I just returned from a Nepali engagement ceremony. When I was living in NY I tutored this boy, Saurav, for a year and became somewhat close with the family. Sauravs mom, Roshani, is the one who connected me with everyone before arriving in Kathmandu. Roshanis sister, Rajani, lives in Michigan, but just came to Nepal to meet her new fiancee and become engaged!
I have never thought of arranged marriages before, but it is very tempting!
Now in the modern days, you are able to meet and date for some time before deciding if you are compatible enough. Rajani and her new fiancee are both doctors and seem so happy.
Everyone arrived at 1130am, and between 12 and 1, was the time they had to officially engage, as it was the time according to their horoscopes. They closely follow these horoscopes. It even determines the day and time for your wedding. I met someone that told me she was married at 3am, since that was their "time."
It was so nice to be around a family atmosphere. Nepalese people are so inviting and friendly.
Surprise, Surprise its another holiday today! Ive decided they cant go to work without having one holiday a week!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
95 degrees and feeling scandalous wearing knee length shorts!
Its definitely getting hotter and hotter each day, and more bugs are coming out, meaning monsoon season is around the corner!
Load shedding has increased to 12 hours a day (no electricity for 12 random hours throughout the day). Apparently, as the year goes on the hour amount increases! Someone told me by December it might be up to 23!
I can only think to ask how can a developing nation develop if they only have electricity 1/3 of the working day! And when that comes on, internet is still infrequent!
I cant believe I have been here for a month now! And each day is still an adventure!
Ive been working with Shakti Samuha, an NGO working with anti-trafficking programs and with victims, for the past two weeks trying to get a grant proposal turned in. Its funny, we havent progressed any and now that the deadline is around the corner, the pressure is on and there seem to be less breaks for tea and laughs about no electricity/internet!
Its frustrating not bein productive, but I guess its worth it for me to even just "hang out" in the office when Im literally waiting until 3pm or whatever that days hour is for electricity, to do some work. I met with a lawyer that previously worked as the legal support for Shakti Samuha.
She is now working in the "internal" side of exploitation or the trafficking industry.
Internal- girls currently working in cabin, restraunt, dance bars
External- victims of trafficking
This lawyer has different cases for the girls that want to get out of the entertainment business. She is the first person I have met that is actually doing a job I can see myself doing. Though her english wasnt that strong, I think I just need to call her and she will show me around one day. Hopefully I cna go with her to "investigate" some of these bars.
Its amazing the types of bars they have here. Kathmandu does not have a specific red light district, but theres one area in the touristy area where theres bars of all extremes, from dance bars where the girls are dressed to shower bars where girls are taking a shower on stage to bars with full sex shows.
I have been informed of a team that goes on Tuesday nights to these areas and talks with the girls to see if anyone wants out. This Tuesday evening I hope I have the opportunity for that.
Other than working with Shakti, on April 3rd for two weeks I will be going to a village area called Nuwakot. Its about 60 miles NW of Kathmandu. My Nepali friends in NY connected me with Upama, who lives here and connected me with the college. She works for Family Planning. It is like an umbrella org and they have an anti-trafficking project in Nuwakot for the next 5 years, so Ill be able to go there and observe and experience that. Im very excited to leave the jungle for a little bit!
Recently I have had an overwhelming joy of being here, and I cant express how grateful I am for everyones support and encouragement for being able to have this opportunity!
dont miss the bus!
how to change a billboard Nepali style
something I will never get to try since my one and hopefully only visit to the ER has made a great enough impression to avoid any and all sort of street food for my remaining time here..its a pity, really.
Load shedding has increased to 12 hours a day (no electricity for 12 random hours throughout the day). Apparently, as the year goes on the hour amount increases! Someone told me by December it might be up to 23!
I can only think to ask how can a developing nation develop if they only have electricity 1/3 of the working day! And when that comes on, internet is still infrequent!
I cant believe I have been here for a month now! And each day is still an adventure!
Ive been working with Shakti Samuha, an NGO working with anti-trafficking programs and with victims, for the past two weeks trying to get a grant proposal turned in. Its funny, we havent progressed any and now that the deadline is around the corner, the pressure is on and there seem to be less breaks for tea and laughs about no electricity/internet!
Its frustrating not bein productive, but I guess its worth it for me to even just "hang out" in the office when Im literally waiting until 3pm or whatever that days hour is for electricity, to do some work. I met with a lawyer that previously worked as the legal support for Shakti Samuha.
She is now working in the "internal" side of exploitation or the trafficking industry.
Internal- girls currently working in cabin, restraunt, dance bars
External- victims of trafficking
This lawyer has different cases for the girls that want to get out of the entertainment business. She is the first person I have met that is actually doing a job I can see myself doing. Though her english wasnt that strong, I think I just need to call her and she will show me around one day. Hopefully I cna go with her to "investigate" some of these bars.
