Honey, I'm Home!

Nepal is celebrated for its amazing scenery and breathtaking views, but that is no depiction of Kathmandu. Undergoing heavy construction, most roads in the city are filled with loose bricks and potholes so every step you take must be done so with caution. In Kathmandu, dust, stray dogs, questionable smells and absolute chaos surround you. In fact, they swallow you.

And somehow, amidst this chaos, I’ve begun to feel a sense of belonging. For three weeks I’ve lived in my place and for two and a half weeks I’ve worked at IDS. While I won’t rush to say that I’ve yet developed a routine, I have become somewhat comfortable with my surroundings.

I now know where to find the best momos, which tailors to trust, and where to buy the freshest vegetables. I recognize most, if not all, items on a restaurant menu and I’ve even joined a local gym. I’ve found a shortcut from work to the bakery and I can haggle for a reasonable cab fare to a nearby district.

I can share the sidewalk with stray dogs without fearing eternal rabies. I can cross a busy street in confidence and I trust (no matter how small the space) that the bus/car won’t run me over. I can somehow also fall asleep despite the incessant barking of dogs, yelling of roamers, or singing of my neighbour.

Though I have nowhere near mastered the language of Nepali, I can speak enough to survive – I can ask the shopkeeper across the street for a calling card and I know enough to follow most conversations at my workplace.

And that’s how it hit me. Kathmandu is loud. It’s messy. It’s chaotic. Often it’s exhausting. And it’s Home.

Despite all there is to dislike about this city, I’ve fallen in love. Kathmandu is alive. Its pulse is vibrant and its activity is dynamic. From the fruit vendors roaming the streets yelling for sales, to the little boy who sings the days of the week from his room window every morning, to the city’s rich history and jaw-dropping architecture, there is so much to appreciate about Kathmandu.

And it’s because of this same appreciation that I’ve begun to feel a sense of belonging. Though Canada and Nepal could not be any more different, I see myself adapting and changing to the ways of the country. As things become familiar, I’ve begun to fully grasp the extent of my stay in Nepal. It’s both exhilarating and unbelievably nerve-wracking.

Amidst the madness, I’ve found refuge. I’ve found home.

Meet my Travel Companions!

One month down, and seven to go. It’s been exactly a month since I arrived in Nepal, which is definitely cause for celebration.  I know I've been a little lazy with my posting so far, but its about time I introduced you to my wonderful travel companions or, as they’re more commonly known, my ghar ketis (loosely translated as home girls in Nepali).



Fatima: First, we have my housemate and the one and only Sassy Fatty. Being the only Hindi speaker, she is our group’s main spokesperson and it’s often her we depend on when needing to haggle for a taxi. Fatima is also the one I turn to when confirming whether or not something is culturally appropriate (ripped jeans = a big no no). Rumour also has it that she’s a Pakistani pop star with a new single coming out later this year, so keep your eyes out for that!






Lucy: AKA Louis (some also know her as Beth Hinti). She’s the one who you want to have around when you’re lost. She’s a trained pilot and pro at deciphering a map. She also occasionally refers to herself as the window master (we know, she’s a quirky one). She’s working for ANSAAB, an organization that focuses on biodiversity conservation and economic development through enterprise development.





Cassondra: We like to call her the group’s very own BFG (ie. Big Friendly Giant in case you're not familiar with Roald Dahl). This 6’foot ginger loves fashion and will probably make all the Nepali jewelry shopkeepers very rich men. She’s also one of the very very few people I know that actually likes plain soda! Cassondra is working for the Himalayan Bio-Trade Limited (HBTL), in an area we which took us about 3 weeks to locate on a map!





Saida: This is our "lone wolf" because she will be living in Dholaka, 120km outside of Kathmandu… which somehow turns out to be 6-8hrs of travel time when you take into account Nepal's poorly maintained roads (I’m loosely using the word "road" because they're not much more than dirt paths). Though far in distance, Saida will be greatly missed by the Waterloo girls, and we hope to visit a few times!  Saida brings great entertainment when constantly trying to compare Kathmandu to Nairobi. It should also be noted that her favourite food in Nepal thus far is pizza… yeah, pizza; we were as confused as you are!


Marie-Pier and Clem: These are our two darling Frenchies here in Nepal for 3 months from the University of Ottawa. Marie-Pier is a pseudo-hippie that has a unique pronunciation for just about every word; our favourites so far being moonsun (monsoon) and nut (knot).
Clem is the blonde sweetheart from France that may or may not be a germaphobe. There’s also a lot she doesn’t like (papayas, potato salad, pop, fennel seeds, mangoes, mustard, pepper, rice pudding… you get the point). We all stayed at Hotel Shakti together and did language class so, quite naturally, we became good friends and travel companions.



I've spent most of my time here with these girls, but it should also be noted that we’ve met many, many other amazing people and volunteers thus far. I should also give a special shout-out to my two temporary roommates: Lindsay, who used her charm and raving red hair to snag us our very own Nepali tour guide, and Greg, who has courageously been the only guy at a few too many of our excursions!

One month down, and seven to go. The trip so far has been nothing short of a roller coaster. I’ve had many tough experiences such as spending whole evenings and nights in pitch black due to extended power outages, being chased by angry stray dogs, and being so flustered by the language barrier that I ran out of a shop mid-conversation. But I’ve also had some of my life highs here as well, and so much of that is due to these very same travel companions. The heartfelt moments, the laughing so hard my stomach hurt, the friendship bracelets… It’s all been amazing. Nepal is a country beautiful in so many ways – its culture, its landscapes, its people – and I’m so glad to be experiencing it all.

One month down, and seven to go. I can’t wait for what’s to come next.