Through the Children

       It is Dashain here in Nepal. Basically the equivalent of American Christmas, with all the hype, celebration, family, and food. There are SO many fascinating customs that I am not used to and generally don’t understand. I spend most of my time observing from the side, in awe of this new culture I am living in. Only being one month into SALT, I am still somewhat of an outsider, looking in. But it is through the children, with their tiny hands, that I am being guided into their world.
I sat on the steps this afternoon, watching the neighbor boys playing cricket in the street, when my host sister, Surajya, and her friend, Uzmaa, approached me with an assortment of toys. Surajya stood in front of me and said, “All the kids got tika today. Everyone gets tika! You did not get tika, so we give you tika and do puja.” (Tika is the red color Hindu people put on their forehead as a blessing.) Through make-believe, the two of them started to reenact the puja (worship) ceremony I watched this morning. I received invisible tika from an empty paint tray, lace fabric from Surajya's bedroom around my neck, and an assortment of balls in my hands to represent gifts of money and food. Lastly, the grand finale was them circling imaginary flame and incense in front of me while they loudly imitated the sounds of bells and the shell trumpet.
I was deeply touched by this gesture. These four year olds were my teachers. They taught me, without judgement, where to put my hands, what each action was called, and scolded me when I would let a giggle slip. These two girls saw me not as an outsider, but as someone who, to them, was “left out.” At that moment, I was not this strange, pale, American, Christian; I was just “Laura Didi” who did not get her tika. 

Tornadoes and Car Parts

         Last night I had a dream that I was caught in a tornado. It was quite a thrill to be flying around in the air, and fascinating to be hundreds of feet above the ground. But it was also scary and dangerous. I needed to find protection, a shield to protect me from the raging wind and shrapnel. Eventually, I saw the front part of a car flying past me in the tornado, so I grabbed on and hid behind it's strong frame. I was safe.
        I see this dream as a reflection of this past week in my orientation to Kathmandu. I am constantly in a whirlwind of new and fascinating. Hindu bells chiming at dawn and dusk. Banging on the roof of a tempo when you want to get off. Greeting others with "Namaste." Eating hot dal bhat with my bare hands. People. Colors. Ways of dressing. Simply crossing a street is all new!
        While as beautiful as this colorful whirlwind has been, I am also starting to realize it's challenges. Not knowing the language makes everything so much more difficult, and is such a barrier to building relationships. Beyond just the language differences, it is the daily cultural interactions that are so easy to mess up. Like accepting food with my left hand instead of my right. Or handing the cashier a ridiculous assortment of rupees because the different colors, sizes, and Nepali numbers makes me frazzled. Or awkward silence. Am I doing something wrong/culturally weird? Are Nepali people just quiet at a moment like this? Are we both just muted by our inability to freely speak our first language?
        So amidst this crazy, awesome, scary tornado of SALT in Nepal; what will be my shield? What do I have in Kathmandu to protect me through the storm? Even as I write this post, there are cracks of monsoon thunder and strikes of lightening. But the sweet smell of rain wafting through my window reminds me that the Divine is in this storm. God brought me here. And God will be that strong frame I can hide behind. A protection that is always within me!
       

About my SALT position

Synopsis:    

      This position is based at the KOSHISH Transit Home for women recovering from mental illness. The activities coordinator will plan and lead recreational activities for residents, join staff and residents in carrying out the home’s daily schedule, and assist with reporting, proposal writing, and researching the barriers facing women with mental illness in Nepali society.

Assignment Narrative:

      KOSHISH is a leading mental health organization in Nepal. It is active in advocacy as well as in rescue, treatment and rehabilitation of women living with mental illnesses. The KOSHISH Transit Home provides a safe place for women experiencing mental illness to stay during their initial treatment and recovery period. Residents usually stay for several months, often with their young children. The Activities Coordinator will work closely with the Transit Home supervisor and staff team to promote recovery from mental illness and enhance the quality of life of Transit Home residents. The Activities Coordinator will also provide support to KOSHISH for English documentation and communication.

Duties:

1. Planning and leading daily recreational activity sessions for 10-15 women (this may include music, art, crafts, gardening, games, or other based on interest and skills).
2. Assisting staff and residents with following the home’s daily schedule of activities and chores.
3. Assisting KOSHISH with preparing English language reports and proposals and coaching staff on improving English language professional writing.
4. Conducting research on the barriers and challenges facing women living with mental illness in Nepal.

Location Description:

      Kathmandu is a bustling city that enjoys a range of temperatures throughout the year, from cold winters to hot summers. The city enjoys good health facilities for routine health care. Bangkok or Delhi have good facilities for major health concerns. There are a number of Christian churches in Kathmandu, as well as the opportunity of small group involvement for Christian fellowship. Transportation by taxi is readily available and cars can be hired for longer trips. There is also an extensive bus system throughout the country, as well as numerous local and international flights from Kathmandu each week.  Nepal is full of opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts, from trekking in the Himalayas to rafting in glacier-fed rivers.

Challenges:

       Water and electricity are sometimes rationed when supply is low. Pollution levels are often high in the city. The risk of petty and personal property crime is similar to that of other large cities. Nepal has faced much political instability in recent years, and Kathmandu sees its share of political rallies, boycotts that temporarily shut down parts of the city, and occasional acts of violence. During these times, it may be necessary to avoid travel and work from home.

The Dream

        I decided to title my blog “Alignment” based off of an influential dream I had a few months ago. I had this dream way before SALT was even on my radar, and I was struggling with the choices I had to make for my future.
In this dream, I was going on a night hike with my family. To the right of our path was a expansive still lake with the Himalayas shooting up in the distance behind it. This lake was only about a foot deep and scattered along the shore were dozens of Indian men wading in the water, facing the mountains. According to the locals, this lake was the lake of wisdom and that was what these men were searching for. I felt this overwhelming call to go into the lake. I veered off the path against my fellow hikers’ warnings and prostrated myself in the shallow water. I was overwhelmed with the power of this lake. I looked up to the mountains and saw the clouds form a giant circle around the full moon. The stars in the sky aligned themselves with the moon, and the majestic voice of wisdom said to me, “everything will align itself in time.”
This phrase, “everything will align itself in time” has been very influential in my life since then. It has gotten me through very difficult transitions and the epic unknown. This phrase brought me to SALT, and almost like divine fulfillment of this dream, has literally brought me to the base of the Himalayas in Nepal. This experience has made me so keenly aware of the presence of the Divine in my life and that, yes, everything does align itself in time! I am feeling so grateful and excited for this next portion of my life in Kathmandu, Nepal!