This post features student writing by Olivia.
^ A video we took when we first arrived in Salleri. How time flies!
Our day started at 7 AM when Ethan, Victor, and I presented our independent projects. Mine revolved around Nepali rituals and traditions related to the moon. With the help of a few other students, Ethan had cleared an area next to the dining hall to make it a meditation garden; he spoke about the importance of having a place for meditation in sometimes stressful environments, such as school. Victor’s presentation focused on young Nepalis finding work and staying employed.
At 7:30 AM we had a breakfast of porridge, toast, potatoes, and eggs. Victor and Elijah put cocoa powder on their toast with butter and peanut butter, respectively. After breakfast we hiked to the work site, where we moved rocks from pile to pile to help prepare for building the walls. During both water breaks we devoured John’s newfound jar of honey peanuts and we played around tossing peanuts from far lengths into people’s mouths. In the second break we had pineapple juice and Oreos. Some students began to play volleyball while the rest of us relaxed in the shade. Katie, Alexa, and Mimi stood on two big rocks nearby and started dancing to Jeff’s playlist that we’d put on while we worked in the morning. Amidst all this, Bobo, another friendly dog who sometimes hangs with us at the work site, laid around being adorable. It was a relaxing but bittersweet end of our final stretch of time at the project site.
We changed clothes and headed to the nearby school to say our goodbyes there and to perform the Nepali dance we’d been learning all this time. We sat in chairs curved around a makeshift stage as the sun dipped in and out of clouds. It was a hot, hot day. After many cute and talented dances by the children, Alexa went up and performed a contemporary dance, which really “wowed” the crowed. A few dances later, Anna went up to give a great speech thanking the principal and children for welcoming us all the times we visited the school. Then, we performed the dance we’d been learning, in front of the whole school!
Back at the Girls Dorm, lunch was waiting: rice, lentils, cauliflower, and potatoes. While eating lunch someone came up with the idea to make two more cards (we’d made handmade cards for all our Nepali guides and program staff we’ve spent time with during the program) that we will give out during the final dinner in Kathmandu. (I can’t say more or else it will ruin the surprise, sorry).
After lunch, Natalie and John came in and told us that Mingmar would not be coming back to Kathmandu with us tomorrow. This was sad and upsetting, especially for a handful of students who had a special connection with him. We will miss all our Nepali guides—Chhyamba, Mingmar, Chhering, Krishna, and the others—very much.
We prepared to give the girls here at the dorm several gifts: notebooks, toothbrushes, bars of soap, reusable pads, and a new volleyball with a pump. Maria and Katie gave a short, very sweet speech thanking the girls and Goma for their hospitality. Then it was time to break in the new volleyball and have free time to say goodbyes and pack. I went to my room for a bit and then instead of going back down to the volleyball court, Rita invited me and Maria into the kitchen. There she gave me mango and I helped pop the popcorn we’d all eat later. Maria cut lettuce and peeled garlic. After the work was done I showed them some ballet moves. Maria and I tried to teach Rita and the others the Spanish words for what was in the kitchen—”lechuga”, lettuce; “huevos,” eggs; “mesa,” table. In the dining area, Frances, Jeff, and Maia were playing gin rummy. Frances was laughing a lot, about seemingly everything. When they finished the game (Maia won) the four of us hung out talking and laughing.
Dinner kicked off with an appetizer of potato soup, followed by rice, lentils, goat, potato with cauliflower, and cucumbers with carrots. After we finished we hung out with the girls, dancing and saying goodbyes and giving out cards. I presented Rita’s card and when Anna handed out Niraj’s card she made a short speech in Nepalese, which was very sweet. After all the cards were handed out we had cake: chocolate with white frosting and “TSW See U Again” written on it. Not “Goodbye,” which is too final. Chhyamba cut the cake and he kept trying to feed more and more of it to all of us. After the sweet treat we had another dance party. I followed Rita for the Nepali songs and she followed me following Victor during the American songs.
Then, finally, we had to say goodbye and goodnight. There were lots of hugs and tears. A bittersweet goodbye, for sure.
— Olivia