Its amazing the types of bars they have here. Kathmandu does not have a specific red light district, but theres one area in the touristy area where theres bars of all extremes, from dance bars where the girls are dressed to shower bars where girls are taking a shower on stage to bars with full sex shows.
I have been informed of a team that goes on Tuesday nights to these areas and talks with the girls to see if anyone wants out. This Tuesday evening I hope I have the opportunity for that.
Other than working with Shakti, on April 3rd for two weeks I will be going to a village area called Nuwakot. Its about 60 miles NW of Kathmandu. My Nepali friends in NY connected me with Upama, who lives here and connected me with the college. She works for Family Planning. It is like an umbrella org and they have an anti-trafficking project in Nuwakot for the next 5 years, so Ill be able to go there and observe and experience that. Im very excited to leave the jungle for a little bit!
Recently I have had an overwhelming joy of being here, and I cant express how grateful I am for everyones support and encouragement for being able to have this opportunity!
dont miss the bus!
how to change a billboard Nepali style
something I will never get to try since my one and hopefully only visit to the ER has made a great enough impression to avoid any and all sort of street food for my remaining time here..its a pity, really.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
News Updates
"Human Trafficking King Arrested"
http://www.astra.org.rs/eng/?p=227
How simple it is to buy a child
http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/buy-child-10-hours/story?id=5326508&page=3
http://www.astra.org.rs/eng/?p=227
How simple it is to buy a child
http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/buy-child-10-hours/story?id=5326508&page=3
Sunday, March 7, 2010
a face mask, long sleeves, pants, and a scarf all in 90 degree weather...its getting a bit warm.
With my attempt to blend in as much as I possibly can, which isnt that easy since a mere glance at my skin gives it away I am nowhere near being considered a local or for that matter anything but an english speaking citizen, I am daily wearing as much clothing as the locals do. meaning im pretty much sweating everyday so i will not be considered one of those "easy" white girls...i sure hope my body acclimates at a faster pace, its already 90 here by the mid afternoon and having dare to wear a tank top the other day with a scarf covering my shoulders, i felt very scandalous!
its been two weeks and it looks like things are coming together.Nepali time is about 3 weeks and one hour behind American time/efficiency. Its been interesting getting used to.
As of now, I am helping these two Americans, one who I met in CA before I left for Nepal, with their new business. They hire trafficking victims and teach them how to make jewelry. They currently have 5 women, who are now able to sustain a life on their salary at Beauty for Ashes and have a new family that will provide the support and love the Nepali people are accustomed to.
Necia and Ellen, the two founders of Beauty for Ashes, are extremely overwhelmed and busy with creating and developing this new business they havent found the time to do the small things like organize and make a productive, efficient organization system for all their producsts and data. Thisi s where I come in. My delight in organizing and data entering will help them be able to expand and move forward at a better rate.
Necia introduced me to this organization Beauty for Ashes has recently become affiliated with, Tiny Hands International. Founded by American men, John, the founder who resides in Kathmandu, has taken my future law school education and liking toward research and interviewing and paired it with a mini, investigation assignment!
John is extremely eager, enthusiastic, motivated and a go-getter. His personality and determination has given me a lot of responsibility, but after discussing with him what he thinks I can do, has settled my heart and reassured my time in Nepal!
Tiny Hands works with anti-trafficking, mostly doing border patrol between the open Nepal and India border. They have about 12 stations around Nepal and as I spoke with the overseer of these stations, 90% of the cases the police release the traffickers on grounds of bribery.
John, as do I, are convinced that if I compile various strategies, advice, ideas from other NGO's (non-governmental organizations) and lawyers and write some sort of statement that we could then get published in a national newspaper, bribery could be defeated! Within Hinduism and Nepali culture, family and pride are huge factors to the way people live their life. By creating awareness and real concern within these communities, ideally pressure would be placed on the police to take these cases more serious and act in favor of the traffickee and dismiss the bribes, in order to maintain their pride and reputation in their own community.
Im currently trying to setup interviews with these various people. It might be somewhat of a struggle to meet with the more powerful, well known organizations, but I hope God will be on my side with this one and let things fluidly progress.
Happy Womens Day!
passing monkeys is as frequent as seeing opossums or lizards in your yard.
(basically you cant go a day w/o passing one)
My most recent purchase!
no, im not becoming a thief! im simply trying to limit my
daily intake of the diesel and not so pleasant rubbish
fragranted air, just like all the other Nepali.
Monday, March 1, 2010
I think I just got a preview of what the weather in May/June will be like. 80 degrees and suddenly out of no where, hailstorms!
I went to the college today to arrange more dates to meet with other organizations that I can work with. Also, March 17th is World Social Work Day and Nepal School of Social Work is participating in a 4 day event that will create awareness and opportunities for others to become active in the social work and human rights field.
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