9. In my crazy daze for popcorn, I was really wanting to purchase some from the street vendors before Alex, another Tiny Hands employee, said "Ew they use their hands." "So?" I replied. "You could get hepatitis! Gross." Alex….thank you for your infinite wisdom in preventing me from getting hepatitis.
8. We finally found a truly American "Mexican" restaurant called the Lazy Gringo, which sounds like a huge oxymoron but when you're craving chips and salsa, anything really goes. We had name your own burritos (Boomshakalaka was mine, obviously), chips and salsa, and fried ice cream. Simply amazing.
7. One of our Nepali guides Sangeeta invited us over to her house for a Mo-Mo making party which in itself makes the top ten.
6. To add to that I learned how to make true Nepali tea and Mike fell asleep on our way there in a Nepali tuk tuk, in 100% humidity, 80 degree heat, and with about 19 people shoved in a van that should fit about 8. He was even out of it enough for Daniel to remove his glasses, wear them himself for pictures, and put them back on Mike before he woke up. Narcolepsy at its best.
5. We took a team bonding trip to this place called Nagarkot up in the mountains for one of our last days here. Not only is it a beautiful drive up the mountain, but we got to sit ON TOP OF THE BUS. Yeah. We made a song…"Badesi's on a Bus". And we became a tourist site for passerbys. It was the most amazing view and hilarious bonding experience of our trip.
4. The most epic game of Mafia was played while at Nagarkot complete with utter domination by Daniel until Mike stopped him at the very last second. And a campfire. And views of the Himalayas.
3. And a treehouse hotel. And sunrise walks. And sweet place discussion tour time. And Glee.
2. I found so many relationships through this journey. To me relationships equal finding community, comfort, and love. And love is what everything is based off of. Everything I do, I hope and strive to do it with love, conviction, and God's guidance.
1. This has led to one of the biggest growths I have felt and discovered in this trip. That is my growth in my relationship with God. I have found and been reaffirmed in my belief that we are all out here, striving toward something larger than ourselves, and trying to show love to others in the process. The division in religion, and especially within different denominations of Christianity is really not a division at all, but a force that unites us all in community.
Tidbits:
"When we invest our money in the [poor], we make the [poor] into beggars. When we invest our money in programs for the [poor], we turn the [poor] into beneficiaries. When we invest our life in the [poor], the [poor] will reap life." Given to us by Kara to remind us why we were here and what to remember when we go back.
"It's as big as a watermelon! (in reference to ants) [cue skeptical glances from everyone] "SEED…a watermelon SEED. Obviously I meant seed." Mike Rios
"Damn you, Viviana! Shave your legs another time!" Kara Luebbering in our conversation about traveler's diarrhea.
"I just have one more point to make, seriously you guys, it'll only take 3 minutes…" 7 more points and 35 min. later…John Molineux.
"See that picture (pointing at the beautiful mountains on our drive up to Nagarkot), God painted that and put it there." Santosh
"Kara, the monkey power is in you." Santosh (who never ever frowns…ever)
And now for the things I will miss the most about Nepal:
-Our team
-Chocolate pancakes
-Nepali children and their love and faith
-Chocolate tortes
-Our relationships built with staff of Tiny Hands
-Sizzling brownies
-Monkey Temple steps
-Chocolate crepes
-Roof top workouts
-The smell of monsoon rain
-Nepali tea
-The kindest hotel staff in the world
-The beautiful scenery of the mountains
-The beautiful faces of the people of Nepal
-Bonding times with strangers
-Riding on top of a bus
-Stuffing 7 people into a mini taxi
-Movie theater popcorn and pop for 100 rupees ($1.50)
-All meals over 350 rupees being outrageously expensive (over $5)
-The general appreciation for life, family and friendships I was surrounded by daily
-Too many things to put on this list before my computer dies and I start to feel really really sad
All the love,
K
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