Kathmandu

Once work is finished the Friday before I leave, the next few days are busy but organized with medical appointments, errands and get togethers with friends/family.

The night before I leave Peter and I have a nice dinner at Everest Kitchen with Jim and Marina, unfortunately Jim suffers (likely 3rd degree) burns on a couple fingers on a hot plate at the start of our meal.

Despite getting only a few hours sleep the night before I leave the flights go smoothly, no problem with my luggage or weight allowance. Both of my checked bags are approximately 35lbs each.

I meet and chat with a young woman and her father who are with Habitat for Humanity heading to Nepal.

At the airport in Korea I meet a Nepali woman, Daya, from Hinton Alberta. We end up staying at the dorm in the Spa on Air and have dinner together. It is nice to have each other for company. The Spa is quite nice for the price although the mattress is hard.





I make the mistake of asking for non-tourist visa because of information on Nepali government website so they will only give me a 15 day tourist visa when I arrive.

I catch a lift with Daya to my guesthouse (Dragon) at Boudha.

Return to Nepal/CNN 2010 Hero (nominee)

The children of Maiti Nepal, the dedicated people that work for Maiti Nepal and the people of Nepal have made an impression on my heart. After working in Canada for almost a year I have decided to return to Nepal to volunteer teaching English.

On September 22, 2010 I return to Nepal for 8 months. I am excited and nervous about being there for such a long period of time.

CNN 2010 Hero (nominee)

Anuradha Koirala (founder and chairperson of Nepal) has been nominated as a CNN 2010 Hero for Protecting the Powerless.

Voting for the 2010 CNN Hero takes place in October. The winner of the 2010 CNN Hero receives a financial benefit. If you wish to assist Maiti Nepal please consider voting for Anuradha Koirala

To vote (in October) see Links at right hand side of blog.

Donations

Nepal is a very poor country. Any sum of money donated to Maiti Nepal will be greatly appreciated and put to good use.

If you wish to make a donation to Maiti Nepal see The Dream/Donations at the right hand side of the blog. Thank you for your support!

I invite you to share in my experience by following my blog. Please note that I am not permitted to take photos of the children.

Halloween/Winter

We dress up for Halloween and go out with friends. Peter is a 70's cross country skier and I'm a black cat(complete with claws).

We get a blizzard and the snow really drifts behind our apartment in early December.

A New Path

I feel strongly that I want to work with children. I decide that I have to give my dream a shot...to pursue employment with children.

After a couple interviews and the ups and downs associated with job hunting...things fall into place.

I land a job as a Child Development Worker with an Out of School Care program that is a 10 minute bus ride from home, 35 hours a week working with 8-9 year olds. The pay is really low but it gives me an opportunity to gain valuable experience and obtain my level one course.

It is fun but challenging as I have to learn to be firm with discipline.

Children Vote: Child Rights Hero of the Decade

Below is the website where children around the world can vote (for the individual or organization) that they wish to win the Child Rights Hero of the Decade...Maiti Nepal is one of the 2009 nominees.

Your last chance to vote is October 25, 2009; the children will announce the winner on November 20, 2009.

Any child or youth under the age of 18 can vote or schools can vote.

To vote go the website www.childrensworld.org and follow the links under Global Vote.

If you need help in voting ask an adult or your parent to help you. You can make a difference just by casting a vote for any of the worthy individuals or organizations nominated!

See post below to view a film about Maiti Nepal's work.

SnagFilms Film Widget

This is a short film about the trafficking of women and girls in Nepal. It provides information about the valuable work of Maiti Nepal to combat this issue.

Just click on the film to watch it (you may have to temporarily allow pop-ups on your computer to view the film).

Back in Canada August 2009

Peter and I arrive safely back in Calgary on August 5th, 2009. It is clean, beautiful and green but it doesn't feel like home anymore after travelling in so many small communities around the world.

Fortunately Peter's friend, Doug allows us to stay with him until we sort things out. There are so many things to sort out, where to live, whether we should cycle through BC or I should start looking for work, if I can keep the condo rented out, etc.

Although I want us to cycle through BC and check out the small communities there; with so many wildfires burning, I decide to stay put in Calgary and start focusing on a job search.

Peter and I decide to rent the suite from Doug which fortunately gives me a base to work from. Volunteer teaching in Nepal has ignited a passion to work with children so that is my initial focus.

Although Peter keeps saying that he will head out to BC to do some cycling he hasn't left yet...which suits me fine.

I catch up with a couple friends and look forward to seeing all my friends.

What can I say about our trip?

Travelling for ten months by bicycle, living in a tent, eating noodles and tuna, experiencing different cultures and teaching children in Nepal is a wonderful, challenging and extremely worthwhile experience.

It is not always fun and stress-free but I am glad that we did it and it has shown me a new path that I want to follow...