Inclusion

Nepal, a place where inclusion and acceptance isn’t taught, it’s believed. The simplest “Namaste”, which means, the soul in me, greets the soul in you. It is a magnificent thing to witness and be a part of. The love and adoration for everything that crosses your path. These are the people in the world that know the meaning of honesty. Honesty to themselves and honesty to others. It’s really an amazing thing to learn from. I know that I have definitely been reminded of my blessings, and all the things, material or not, that I began to take for granted. It’s really funny to notice every year something new that I take for granted. Truly, it is the smallest things that are the most important. I’ve been taught so much on this trip about happiness and how to be the best version of myself, and I can’t wait to teach everyone at home.

                Class 4, probably the most diverse group of personalities I have ever met. To name a few, Sandip, a trouble maker who begs for attention, and can also get his work done to a “T”. Aayesha, a small innocent girl with bright eyes and the eagerness to answer every question. And also among my favorites, Raj, a boy with a curiosity so big that it doesn’t fit in the classroom. These were three out of my 20 amazing students. All of whom taught me, how to make being uncomfortable, comfortable. Along with these students I also taught class 10’s Health class. I stood in front of them and talked about “Safe Motherhood” and I know it wouldn’t have been possible to teach them all the required information if I hadn’t stepped out of my comfort zone. This teaching experience was by far one of the best and one where I really grasped the talent of teaching. Going from a shy lecturer to a fun, using my body, chanting, singing kind of teacher. I have really found my element and my way of expressing my teaching and I’m so glad I did. It has been so energizing and rewarding for it to finally just click. I think I truly didn’t know the potential I had as a teacher until I started using it.

                These past two weeks have gone by so incredibly fast. The timeline of meeting the classes we were teaching, painting the preschool, to more teaching, to doing a scavenger hunt around Bhaktapur with Class 10 and then finally visiting three of the most famous temples in Nepal. It has been extraordinary. All these activities paired with the service are a perfect combination of satisfying and enjoyable. It’s always interesting to see how much we have grown not only as individuals, but as a group, as a family.

                Danyabad (Thank You), Nepal.

Namaste

Walking into a concrete room with two windows on the side, and one in the back. A whiteboard at the front, and 20 nine year olds all awaiting your next move. Teaching and being taught are both blessings. Teaching gives you a power to distribute knowledge, and get a reaction. Partnered with a fluttery feeling in your stomach and a sense of accomplishment. Being taught also has a sense of accomplishment, this time accompanied with understanding. I consider teachers, and being able to be a teacher, a privilege. It’s exhilarating to be in front of a class and be able to give them all of my energy and attention so they are able to comprehend something. Our English language gives them a chance. It gives them a piece of us. And teaching it to them, well, that gives us something priceless. Being in Nepal at Lisha Secondary School has given me the motivation and appreciation for every single thing in my life.

                Speaking of privilege, our rights also indicate how much of a chance we have. Our chance at success. Our chance at equality. And our chance at surviving. These chances are dealt to us very much like our lives are dealt to us. When we are born, we get a number of different combinations and opportunities. We are all unique. I have also noticed because of that, the human race is flawed, like many things on Earth. This is what makes it both beautiful and interesting. My only question is why can’t we just live and acknowledge one another? We are given rights, we are given bodies, minds, and we (usually) use these things for the better. There is power in positivity and creating the best for everyone. This power is given to us daily, we are given the choice daily to be the best version of ourselves and make the wisest decisions for our human well-being. How will you be your best self? How will you bring everything you have, every single day? I have learned that starting your day with what you want to accomplish, and confirming your power and your strength can get you anywhere you want.

                There’s something so magical about being able to provide service. Hearing or just feeling “Thank you” from people when you’ve been able to help them is that much more rewarding. There was a house we visited this week. This was the home of Reeyah, her brother Ronak, and their mother and father. They had dirt floors until the first room, which had two beds with were made by mattresses on plastic crates. They had a small stove area and a table with a couple of chairs. They had just moved back into this home a few days prior to our visit. They lost their old home in the 2015 earthquake, and are still working on finishing the second floor of this new house. They plan to rent out the first floor to make more money. While we were there, their hospitality really shined. They brought us tea and paired it with some biscuits. Although they might not have had much, they gave everything to us. We all had a memorable conversation about how their father was a driver in Kathmandu, and how the boys would wake up at 6 in the morning to go play soccer. They even sang us their National Anthem and taught us a traditional Newari dance. It is experiences like these that really let us see a different perspective, and begin to imagine and understand what it’s like for other people in these fascinating countries. They show resilience and strength when there seems to be none. That alone drives me to keep working hard and keep pushing myself here in Nepal and at home. I hope to keep learning new amazing ideas and practices from them in this next week I get to spend with them in their wonderful country.

Ask Why Instead of What

Ever woken up to the sound of drums at 6 in the morning? What about next to a loved one? Or even just woken up? Well, here’s a wakeup call: Gratitude. Every day of our lives we are stuck in a routine, whatever that routine consists of. We stay stuck in a “Go…repeat” sequence, that it is often difficult to stop. That routine becomes comfortable and it’s usually hard to pay attention to the little details surrounding us. Our lives are composed of countless beautiful things, each of which has its own significance, which lets us grow as people.

                It’s day 4 in Nepal and I have learned so much in our time here that will help me in my lifetime. I have the learned the art of giving and receiving, the importance of a smile and how much happiness can stem from the people who know the true meaning of being joyful. They have shown me the importance of having true, genuine feelings. Being able to feel something so real can be a life changing experience. I’ve found that the people and culture here fill everyone’s soul. Their love overflows to fill a void you didn’t even know you had.

                That is how Class 4 welcomed Carter and I. They took us into their lives and brought us a newfound acceptance and comfort. I felt an instant connection to the students and their personalities. They carry themselves in a mature way, even for 9 year olds. Their eagerness seeping into every move they made. It was contagious. It made teaching them an honor. Every time I would hear their voices pipe up to answer a question or hearing them ask to be seated, makes me feel that much more thankful. They are beyond respectful, and show gratitude for everything, they see and touch. The way they nod their head from side to side to indicate “Yes, I understand” and how that light goes off when they learn something new, is so fulfilling, as a teacher and a friend. It is such a euphoric feeling to experience. I can’t wait to keep enhancing the lives of the people who have already changed my life forever.