Pat's Nepal Journey April 2011

I have been listening to “Little Princes”, a book about the Nepal civil war from 1996 to 2006 while I walk or run.  This book is about an American man working in an orphanage in Katmandu.  These children were taken from their parents under the guise that they were going to be protected from the war.  These people took the children and then abandoned them in Katmandu.  I am only in the first few chapters so I am interested in learning more about that period which is fortunately past.  Hopefully, this book will give me insights. 

I am also trying to learn a few words of Nepali.  My friend Sylvie gave me the responsibility of “being in charge of the language” in Nepal.  It is my turn since she usually takes care of the language.  Actually, it was only in Italy that I really ever had a better command of the language.  Sylvie will fly from her home in Paris and meet me in Katmandu.  Being native French, she knows many languages.  So, I have 5 days before arriving in Katmandu to learn something.  Namaste (I salute the god within you) was all I knew!  I have been studying phrases. I am glad we have a guide who speaks English.  Actually, I don’t know what I am worrying about.  I will be too winded from lack of oxygen to talk. 

I have spread out all my belongings again and repacked.  Should I take the fleece pants?  Will I be too warm, will I be too cold, decisions, decisions???   How shall I divide my stuff bags, should I write the names of everything inside on the outside of my stuff bags?  Should I laminate my checklist?  Should I download it to my Kobo?  I am becoming a tech monster!  Now I wish I had brought my tiny Net Book so I could write and store my journal electronically.  But we will not always have access to electricity so; I guess I will have to write with pen and paper!  The horror, the horror!