Namaste Nepal! I will have successfully completed my third week in Kathmandu as of tomorrow. I have to admit, this isn't quiet what I expected but I can't be more pleased with my placement here with ELI. I am currently living in a volunteer house with five other volunteers with two others just having left this morning.
The first couple of days all of us spent our time on tours and exploring Thamel which is the touristy part about a five minute walk from the house. One of the cooler tours we went on was to Swayambhunath, also known as monkey temple (for obvious reasons). After a 364 stair climb surrounded by monkeys, we reached the temple. That particular day there was a ceremony going on where little kids get to become a monk for a day.
After getting settled in the first four days, I finally started my volunteering at a monastery which was actually right down the street from the monkey temple. It was a little intimidating at first. I was placed in s classroom with no guide books, no curriculum and 13 novice monks staring at me. Despite my lack of experience and language barrier, I was able to teach most of them basic multiplication within the first three days! The week came to a close and I was told the monastery would be taking three weeks off to get ready for their new year. I was a little bummed but since then I have been going to the child development center and also the disabled center. Both have been great but I can't wait to get back to the monastery next week.
Aside from volunteering, another house mate and I journeyed to Pashpati temple last tuesday, feb 17th, for Shivratri (one of the gods birthdays). We were met at the temple by nearly one million people. After wondering around in a sea full of people for roughly an hour, we found the tourist entrance and paid a quiet hefty entrance fee. It was well worth the money though. We ended up spending the day walking around the temple checking out various ceremonies/celebrations. We even found a cool little hut where locals were playing music together so we ended our last couple hours vibing out with the locals. Later that night we all went out for dinner to celebrate another house mates birthday. It was a busy but fun day to say the least.
All in all, I've really enjoyed my first few weeks and can't wait to write about the ones to come. Until then, I'll be mixed in with the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu, Nepal. Later! – Eric Svoboda