Ello there!

A great week this week, lots of bricklaying completed and we got another tree stump up after another titanic battle!

On Tuesday we visited the UK Governments Department for International Development's (DFID) Nepal office in Kathmandu. DFID provide the funding for the Platform2 project. We had a presentation from a woman called Rebecca. She was really passionate about the work done by DFID out here, and about Nepal in general. Myself and a number of other volunteers felt re-invigorated after her talk, it really reminded us of why we're out here |=)

Last weekend we stayed in Sirutar with our family. On Saturday morning brother took us to a local Hindu temple which was nice, and on the way home we bought a live chicken to cook for tea. Once back home James got the honour of cutting its head off! The body keeps flapping for about 15 seconds after its been decapitated! Crazy. I had to laugh at Princess, our little 8 year old sister. As soon as the head was off she grabbed it off James and started cleaning it. Not squeamish at all! Can you imagine passing a still bloody chicken head to a British 8 year old? You'd probably get arrested.

In all seriousness it was an interesting experience. Brother took us through all the stages of plucking, cleaning, chopping up, preparing, and cooking. All kinds of spices and herbs were added and the meal we had that night was absolutely superb!

On Sunday Jay and Alice led a discussion on Poverty and Development. It's been interesting contrasting my UK life to life in Sirutar, but in actual fact, compared to many parts of Nepal, Sirutar is reasonably well off. The Poverty Jay described in rural mid western and far western regions of Nepal sounds absolutely desperate. Hopefully the work done by DFID and other aid organisations helps, but in the long term it will take a lot of work by the Nepalese government to make a difference. There are so many factors and layers to the problems, but to me one of the greatest hindrances is the Caste system. It will take a brave man/woman to go against what is a deeply deeply ingrained form of discrimination.

On Monday I taught some English at the local school. It got a bit chaotic at stages but the kids were all nice. That might have been down to me passing out jellybeans for correct answers, but a good lesson is a good lesson! Some of the kids in the really young class were ridiculously cute, especially when they put their little hands together and say 'Namaste' haha

Me and James have also been talking a lot about the different pace of life here. Our family all seems to be up at the crack of dawn, but then doesn't seem to do anything before 09:30. There is never a sense of urgency about anything, and nothing here is done before a cup of tea. Mind you when it comes to a cup of tea, the same could be said for Britain! haha

Life out here is still great though, and still a month to go! Party on!

Love

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