James & Clare, Coddiwomplers Inc: Nepal Part 2

BHARATPUR, CHITWAN

We arrived in the third largest city in Nepal where we would stay for the following two weeks catching up with family and friends. James has kept in close contact with the family he was billeted with back in 2006. The boys have now grown into men with wives and children of their own.

FAMILY

The 'then and now' pic

Utsab and James, so happy to be catching up

Umanga joins the fun

The wives - Rashmi & Sush Mita

Clare and baby Shanvi

Grandparents Uma and Mahendra
with grandson Sholen (ft the hoodie
Aunty Clare knitted him)

Bubble fun

Everyone has really big houses in Nepal that seem always to be getting added to. A lot of room is needed as the traditional Nepali family set up is for the wives, upon marriage, to be welcomed into the home of the husbands where they will live and have their own families. So in 'our' family home, there is already three generations. It is so lovely to see the care and attention the children receive from all members of the family. As the wives enter the home they also take over the responsibility of cooking which allows the older generation to quietly take a back seat with the work load.

Typical family home

We took a trip out to the village where James lived with the family and taught at the school.

The school is no longer in operation

The family home, back in the day

FRIENDS

James taught the children of this family at the school

Two of the boys James taught, Ravi and Aditi, with father and grandfather

Ravi's patrents

YBT, one of the other teachers and owner
of the school

NEW FRIENDS

We were the only white, western tourists we saw the whole time we were here. This is not a tourist area of Nepal so that is not unusual. Whenever we were out and about we were required to engage with people constantly who wanted to practice their english on us, or just wanted to say a hi. One of these people was a tuktuk driver who took us on a journey one day. It seemed every day we stepped out after that he would spot us and come rushing over to shake James's hand and say us a hi. It was pretty cute.

Another day we were eating an ice cream on the street and two little girls came over the speak english with us. We talked for a while and then said a cheery goodbye. A few days later we were walking our usual route to the family house and the same two girls came rushing down the road calling out to us. They invited us back to their home to meet their mother. We caught up with them a few more times after this and still facetime them occasionally. Everyone is SO friendly!!!

One of the societal difficulties Nepal is facing is that all the young people, in fact anyone still able to work, are seeking opportunities overseas. Many high school graduates seek study visas in countries like Canada, Australia, NZ etc. Many unqualified young men are working in India, the Middle East and other countries where wages are much higher and are therefore able to send money home. The girls's father has been working abroad and the girls last saw him six years ago. They are twelve and seven. This is so incredibly sad for all involved.

FESTIVITIES

During our time with the family we celebrated Tihar, the Nepali equivalent of Diwali. We decorated the house with lights and the entrance way with rongoli.

There are five days of celebration. One of the days in in celebration of brother and sister. Rashmi's brothers came from Kathmandu on their motorbikes to celebrate with her.

Brother and sister Shanvi and Sholen receiving their
tika

Although not strickly part of the ceremony, we were allowed to be tika'd too!

FOOD

Tihar also seems to be a time of never ending production of different types of rotis. Our kitchen did not disappoint.

We had dal bhat (rice, lentils and curry) every day. We sat on the floor and ate with our hands. The older generation and visitors are served first. The young families eat together second. We enjoyed being part of the family banter during these times together.

Momos continued to feather in our lives also.

Fried momos

Traditional momos with soup

Gourmet momos!

We bought fruit and veges for the home nearly every day. Sometimes we had no idea what we were buying.

Some kind of sour plum which raw is
absolutely horrid but Rashmi made a
wonderful sweet pickle with them

We still don't know what these are!

FUN

We took a trip to Devghat, a town on the river where they hold traditional funerals. The funerals are performed out of sight of the general public but you can see the pyres burning in the distance.