A Nepali Minute

A Nepali Minute

Legs get something clear, if a Nepali tells you a given amount of time it takes then double than number and add ten. Never ever assume that they mean the time they say. This has not happened once, twice, or even three times but as been consistent in happening every time. A word to the wise, relax. The first few days this really got me worked up and anxious. Slowly but surely I'm expecting it so I don't get so nervous when it happens.

Today was wonderful seeing the kindergarten class look at the paintings for the first time. Although they are not nearly finished their eyes lit up like Christmas morning. While being in one of their class periods I saw two things. First, the student themselves seemed happier. Sure the novelty will wear off a little but it made for a cleaner happier environment. Second, the room was brighter! Having a nice coat of colorful paint really drew in the light and brighten the classroom. It no long looked like a dungeons caging in midget trolls but a happier place to learn.

Although it did look nice their was still so much work to be done.

Let me just add before continuing that I am typing this from my bed. So far tonight I have encountered a ginormous spider. I ran out of the room and got my host brother to try to kill it. He pathetically missed and it ran behind the bed. At this point I was creaking out and the neighbor girl who speaks zero English except for come come and q (not sure what that means yet) and the family laughed at me. Aatma did kill it, or so he says, but I have that itchy feeling in bed. On top of that there is still something that runs around in my room (a moth just landed on me!!!!)  at night and a million flies and mosquitoes  Despite the net that I out around my bed at night these things still manage to get in. Oh and now I'm thinking the spider will do just that!!!! No sleep tonight!

We had to go get more paint, a lot more paint. So at 1:30 Aatma and I took his bike down to the paint store. Now originally we were supposed to get paint, put it on the 3 oclock bus, head back up to meet my friends at 4 to start painting.

Well here is the Nepali time again for you. First, the paint took ages, then we went to the local market, then we had tea, then we went to get medicine, then we took a snack, then we met the school agency, and then finally got gas and headed back up around 5:30! I kept telling myself the entire time to just take a breath and relax because this is the time system that they all operate on.

On top of the time issues the biking is still a little scary. I can not wait until I am able to insert a video because it is downright ridiculous! The roads are really just a bunch of bumpy rocks.

Once we made it back up to the school we had to take tea again before climbing through the fields to get the paint. Around 6 oclock we arrived at the school in the rain and began to paint. Two of my friends were just arriving so it is fortunate that they are also running on Nepali time. We got a little bit done and started to make the room even better. I get more and more excited.