It was supposed to be Liberia. Liberia, that just ended a 14 year war. But they are doing okay. They have a new president and are trying to rebuild their country. I already had arrangements to stay with the founder of an organization that helps kids in community projects in order to keep them off the streets. Sounded like a good idea. The wonderful people of HealthCare Volunteer were gettin me the hook up!! I already bought my plane ticket. My family, however, did NOT approve of my choice in geographic location, and luckily I didn't have a problem with getting the money back from the airline. Actually, it was a very distressing time. I was going to be HealthCare Volunteer's VERY FIRST volunteer to Liberia!! A journalist was to contact me later that week for an interview!! This was something I decided to do in January of 2008. Where the hell was I going to go now???!!!
I have something in the ballpark of 23 days and 17 hours until I depart for Kathmandu, Nepal. Yes, this is a real place, not just one of Bob Seger's fantasy destinations. Here it is:
I did lots and lots of research into different volunteering organizations and found that the Institute for Field Research Expeditions (IFRE)/RCDP Nepal (its Nepalese sister organization) was the best fit for me. I leave on March 6 and come back to good ol' Cleveland on April 20. It's a 35 hour flight. I'll be taking plenty of strolls up and down the aircraft aisles--no DVTs for me, thanks!!!
The first week I'm there, I have no idea what I'll be doing. Whatever my little falsely brave heart desires, I suppose. Week 2, Culture & Language classes with other IFRE volunteers in Kathmandu (KTM). We stay in the RCDP hostel where we learn basic Nepali (although, a great portion of the urban areas speak English; I was told I'd have no problem during the first week when I won't know very much Nepali at all), a bit about the culture (Nepal is about 80% Hindu and 11% Buddhist), and the surrounding areas (we'll be checking out some of the stupas, or pagodas, and nearby towns). Weeks 3, 4, 5, and 6, I'll be moseying on over to Chitwan (home of majestic elephants and elusive one-horned rhinos) to volunteer at Bharatpur Hospital as a nurse. Good thing I made it through nursing school alive. I think I'll be finding, however, that this is a whole other peach tree...
Nepal is currently experiencing SCHEDULED power outages. 12 hours daily for now, but I was told that by the time I get there, there could very well be power for only 6 hours daily in Chitwan. Thus, I am unsure of internet access, ATM access, charging capabilities, and a whole slew of other feats that I might normally be accustomed to accomplishing in Grafton. Or any part of the US, for that matter.
I keep joking with friends that I'm going to be a vegetarian by the time I get home. Or at least lose *hopefully* some unnecessary thigh/waist/hip baggage. I'm expecting to eat rice for 3 meals of the day. Actually, they don't do much of a breakfast there, from what I hear. Sweet tea in the am. Then a later breakfast, what we'd probably call brunch, just not as large as a brunch. Dinner comes closer to bedtime. Generally speaking, anyway. I'm not sure how my host family does it. Speaking of...
There are 6 members of the family. Shyam, who is the principal of Kantipur Medical College, his wife, their little girl and little boy, and Shyam's parents. There are also 2 other volunteers staying with them. Tariq, who is from the UK, and Juan, who is from Spain. They've been there since September and both will be staying until June. Hopefully they can teach me a little about bathing elephants in the river, or dealing with traveler's diarrhea, whichever. I'm not usually a picky person.
Until next time, namaste.
PS. Thanks Anna, for your ever-present creativity!!
