Last days...

We had a delightful time with Covenant Academy teachers - spending six hours together working through our understandings of teaching and learning. They were very appreciative and it was a delight to hear them opening up their minds and hearts to a more interactional and deeper approach to creating and enacting curricula. They shared their fears and dreams for Nepal, and imagined how their students might participate in these visions. It was an incredible trip for me...an opportunity to share ideas with others on the other side of the world, learn from them about their culture and great fun!  Thank you for the opportunity, Tae Hun and Calvin College.

Students of the elementary school - the morning routine includes exercise and singing.

Aren't they cute?

Tae Hun shaking hands with the principal's son who we heard a lot about during our time together...a bit shy.

The teachers gave me a beautiful frame.

All of the Covenant Academy teachers, Wesley, Tae Hun and I...

Grand Rapids from up where the sun shines...ha!ha!

The cycle of life...

also includes death, and so today we went to see the Hindu Shrines that include the place where people are cremated...out in the open with the crowds watching. Although I noticed that they only watched the beginning...not to the end. You can see the process on the attached photos... The ashes are then thrown in the river...a holy river and taken to heaven. It was sort of creepy (only because it is not my culture or religion - shows my low cultural intelligence), yet very fascinating. We also saw many small temples with worship going on all over...I wondered if they were like intimate Christian funerals - remembering their loved ones and asking for blessings for those remaining.

I am thinking that the body is in a simple casket, because I saw one by the river bank, and then it has a beautiful cloth on top, surrounded by logs and they are now setting it on fire.

This is a view of the burning spots (I am sure there is a more aesthetic name) from across the river...

The same cremation we saw when it was being lit from an areal view after it is flaming...

The tops of the many many small temples...

What an awesome experience...it seemed surreal. So many people seeking God and the afterlife...

The Kings' Library and Gardens...

 We had a delightful day today...first visiting Covenant Academy where Tae Hun led his teachers in devotions and I saw the children and their opening ceremonies, then a fresh donut at Cafe Hessed. Tae Hun had assured me that rest and sunshine were on the agenda for today.

Tae Jun, his young son, joined Tae Hun, his wife, two sons and I for a day of fun. We went to the King's Garden, which is a haven in the middle of the metropolis, very beautiful and rest-filled for me. The children ran and explored non-stop...we enjoyed a delicious sandwich and did a bit of shopping. The Jin's show such caring hospitality from Mom's fresh donuts to warm slippers for the marble floors. I have really felt loved.

 

Beautiful rickshaw for your shopping convenience...

This is a picture from the Kings' Library, which is now a public library, but it is also a museum...many ancient pictures and artifacts, plus incredible architecture...how do you like that frame?

A part of the King's Gardens...so lovely and peaceful in the midst of a metropolitan area...

We did a bit of shopping...

What a lovely family, eh? The Dads are really not that serious...it must be the Napali way :)

It was fun being part of the family today. I think little brother is working on his peace sign.

Good-bye to Pokhara, Nepal...

Yesterday, on our last day in Pokhara before returning to Kathmandu, we visited a small International School that was doing very good work. Here is a lesson I have learned from Honduras and Nepal...a school is called an International School if it teaches students in English...the implication is that if you learn in English you can go anywhere in the world - the hidden curriculum is that means US or England... There are many British and Korean missionary organizations that have come here and started schools. This school was run my someone I would call an older British school marm...not that I know what that means, but maybe it gives you a picture. She had on warm English style clothes with Indian garb over. It was obvious that she loved the kids and they loved her. She had worked hard over the years collecting many resources and had a very warm well-equipped small school (around 25 students...with three classes - pre-school, 4-7 yr olds and 8-11 yr olds)- with all sorts of hands-on, active learning happening. We were there at the beginning of the day, and the children were outside exercising their lungs so they were better positioned to learn. It was a cool experience.

Then we went to the Mountain Museum that had pictures of the Himalayan mountain ranges, tribes and their explorers as well as other interesting things about foliage and animals in the mountains. The museum was huge... Then we flew back to Kathmandu.

Today, we had the privilege of being part of a group of people working to start a teacher training college for Napalis - to teach in Napali rural schools (imagining campuses throughout the country). They had organized a conference in an up-scale hotel conference center (even heated) with a very nice lunch that followed. They had prayed for someone like me to come they said...and felt I was heaven-sent. It was quite a privilege to hear their passions and share mine...in many ways they overlapped, and I guess I also gave them new things to consider. They were very gracious.

Mountain Museum in Pokhara, Nepal

Flags in the entrance contain Hindu Scripture...the Hindu believe that as the flags blow in the wind, God is reading them and blessing them...

Famous Nepali coffee beans...

 Poinsettias grow everywhere all over Nepal...year-round Christmas!

These are typical homes in Pokhara, Nepal...very beautiful multiple family dwellings.

Pokhara Airport Airline Counters...Tae Hun is checking in and checking my bag...see the large scales.

Fishtale Mtn showed itself and told us goodbye when we got to the airport.

