Nepal Adventures 2013!: Exploring and Learning

Hey! So for the past few days I’ve done some more exploring of Kathmandu and learned more about the orphanage and the logistics of volunteering in Kathmandu. For a few days I was bored out of my mind while the kids were studying for exams because they had a tutor come to help them and rarely needed help from me. So, the English girls and I resorted to tourism to keep our minds occupied. Hannah’s friend from England happened to be in Kathmandu a few days ago so we met up with her at Boudhanath Stupa Square, about a 30 minute bus ride from our area. The Nepali government has really learned to capitalize on the tourist industry, so if there is anything even remotely interesting to see in the city tourists are often charged for entry whereas Nepali citizens get in for free. Anyways, after we paid our entry free into the square we walked through the gates and entered a totally different world.

The harsh sounds and smells of Kathmandu vanished and we found ourselves in a lovely, very European looking square with Nepal’s largest and oldest stupa in the middle. There were many restaurants and shops surrounding the stupa and we stopped at one for lunch after meeting up with Imogen and Jenny. We ended up waiting two hours for our sandwiches (Nepali time will do that to you). Luckily we had cards and we ended up talking about our volunteer experiences. Jenny and Imogen had paid an international volunteer agency and had been placed in an orphanage with 60 children. They had a wonderful time there and were always busy, which I was jealous of because sometimes I feel useless at Ramro Sahti. However, they noted that it was clear their money was not going to the kids. They had no pencils or books and learned in a concrete room with only a few chairs. I chose to volunteer with Ramro Sahti specifically because it is not run by an estranged international organization, and I am happy with my decision. I know and trust Rajendra and I am confident that my money is going to the right place (for those of you that don’t know, a lot of volunteer positions abroad are pay-to-volunteer). All of the kids here are well cared for and they have what they need to do well. Rajendra even asked us to keep updated profiles of the kids and any dreams and aspirations they reveal to us so that he can keep track of how their thoughts change as they get older. Between Rajendra, Auntie, Didi, and the volunteers, the kids have all the care they need.

Speaking of which, I am sure many of you may have wondered what it is like for the kids to be constantly building relationships with people who leave their lives after a few months. It doesn’t seem very healthy. I was curious about it too, so I asked Sarita if it was difficult. “Yes, it is hard,” she said, “but we’re used to it.” The more time I spend here, the more I can see that the kids kind of consider the volunteers as accessories. We are fun to play with and we add something special to their lives, but in terms of permanent, loving relationships as long as they have each other, Auntie, Didi, and Rajendra, they are fine. I would be surprised if any of them get upset when I leave. The volunteers definitely play a necessary role as entertainers, teachers, and mentors, but I think the kids see us as some kind of shape-shifting being: we may all look different and have unique things to teach them, but in the end we provide the same services and as long as someone is there to help it really doesn’t matter who that person is.

For my own personal gratification, I would like to think that I am having a profound permanent impact on their lives and they will all miss me after I leave. But while I know I am helping in some small way by sharing my experiences with them and boosting their confidence, I know that down the road I will probably just be a blurry memory for most of them. However, I realize that this is probably the healthiest relationship I can have with the kids. When you are exposed to over 100 volunteers a year, you can’t afford to become emotionally attached to every one. One month especially is definitely not long enough for that. They are happy I am here, but they also know that I will leave soon. It is best that way. So in the end, I guess what I am saying is that trying to do the right thing, especially with children, is a huge gray area in which you have to tread carefully and be happy with what they can give you. And I will certainly never forget what these kids have taught me about love.

So that is what our talk with Jenny and Imogen made me realize. But getting back on track…yesterday was the kids first day of vacation! After much deliberation over what to do, we rented a van and took all 14 of them to the world’s largest statue of the God Shiva. After that we went to Bhaktapur, which is a medieval city known as the Cultural Capital of Nepal, located 45 minutes outside of Kathmandu. It was beautiful and so interesting, and I think I will need to go back there without the kids and look around because they were literally sprinting around the city (again, feeling thankful that there are eight of us to keep track of them…). But it was fun because I got to spend time alone with a few of them I hadn’t gotten an opportunity to really talk to yet. By the time we got home everyone was exhausted and I immediately fell asleep. We also bought some henna (mhendi) and decorated the girl’s hands. Turns out I’m pretty good with henna, so I spent about three hours bent at an unnatural angle drawing designs on six different pairs of hands. When I thought I was finally done, they brought the neighbors over. I’ll probably come home a much more patient person. Today’s activities are still up in the air…it’s a scorcher so we might just do a papier mache project here. Tomorrow is the females only day at the pool so we will go swimming! Not sure if I trust the swimming pools here though…we’ll see. I’ll keep you posted!

Love,

Kate