The End of the Party and Now Back to Work

Yesterday started off with a peace walk through the village and ended up around a beautiful lake. The people were all out to watch the parade and there was a traditional Nepali band leading the way. The parade was in honor of International Women’s Week.

I had planned a massage after the parade thinking we would be back at 9:30am, but the parade started Nepali time, which is always later than anticipated. I had to run all the way back to get to my massage. It was worth the effort. I really needed a massage after spending many days sitting on a cushion in a very straight back position meditating.

There was a meeting at 11am and I was already late, so I rushed to get dressed after my massage. As I was sitting in the meeting, I realized I had my Kurti (top) on inside out. I put my scarf around me as much as possible, so no one would notice.

After the meeting we did a sight seeing tour of the monkey temple and Patan. There were 8 people and the poor guide, Sheetal, was trying to herd the cats (women). Everyone wanted to see or do something different. I now know why I would not do well on organized tours. I definitely lack patience.

The evening was another wonderful dinner at a General Members house. Apparently they own a number of restaurants and bakeries and are very wealthy. The house was beautiful and food was very good. Only issue was that the dinner was outside and it was very cold. We were all trying to get as close to the fire as possible. I definitely am going to get another cold.

This was my last evening staying in the dorms. I start working on my marketing plan for Tewa, so a lot of work ahead.

Namaste, Paula

A Day of Celebration

I was much too tired to write my blog last night after a full and amazing day. It was the inauguration of the new dormitories at Tewa. There were many Nepali people and International visitors attending the event.

These women are amazing at what they can accomplish. The building had just started when I was here last year with no funds to complete. Buildings in Nepal take a lot of time to build because it is all manual labor. Tewa was able to raise over $3,000,000 and complete the building in time for this event.

The speakers included the ex-ambassador to the US, a high level woman that was in the United Nations, and many other distinguished people. The ceremony came on the same day as Holi and the start of Interational Women’s Week.

We started with Maggie, a lady that moved to Nepal over 30 years ago from the US, preparing breakfast for all the ladies staying in the Dormitory, which includes 7 women from the US and 2 Canadians. That was just the beginning of eating fantastic food all day. The day ended with dinner at Meera’s home or should I say mansion.

I hope that I can provide pictures so that you all can appreciate the setting, the people, and the passion that was part of the day.

Today is a peace walk in the morning, more formal events, a tour, and a massage… can’t beat that..

Namaste, Paula

The Women in Nepal

Today was an opportunity to meet many wonderful people. My new friend Leslie from Sacramento, California that I met at Kopan Monastery introduced me to Tara. Tara and her family have a beautiful home in Baluwata, a village within Kathmandu. It always amazes me that you can have so much litter, pollution, and poverty and then walk through a door and see a beautiful garden and home.

Tara and her husband returned to Nepal after years of living in the USA. She is very involved in many of the NGOs focused on helping the people of Nepal. Tara’s sister, who I met, was the first woman high school graduate and college graduate in Kathmandu.

Tara has offered to let me stay at her home after I leave Tewa’s dormitories. It may be a perfect location to get to the bus for Tewa and still be close to the orphanage, where I will be tutoring the children in math.

On arriving at Tewa, it was so wonderful to see all my old friends. The dormitories have turned out better than I could have imagined and it really shows how much hard work went into preparing for the grand opening event. I am sitting in my room writing my blog with the smell of fresh paint. The rooms have a view overlooking the greenery of the mustard fields.

We attended a dinner hosted by the President of Tewa this evening. I met some ladies from the States and Canada, who are also here to attend the opening of the dormitories. I also met a young woman from Kenya, Caroline, who works for a non-profit out of Colorado that is similar to Tewa but focused in Africa. Caroline was giving me some tips for my trip to Rwanda later this year, but that is a whole other blog in September.

I realized that I should have purchased gifts for the staff at Tewa and all the people who worked so hard to build the dormitories. I must figure out how to go into Patan tomorrow to pick up some gifts. Unfortunately tomorrow is Holy, the festival of colors. If you followed my blog last year, you know it can be very difficult walking so as not to get sprayed with dirty water and colors, which are tar based powder that does not come out. I will have to figure this out.

On a side topic, when I arrived at my hotel in Tamal. I spoke with the travel agency and realized I could save $700 on my trip to Bhutan. I really liked the one that I had already hired, but that is a lot of money. Well…… wouldn’t you know that they made a mistake and I needed me to pay $300 more. I had to really negotiate and got it down to $180. Although I still saved money, I probably would have stayed with my original group. So much for being penny wise and pound foolish.

Well, it is very late and I am cuddled in bed with three blankets, no heat, so I better go to sleep.

Namaste, Paula

Kopan Monastery

Well it has been some time since I updated my blog. I have been in a Buddhist program at the Kopan Monastery for the last week. It was an amazing week and it will take me some time to digest all the information.

The class was definitely a melting pot from around the globe. I believe a good amount of countries were represented…. Mexico, Holland, Denmark, Switzerland, Belgium, UK, France, etc.…The attendees were of all ages and I believe equally split between male and female. There were approx.. 90 people in the program.