Views of the Himalayas from the airplane...incredible show! 

I survived...

motorcycling the Himalaya Mountains!!! But, not without incident J! What an adventure. We rented the bikes last night and rode around Pochara to help me get used to the bike and figure out driving in Nepal. It was great!

We took off this morning at 5:30 AM to go see the Annapurna Mountain Range at sunrise. I had no idea what that meant, but I put on nearly everything I had and off we went. It was sooooo dark…driving on the left side of the road, pitch dark, pedestrians on both sides of the road, very narrow road…then we took a sharp left and started climbing. The road became even more narrow and hairpin turns…no curve signs or warning to slow down…Tae Hun just disappeared and I followed the road – sometimes with my stomach in my throat. We were going slow…and I was feeling pretty good about the experience…sometimes the road was good, sometimes it was not…sometimes rock walls and sometimes it was clear there was just a drop off.

When Tae Hun got the first glimpse of the mountain range, he was gracious enough to stop…only thing was he didn’t know my skills were limited and we were on a very steep climb. I stopped and then freaked…how would I ever go. I couldn’t hold the bike, had to keep the brake on, let off the clutch…stalled, stalled again (lots of play in the clutch_. Pushing the starter, braking, giving gas, letting up the clutch…I’m not sure what happened, but suddenly I was coasting down the hill very fast and down I went – but not off the side of the mountain! Praise the Lord!

It all worked out…after Tae Hun drove my bike to level ground (not too far – pitch dark…I walked) and I saw the majesty of the Annapurna Mountain Range (it was pre-dawn, but the snow on the mountain was visible, but not enough to get a picture), my heart began to calm and I knew the answer (we still had about 15 minutes to go to get to the top) – confidence. Get back on the bike and go!

You can see what we saw below…incredible! I made it down without incident and was ready for another ride. After breakfast, we took off to the countryside through the hills – beautiful! I actually started feeling pretty confident…beeping, passing, taking my turn…and enjoying the beautiful country side…rolling hills (more like the Smokey’s), rivers and the incredible realization that I was on the other side of the world from home, watching Asian/Indian/Arab culture happen around me! What an honor!

This afternoon we visited a school and they had gathered all the teachers to hear the professor from ‘Michigan University’ share teaching methods, because only 2-3 had been trained to be teachers. As I engaged them in some thinking and talking about listening to students, I realized their brilliance and heart for teaching… We are visiting another school in the morning…

The mountains saw the sun before we did...it was breathtaking!

Looking in the opposite directions...here comes the sun!

In the spotlight!

Tae Hun is holding it up...as we anticipate daylight and enjoy the show!

The grandeur never stopped...I didn't want to leave.

Yup, I was there!

We were there!

On the other side of the ridge!

Heading down...what an adventure!

Me and the goats....see the mountain splendor in the background...it is for real!!!

Sunday in Nepal...

We went to church at an international church...people from all over the world. Then, we went to lunch with friends of Tae Hun at a Japanese restaurant...ate Nepali food - very delicious ( Japenese food is known to be 'bland' to others, exactly right for my taste buds)!!

I have the most gracious tour guide imaginable...we went to the old city center of Kathmandu where The King's Palace is...Kathmandu is over 2,000 years old and the buildings date back to the 14th century... It was amazing, I have included some pictures.

We missed the living goddess, but went into her courtyard...a seven year old girl...you can read more about this belief here, if you are interested... http://www.visitnepal.com/nepal_information/kumari.php

We shopped a bit...fascinating...this is like the clothing district of New York City...all of the shops around the valley go here to buy for their stores. It was so colorful.

I was wrong about the dirt roads...that is only in the suburbs, so to speak, there are many main roads that are paved, but the traffic is the same...when there are lines (probably put their by some westerner who doesn't understand Nepali traffic) they are ignored. It is a very very calm chaos, if you understand what is happening. I looked up some you-tubes and many people call it crazy and insane...our perspectives are skewed by our experiences. Do we organize ourselves out of relationships and care for each other? I am still amazed by the lack of anger and the intense consideration for each other and for foreigners.

Today we are flying to Pochara...the second biggest city in Nepal...where we will (God willing) get to see the largest mountain range in the world (8 of the 10 tallest mountains, include Mt Everest and K2). Hopefully, Wed will be a motorcycling day.

Ancient King's Palace...

I love the design of the windows...light without access...humans, birds or even flies would need to really concentrate to get in.

Entrance to the court yard of the 'living goddess'

Shrines, shrines and more shrines with lots and lots of pigeons...

This is an inspiration for worship, but the explanation is gone from my brain...

Shopping district...

Worshippers

Hindu/Buddhist Temple

First, my shrine...Nepali MD

Hindu Temple overlooking Kathmandu...the flags are pieces of cloth with scriptures written on them

These 'spinners' have scriptures written on them and believers walk around the temple spinning them to receive the blessings they offer.

Picture in the center for training Tibetan priests... 

A small piece of Kathmandu...

 Posing with a sacred monkey...there were hundreds of them loose all around the temples...