What an amazingly crazy and emotional week this has been. I had wanted to write this story so that maybe any of you that are going through the same thing can know that we all are there sometimes. I am still a bit stunned at the amount of plans and situations that I felt came crashing down around me. And I was even more stunned at how one event can lead to another to change a serious of events. I know this does not make much sense, but I don’t really want to go into too many details. But my choice was my reaction to it all, I allowed myself to fall into such despair. But we all are human and sometimes we need to fall so that we can stand up stronger and appreciate it all even more so.
But I want to take this time also to thank each and every one of you that had written and phoned me. I do remember and treasure your words. Many of you I have not even met, but I feel so blessed to have you on this journey with me. Thank you all for being there.
Unfortunately I had overlooked what was beautiful and chose to cloud my mind. As you might know by now I am working with an amazing organization called COMMITTED to take art to the rural areas. They are a dedicated team that works so hard and are always there to arrange things, and give advice. I really feel so blessed to be working with all of you. Mr. Hada had sent me the program that he and the schools have been working on. I have added so that you can see all the work they are putting into making this a memorable trip for us as well as the children. Just add another 2 days extra as we will only be arriving back in Kathmandu January 17. After glancing over the program something caught my eye again and really struck a cord. Something that I have known since the beginning, but sometimes we need things to remind us again of our blessings. I realized how many meals the community will be partly sponsoring for us. And I realized how blessed we are, to be welcomed by the village into their schools. These communities are very poor as many of you know. And here they are sharing their food with us, sharing their hot tea, and giving from their heart. It made such a big impact on me at that moment that I was thinking, how can I allow other situations to cloud the most beautiful experience we are going to have. To those of you joining us, I am so very much looking forward to meeting you and those that cannot make it, hopefully our roads will cross soon. Please don’t let small things become big things and make you not see the most beautiful gift of all. People’s hearts.
If anybody would like to make a small donation to this project as all funds will be used towards purchasing art supplies for the children, your help would be very much appreciated.
Program Schedule (8th January 2012-17th January, 2012)
8 January (Sunday):
7:00 a.m. Leave Kathmandu from Jorpati
11:00 Lunch at Melamchi Bazaar1
3:00 p.m. Arrive Thangpalkot
3:15 Introductions and Nepali Chiya (Tea)2
4:00 School Tour
4:30 Freshen/Rest
7:00 Dinner3 (Local Dal Bhaat Tarkari)
9 January (Monday)
8:00 a.m. Breakfast4
10:30 Art Class
12:30 p.m. Lunch5 (Local Dal Bhaat Tarkari)
1:30 Art Class
4:00 Day Wrap Up
5:00 Village Tour
7:00 Dinner3 (Local Dal Bhaat Tarkari)
10 January (Tuesday)
8:00 a.m. Breakfast4
Fresh Homemade Doughnuts, Omlette, Bread, Jam, Nepali Chiya
10:30 Art Class
12:30 p.m. Lunch5 (Local Dal Bhaat Tarkari)
1:30 Art Class
4:00 Day Wrap Up (Tea and Snacks)7
5:00 Village Tour
7:00 Dinner3 (Local Dal Bhaat Tarkari)
11 January (Wednesday)
7:00 a.m. Breakfast4
8:30 Head to Kumbheswori Primary School, Gunshakot Village
9:30 Kumbheswori School Tour
10:00 Art Class
12:00 Lunch6
1:00 Art Class
4:00 Day Wrap Up (Tea and Snacks)7
5:00 Head Back to Base
7:00 Dinner3 (Local Dal Bhaat Tarkari)
12 January (Thursday)
7:00 a.m. Breakfast4
8:30 Head to Taltuleswori Primary School, Thangpalkot Village
9:30 Taltuleswori School Tour
10:00 Art Class
12:00 p.m. Lunch8
1:00 Art Class
4:00 Program Wrap Up (Tea and Snacks) 7
5:00 Head Back to Base
7:00 Dinner 3 (Local Dal Bhaat Tarkari)
13 January (Friday)
7:30 a.m. Breakfast4
8:30 Bhotang Village Hike
12:30 p.m. Arrive Bhotang
1:00 Lunch 9 (at Bishal Tamang’s shop}
2:00 Local Tour
Nepal prime minister in the early 20th Bhimsen Thapa’s House, it’s called Haweli, Bhotang village,
We can see Annapurna and Lakpa Gorje Mountains, Hills
5:00 Snacks and Tea
8:00 Dinner 10 (at Bishal Tamang’s shop)
14 January (Saturday)
8:00 a.m. Breakfast 11
9:00 Thangpalkot Hike
1:30 pm Lunch5 (Local Dal Bhaat Tarkari)
3:00 Local Activities
5:00 Snacks and Tea 2
8:00 Dinner3 (Local Dal Bhaat Tarkari)
15 January (Sunday)
6:30 a.m. Breakfast4
7:30 Leave Thangpalkot for Kathmandu
11:00 Lunch at Melamchi Bazaar1
3:00 p.m. Arrive Kathmandu
1- Lunch to be borne by individuals
3, 5- Lunch and Dinner charge per person Rs. 100, of which 50% will be borne by the school and rest by volunteers
4 - Breakfast charge per person xxxx, of which 50% will be borne by the school and rest by volunteers
6 – Lunch at Gunshakot xxxx
2, 7 – Tea & Snacks; Courtesy-Schools
8 - Lunch at Taltuleswori—Cost---yyyyyy
9, 10 Bishal Tamang’s Residence Cost ZZZZZ
11 – Breakfast at Bishal Tamang’s; Cost TTTTT
At this point I have been informed by the contractors that we had at the school that unfortunately they did not have any time to work on a small project at this time. I desperately need a contractor that is willing to work on this small project during December and January month. It has been a dream for a long time for the school to have a library set up for the children and we are so close to having it become a reality. This is really a work of love and if anybody in Kathmandu has any contacts they can refer me to. As you can see from the picture there is not too much work left. The school is about 10 minutes walk from Thamel, next to Raktakali temple.
