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Our trip to SE Asia did not prepare me for Kathmandu. Even having been twice before, it was still a culture shock to see so much poverty, squalor, and pollution. At least in Vietnam, there is a feeling that the country is on the rise, albeit with many problems along the way. Sadly, Kathmandu doesn't seem to have changed much in nearly 20 years, just with the addition of internet cafes and even more traffic and people than ever. But the people are whjat makes it so special.
My journey to work is an attack on the senses: first a 15 minute walk through crowded medieval streets where shopkeepers are selling everything imaginable. Then I have to try to catch the right tempo (a kind of tuk-tuk bus) for a 45 minute ride through busy and fume-filled roads, squashed in with a dozen other people, and sometimes a baby being sick. Kathmandu is an endlessly fascinating place, however, and there is always something of interest to see, as long as you are in the right mood.
Nepal is without power for 12 hours each day-not good when it is so cold. My day revolves around finding the warmest place to be at the same time as having power and internet access. What a game, but pity the Nepalese who are stuck with it all the time.
I have been made very welcome at the charity, MySmallHelp, I have come to help. They only have a one room office in a freezing office block with no bathroom or water facilities. That is why we look so cold in any of the photos. Most of the students that they support live at an orphanage, attached to a school', just a 10 minute walk away. Not all of them are orphans; the others might have one remaining parent, but they are unable to look after them. On my second day, we went to meet the children, who sang 2 songs for me, one in Nepali and one in English - beautiful singing which brought a lump to my throat. They were a bit shy, but thanked me for the note books I had given them, and told me all their names.
A few days later, I returned with Jo, another volunteer with MSH, who wanted to get some publicity shots for the website showing her friend, Mattia, teaching the children some of his football tricks. He has lots of footballing friends in Italy, who would hopefully sign up as sponsors. So we had a long kick around with the kids, although I was quickly exhausted. I have become so unfit whilst travelling in Asia. Great idea by Jo, and she did get some great shots, and Mattia was great with the boys.
Workwise, it has been difficult to achieve much due to the power, and cold. Even if you do have power, it is really only warm enough to work between 10 and 3. Despite this, I have covered a lot of ground with Pramila and Raju. Because they are not accountants, it can be difficult getting to the bottom of what they already do (more than they realise), but they are keen to do the right thing. I've learnt that Nepal even has its own calendar (the new year -2068- starts on April 10th, ). It was getting very confusing talking about 'year ends' until I realised that.
Then, because the staff there would be tied up with a blood donor clinic, and I was desperate to get out of Kathmandu, we agreed that I would take a break and spend a week in Pokhara, 120 km west , to visit another charity asking for a volunteer............to be continued
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