, I noticed more non Nepalis and couldn’t quite figure out why they were going the direction I was. It finally dawned on me that the city I was going to is pretty big with tourism. On that note, this city sells clothes that look like they are authentic Nepali clothing, but in reality they are not worn by Nepalis. It is quite funny for me to see non Nepali guys wearing these shirts that are made of Nepali fabric. Nepali men typically wear t-shirts - not what is being sold. There are also pants for both men and women that are sold, but again - not typically worn.
I saw someone who looked like a friend of mine (DM) and I kept staring at him from across the street trying to decide if it was him or not. I could’ve just gone over and asked him, but I ruled him out based on two things. One - he would NOT come to Nepal and not tell me. The other? He would definitely NOT be wearing the pants this guy was wearing. They were the pants that looked like they were Nepali clothing and only in black and white. Not as interesting as some of the pants I have seen, but I’m pretty positive my friend would not buy and wear them. I saw him closer up later and confirmed the guy was not my friend like I thought.
These past few weeks I have been able to reconnect with my friends as well as get to know others better since our clusters in PST were farther apart. I realize this is cheesy, but the phrase is true of Peace Corps Volunteers even though we’re typically by ourselves at site. “We’re all in this together.” We all are having our own experiences that are both similar and different to each other, but even with the difference and not having experienced it ourselves - we get it. That’s pretty cool, eh?
It was an adventure getting back to site with all the things we received from training! I made it, but due to PC policy of not riding in a vehicle at night - I ended up arriving a day later than I had thought I would. The PCV near me did a training the day after I got back so my bai and I went down to help out. I got to see another PCV who also had come for it and 2 others came later. We visited my house and my friends were also able to see the mushrooms at the college by my house, which is apparently a well known place to go for agricultural training.
I did end up going to the health post again after taking a couple days to study Nepali and stay inside due to the colder, rainy weather. I’m recovering from my KTM cold…it seems most every time I am there - I come away with one. That day was the perfect day for me to go because all of the FCHV (female community health volunteers) came for a training. I was able to get most of them to write down their names and when their mother’s groups meetings were. The next day I was supposed to go down and pick up a kurta surwal…long story, but I ended up visiting another ward that I hadn’t been to yet.
While visiting, I ended up visiting a school as well. It began raining on the way there, but not too badly. It became worse as we left the school! Of course, people wanted me to stay the night. I told them I needed to change my contact lenses because I wasn’t prepared. The rain was pouring down and I borrowed someone’s umbrella since I hadn’t brought mine. The road also had a creek on it - it was raining that hard. I was walking slowly, but even still…I fell. Now, if A"K" and S"L" ever read this - they’ll laugh because during training, I tripped so many times. I think I only fell once though…but needless to say my backside was coated in mud and wet!
Apparently, even with a “creek” in the road - the weather like it was that day is still different than monsoon season! I can only imagine what that is going to look like, but I have another couple months or so before it arrives. I’m still figuring things out for my next steps, but knowing when most of the mother’s groups meetings are is a start - not to mention the fact that I have discovered how to get to another ward!
Love and miss y’all
PS We have done a welcome video for the next PCTs. Which Disney character do you think I most closely resemble - Mrs. Potts, the fairy godmother in Cinderella, Piglet, Belle, or the 3 fairy godmothers in Sleeping Beauty?