The program was “Transforming your Mind, Transforming your Life.”. I plan to do a write-up of all my notes for those interested. The class discusses good and bad karma as a result of virtuous and non-virtuous deeds.

Now I am really feeling guilty about buying the DVDs that Nepal sells. Since I only pay a dollar for a DVD on current movies in the theaters, I am sure there are copyright issues. Apparently they go to the movies and record the movie while it is playing in the theater and sell it. What do you guys think?????? One option is to watch them and destroy them and rent them at a red box when I get home. I hope that will wipe out my bad karma.

We spent our seven days in teaching, meditation, and silence. The setting was spectacular with the Kopan Monastery on the top of a hill overlooking the Kathmandu Valley.

I definitely have some issues with Meditation. I have what you would call a Monkey mind that is constantly moving…. I tried counting breadths to see how many I can count before my mind wandered… I never made it past seven. I really need practice and am not sure I will ever make it.

It is so wonderful to be back in the Nepali lifestyle, although the pollution is very bad. I just need to get use to the air. I tried wearing a mask like some of the others, but it makes me feel like I am suffocating.

I start back at Tewa tomorrow and it will be great to see everyone.

Now I am sitting in a hotel in Tamal listening to loud music, which I hope does not last all night. This is wedding season and the Nepali people really know how to party. At least it covers up the noise of the dogs barking…. I hope to get some sleep tonight.

Namaste

A Beautiful Place

I arrived at the Kopan Monastery and immediately understood why I have been wanting to come back here ever since I left over a year ago. The monastery sits on a hill overlooking the Kathmandu valley. There is only calm and peace within the monastery walls.

My retreat is six days and, to honor the purpose of the retreat, will limit my time on the computer to every few days. You may not see a blog from me during the retreat. I will journal every day and hope to put my thoughts in a blog at the end of the retreat.

The retreat is an introductory course on Tibetan Buddhism. The course combines teaching, meditation, and silence.

Namaste

Paula

I Have Arrived!!!!

After over 36 hours in transit, I finally arrive in Kathmandu. Amazingly my luggage is here with me. My panic attack was for nothing. I am hoping to learn to live in the present and not suffer over past mistakes or worry about future events at my Buddhist retreat, which starts tomorrow. I think it is a lot to ask but I am striving for peace and happiness.

I am very tired but excited to be back in Nepal. I realized in just a short period of time why I love Kathmandu. The atmosphere and energy is so intoxicating and, although there is a lot of noise and pollution, it seems so peaceful to me.

I have already met so many really helpful people. The hotel did not pick me up as promised, which is not unusual, so I was bombarded with people trying to sell me another hotel or a taxi. But you can always find people that will go out of their way to help. It is what I love about Kathmandu.

Finally after one hour I was in a taxi as we both tried to find my hotel. The drive took triple the time; when they say The Backyard Hotel, they really mean it. It is not the easiest place to find.

Immediately I realized that I didn’t pack correctly. It is 75 to 80 degrees. Last year it was very cold and wet. I brought all winter clothes. I guess I should be thankful the weather is beautiful.

I finally settled into a room after four hours. Needless to say I am very tired.

Namaste,

Paula

My Journey begins for 2012

This year is a busy year with Nepal, Bhutan, India, Cuba, and Africa. I am excited to be starting my journey.

I forgot how difficult travel could be. The day started with another AA cancelled flight, which forced me to add a leg from LA to San Diego to my trip. I am optimistic that my luggage will make it with 4 stops to my final destination Kathmandu. Sitting on the plane I had a sudden panic attack because I forgot to put a nametag on the duffle bag with two Kindle Fires that I am bringing for people at Tewa.; an amateur mistake. I am sure this won’t be the only panic attack I will have on this journey.

This year I noticed that I am really getting old or paranoid… whichever you want to call it. I am carrying pepper spray and a panic button. If you followed last year’s blog, you know that I took some risks walking at night. I didn’t think they were major risks, but everyone else did, so I am now prepared to do battle if attacked. Watch, I will probably spray in my face and help the attacker.

I am sad that Razeena, my good friend in Nepal, will not be there. But I have been introduced to an American that has started an orphanage in Nepal and hope to spend time at the orphanage. I brought toothbrushes, toothpaste (donated by my dentist office), crayons, pencils, and coloring books. Although I am apprehensive that I will become too attached to the children, which is why I have not been involved in working with children in my volunteer efforts, I am excited to help in any way possible.

My primary job is to update the marketing plan for Tewa. For those new to my blog, visit www.tewa.org.np. They are celebrating the opening of their dormitory. This will mean that Tewa can offer a complete destination venue and be more competitive. The best part is seeing everyone at Tewa again.

Being home for over 5 months, I have become fat and lazy. After 6 weeks of Nepali food, I should be back to my fighting weight. I will miss watching the dolphins play while working out at boot camp, but I will definitely get a lot of exercise walking everywhere.

I am now sitting on a crowded flight to Delhi…. It has been 30 hours, since I departed from LA and this flight is 8 hours. I think it is time for drugs and a glass of wine. What do you think???

Namaste,

Paula