Leaving Koshidekha-and next chapter...

September 28, 2013

Dear Friends and Family,

Last day- a day full of profoundly deep heart-felt emotion. Five AM was bitter sweet as we woke up to get ready for the day of good-byes and of celebration for the new school building donated by the Swiss for the children of Koshidekha. Saying farewell to Rajman and Maya was the hardest and brought on our first bout of tears. After dragging our gear up the mountain to the school, we found intense preparations under way, as teachers and volunteers had been working for days and into the night.  The Swiss arrived in their hiking clothes to a flanking of 500 children lined up for a long stretch through the tiny town, in uniform. The procession included ancient Tamang drumming and dancing, teachers dressed in Saris and dress clothes, and all with flower petals to shower the guests. In spite of the pomp and formalities, stray dogs and chickens settled in amongst the revelers.  Five hours of speeches in three languages (Nepali, German, and fractional English), traditional dances, and songs taught by yours truly to each grade 1-7, we ate a feast cooked by teachers throughout the preceding night. The final song, We Shall Overcome, was the culminating moment for us, as 45 children sang their hearts out for us, as we all dreamed of a good future for the people of Koshidekha. After  tearful good-byes and many Pheri Betaula’s (“see you agains”) we piled into the 4-wheel drive jeep to bounce down the mountain road toward Kathmandu.

On our first night of re-entry with our hosts, Dr. and Mrs. Shakar included our first hot water soaking shower in a month and electric light (as opposed to head lamps and flashlights). The cooking was actually on a stove. And the sit-down toilet felt good under us!!! We awoke, however at 4am (damn) to the cacophony  of thousands of rooster cock-adoodle-doos and barking dogs. Welcome to the city! We have found our hotel for the next few nights, before heading for the Everest Mountain area. Tomorrow we volunteer for a medical health camp in Baktapur, joining our Nepal Children’s Center hosts and the Swiss group who funded the new Koshidekha school building.

Stay tuned for our next adventure surely upon the horizon…

C and J